A worsening economy, coupled with a dramatic increase in the number of nonprofit organizations in the region, has area agencies worried about their ability to raise more money this year. In Philanthropic Landscape 2008, an annual survey of St. Louis nonprofits by The Rome Group, 71 percent of respondents reported meeting their fundraising goals in 2007. But, only 58 percent of those agencies expect increased donations in 2008. That is the lowest level of optimism since 2002, when gifts to many charities fell sharply in the wake of 9-11.
A different survey by The Rome Group of local individual, corporate and foundation donors, conducted in late May, offers some good news, however. That survey found that 42 percent of donors increased their total giving last year and 85 percent expect to give at least as much, if not more, this year.