INDIANAPOLIS—The most comprehensive look to date at gifts of $1 million or more
reveals that donors of "self-made" wealth made the most gifts at that level and gave the
most dollars, according to a study of the Million Dollar List™ released today by the
Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. CCS, a fundraising, development services
and nonprofit consulting firm, funded the analysis through the Center's William B.
Hanrahan CCS Fellowship.
The study of more than 4,840 gifts of $1 million or more from individuals to charitable
organizations that were announced in the news media between January 2000 and
September 2007 examines the gift amounts and causes the gifts supported, as well as
characteristics of the donors.
Donors of "self-made" wealth (those identified as entrepreneurs, investors or developers)
led other types of donors in both the number of gifts made (33 percent) and total dollars
given (42 percent) during the time period studied. These donors were more likely to give
to foundations than any other cause and more likely than other types of donors to give to
foundations. Many donors in this group were also more likely to give to environment,
human services, religion and international aid organizations than other types of donors.
"Donors with 'self-made' wealth often have business experience and expectations
about how organizations use and manage their gifts, and give to types of
organizations that typically receive fewer numbers of million-dollar and up gifts,"
said William B. Hanrahan, chief executive officer of CCS. "Those nonprofits need to
consider donors as partners or investors – not just as funders – and should take that
opportunity to engage and involve them accordingly."
Overall, gifts to foundations accounted for only about two percent of the total number of
gifts given, but those gifts accounted for 45 percent of the total dollars given. The median
gift to a foundation was just over $37 million. In contrast, the study shows that higher
education accounted for nearly 70 percent of the number of gifts given, but received 29
percent of the total dollars. However, higher education received more than two out of
every three dollars given when looking only at gifts between $1 million and $50 million.
The study also reveals that million-dollar and up gifts typically are given in response to a
request for a specific purpose, whether it be a capital campaign, endowing an activity
within the institution or creating a new program or project. All types of nonprofit
organizations (healthcare, education, arts, etc.) raised gifts of $1 million or more for those
expressed purposes and others, such as for capital expenditures, operating expenses and
unrestricted donations.
"This study shows that a variety of charities can present successful cases for support
that generate gifts of $1 million or more," said Hanrahan. "Success lies in
nonprofits' ability to instill confidence that donors' gifts are secure and that they
bring about the desired impact."
Other key findings of the Million Dollar ListTM study include:
- Over the years studied, the median gift was lower for public or K-12
education ($2.3 million) and for human services ($1.3 million), compared with the
overall median of $2.8 million and gifts for other purposes.
- The median gift amount was virtually the same, whether the donor was a single
man, a couple, a single woman or a family.
"This study illuminates important dynamics in the nonprofit sector," said Patrick
M. Rooney, interim executive director for the Center on Philanthropy. "New
analysis of these large gifts gives organizations and donors key information that will
help to guide planning, benchmarking, and programming. The results have
implications for both donors and recipients."
The median gift amount of gifts at this level did not change between 2000 and early 2007
(after adjusting for inflation), staying at about $2.8 million. In each of the past eight
years, half of the gifts on the Million Dollar List™ have been between $1 million and $3
million.
"One very important aspect of working with a prospective million-dollar donor is
helping that donor to think big," said Hanrahan. "This research shows that the
median million-dollar gift amount made by all donors hasn't changed in nearly a
decade. Nonprofits can use this information when talking with donors to emphasize
the significance of gifts over $3 million - not only in funding a mission, but also
setting a new philanthropic expectation - and raising awareness about the impact of
multi-million-dollar gifts."
To read more about the findings of this study of the Million Dollar List™ conducted by
the Center on Philanthropy and sponsored by CCS, visit www.ccsfundraising.com/About-
Philanthropy/Research/.
About CCS
CCS is a leading fund-raising consulting and management firm established in 1947. It
works with major nonprofit organizations in designing and implementing significant
fund-raising campaigns and programs. CCS clients are among the most recognizable
brands in philanthropy nationally and internationally. CCS provides comprehensive
services that relate to major fund-raising initiatives, and its fund-raising campaign goals
under consulting and management total over $5 billion.
About the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is a leading academic center dedicated
to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide
through research, teaching, public service and public affairs programs in philanthropy,
fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations. A part of the Indiana University
School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the Center operates program on the IUPUI and IU
Bloomington campuses.
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