Giving USA and the New Age of Philanthropy in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on by Alford Group

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 | 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.PT (90 mins)

A new age of philanthropy is upon us. Alford Group will present the recently-released Giving USA report looking back at 2019 giving, which will inform our look forward for the Pacific Northwest region. A panel of local experts will then speak to how the regional philanthropic landscape has and will continue to change since COVID-19. We will discuss how we are being called to do better to bridge the inequities and system failures clearly revealed in this global health and financial crisis, and work to create economic dignity and improve the quality of life for all.

MODERATOR:

Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group

 

 

 

GIVING USA PRESENTATION:

Karen Rotko-Wynn, CFRE, Executive Vice President & West Division Manager

 

 

 

EXPERT PANEL:

Robin Callahan, CFRE, Vice President of Philanthropic Services, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

 

 

 

Elena Fracchia, CWS, AVP, Wealth and Philanthropic Advisor, Columbia Bank

 

 

 

Dana Miller, Senior Program Director – Grants, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

 

 

 

Anjana Pandey, Vice President of Strategy, Philanthropy Northwest

 

 

 

Giving USA: The Next Normal and a New Age of Philanthropy

Posted on by Alford Group

By Alexis Cooke, Consultant, Alford Group

On Wednesday, June 17, Alford Group hosted a panel of national experts and funders to discuss Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy in 2019 in light of current realities, new opportunities and our future as non-profit staff, funders and philanthropists. The full discussion, along with Alford Group’s Giving USA report, may be found here.

As Brenda Asare, Alford Group’s President and CEO, noted as she opened the panel discussion, we all had high hopes for 2020 – momentum within the sector was strong and anticipated to continue at the close of 2019 and through 2020. Of course, no one knew what was coming nor how incredibly important that cushion would be to the survival of many nonprofits. As leaders representing funders and philanthropists across the country, Laura, Marguerite, Steve and Beth offered critical insights into philanthropy today and provided some hope as Brenda said “we must look up and ahead, as that is where we are all going.”

Continue reading “Giving USA: The Next Normal and a New Age of Philanthropy”

Giving USA 2020 By the Numbers and Beyond

Posted on by Alford Group

By Alexis Cooke, Consultant, Alford Group

On Wednesday, June 17, Alford Group’s Karen Rotko-Wynn, Executive Vice President, shared highlights, trends and key takeaways from Giving USA 2020: The Annual Report on Philanthropy in 2019. Karen’s full presentation, along with a panel discussion with national experts and funders discussing the next normal and the future of philanthropy may be found here.

To be at this moment – mid-June 2020, reflecting on last year’s philanthropy during these challenging and volatile times – well, it feels a bit disconnected. It is hard not to ask why these data points matter; it is difficult to receive this report without wondering what this year’s annual report on philanthropy will say.

However, as the longest running, most comprehensive and most authoritative report on charitable giving in the United States – representing 128 million households, 600,000 nonprofits and 80,000 foundations and businesses – the information reported through Giving USA is deeply relevant. As leaders and staff of nonprofits, it is important to understand data trends and to know where to focus efforts; it is important to know where your organization fits within this data; and it is important to understand this data in relation to navigating our current, very difficult year.

Continue reading “Giving USA 2020 By the Numbers and Beyond”

Giving USA and the New Age of Philanthropy

Posted on by Alford Group

MODERATOR: Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group

GIVING USA PRESENTATION: Karen Rotko-Wynn, CFRE, Executive Vice President, Alford Group

PANELISTS:

  • Laura Coy, Director of Philanthropy Strategy, William Blair; Vice President of the William Blair & Company Foundation
  • Marguerite H. Griffin, Senior Vice President; Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services, Northern Trust
  • Stephen Maislin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Greater Houston Community Foundation
  • Beth McCaw, President & CEO, Washington Women’s Foundation

Slide Deck: GUSA 2020 Summary Slides

Infographic: GUSA2020_Infographic

Blog Recap: Giving USA Numbers

Blog Recap: Panel Discussion

COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Includes Charitable Giving Incentives: What This Means for Donors

Posted on by Alford Group

By Jennifer Shin, MBA, CFRE, Consultant – LinkedIn

Over the past few weeks, we’ve held our breath as Congress worked to pass a $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act or “stimulus package”) on Friday, March 20, 2020. While the enduring impact of COVID-19 and the reach of this package is not yet known, nonprofits across the sector are looking to this bill to find answers in its many provisions, from forgivable emergency loan programs to direct cash infusions.

Meanwhile, nonprofits have focused on communicating to their supporters at all levels as they’ve had to make very difficult decisions and invited philanthropists to join them in finding solutions. Please check out the message by Alford Group’s President and CEO Brenda Asare that outlines ways some organizations have leaned in and facilitated deep and meaningful conversations around the community.

Now, let’s take a focused look at the varying charitable giving incentives for individuals and what this means for donors. Continue reading “COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Includes Charitable Giving Incentives: What This Means for Donors”

As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today (Giving USA 2019 By the Numbers)

Posted on by Alford Group

By Alexis Cooke, Consultant

Alford Group celebrated 40 years of impact with Giving USA events across the country, including in Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, WA.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for  presentations sharing the recently released Giving USA 2019 Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. There is a lot to consider in reviewing Giving USA 2019’s report, so let’s dive in and discuss some key takeaways.

Continue reading “As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today (Giving USA 2019 By the Numbers)”

As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today (Giving USA 2018 Numbers and Beyond)

Posted on by Brenda B. Asare

By Brenda B Asare, President & CEO, Alford Group

Alford Group sponsored this year’s Giving USA event in Chicago with Lipman Hearne and the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. We shared the recently released Giving USA 2018 numbers, discussed new research on megadonor archetypes, and hosted a panel of local experts to discuss what it all means for the social sector. Here are the main takeaways.

Giving USA 2018 Numbers

(Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017)

Total giving in 2017 reached its highest level ever, surpassing the $400 Billion mark for a total of $410.02 Billion.

Giving has been on the rise for the past few years. This year, giving increased among all four sources (corporations, foundations, bequests and individuals), with corporate giving increasing by the largest amount at 8 percent growth (5.7 percent adjusted for inflation). This growth from corporations is in part due to a $405 million bump in corporate gifts to natural disasters in 2017.

Continue reading “As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today (Giving USA 2018 Numbers and Beyond)”

Giving USA 2017 Breakfast Presentation

Posted on by LuCinda Vacura

Giving USA 2017 Report

Seattle | August 1, 2017

 

Alford Group and the Pacific Continental Bank hosted a morning of networking, conversation, breakfast and learning focused around the 2017 release of the Giving USA survey and data.

For 60 years, fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, donors, volunteers, scholars, and other individuals who work in or with the charitable sector have counted on Giving USA to provide the most comprehensive charitable giving data available. No other source provides the context for annual giving like Giving USA.

EVENT DETAILS:

  • Date: Tuesday, August 1, 2017
  • Time: 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM PDT
  • Location:  Seattle Yacht Club, 1807 E. Hamlin St., Seattle, WA 98112

Speakers:

Thomas W. Mesaros and Karen Rotko-Wynn, both of Alford Group, presented the Giving USA 2017 report findings and provided an update on the state of philanthropy and charitable giving in the United States in 2016.

Thomas W. Mesaros Full Bio

Karen Rotko-Wynn Full Bio

Download Slides:

Giving USA Highlights 2017 — Alford Group Breakfast in Seattle

Giving USA 2016 Breakfast Presentation

Posted on by LuCinda Vacura

On Tuesday, August 16, Alford Group and Pacific Continental Bank partnered to present the Giving USA data for the eighth consecutive year. Giving USA is the longest running, annual report about US charitable giving and is a result of the collaborative efforts of Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Thomas Mesaros, Senior Counsel at Alford Group, presented the findings for about 85 clients and past clients of Alford Group and Pacific Continental Bank.  This year’s event was held at the Seattle Yacht Club over breakfast.

 

Giving USA Numbers and Beyond

Posted on by Brenda B. Asare

TAG group photo2Photo: Alford Group staff at As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today on June 17, 2016 at Mesirow Financial in Chicago.
Alford Group co-sponsored As Good as It Gives: America’s Philanthropy Today with Mesirow Financial in Chicago to share this year’s Giving USA numbers and discuss what the numbers mean for nonprofit organizations.

Here are the main takeaways:

  1. Giving is on the rise

Alford Group’s Executive Vice President Sharon Tiknis and Senior Consultant Diane Knoepke presented to the room and reported that 2015 was America’s most generous year ever, as donors collectively gave over $373 billion. Slide 7Giving is on a two-year increase, as 2014 was previously charted as the most generous year of giving. Since the Great Recession ended in 2009, giving has increased by 23 percent. Individuals continue to represent the majority of giving in America at 71 percent of total giving in 2015.

Continue reading “Giving USA Numbers and Beyond”

Giving USA 2015 Annual Philanthropy Report Presentation – Seattle

Posted on by Alford Group

June 17, 2015; 7:30-9am

Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, WA

For 60 years, fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, donors and volunteers, scholars, and other individuals who work in or with the charitable sector have counted on Giving USA to provide the most comprehensive charitable giving data available. No other source provides the context for annual giving like Giving USA. Giving USA’s long history is the result of its time-tested adherence to using the most rigorous methodologies available for estimating total charitable giving and philanthropy in the U.S. each year. This includes incorporating the most up-to-date data and methodological approaches available within the estimating procedures it uses year after year.

Every year, Alford Group’s West Division office uses this opportunity to thank our clients, references and contacts with a sit-down breakfast and presentation of giving data that organizations can leverage in their efforts around philanthropy. You should have received your invitation to this annual event already – to request an invitation, please contact Tafara Pulse.