To a sold-out audience of fundraising professionals, Winkler Group founder and CEO Tim Winkler shared his reaction to this year’s Giving USA data and some trends his firm’s consultants are seeing in the field. His talk to the AFP Lowcountry audience centered around 2018’s increase in total giving, but Mr. Winkler cautioned against focusing only on the increase. Giving, when adjusted for inflation, actually declined in 2018. And for the first time, giving by individuals fell below 70% of total giving. Mr. Winkler allayed fears that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the end to charitable giving as we know it. In fact, tax reform has had a mixed impact on giving. He offered some solutions to counteract declines.
As for trends from the field, Mr. Winkler highlighted the most important actions fundraising professionals should be taking today to see significant returns.
