Majority of Charities Say Donations Not Hurt by September 11, Study Finds
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
February 21, 2002 | Read Time: 2 minutes
While the September 11 terrorist attacks took a toll on some nonprofit fund raising, most charities said that after the disaster they raised money equal to or even greater than the amount they raised the previous year during the same period, according to a new report.
In response to a survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in Alexandria, Va., a majority of nonprofit groups — 56 percent — reported that they collected the same or larger amounts during October 2001 as in October 2000. The report, which was based on responses from 248 of the association’s members, said 37 percent of respondents saw an increase in fund raising; 19 percent, no increase; and 44 percent, a decrease. At 21 percent of the groups, donations dropped 20 percent or more.
Respondents said the recession had affected donations more than the September 11 attacks had.
Whether it was the economy or the attack — or a combination of the two — September apparently derailed a successful fund-raising year for some organizations. A slight majority of nonprofit organizations, 51 percent, said that before the terrorist attacks they were collecting more than they had in 2000, but only 37 percent said that was true as of October.
The survey also provided evidence that although the nation may have experienced a renewed sense of civic duty after the attacks, the feeling did not translate into action.
Eighty-four percent of the respondents said they did not see an increase in volunteers after September 11. However, 16 percent did see a surge in volunteers.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals’ “Study of the Impact of the Events of September 11 on Charities” is available free to members of the association; copies can be purchased by nonmembers for $10 each. To order, contact the association’s Resource Center, 1101 King Street, Suite 700, Alexandria, Va. 22314; (800) 666-3863. The report is also available free to everyone on the association’s Web site, http://www.afpnet.org.
