Study of Philanthropy: Decoding the Motivations and Strategies of High-Capacity Philanthropists

With an overall decline in the number of Americans giving to charity, many nonprofits and higher education institutions increasingly rely on a smaller and more affluent circle of supporters to meet their fundraising goals. The importance and influence of these high-capacity donors only continue to increase.

The new Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, the tenth in our series of reports that began in 2006, illuminates the many expressions of giving by affluent Americans. The series offers practical insights into distinct donors.

This presentation will explore what motivates affluent donors to give and stop giving and which organizations affluent Americans currently support. These insights can help build the confidence and increase the success of nonprofit staff and board members when seeking the support of high-capacity donors, with the goal of securing transformational gifts to advance the nonprofit’s mission. Individual and family philanthropists also will gain a better understanding of emerging national trends and best practices in giving.

Takeaways/Key Learnings

• What are recent trends in giving and volunteering among America’s affluent households?
• Which organizations and causes do affluent donors support and why?
• How may the economy and other forces drive donor behaviors and community impact throughout 2025 and beyond?

Speakers:

William Jarvis, managing director, philanthropic executive, Bank of America
Anna Pruitt, senior vice president, philanthropic strategist, Bank of America