State of Good

Explore the latest findings from our State of Good series, revealing key donor behaviors and trends shaping the future of philanthropy.

Weekly insights on donor behavior, industry trends, and what’s shaping generosity
⏱️ 4 minutes | Once a week

✓ Donor Insights • Industry Indicators • News & Policy • Stories of Good

Latest Updates

State of Good for Nov 17, 2025

Consumer sentiment crashes to 50.3 (historic low), but wealthy donor confidence jumps 11% with S&P 500 up 14%. Midlevel donors ($1K-$10K) provide 30%+ of budgets. GivingTuesday Dec 2nd could hit $4B. Loss aversion: “prevent loss” messaging outperforms “create gain” 2:1. Plus: Kentucky pastor’s authentic generosity goes viral.

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State of Good for Nov 10, 2025

The November 10th State of Good highlights that emotional connection now drives giving more than transparency or impact, while the S&P 500’s 16% gain creates an expanded window for major donor cultivation. Monthly giving has become a fundraising superpower as donors shift to recurring partnerships. The report advises framing appeals around opportunity rather than crisis during the SNAP chaos, and features A Place At The Table café as an example of operational resilience that scaled seamlessly when federal benefits halted.

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State of Good for Nov 4, 2025

Fewer donors giving bigger gifts as small-donor base shrinks 10.5%. Stock market gains create major gift window. GivingTuesday donors show 65% retention vs 52% average. MacKenzie Scott gave $380M to HBCUs filling federal gaps. Foundations can’t meet demand despite raising payouts. Maine Foundation mobilized $250K in 72hrs for SNAP crisis—speed wins.

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