From local natural disasters to national market fluctuations, every community experiences unexpected crises. As many organizations (re)start campaigns, parishes and dioceses are developing plans now to stay agile and maintain fundraising momentum during future emergencies. Previous crises served as valuable context for how best to navigate philanthropic activity. During the 2008 recession, CCS saw that organizations that proceeded with their campaigns and long-term plans found success, out-hustled competition for the philanthropic dollar, and were better positioned to thrive afterwar ..read more

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” So goes the adage often attributed to management consultant and thought leader Peter Drucker, which succinctly summarizes why data and analytics are critical for any organization. This isn’t to say that only things that can be measured or quantified are valuable, but having a yardstick to measure performance against makes it easier to track progress and ensure success over time. Benchmarking is a data-driven management tool that can be particularly valuable to nonprofit organizations across sectors. Benchmarking involves comparing a current data ..read more

With Giving Tuesday just a few days away and nearly one-third of annual donations made in December, there’s still time to boost year-end giving to your organization. Tax incentives to encourage charitable donations as part of the CARES Act that are set to expire at the end of 2021 could be one approach. While receiving an income tax deduction ranks low among reasons why people give, nonprofit leaders and fundraising professionals should be familiar with these changes to leverage them when possible. Please note that this information does not constitute tax advice. Encourage your donors to consu ..read more

There are currently 115,009 independent foundations in the United States with assets totaling $960 billion. And according to Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2020, foundation giving grew at a faster rate than any other source over the previous year, now comprising 19% of total giving in the United States. This leads to an overwhelming number of opportunities for foundation funding—so it’s important to focus your time! In order to best use your team’s limited resources, it’s advantageous for all organizations to develop a system to qualify and prioritize new funding oppor ..read more

New York, NY: Today, CCS Fundraising, the leader in nonprofit fundraising consulting, announced new additions to its Board of Directors. Complementing their ten internal leaders, CCS welcomes Elizabeth (Liz) Moore and Ron Lumbra to the Board. CCS is honored to welcome Ms. Moore and Mr. Lumbra to the Board. Both executives bring a deep expertise in professional services and nonprofit leadership. Ms. Moore and Mr. Lumbra have both held leadership positions at reputable firms and have received honors and awards for their exceptional business acumen. As lifelong mission-conscious leaders who have ..read more

CCS Fundraising and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University have teamed up to create a new three-part podcast series, Authentically Inclusive. Each 45-minute episode offers listeners expert ideas and practical insights to support the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion across nonprofit organizations and communities. You can listen to the first two episodes of Authentically Inclusive on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and the Authentically Inclusive website. Episode One: Organizational Cultures In Progress Leaders are responsible for advancing equity and inc ..read more

The virtual environment has empowered many parishes to build a sense of community and engage more parishioners in deeper ways. As we approach the holiday season, CCS encourages you to leverage the momentum of your community to position yourself well for 2022. Now is an excellent opportunity to activate your parishioners who have been particularly engaged in parish life by inviting them to participate in a January 2022 visioning session. The goal of a visioning session is to identify your parish’s aspirations, involve key stakeholders, and start to formalize a plan to meet your goals. Using our ..read more

In addition to prayer and festive meals, the Jewish high holidays are a peak season of tzedakah – charity – where appeals are made, honors are auctioned off, and volunteer time is committed. At CCS, we believe in the power of the high holidays to position nonprofits for future success. Over the past month, members of the Jewish community worldwide dedicated themselves to introspection, assessing priorities, and connecting with one another. At this point, they are likely motivated, focused on community, and accessible for conversation. Here are three steps to help you leverage the post-holiday ..read more

Major gifts come with a bevy of benefits for nonprofit organizations. The most obvious is quantitative. The more money you raise, the greater the impact on the organization and those it serves. The ability to provide additional student scholarships is one example. There may also be a greater return on investment in staff time than the multitude of tasks that accompany special events. There are also qualitative benefits. A focus on individual giving allows the organization to build deep relationships with donors in which the donor learns more about the organization and its place in the communit ..read more

At the heart of nonprofit development operations is the process of accepting, acknowledging, and recognizing gifts. Gift acceptance policies can be more than a dusty procedure manual that outlines various methods of giving. Gift acceptance policies can be actively deployed to advance equity within your institution, diversify and educate your donor base, make giving more accessible, and reinforce the values of your organization. Why Equity Matters According to the U.S. Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy, individuals are generous regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Making ..read more