> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • Philanthropy 50
  • Nonprofits and the Trump Agenda
  • Impact Stories Hub
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Data
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

High-Dollar Donors Remain Confident During Pandemic

By  Michael Theis
August 25, 2020

Big-dollar donors are more likely to give during the pandemic than other donors, according to a new report from the polling firm Campbell Rinker.

The study uses data collected during a Campbell Rinker confidence survey in July with about 650 donors, along with additional data collected from a 200-person subset of those respondents — donors who gave more than $2,500 to charities in 2019. Among that group, 70 percent said they expect to give at least the same amount this year as in 2019, while 18 percent said they expect to give more this year than last year, and 12 percent said they expected to give less.

We're sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network.

Please allow access to our site, and then refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, please contact us at 571-540-8070 or cophelp@philanthropy.com

Big-dollar donors are more likely to give during the pandemic than other donors, according to a new report from the polling firm Campbell Rinker.

The study uses data collected during a Campbell Rinker confidence survey in July with about 650 donors, along with additional data collected from a 200-person subset of those respondents — donors who gave more than $2,500 to charities in 2019. Among that group, 70 percent said they expect to give at least the same amount this year as in 2019, while 18 percent said they expect to give more this year than last year, and 12 percent said they expected to give less.

The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 6.7 percentage points.

Among donors who gave less than $2,500 in 2019, 64 percent said they plan to give at least the same amount as in 2019, 11 percent said they expect to give more , and 25 percent less.

These higher-dollar donors said would most likely support specific programs. Roughly 75 percent said they would be somewhat, very, or extremely likely to consider donations tied to specific programs. Unrestricted gifts and general operating support were less popular. Only 55 percent said they would be somewhat, very, or extremely likely to support requests for unrestricted funding.

ADVERTISEMENT

“In a time of a pandemic, it would seem more organizations need unrestricted support, and it would seem to me that these donors —being high-level, fairly confident in their own giving — it kind of surprised me they are not more in tune with those kinds of needs at an organization,” said Dirk Rinker, president of Campbell Rinker.

The participating donors are confident in their own ability to manage economic disruptions. Eighty percent said they are under no economic stress, and only 13 percent said their situation is “mildly challenging.” About 22 percent said their income had increased over the past year, compared with 17 percent who had seen their income decline.

According to the survey, higher-dollar donors consider local charities to be the most important to them. Locally focused charities received an average score of 4.1 out of 5 points when asked to rank the importance of different charity types. Internationally focused charities scored the lowest , averaging a score of three points out of five.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
PhilanthropistsMajor-Gift Fundraising
Michael Theis
Michael Theis writes about data and accountability for the Chronicle, conducting surveys and reporting on fundraising, giving, salaries, taxes, and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
  • Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Podcasts
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    • Impact Stories
    Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Podcasts
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    • Impact Stories
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Our Mission and Values
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Gifts and Grants Received
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Chronicle Fellowships
    • Pressroom
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Our Mission and Values
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Gifts and Grants Received
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Chronicle Fellowships
    • Pressroom
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Site License Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Site License Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2025 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin