In November 2008, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona commissioned two separate surveys: one of the nonprofit sector and another a random sample of 400 southern Arizona residents who have donated to charity in the last 12 months.

We believed at the time - and it was confirmed in the data below - that this information would be helpful not just to the Community Foundation but also for nonprofits, donors and the community.

Below are highlights from the research findings.  Click here to see the full Report on Research Findings.

Nonprofit Survey
Methodology

• Web/email survey of local Non-profit organizations (NPOs)
• 203 total responses with 172 completing most of the survey
• Survey was sent to 635 NPOs

• 41% receive majority of funding from private individuals
• 31% receive majority of funding from government
• 26% receive majority of funding from other sources (such as earned revenue)
• 3% receive majority of funding from endowments

• 19% of NPOs don’t communicate any budget information
• 40% of NPOs indicated that they update stakeholders on outcomes/results only annually (31%) or not at all (9%)
• 38% of NPOs are communicating their mission statement either monthly or weekly

• More than 50% of NPOs said they do not have a five-year plan. Further, 84% said they would benefit from strategic planning assistance.
• 83% said they would benefit from financial planning assistance.
• 68% would benefit from marketing/communications assistance.
• 66% would benefit from additional fundraising help.

• 86% thought CFSA should provide funding to NPOs
• 75% thought CFSA should be voice of NPO in encouraging donations from the community
• 61% thought CFSA should provide technical assistance to NPOs

Donor Survey
Methodology

• Telephone survey of 400 residents in the greater Tucson area
• All 400 have given to a non-profit in the past 12 months
• Sampling error =+/-4.9%

Who Donors Give To

• 90.5% of donors give to “local” based NPOs
• 64% give to “national” organizations
• 49% give to “state/regional” organizations

Anticipated Effect of Economy on Donors’ Giving in 2008 and 2009

• Only slightly over 25% of donors intend to decrease overall giving in 2008 and 2009.
• 17% and 13% said they would increase giving for the two years respectively.
• Of those that intend to decrease charitable giving, they only intend to decrease by just under 2% in 2008 and about 1% in 2009.
• Over 60% are likely to shift their financial support toward organizations that assist individuals with basic needs, as opposed to artistic/cultural causes.
• Over 50% will shift support to local NPOs
• Those who intend to give less money are likely to do so by giving to fewer NPOs.

Donor Communication Preferences from NPOs

• Over 75% indicated that receiving NPO budget information is essential or very important in to deciding where to give.
• Nearly 75% indicated that receiving information on NPO outcomes/results is essential or very important in deciding where to give.
• Prefer mailed newsletter, quarterly or annually.

Donor Charitable Giving Strategy

• 40% have long-term charitable giving strategy or budget. 60% give to charity on an individual basis.
• Only 15% have a will that includes contribution to NPOs.

Donor Support of Community Foundation

• 54% are likely to donate to an organization that builds permanent charitable funds by connecting donors to charitable organizations they care about, and provides leadership on community issues. That describes the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.