Non-profits need boards with realistic expectations, fund-raisers say

Community Action, April 14, 2003

TORONTO -- Boards of directors with realistic expectations "will dramatically improve the effectiveness of fundraising," says a preliminary report on Canada' first study of fund-raising professionals. The study was conducted by the Association of Professional Fundraisers and the Canadian Policy Research Networks.

The report points out that public sector cutbacks "have left the non-profit sector facing increasing demand with diminished resources" and the sector is "more dependent on fundraising than ever before." Therefore professional fundraisers are key to the future of the voluntary sector.

Only half of professional fundraisers participating in the study believe that their boards of directors "have realistic expectations of fundraising," and most feel that integrating fundraising activities within an organization and having boards with realistic expectations will dramatically improve the effectiveness of fundraising."

The study is based on a survey of members of ten professional fundraising associations. Over 1,300 fundraisers responded to the survey which is the first to provide data about professional fundraising in Canada.

Among the results of the survey are these:

* 70 per cent of fundraisers are women;

* 70 per cent of female fundraisers hold a university degree;

* nearly two-thirds are 40 years old or older.

An analytical report on the survey will be produced by CPRN researchers Grant Schellenberg, Kathryn McMullen, Richard Brisbois and Ron Saunders.