Dr. Ruth K. Hansen, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Dr. Ruth K. Hansen
Assistant Professor, Nonprofit Management
Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
College of Business and Economics
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

In an enlightening article “Amid ‘checkout charity’ boom, some Americans are more likely to be impulse givers than others,” co-authored by Dr. Lauren Dula (Binghamton University) and Dr. Ruth K. Hansen, NACC Board Member and Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the phenomenon of impulse giving at retail checkouts is explored in depth. Published on The Conversation, the article delves into the growing trend of checkout charity in the United States, where consumers are frequently asked to contribute to various causes such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, or relief efforts in Ukraine. The study highlights the significant impact of these campaigns, noting that in 2022, 77 businesses raised over $1 million each, totaling $749 million.

Dr. Hansen and Dr. Dula’s research, soon to be published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, involved a national survey of 1,383 American adults to understand the profile of an impulse giver – someone who donates on the spur of the moment during a retail transaction. Their findings revealed that more than half of the respondents had engaged in checkout charity, typically rounding up their purchase total. These impulse givers, predominantly under 50 years of age and from middle-class backgrounds, contribute about $50 annually through such acts of charity. Interestingly, the study found that women are more likely than men to participate in checkout charity, and Black respondents were found to give more on average than white respondents. However, despite this trend of generosity, the article raises concerns about potential donor fatigue, suggesting that the increasing frequency of checkout charity requests could lead to a decrease in impulse giving as customers grow more accustomed and possibly less responsive to these appeals.

Ruth K. Hansen, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics, and director of the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies. She teaches classes in nonprofit organizations, fundraising, organizational behavior, and research methods. Her research focuses on the theory and practice of fundraising, and equity and inclusion in resource mobilization. Dr. Hansen has more than 20 years’ professional experience as a fundraiser, and is a former board member of AFP-Chicago. Recent publications include “Applying a stakeholder management approach to ethics in charitable fundraising,” published in the Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing and “Gary Neighborhood House: Managing mission and uncertainty in the Civil Rights era,” in the edited volume Hoosier Philanthropy. She contributed the chapter “Theory in Fundraising,” to the new edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, which was featured on Bill Stanczykiewicz’s First Day Podcast from The Fundraising School. Her research with Dr. Lauren Dula on fundraising appeal letters, supported by the AFP Foundation, is the subject of a recent article in Advancing Philanthropy.

Dr. Nathan Dietz and Dr. Robert T. Grimm Jr., Do Good Institute

Nathan Dietz
Associate Research Professor
Research Director, Do Good Institute
Director, Do Good Lab
School of Public Policy
University of Maryland

Robert T. Grimm, Jr.
Professor of the Practice
Levenson Family Chair in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
Director, Do Good Institute
School of Public Policy
University of Maryland

In the recent research report “Understanding Generosity: A Look at What Influences Volunteering and Giving in the United States,” authored by Nathan Dietz and Robert T. Grimm Jr. from the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland, the decline in volunteering and charitable giving in the United States is meticulously analyzed. Funded by the Generosity Commission, this study is particularly insightful for nonprofit professionals as it examines both micro- and macro-level factors contributing to this downward trend. The report reveals a significant decrease in formal volunteer rates and charitable donations, a pattern that emerged before the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued since. The decline, which began in the early 2000s for donations and early 2010s for volunteering, is linked to various individual, family, and state-level characteristics.

Key micro-level factors identified include educational attainment, age, parenthood, gender, marital status, employment status, and living area. For instance, college graduates are more likely to volunteer, and giving rates increase with age. Surprisingly, those who are unemployed are more likely to volunteer than full-time workers, while rural residents are more likely to volunteer than their urban or suburban counterparts. The report emphasizes the role of nonprofits in understanding these trends to better target potential donors and volunteers. Macro-level factors, such as state poverty rates and the prevalence of nonprofits, also influence these behaviors, albeit to a lesser extent. For example, states with widespread poverty see higher rates of volunteering and giving. The findings challenge assumptions about the link between the prevalence of nonprofits and individual generosity, underscoring the need for more effective engagement strategies by these organizations. This research offers valuable insights into the dynamics of philanthropic behavior, crucial for shaping strategies to revitalize volunteerism and giving in the US.

Nathan Dietz, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor and the Research Director at the Do Good Institute, as well as the Director of the Do Good Lab at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. Joining in March 2017, Dietz brings over two decades of research experience in government, the nonprofit sector, and academia. His work primarily revolves around social capital, volunteering, charitable contributions, civic engagement, and social entrepreneurship. Dietz has authored numerous Institute research publications and peer-reviewed articles in notable journals. He also teaches State, Local and Nonprofit Financial Management and chairs the Faculty Diversity Committee at the School of Public Policy.

Before his current role, Dietz was a senior research associate at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, leading various research and evaluation projects. His previous experience includes serving as a senior program manager at the Partnership for Public Service and as an associate director for research and evaluation at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Dietz’s academic journey includes appointments at American University and degrees from the University of Rochester and Northwestern University, where he earned his PhD in political science and a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in political science and mathematical methods in social sciences, respectively.

Robert T. Grimm Jr., PhD, is a Professor of the Practice and holds the Levenson Family Chair in Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. As the founding Director of the Do Good Institute, he leads efforts to inspire and empower individuals to make a positive impact. Under his leadership, the Institute has expanded significantly, offering numerous programs and courses that engage thousands of students annually in social change initiatives. The Do Good Institute’s impact was recognized with the 2021 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence in Public Service by the University of Maryland Board of Regents and the inaugural Voinovich Public Innovation Prize by NASPAA. Notably, Grimm’s involvement facilitated the growth of the Food Recovery Network and the launch of successful companies like Hungry Harvest and Imperfect Foods.

Dr. Grimm’s extensive experience in public service includes his roles at AmeriCorps as Senior Counselor to the CEO and Director of Research & Policy Development. He played a key role in the creation of President Obama’s Social Innovation Fund and significantly expanded AmeriCorps’s research funding. A recognized expert in philanthropy and civic engagement, Grimm’s research has been featured in prominent media outlets and academic journals. He also testified at the first hearing of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service. An Iowa native, Grimm received his PhD from Indiana University, which honored him with its 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Beth Breeze, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent

Dr. Beth Breeze
Director, Global Challenges Doctoral Centre
Director, Centre for Philanthropy
University of Kent

Disciplining Generosity
Stanford Social Innovation Review (2023)

In “Disciplining Generosity,” an excerpt from “Advising Philanthropists: Principles and Practice” by Beth Breeze, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, and her colleague Emma Beeston (Philanthropy Advisor), the role of philanthropy advisors in fostering effective and sustainable social innovation is explored. This article, particularly relevant to nonprofit researchers and practitioners, highlights the growing significance of these advisors in shaping philanthropic giving. The authors emphasize how philanthropy advisors, like those from the Bridgespan Group who guided MacKenzie Scott’s significant contributions, play a critical role in enhancing the impact of philanthropy. Through their 48 combined years of experience in fundraising, grant-making, and philanthropy advising, Beeston and Breeze draw on interviews with 40 advisors across 15 countries to shed light on the profession. Their work reveals how these advisors are integral in encouraging more and better philanthropic giving, which is essential for addressing social and environmental challenges.

The article delves into the complexities of the advisory role, discussing how advisors navigate ethical dilemmas and influence donors to make strategic and impactful contributions. Advisors not only guide donors in choosing effective organizations and projects but also challenge them to think critically about their giving practices. This includes addressing donors’ preconceptions, encouraging strategic collaboration, and promoting equitable and just philanthropic practices. By doing so, advisors play a pivotal role in mitigating social problems and enhancing the overall efficacy of philanthropic efforts. The article underscores the importance of this profession in the broader philanthropic ecosystem, stressing the need for advisors to balance client service with a commitment to broader societal good. It suggests that the future of effective philanthropy may well hinge on the skill and insight of these crucial advisors.

Beth Breeze is Director of the Centre for Philanthropy, which she co-founded in 2008. Beth began her career as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity and spent a decade working in a variety of fundraising, research, and charity management roles, including as deputy director at the Institute for Philanthropy. Motivated by the lack of substantive research underpinning practice, Beth completed a PhD on contemporary philanthropy at Kent in 2011 and has remained at the University ever since.

Dr. Ruth K. Hansen and Dr. Genevieve G. Shaker

Dr. Ruth K. Hansen
Assistant Professor, Nonprofit Management
Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
College of Business and Economics
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Dr. Genevieve G. Shaker
Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies
Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Theory in Fundraising, a book chapter by Dr. Ruth K. Hansen, NACC board member, Assistant Professor, and Director of the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, discusses how theory can help us better understand how and why fundraising happens. Featured in Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2022) and The Fundraising Reader (1st Edition, Routledge, 2023) the chapter introduces four theoretical frameworks used to explain aspects of fundraising, especially relating to donor relations and engagement. Fundraisers function as boundary spanners within open systems to acquire and maintain resources for their charities. Donated gifts often contain social elements of reciprocity, which must be negotiated. Donors often make gifts that are consistent with their own values and identities. By understanding donors’ expectations, fundraisers can increase the nonprofit’s perceived salience, legitimacy, and trustworthiness. Readers are encouraged to apply different theoretical lenses to their own practice to generate further insights.

Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, co-edited by Dr. Genevieve G. Shaker, NACC board member and Associate Professor, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, has long been the go-to reference for fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques. Topics include donor motivations and behaviors, engaging donors at all levels, inclusive and ethical fundraising, and more, with contributions from noted experts in the field. You’ll gain insight into the practice of fundraising and the fundraising cycle, reinforced by discussion questions, application exercises, and research-based recommendations.

This 5th edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising is reimagined to meet the needs of today’s fundraisers, their nonprofit employers, and the causes they serve, while maintaining key concepts that stand the test of time. Compelling and timely topics new to this edition include donor-advised funds, crowdfunding, raising money in challenging times, fundraising for social advocacy, and more. The needs of fundraising educators are also a central consideration in the book’s organization and contents.

Ruth K. Hansen, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics, and director of the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies. She teaches classes in nonprofit organizations, fundraising, organizational behavior, and research methods. Her research focuses on the theory and practice of fundraising, and equity and inclusion in resource mobilization. Dr. Hansen has more than 20 years’ professional experience as a fundraiser, and is a former board member of AFP-Chicago. Recent publications include “Applying a stakeholder management approach to ethics in charitable fundraising,” published in the Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing and “Gary Neighborhood House: Managing mission and uncertainty in the Civil Rights era,” in the edited volume Hoosier Philanthropy. She contributed the chapter “Theory in Fundraising,” to the new edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, which was featured on Bill Stanczykiewicz’s First Day Podcast from The Fundraising School. Her research with Dr. Lauren Dula on fundraising appeal letters, supported by the AFP Foundation, is the subject of a recent article in Advancing Philanthropy.

Genevieve G. Shaker, PhD, is associate professor of philanthropic studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and adjunct professor of liberal arts and of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

She was an advancement officer for 20 years, most recently as associate dean for development and external affairs for the School of Liberal Arts, where she facilitated communications and marketing, alumni programming, and public events as well as fundraising, overseeing the school’s $20 million-dollar contribution to an overall $3.9 billion university-wide campaign.

Professor Shaker’s research focuses on fundraising and fundraisers, workplace philanthropy, philanthropy education, and higher education advancement—including faculty work and the public good as well as philanthropic practices within higher education. Her current projects include explorations of the fundraising profession, relationships between donors and fundraisers, studies intended to generate new information about workplace giving in the United States, and continued examination of how higher education contributes to the global common good.

Laura Deitrick, University of San Diego

Dr. Laura Deitrick
Interim Co-Executive Director, The Nonprofit Institute; Professor of Practice, Department of Leadership Studies; NLM Program Director, School of Leadership and Education Sciences
University of San Diego

2023 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report

Meschen, Connelly; Young, Emily; Tinkler, Tessa; Deitrick, Laura; and Durnford, Jon, “2023 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report” (2023). State of Nonprofits in San Diego. 20. https://digital.sandiego.edu/npi-stateofnp/20

San Diego County is home to a growing and dynamic nonprofit sector working on the frontlines to serve families and communities while also advancing innovative solutions to the region’s most urgent challenges. To support the community and regional leaders to be informed partners with the nonprofit sector, the 2023 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report provides relevant and current information on the health and impact of the sector. The report draws from over a decade of quarterly public opinion polling of San Diego residents and a survey of local nonprofit leaders, combined with the latest nonprofit data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). This year’s data document a thriving nonprofit sector that is very much in need of ongoing support to sustain and enhance its capacity to address the pressing problems facing the San Diego County region.

Dr. Laura Deitrick serves as the Director of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate program and as the Associate Director of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. She has been a nonprofit executive director, board member, management consultant, and researcher on major nonprofit trends. Her research has led to important reports on nonprofit ethics, nonprofits and public education, nonprofit human resource practices, executive transition, the economics of San Diego and California’s nonprofit sector, nonprofit public confidence, and regional grantmaking. She served as the principal investigator for Nonprofit Academy, an award-winning capacity building project co-created by the Nonprofit Institute and The City of San Diego.

Dr. Deitrick is a faculty member in the Department of Leadership Studies where she teaches nonprofit management, organizational theory, program design, and evaluation. In2021, she was recognized as the department’s outstanding faculty member. Since 2019, Dr. Deitrick has served on the board of directors for Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI). She is also the co-author of Cases in Nonprofit Management: A Hands-on Approach to Problem Solving, published by Sage publications.