Do elections affect nonprofit fundraising?

Major elections in the United States feature months of campaigning and headlines that dominate the news cycle. Since the 2016 election, more than half of Americans follow the presidential elections closely, and in the weeks leading up to Election Day, Americans are bombarded with campaign messages, whether they be sent to their email inbox or through volunteers knocking on their front door. 

Considering this timeline coincides with the beginning of the giving season, the biggest time of the year for nonprofit fundraising, how do elections—and the intense attention-grabbing stories that come with them—impact nonprofits? 

Here, we’ll explore whether elections influence nonprofits’ fundraising efforts, and how you can be a reliable supporter of the charitable causes close to your heart even during an election and other uncertain times. 

The impact of elections on nonprofit fundraising 

Do major elections impact how effectively nonprofits fundraise? It’s up for debate. 

Some argue that donors can compartmentalize their giving, meaning there’s no effect on nonprofits because of elections. According to a report from the Indiana Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, there is no historical evidence of decreased giving during major elections. Between 2000 and 2015, the report concluded that while political donations increased, so too had charitable giving. 

However, the constant access to information has only increased since that report was published. More people are turning to their digital devices and using social media as a source of news according to the Pew Research Center. This suggests they are only more tuned into the constant news cycle which becomes dominated by politics during elections. 

With this constant incoming information, is there any space left in people’s attention spans for nonprofits? According to a survey conducted by Candid, the answer is “no”. For those who live in swing states and receive even more political advertisements, the donors surveyed were less likely to report an intention to donate to a charity compared to those outside of the swing states. 

While the data is mixed, it appears nonprofits could benefit from increased efforts during election seasons to sustain typical levels of support. 

How you can support your favorite causes even during uncertain times 

For donors who are passionate about supporting charitable causes, this discussion is a great reminder to give to your favorite nonprofits before the end of the year. With or without an ongoing election, charities will still need your support to continue driving their missions forward. 

But elections aren’t the only thing that could potentially disrupt a well-intentioned donor. Whether candidates are vying for your attention or there are major shifts in the market, you can still help the charities you care about when you find yourself in uncertain times.  

Here are a few tips: 

1. Prepare your giving budget.Research suggests that when charitable giving is part of your budget, you’re better positioned to respond to nonprofits’ needs. However, when times are uncertain and charitable giving isn’t front of mind, it may be more difficult to stick to that line item on your budget. That’s where having a donor-advised fund (DAF) makes it easy. By contributing to your DAF when it makes the most sense to do so, you can easily recommend grants from that prepared budget. 
2. Be proactive with a giving plan. Your favorite nonprofits are likely trying to reach you, but they may get lost in the noise. Don’t wait until you’ve read through an email from your top charity to act. When you take time to establish your year-end giving plan, you can be more proactive in your approach. This could be either supporting a charity you’ve supported consistently or actively reflecting on the year to determine where your charitable dollars could make the greatest impact. Learn more about proactively planning your charitable giving in our previous blog. 
3. Speak up for your favorite causes. If you really want to support your favorite nonprofits, sharing your philanthropic passion is one of the best ways to help them through uncertain times. Communications from charities can get overshadowed by the news cycle. You reaching out directly to friends and family about your favorite nonprofit will be far more impactful and get them thinking about the charitable causes you care about, too. 

Conclusion: Current events don’t have to dictate giving 

With so many things competing for our attention, it makes that sense that charitable causes sometimes get lost in the shuffle. However, when donors are proactive by preparing a budget, crafting a giving plan, and talking about their giving, they can be part of the solution in getting nonprofits the funding they need. 

If you’d like to be a proactive donor, open a philanthropic account today. See how a Vanguard Charitable donor-advised fund can support your charitable giving, no matter the uncertainty in the world.