Nov. 1, 2020

Giving was strong the first half of the year at the country’s biggest nonprofits, according to a Chronicle spot check. But fundraisers are worried about 2021.

Our survey of the most successful fundraising organizations in the country shows how they have fared during the first two quarters of the year.

Some nonprofits have used digital gatherings to win donations and attract new supporters. Others, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, say the benefits don’t justify the time and work involved.

Nonprofits are focusing on existing donors, and with hiring freezes in place, a growing number are outsourcing more development tasks.

Small nonprofits were more responsive than big ones, and quick grant making was critical.

Nonprofits on Staten Island learned firsthand after Sandy that collaboration, particularly with local government agencies, is key to disaster response.

Many of the volunteers who played an important role in Hurricane Sandy recovery were veterans of Occupy Wall Street.

Recipients have called Jack Dorsey’s grants game-changing, and they come swiftly, with few if any reporting requirements.

Nonprofits across the country are finding ways to save significant sums of money on their real estate expenses amid the economic upheaval. Some are negotiating early terminations or subleases; other more creative solutions are options, too.

Covid-19 has made it harder than ever for the World Food Program to achieve its mission of ending starvation around the world. But it hopes a new accolade will spur private donors and governments to move fast to supply funding needed to prevent mass starvation.

Tactics and advice from veteran fundraisers to help you stay in touch with big donors, bring them closer to your cause, and boost results over the long term.

By embracing more risk , stepping up their donations, and changing how they interact with nonprofits, family funds have the potential to be key to the recovery and reset ahead.

As concerns about a K-shaped recovery mount, it is especially important for foundations and charities to get ready to focus on the neediest. But what matters most is to imagine many different possibilities and prepare to seize opportunities.