“Even in a time of enormous economic upheaval, such as we saw in 2009, Americans continued to be generous to charitable causes,” said Giving USA Foundation Chair Edith H. Falk. “While overall giving declined, many donors–including individuals and foundations–made special efforts in 2009 to respond to greater humanitarian needs.”

This year, the Giving USA Foundation is making available an executive summary of their total findings. To read this summary, click here.

To obtain a complete copy of Giving USA 2010 or to learn more, visit www.givingusa2010.org.

AHP, a 501(c)3 organization, provides fundraising resources for non-profit health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ahp.org.

Many of our clients have realized six- and seven-figure gifts and pledges over the last year. Religious, education and social service clients, YMCAs and hospitals alike. Urban settings and rural communities. All have seen significant commitments that set the example for others to give. Why? Dedication on the part of the client. Coupling the right opportunities with the right donors. Strong cases for support that demonstrated strategic planning and compelling needs. And generous donors motivated to strengthen their communities.

As ACB looks ahead to the future we are once again encouraged by what we are finding in the field. The Developmental Studies© we have conducted in the last few months have found participants willing to commit six- and seven-figure gifts to future campaigns. Again, these commitments are to organizations of all types and sizes across the nation.

If you are with a non-profit organization in some capacity, we encourage you to continue developing your philanthropic programs. You can be confident that with the right opportunity and the right donor, your organization’s project can find the major gifts it needs to move forward. Don’t forget the important steps to pave the way for this success—relationship building, leadership development and strong communications.

And, of course, if American City Bureau, Inc. can assist you in your efforts, please call us at 224.293.3000. We offer a full array of services and are here to help you reach your goals and build a long-lasting culture of philanthropy.

We are proud of our new home and welcome visitors—old and new—as we embark on a new chapter in our firm’s long and rich history. While our address is changing, our email and phone numbers will remain the same.

To view photos of our building’s rehabilitation, click on the links below. ACB will officially move into its new “home” sometime in January 2010. We look forward to sharing photos of our rehabbed building as well.

302 West Main Before
302 West Main Before–East Side
302 West Main Rehab
302 West Main–Completely Gutted!

While focusing efforts toward major gift development may be a new approach for an organization, success can be achieved with the right, proven steps.  Indeed, it is our experience that the success of any significant philanthropic endeavor will depend upon securing major gifts.