Baltimore, MD - Fundraising goals for capital and endowment campaigns of Baltimore area nonprofits have remained steady since 2003, according to a survey released today. A capital campaign is one in which funds will be used for construction, renovation, or improvement of a property and an endowment campaign is one in which projects will be financed using only the interest income from funds raised.

While the overall goals held steady, the number of campaigns has increased. The combined goal of anticipated campaigns is also significantly higher than it was in 2003.

Impact of the Economy

The economy is a primary explanation for the rise in future fundraising goals, according to Betsy Nelson, ABAG Executive Director: "Future campaign plans are higher in their expectations, perhaps because some groups simply postponed starting a campaign when the economy became worse and now are feeling a little better about their chances of success, or it may be that the need has forced nonprofits to move forward," she said.

The report, issued annually by ABAG since 1988, offers a measure of recently completed, current and anticipated campaign activities. It is designed to provide timely information to funders, potential funders, and to nonprofit organizations.

"This report shows the true scope and depth of important causes in the City of Baltimore," said Sarah Griswold Johnson, Director of Development for the Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (BEST), which provides grants for financially disadvantaged students to attend independent schools.

ABAG's report, Griswold Johnson said, "gives a 'big picture' idea of what is happening, who has been successful with their fundraising, and, in a healthy way, who out there is the competition. The number of campaigns being conducted - and the success of those campaigns - reflects the level of philanthropic commitment of foundations, corporations and individuals in Maryland."

BEST is one of the 124 organizations from the Greater Baltimore area in the report currently conducting capital and/or endowment campaigns or anticipate doing so in the future. The goals reported include amounts being solicited from all sources: individuals, corporations, foundations, and government - in and out of Maryland.

Among the other findings:

The 2004 survey lists 124 organizations from the Greater Baltimore area that are currently or anticipate conducting capital and/or endowment campaigns. The combined goal of current campaigns is $3,148,273,432. Of that sum, $2,259,956,357 has been raised to date; $888,317,075 remains to be raised. The combined goal of all anticipated campaigns is $116,570,000.

The report lists six organizations with goals of $50,000,000 or more. They represent 79 percent of the current goal and 92 percent of the amount raised to date. Nineteen organizations reported completing their capital and/or endowment campaigns. Thirty five organizations are included for the first time in this survey.

Reports to Come

Three additional studies to be released this year will describe trends in other dimensions of charitable giving - individual giving, foundation giving and corporate giving. Together, the four reports will present a portrait of both perceived charitable needs and actual levels of participation in philanthropy in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers is the Greater Baltimore region's premier resource on philanthropy, dedicated to informing grantmakers and improving the community. Our members include representatives of more than 125 private foundations and corporations with strategic, ongoing grantmaking programs.

Complimentary copies are available to the press by request to Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz: bbschwartz@abagmd.org.