Our Take on the State of Nonprofits in 2024

Last month, our friends at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits released a new report on the conditions of Minnesota’s nonprofit sector. And it makes clear that, in spite of our sector’s ingenuity and creativity, the nonprofit sector, post pandemic, is hurting. 

It’s true: what it means to run, lead, and fund our industry has fundamentally changed, and every organization, regardless of their size or their area of focus, is adapting to a new reality. And changes like these, however necessary, aren’t easy.  

At GiveMN, we are not immune to these trends as a small nonprofit ourselves. The unique role we play in supporting fundraising success for our state’s nonprofits and schools provides us the opportunity to learn from leaders throughout the state of Minnesota. Here’s what we’re hearing: 

• Individual donations are down; and understandably so, during a time when costs continue to rise for all of us; those same rising costs are making it even more difficult for nonprofits to serve their neighbors. 

• Institutional funders are reprioritizing their dollars; Giving USA reports that nationwide, giving from foundations is down 2.3% this year, when adjusted for inflation. 

• A polarizing election season creates even more competition for individual dollars and attention during a crucial fundraising window for nonprofits.  

At GiveMN, we recognize nonprofits of all sizes must evolve to continue to meet the rising needs of Minnesotans. We’re stepping up to the challenge by adapting how we provide tools, resources, and platforms to make fundraising easier for our partners year-round. And we’re proud to host the state’s annual giving holiday.

Save the date: Give to the Max Day is November 21. In 2023, $34.2 million was donated—the fourth consecutive year that together we topped $30 million—for Minnesota’s nonprofits and schools.

You can help make this year’s giving holiday even more impactful for our nonprofits and schools. Talk to your employer about donation matching opportunities, consider volunteering for your favorite organization’s Give to the Max Day event, and involve your families in your donations to inspire the next generation of philanthropists. Inspired to give today? GiveMN.org is open 24/7. Let’s show the world how and why Minnesota leads the country in generosity.  

Join us as we give for good.