The Children’s Aid Society: The Future of Giving

Additionally, donors have become savvier about the giving process than in the past. Fiscal responsibility is important to them. Potential donors can use web sites such as Charity Navigator and GuideStar to access a non-profit’s financial background with a few simple clicks. But is putting 20 percent of the budget toward fundraising okay to do? It depends on which donor you ask.

These are just a few of the many challenges The Children’s Aid Society faces when considering the future of giving. The questions Kaplan raises in particular are interesting ones for all non-profits to consider.

Recently, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited the U.S., choosing the Harlem Children’s Zone as one of their causes. According to The New York Times, the prince chose the Harlem educational organization because of his “interest in urban renewal.” But that only partially answers the question. If I were running a competing non-profit focused on urban renewal, I would want to know: why did the prince choose this organization in particular?

Understanding such questions in the future will ultimately help everyone’s mission.