A Guide for Catholic Arch/Diocesan Philanthropy

This report was jointly produced by ICSC and CCS. It stands as a comprehensive analysis of stewardship and development practices across 75 Catholic dioceses and archdioceses in the United States, and is a testament to the unwavering dedication and commitment of our diocesan communities to fostering a culture of advancement and generosity.

Among national trends, fundraising best practices, and recommendations to elevate your Catholic advancement office, this report also reveals:

The front cover of the National Diocesan Report.
  • Percent increases in offertory contributions and which dioceses saw over 20% growth in contributions
  • The impact of the rise in annual appeal pledges from from $278.1 million in 2019 to $300.4 million in 2021
  • How to respond to the widespread decrease in donors
  • Which digital fundraising platforms have seen the greatest adoption
  • How to harness the potential of a reported $778.2 million in unrealized gifts
  • Which arch/dioceses are leaders among foundation initiatives
  • How some respondents garnered nearly 200% of their campaign goals
  • Which strategic innovations arch/dioceses are prioritizing

Funding Catholic Causes
Since 1947

Discover how CCS leverages our experience with Catholic organizations.

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Your essential guide to philanthropy

For the past 13 years, CCS’s Philanthropic Landscape reports have compiled and analyzed data from Giving USA and other leading industry sources to reveal an accurate, laser-focused look at the current state of philanthropy in the US.

In addition to sharing key stats, in-depth analysis, case studies, and insights on individual, foundation, and corporate giving in 2023, the 13th Edition report also reveals:

  • Election Year Insights: Understand how the US presidential election might affect philanthropic trends.
  • Sector Highlights: Find out which sectors raised the most money and why.
  • How to Build AI-Readiness: Learn how your organization can build a culture ready for new technologies integration.

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Philanthropic Landscape Archive

Discover all our Philanthropic Landscape reports throughout the years.

The cover image of the 2024 Philanthropic Landscape, 13th Edition

13th Edition, 2024

The front cover of the 2023 Philanthropic Landscape, 12th Edition report.
The cover of the 2022 Philanthropic Landscape.
The front cover of the 2021 Philanthropic Landscape.

12th Edition, 2023

11th Edition, 2022

10th Edition, 2021

9th Edition, 2020

8th Edition, 2019

7th Edition, 2018

6th Edition, 2017

5th Edition, 2016

4th Edition, 2015

3rd Edition, 2014

2nd Edition, 2013

1st Edition, 2012

The Jewish Philanthropy Since October 7 report compiles and analyzes data from 73 Jewish organizations to capture how philanthropy in the Jewish sector was impacted since the events of October 7, 2023. This report offers key insights to support effective fundraising, including:

  • Changes in philanthropic income over the past months
  • Allocation of funds to humanitarian and other efforts
  • The difference in donations between Israel- and non-Israel-related causes
  • Crisis-related funding trends since October 7
  • Sources of increased fundraising revenue
The front cover of the Jewish Philanthropy Since October 7 report

CCS Fundraising remains dedicated to understanding and sharing philanthropic trends – even during times of crisis.

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What Nonprofits Can Learn from Political Fundraising Campaigns  

October 30, 2024

This election year, take some tips from the political fundraiser’s playbook and bolster your nonprofit’s advancement strategy.

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AI + Fundraising Webinar

October 16, 2024

Explore the transformational potential of artificial intelligence in modern fundraising practices in this video featuring leading experts and practitioners in the field.

SEE ALL IN: Jewish
Jeff Kula, Senior Vice Chair, Philanthropy, Cleveland Clinic

Learn About:

  • The history of AI
  • Implementing AI in your fundraising strategy
  • Benefits and considerations of using AI
  • AI example cases and making the most of AI chat prompts
  • And more!

AI is changing the way nonprofits fundraise

Nonprofits often operate with limited resources and staff but are responsible for securing funding, engaging with supporters, and fulfilling the organization’s mission. AI makes this easier. 

Traditional AI—algorithms and techniques that group or separate objects, transactions, or entities—and Modern AI—used to generate content, images, or video based on simple text prompts—can be instrumental to an effective fundraising strategy. Traditional and Modern AI (Gen AI) allow you to work more efficiently and productively.  

With AI, you can obtain accurate, rich data to build custom predictive models around acquiring, segmenting, reassigning, and retaining donors. AI can also create a targeted list of major donor prospects, identify which donors to upgrade based on their donation history, and personalize donor communications by segmenting their interests.  

streamlined donor management

Managing your nonprofit’s donor database manually can be incredibly time-consuming and prone to errors. AI can help you automate your data entry, clean up existing data, and ensure that current and prospective donor data is accurate and updated.  

Further, AI can segment donors based on various factors, including donation history, interests, and engagement level with your organization. You can use this information to tailor your fundraising and communication strategies to each donor group. One example is using AI to identify previous donors who have lapsed and automatically generate reengagement appeals to encourage them to become donors again. 

automated processes

Gen AI can automate processes for nonprofits with lean support staff, including acknowledgment letters for all donation designations—you can edit and approve these automated versions before sending them to donors. Gen AI-powered automation can also create impact stories of significant gifts to share with current and prospective donors. 

likelihood prediction

One of the most promising uses of AI in fundraising is predicting which donors are likeliest to give to your nonprofit again. By analyzing donation histories, AI algorithms can forecast future donations and help segment donors, allowing for more tailored communication and targeted fundraising strategies.  

One such prediction method is Random Forests, or “decision trees,” which use specific conditions to visually map out all possible outcomes of a decision. This AI-driven approach removes the need for manual decision-making and helps you enhance your targeting efforts for potential donors and donations. 

enhanced fundraising campaigns

AI can analyze your organization’s past campaign performance and predict which strategies are likeliest to succeed by assessing criteria such as donor demographics, previous donations, and contribution frequency to recommend the best outreach timing and methods. 

content generation

AI language generation models like ChatGPT can create qualification emails, thank-you letters, and proposals as well as research profiles. By automating content creation and testing variations, AI ensures you present the best possible content to donors. This boosts efficiency, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.  

leverage the power of aI for your nonprofit

Relationship-building is essential to successful fundraising, and AI is not designed to replace but augment human work. When it comes to efficiency and productivity, AI has the potential to transform not just nonprofit operations but donor engagement and retention. By automating routine tasks, personalizing donor engagement strategies, and providing data-driven insights, AI allows you to focus more on your organization’s mission.  

Embracing AI technology can help you secure the necessary resources to achieve your nonprofit’s goals and drive your mission forward for an even greater impact. 

Still have questions about AI?

Our industry-leading Data Analytics team is here to help!

Explore Our Reports

Publication

The Philanthropy Outlook 2024 and 2025

March 13, 2024

Strengthen your fundraising strategy this year and next with this data-driven publication, revealing predictive insights for the philanthropic sector in the years ahead.

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CCS Philanthropy Pulse

February 15, 2024

Take the 2025 CCS Philanthropy Pulse Survey! Participating organizations’ insights inform CCS’s FREE annual Philanthropy Pulse report, which provides nonprofits with helpful data to navigate the ever-evolving philanthropic space.

Publication

2024 Philanthropic Landscape, 13th Edition

September 9, 2024

This report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of US philanthropy, compiling and analyzing annual data from Giving USA and other prominent research to ensure your organization stays up-to-date on the most significant industry trends.

CCS Fundraising is excited to share The Philanthropy Outlook 2024 & 2025 report. This publication, researched and written by the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, forecasts the giving environment of the next few years, focusing on the notable trends nonprofit practitioners will likely see in the space. In addition to exploring the economic variables impacting philanthropy, this data-driven report projects total giving and giving by all four donor sources, including households, foundations, estates, and corporations.

The cover page of The Philanthropy Outlook 2024 & 2025, which includes an image of person looking confidently ahead in an urban landscape.

Most notably, the study found that charitable giving is expected to grow in 2024 and 2025—both overall and for each source:

  • Total charitablegiving is expected to rise above the historical 10-year, 25-year, and 40-year annualized average rates of growth in both 2024 and 2025.
  • Giving by households is predicted to grow but will trail the rate of growth for total giving.
  • Giving by foundations is expected to experience strong growth, outpacing growth rates for total giving in 2024 and 2025.
  • Giving by estates is anticipated to experience stronger growth in 2025, rising above the historical 10-year, 25-year, and 40-year annualized average rates of growth.
  • Giving by corporations is also projected to grow but will lag historic rates of growth for this sector.

For an engaging discussion on takeaways from the report with esteemed industry panelists in finance, nonprofit fundraising, and philanthropy, explore our Philanthropy and Economic Outlook webinar.

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Philanthropy and Economic Outlook Webinar

March 12, 2024

The economy’s impact on philanthropy is one of the most pressing topics for nonprofit leaders today. Plan your organization’s fundraising with confidence with this on-demand video and accompanying article.

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Charitable Giving During Presidential Elections

February 23, 2024

As we approach the 2024 US presidential election, many nonprofit professionals wonder if and how politics will affect this year’s charitable giving landscape. Read on as we examine research that helps us understand the relationship between nonprofit fundraising and political giving.

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CCS Philanthropy Pulse

February 15, 2024

Take the 2025 CCS Philanthropy Pulse Survey! Participating organizations’ insights inform CCS’s FREE annual Philanthropy Pulse report, which provides nonprofits with helpful data to navigate the ever-evolving philanthropic space.

Contribute your expertise today, shape the fundraising strategies of tomorrow

At CCS Fundraising, we’re dedicated to advancing philanthropy. The annual CCS Philanthropy Pulse survey captures the latest trends and best practices in nonprofit fundraising. Your insights will help us define the future of fundraising and empower nonprofits to succeed.

Why Participate:

  • Exclusive Early Access: Survey participants will gain early access to our FREE report, packed with invaluable data to elevate your fundraising strategies.
  • Influence Industry Insights: Your contributions will help shape the future of fundraising practices, informing strategies that lead to nonprofit success. 
  • Empower Change: Your perspectives can drive innovative approaches that empower nonprofits to create a meaningful impact.

For just 15 minutes of your time, you can unlock a world of data to influence your strategy in the year ahead!

The survey closes on Friday, November 22nd.

Key Findings:

  • Fundraising revenue grew across the board in FY22. However, organizations with larger fundraising budgets saw better revenue performance than that of their peers.
  • With donor retention a top challenge, only 48% of organizations reported retaining over half their new donors in the previous 12 months.
  • Only about one-third of organizations increased fundraising staff in 2023, but 68% have increased staff pay.
  • While fundraiser comfort in using data has increased over the past 3 years, most organizations are not yet leveraging AI technology.

Philanthropy Pulse Sector Spotlights

Dive into our sector spotlights below for data specific to Arts & Culture, Health, Higher Education, Human Services, Primary & Secondary Schools, and Faith.

As you dive into the report and sector spotlights, what data points stick out to you?

Join the conversation on social media by using #2024CCSPhilanthropyPulse.

Explore More CCS Research Reports

Publication

2024 Philanthropic Landscape, 13th Edition

September 9, 2024

This report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of US philanthropy, compiling and analyzing annual data from Giving USA and other prominent research to ensure your organization stays up-to-date on the most significant industry trends.

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Philanthropy Pulse Report Library

February 15, 2024

Discover previous editions of CCS’s Philanthropy Pulse report to understand how nonprofit fundraising practices have evolved over several years.

How can we help you?

Our unique, customized approach can provide your organization with of-the-moment, sustainable solutions.

As the leading strategic consulting partner for nonprofits, CCS Fundraising is committed to understanding how organizations like yours can navigate the shifting philanthropic landscape and best position themselves for fundraising success.

Our annual Philanthropy Pulse report compiles and contextualizes survey data to guide fundraisers, offering insights into the modern strategies nonprofits employ for development. Check out previous editions of our main report below:

The cover image of the 2023 CCS Philanthropy Pulse report.
The cover image of the 2022 CCS Philanthropy Pulse report.

2nd Edition, 2023

1st Edition, 2022

CCS Philanthropy Pulse Sector Spotlights

In addition to the main report, CCS explores fundraising practice data by nonprofit sector. Check out our spotlights from previous years for Arts & Culture, Health, Higher Education, Human Services, Primary & Secondary Schools, and Faith below.

Explore more cCS research reports

Publication

CCS Philanthropy Pulse

February 15, 2024

Take the 2025 CCS Philanthropy Pulse Survey! Participating organizations’ insights inform CCS’s FREE annual Philanthropy Pulse report, which provides nonprofits with helpful data to navigate the ever-evolving philanthropic space.

Publication

2024 Philanthropic Landscape, 13th Edition

September 9, 2024

This report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of US philanthropy, compiling and analyzing annual data from Giving USA and other prominent research to ensure your organization stays up-to-date on the most significant industry trends.

Interested in our services?

CCS turns insights into actions, challenges into opportunities, and fundraising goals into mission impact.

An iPad showing the front cover of CCS's August 2023 "Raising and Investing Endowment Capital in the U.S. Education Sector" whitepaper.

Raising philanthropic funds for endowments is crucial for the financial stability of educational institutions in today’s challenging economic and demographic landscape. This white paper will offer step-by-step information on how to:

  • Craft a compelling case for support that emphasizes the institution’s mission, priorities, and the impact of donations
  • Establish strong donor relationships through regular updates, engagement opportunities, and recognition
  • Invest wisely in educational endowments to weather market fluctuations and ensure consistent returns
  • Collaborate with development professionals and experts
  • Partner with experienced investment professionals and financial advisors to navigate long-term investments

Download this resource today to inform the launch and health of your school’s endowment.

Ackowledgements: We thank our thought partners, Koda Capital, for their partnership on co-creating the original version of this whitepaper for the Australian market.

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The Influence of the 2024 Presidential Election on Higher Education Fundraising

November 1, 2024

This article explores how the election may influence higher education fundraising while offering actionable insights for navigating this season of change and uncertainty.

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What Nonprofits Can Learn from Political Fundraising Campaigns  

October 30, 2024

This election year, take some tips from the political fundraiser’s playbook and bolster your nonprofit’s advancement strategy.

This innovative report provides statistical insights to show the power of planned gifts, the role of planned gifts in campaigns, and guidance for projecting planned gifts based on realization data.

The State of Planned Giving in Fundraising report grew out of a desire and need to answer questions from our nonprofit partners about legacy giving. It compiles data from multiple projects conducted by CCS Fundraising’s Gift Planning Practice Group, including two surveys of 600 nonprofits about legacy giving, and draws on key research from Giving USA, Dr. Russell James, and other sources. Key findings include:

  • Legacy gifts comprised more than 16% of overall fundraising and 11% of campaigns.
  • The average legacy gift is significantly more than the average annual gift.
  • Unknown legacy gifts are likely of considerable value.
  • No clear relationship exists between legacy gift revenue and endowment size.
  • Legacy societies are underutilized as a powerful donor acquisition and retention tool.

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Making the Case for Endowment at Your Independent School

May 9, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic and the fluctuating economy in the years since revealed how critical endowments are for the growth and sustainability of independent schools. Learn how to make the case for an endowment at your school with our concrete tactics.

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Proposals That Stand Out: Adding Financial Illustrations to Blended Gift Requests

April 25, 2024

Seeking gift strategies and tips for building effective proposals? Explore this on-demand video.