Online Giving Increases

The Chronicle of Philanthropy (6/15/06) reports that online giving to the nation's largest charities climbed in 2005.

The Chronicle tracks 167 organizations for its annual survey, and found that online gifts topped $911.9 million in 2005.

Much of this largesse was in response to natural disasters such as the Asian tsunamis and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But, even groups that did not raise money for disaster relief saw a median increase in online giving of 50.5 percent.

The success of online fundraising varies greatly across the charitable sector, the Chronicle points out. Some of the largest charities have shown that their online efforts can account for 10 or 15 percent of their fundraising. But, mid-sized groups and smaller are more likely to be exploring online fundraising rather than fully committed to it.

If your organization is in that group, read up on the newest online techniques and tips:

• Online Fundraising Comes of Age
• Top 10 Tips for Online Fundraising