Rallying from a giving downturn in 2009, charitable giving surged in the first half of this year to a total of $159.63 billion but is now slowing and expected to decline in the fourth quarter.

The rate of increase in giving slowed in May and June and is expected to turn negative in the last quarter of 2010. A current forecast projects a 4% annual increase for 2010 over 2009, according to the Atlas of Giving, an online membership-based product that measures, forecasts, and analyzes US giving.

“The charitable giving landscape in the US is colored by a variety of factors but is dominated by the condition of the US economy” reports Rob Mitchell, CEO of Philanthromax and former president of the American Cancer Society Foundation. “Recent declines in the stock market, consumer confidence, and the impact of the BP oil leak are having a significant impact,” Mitchell says.

There are things that charities and churches can do proactively to manage in this environment that include accelerating fundraising promotions, seeking to recover losses resulting from the BP oil leak, and making budget decisions that reflect the giving environment and forecasts.

The Atlas of Giving is suggesting that charities and churches could gain a fundraising advantage by moving fundraising events, mailings, and other activities now planned for year end to August and September.

“With a declining donation environment forecast for the remainder of 2010, it makes sense to time fundraising promotions to take advantage of better giving conditions and avoid seeking funds during times when giving is forecast to be in decline,” emphasizes Hank Zachry, Philanthromax President. “We also strongly believe that charities and churches have sufficient data in pursuing claims against BP to recover a calculated $900 million potential loss in donations through 2011,” Zachry says.

The Atlas of Giving is ushering in a new era of nonprofit management. The Atlas is a true innovation that measures monthly US Charitable giving, quantifies and analyzes the charitable giving impact of current events, and forecasts charitable giving activity. This timely information has never before been available.

The Atlas of Giving was created in 2010 by a team of 25 PhD mathematicians, analysts, and statisticians who evaluated more than 50 possible variables to create the Atlas charitable giving measurement algorithm. The Atlas measurement formula correlates to 41 years of publish giving history by
99.5 percent.

For more information, visit www.philanthromax.com.

The Atlas of Giving (pat. pending) is a membership-based product combining a report of monthly, quarterly, and annual aggregate charitable giving along with specific analysis of current events affecting giving and an accurate charitable giving forecast. Each month it provides real-time reports that take the guesswork out of fundraising planning, budgeting, timing and measuring performance. The Atlas supplies current data and forecasts that are vital to the effective and efficient operation of any organization that relies on charitable giving for its success. For more information, visit http://atlasofgiving.com.

Philanthromax LLC designs and provides innovative technology and business solutions that maximize the revenue, reputation, and effectiveness of America’s churches and charities. Philanthromax delivers one-of-a-kind solutions that provide organizations with effective, accountable, and successful fundraising and giving outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.philanthromax.com/.

For Immediate Release
Contacts at Philanthromax:
Hank Zachry
877-414-0078
hank@philanthromax.com

Or

Media Inquiries:
Paul E Maynard & Associates
Paul Maynard,
817-891-1167
paul@paulemaynard.com

About Philanthromax: Our mission is to improve the revenue, reputation, and effectiveness of America’s charities and churches.