February 2021 Newsletter


Generosity Commission Update

One of the most crucial pieces of work of the Generosity Commission is research. It will help the Generosity Commission provide concrete recommendations and specific steps that every person and organization can take to reverse downward trends in giving, volunteering and civic engagement.

While we know great data and research already exists, funding new work that probes deeply into the implications of the changes we see will provide insights that inform every aspect of our work. As the Commission considers policy recommendations, it will rely on research and data to inform its efforts. Ultimately, the research has an overarching and important goal: to help us understand how we can reimagine and reinvigorate generosity.

The six key questions we’re exploring:

  1. What are the implications for nonprofit organizations and communities of the decline in the number of givers and volunteers?
  2. What are the causes of recent trends in giving and volunteering? And what are the possible remedies?
  3. What is the level and impact of new diverse forms of giving and volunteering?
  4. Where do giving and volunteering fit among different types of civic engagement?
  5. What is the relationship between giving and volunteering and a healthy democracy?
  6. How do changes in participation in giving, volunteering and civic engagement impact social outcomes and issues such as social justice and racial and gender equity?

Thanks for your interest in the work of the Commission. You can learn more at The Generosity Commission website.

With warmest regards,

Ted Grossnickle
Chair, Working Committee
The Generosity Commission


Member Profile

Rachel Hutchisson
Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy at Blackbaud, Inc.

About Rachel:
Rachel is responsible for global corporate social responsibility at Blackbaud, Inc. She built the company’s CSR program from the ground up, leveraging her deep experience working at the intersection of business and nonprofits. She chairs the company’s Senior Women’s Leadership Council and ESG Steering Committee and serves on Blackbaud’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. Rachel is passionate about mentoring, sponsorship, and diversity and inclusion, partnering across the company and within the community to create more equitable systems. An active participant in broad-reaching civic initiatives, she is the Immediate Past Chair of The Giving Institute, a founding member of the Generosity Commission Working Group, and serves on the board of Common Impact.

In Rachel’s words:

Why is the work of The Generosity Commission so crucial?
Americans have a long history of being generous, of supporting others and investing in the vital nonprofit infrastructure we rely on. But the ways we engage, operate, do business and form community have evolved over time. The Generosity Commission will be a vital resource for understanding how Americans are investing in social good so we can further encourage those activities through both insight and policy, and nonprofits can get a deeper line of sight into how potential supporters choose to engage, so they can align action with community need. In a country that relies so much on charitable giving and volunteerism, we are all served by getting a deeper, updated view of what’s actually happening and how we can encourage more generosity.

“In a country that relies so much on charitable giving and volunteerism, we are all served by a deeper, updated view of what’s actually happening and how we can encourage more generosity.” – Rachel Hutchisson


Current Insights on Generosity

Follow Us On Social Media
The Generosity Commission is now on social media. Follow our LinkedIn and Facebook profiles for insights, updates and more.
New Research Underway to Understand Long-Term Trends Affecting Nonprofits
The National Survey of Nonprofit Trends and Impact is a new research effort to better understand how changes in giving and volunteering affect nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve. A collaboration of the Urban Institute, American University, George Mason University and Independent Sector, this recently launched survey captures trends affecting nonprofit organizations across the sector in different fields, sizes and locations so that donors, grantmakers and policymakers who want to help nonprofits thrive have rigorous data that reliably represents the experiences of nonprofits across the country. This research is funded by the Generosity Commission as part of our work to reimagine and reignite generosity in America by exploring key questions that will shape the future of giving, volunteering and civic engagement. If you or nonprofits in your network receive this survey, please share your experience to help this research effort gather as much insight as possible.

Insights and Analysis of 2020 Giving Now Available
2020 was a challenging year on many fronts, and yet we saw a remarkable amount of generosity. Data-driven analysis and insight into the financial charitable donations made in 2020 by individuals, donor advised funds, foundations and companies are important for understanding trends in giving and the implications of the global events of 2020. Blackbaud Institute, Fidelity Charitable and CCS Fundraising have recently released their analysis of 2020 giving, each with important insights to share.

Learn More: Blackbaud Institute Charitable Giving Report, Fidelity Charitable 2021 Giving Report, CCS Fundraising Philanthropic Climate Survey Report