As a former statistics major, I have come across many stats in my fundraising life. Here are some of my favorites:
1. The average philanthropic gift has increased by 63% since 1991.
2. Ninety percent of the work of fundraising precedes the ask.
3. Listeners always out-fundraise talkers.
4. Research shows that a donor will not give more than 5% of his gross net worth for a major gift. If it’s their first major gift, it’s more likely to be around 1% of their net worth.
5. Of 100 fundraising cold calls, 50 individuals will not be around to take the call; 20 will ask you to call back; 10 will give you a negative response and 10 will agree to see you. If you can get 10 appointments from those 100 calls, and ultimately 3 gifts from those 10 appointments — you’re doing great.
6. Nine out of ten donors rate financial accountability as one of the most important factors in determining their gift.
7. Success in the past is no assurance of success in the future. This isn’t quite a statistic. Over one-third of the firms in the Fortune 500 fifteen years ago no longer exist.
8. Eight million men in the US have children younger than their grandchildren. Second wives have great influence.
9. In the next 10 years, 85% of the labor force will work for companies that employ fewer than 20 people.
10. By the year 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 years of age or older and 1 in 4 Canadians will inherit $500,000 or more.
11. Over the last decade, life expectancy has increased by over 8 years.
12. In the year 2050, 2.2 million people will be 100 years of age or older.
13. Eighty-five percent of millionaires in North America don’t leave anything in their wills to charity.
14. The average age when the first will is written is 44.
These are just some of my favorite statistics that I have come across. What are yours?
L’chaim
jack
