2012 Philanthropic Landscape Nonprofit Survey

You are one of a select group of St. Louis’ nonprofit leaders who are being asked to answer this annual survey on local trends in philanthropy. The survey is sponsored by the Gateway Center for Giving and The Rome Group.

Results from this survey will be shared at The Philanthropic Landscape presentation on the morning of July 19 (more details on how to register will be sent to you by email in the coming weeks).

This survey should take no more than 10 minutes of your time. Please complete the survey on or before May 25. Thank you for your participation.

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* 1. Which of the following categories best describes your organization?

Arts & Culture

Education

Health

Human Services

Other

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* 2. What is your organization's current annual operating budget?

Under $500,000

$500,000-$750,000

$750,000-$1,000,000

$1,000,000-$3,000,000

Over $3,000,000

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* 3. Did your organization reach its fundraising goal in 2011?

Yes

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* 4. In 2011, did your contributed income increase or decrease compared to 2010?

Increased

Decreased

Stayed the same as in 2010

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* 5. Did the following sources of support increase or decrease for your organization in 2011 as compared to 2010?

	Increased	Decreased	No Change
Individuals	Individuals Increased	Individuals Decreased	Individuals No Change
Corporations/businesses	Corporations/businesses Increased	Corporations/businesses Decreased	Corporations/businesses No Change
Private foundations	Private foundations Increased	Private foundations Decreased	Private foundations No Change
Government	Government Increased	Government Decreased	Government No Change
United Way	United Way Increased	United Way Decreased	United Way No Change

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Which of the following strategies is most effective in your fundraising efforts?

Online appeals

Special events

Direct mail

Major gifts

Telephone appeals

Planned gifts

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Which of the following strategies is least effective in your fundraising efforts?

Planned gifts

Online appeals

Special events

Telephone appeals

Direct mail

Major gifts

Other (please specify)

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* 8. How do you predict your fundraising results in 2012 will compare with 2011?

Expect an increase

Expect a decrease

Expect them to stay the same as in 2010

Too soon to tell

Please add comments

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* 9. What do you see as your biggest challenges in 2012-13? (check all that apply)

Finding new ways to communicate effectively to help the public understand who we are and what we do

Too much reliance on uncertain government funding sources

Still in survival mode

Aging of current donor base

Lack of capacity to pursue collaborations/alliances

Lack of resources to communicate effectively with stakeholders

Competition for charitable dollars

Need better technology/data collection

Unable to meet demand with current staffing level

Lack of resources to do effective program measurement/evaluation

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Compared to five years ago, please indicate if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree/Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree	Not Applicable
We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies.	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Strongly Disagree	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Disagree	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Neither Agree/Disagree	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Agree	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Strongly Agree	We have investigated opportunities to pursue collective impact strategies. Not Applicable
We have built up our capacity in several areas.	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Strongly Disagree	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Disagree	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Neither Agree/Disagree	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Agree	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Strongly Agree	We have built up our capacity in several areas. Not Applicable
We have increased our spending on professional development for staff.	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Strongly Disagree	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Disagree	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Neither Agree/Disagree	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Agree	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Strongly Agree	We have increased our spending on professional development for staff. Not Applicable
We use more storytelling in our fundraising today.	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Strongly Disagree	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Disagree	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Neither Agree/Disagree	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Agree	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Strongly Agree	We use more storytelling in our fundraising today. Not Applicable
We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past.	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Strongly Disagree	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Disagree	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Neither Agree/Disagree	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Agree	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Strongly Agree	We are focusing more on major gifts as a primary fundraising strategy than in the past. Not Applicable
We are less reliant on special events to raise money.	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Strongly Disagree	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Disagree	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Neither Agree/Disagree	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Agree	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Strongly Agree	We are less reliant on special events to raise money. Not Applicable
We have successfully used social media to raise funds.	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Strongly Disagree	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Disagree	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Neither Agree/Disagree	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Agree	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Strongly Agree	We have successfully used social media to raise funds. Not Applicable
We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications.	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Strongly Disagree	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Disagree	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Neither Agree/Disagree	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Agree	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Strongly Agree	We have increased the resources we devote to marketing/communications. Not Applicable

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* 11. Have you participated in any partnerships, alliances, or collaborations with:
(Check all that apply. If not applicable, skip to Q14)

Civic groups

Foundations

Government agencies

Businesses/corporations

Other nonprofits

Other (please specify)

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* 12. In what areas have you collaborated? (check all that apply)

Facilities

Marketing/communications

Technology

Lobbying/advocacy/legislative agendas

Human resources (payroll, recruiting, etc.)

Program delivery

Financial management

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Do you consider your collaborations/partnerships a success ?

Yes

Too soon to tell

Please explain why you answered the way you did

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* 14. Do you conduct an evaluation of every program you do?

Yes

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* 15. Do you have a planned giving program?

Yes

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* 16. Has your organization created a formal development plan in the past 2-3 years?

Yes

If Yes, please describe the level of involvement of both board and staff inthis planning process.

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* 17. If you answered No to #16, do you intend to create a new development plan in the near future?

Yes

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* 18. How much cash (including reserves) does your organization currently have readily available?

None

One month’s expenses

2-3 months expenses

4-6 months expenses

6+ months expenses

One year's operating expenses

2-5 years' operating expenses

More than 5 years' operating expenses

Please add comments

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* 19. How has the demand for your services/programs (or attendance for arts/cultural organizations) changed in the past 12 months?

Increased by 25% or more

Increased by 10-24%

Increased by 1-9%

Decreased

Stayed the same

Please add any additional comments.

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* 20. Have you been able to meet the increased demand for services?

Yes

Not applicable

Please add comments

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* 21. Overall, do you feel that the local nonprofit sector is…

Financially stronger than it was five years ago

Financially weaker than it was five years ago

About the same as it was five years ago

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* 22. Looking ahead to the next 5-10 years, what factor do you expect will have the biggest impact on the local nonprofit sector? (select only one)

Changes in local corporate philanthropy

Changes in nonprofit leadership

Other

Slow economic recovery

Technology enhancements

Tax reform

Collaboration across different sectors

Increasing importance of measurement and evaluation

Social media

Changes in government funding

If Other (please specify)

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* 1. Which of the following categories best describes your organization?

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* 2. What is your organization's current annual operating budget?

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* 3. Did your organization reach its fundraising goal in 2011?

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* 4. In 2011, did your contributed income increase or decrease compared to 2010?

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* 5. Did the following sources of support increase or decrease for your organization in 2011 as compared to 2010?

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* 6. Which of the following strategies is most effective in your fundraising efforts?

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* 7. Which of the following strategies is least effective in your fundraising efforts?

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* 8. How do you predict your fundraising results in 2012 will compare with 2011?

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* 9. What do you see as your biggest challenges in 2012-13? (check all that apply)

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* 10. Compared to five years ago, please indicate if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

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* 11. Have you participated in any partnerships, alliances, or collaborations with: (Check all that apply. If not applicable, skip to Q14)

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* 12. In what areas have you collaborated? (check all that apply)

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* 13. Do you consider your collaborations/partnerships a success ?

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* 14. Do you conduct an evaluation of every program you do?

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* 15. Do you have a planned giving program?

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* 16. Has your organization created a formal development plan in the past 2-3 years?

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* 17. If you answered No to #16, do you intend to create a new development plan in the near future?

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* 18. How much cash (including reserves) does your organization currently have readily available?

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* 19. How has the demand for your services/programs (or attendance for arts/cultural organizations) changed in the past 12 months?

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* 20. Have you been able to meet the increased demand for services?

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* 21. Overall, do you feel that the local nonprofit sector is…

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* 22. Looking ahead to the next 5-10 years, what factor do you expect will have the biggest impact on the local nonprofit sector? (select only one)

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* 23. Are there any other comments you would like to share regarding local trends in philanthropy and/or the nonprofit sector?

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* 24. If you do not receive The Rome Group’s e-newsletter and would like to be added to our mailing list, please provide your email address below.

* 11. Have you participated in any partnerships, alliances, or collaborations with:
(Check all that apply. If not applicable, skip to Q14)