Will smaller donors pull us through?

I had conversations with development professionals at three public radio stations today who told me that they will meet or exceed goal in their membership programs. One said that, although they are not crying poor on the air, they think many of their listeners sense that their funding is very brittle right now and are doing wht they can to help balance the scales.

I’ve seen this before. During the New England recession of 1989-1991, a multitude of small gifts helped to offset drops in corporate funding and large major gifts.  Well-rounded organizations have individual giving programs that provide a wide range of giving opportunities.

Target National Index documents continued decline

Target Analytics National Index for the First Quarter of 2009 documents continued declines in giving and gifts that have now spread across all sectors. This information is more current than the annual survey conducted by Giving USA that recently documented the most serious decline if philanthropic giving in more than three decades. That survey showed one segment, religious giving, had escaped the financial downturn. The Target Index shows that the religious sector has been affected.

Oregon Legislature Breaks Trust

The Oregon Legislature has voted to steal $1.8 million from the Oregon Cultural Trust to close a budget gap. The trust was established to fund the arts in Oregon, which traditionally has a parsimonious approach to arts funding.  

Problem is, these aren’t public funds, in the usual sense of the word. The Oregon Trust represents voluntary contributions made by individuals through direct gifts, for which donors receive a tax credit, and proceeds from special license plates, for which purchasers pay extra.

The Legislature has broken the trust—both literally and figuratively—by redirecting privately contributed funds to public coffers. Doug Stamm, President of the Meyer Memorial Trust, which made an initial gift to establish the Cultural Trust, was diplomatically low key about the diversion. But asked what would happen if another organization were to divert non-discretionary grant funds from MTT, Stamm said it would be the last grant they would see.

We annually contribute the maximum amount matched by the tax credit and feel robbed.