What do we know abt the extent of the declines in giving & volunteering rates to nonprofits? About their consequences and causes? And what do we know about those declines in relation to other expressions of generosity, outside of formal charitable nonprofits? In a new "landscape analysis" just released by The Generosity Commission, I take these questions on.
I don't think it's a spoiler to quote here from what i guess is the peroration:
"This is a moment to get our bearings, to take stock of the landscape. We are aware that it is changing, even as we recognize its established landmarks. We intuit that some of the changes are likely permanent, while others are reversible. Some we acknowledge as the product of broader social transformations which seem beyond our immediate control, while others we know are the products of decisions we have made and attitudes we have developed that are within our power to change or to reinforce, if we mobilize to do so. We welcome some of the changes as salutary adaptations—to technological advances or to socioeconomic conditions—while we acknowledge that other changes will likely mean reduced charitable resources making their way to nonprofits across the country, with deleterious consequences for those they serve. So, we inhabit this shifting landscape of generosity with some apprehension at its transformed terrain, with resolve to
cultivate it purposefully where we can, and with excitement about how it will continue to develop in the coming years. If this moment represents in any respect a crisis of generosity, then it is one that we can approach with resolve, and even with wonder, at the opportunities that lie ahead."
The landscape analysis is a teaser in a sense for The Generosity Commission's final report, which will be coming out in September, taking these issues on, and more.
Today we are excited to release our in-depth analysis of the generosity ecosystem. "The Shifting Landscape of American Generosity" summarizes what we currently know about the decline in giving and volunteering rates and the reasons potentially contributing to this decline.
As we delve into these trends, we also recognize the potential for reduced charitable resources for nonprofits, posing new challenges. Stay tuned for our full report in September, which offers recommendations to address the declines in giving and volunteering rates.
https://lnkd.in/gPpy5S_K