Study: Residents to give more to nonprofits than in recent years

The Utica OD reported that in recent years, Mohawk Valley charitable organizations have been struggling to meet greater need brought by the recession, as contributions remained stagnant or dropped.

But things may be turning around.

A survey released this week by Dallas-based Dunham and Company found that Americans are more likely to give this year than anytime in the past four years.

“The numbers had been pretty consistent,” organization President Rick Dunham said. “Then this year, it was just, ‘wow.’”

Officials from area charities said they were hopeful about 2011, but weren’t yet ready to predict a significant uptick in donations.

“We hope this year will be better, but we have no guarantees,” said the Rev. Bill Dodge, executive director of the Rescue Mission of Utica. “If the survey is right, that would be wonderful.”

Among the findings of the survey by Dunham and Company, a consulting group that helps ministries develop fundraising strategies:

* This year, only 14 percent of those surveyed said they would decrease giving, down from 25 percent in the past three years.

* Eighteen percent of those surveyed said they would increase their charitable giving, up from just 14 percent in the previous years.

Dunham said 75 percent of those surveyed said they felt either the same or better about their personal financial situation than they had in the past.

“I think that’s a major driver,” he said.

The givers

Asked about their plans for giving in 2011, local residents expressed a range of responses.

Stacy Lindfield, of Oriskany, said her financial situation was better this year than last year, because she had a better job.

“I might give a little more,’ she said. “I like to give to animal shelters.”

But Rick LeClair, of Inlet, said since he lost his job this fall, his donations probably would be less than in the past.

“I’ll give anyway,” he said. “But if I go back to work, I’ll give more.

LeClair said his father, who had Alzheimer’s disease, recently died, and so LeClair has been giving to organizations that research that illness, as well as to the March of Dimes.

Louise Holck, of Steuben, said she and her husband are retired and live on a fixed income, and are trying to hold their giving steady.

“As yet, we have not cut back,” she said. “I’m not saying we won’t.”

She said she had made a commitment to give to her church.

The charities

The Compassion Coalition used to give out 5,000 backpacks filled with school supplies every year, but that hasn’t happened for the past two years.

“I just could not get sponsorship,” said the Rev. Charles Sweet, executive director of the nonprofit.

He said it would be nice if donations went up, and he wanted to try again this year, but may not give out as many backpacks as in the past.

Anne White, of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, said that group’s giving had held steady during the recession, and things seemed to be looking up.

“We did have our annual appeal at the end of 2010, and we did raise more money than we have in the past,” she said. “We take this as a sign that people are a little more confident and may be more able to invest some discretionary income in our local not-for-profits.”

Susan Woods, a spokeswoman for the United Way of Greater Utica, said the Mohawk Valley was known as a generous community.

“Since we are a community of givers, as our local economy takes an upturn, we are certain that giving will, too,” she said.