16 Must Know Stats About Online Fundraising and Social Media SquareIt’s true that social media is in transition. Facebook Reach is at an all time low. Instagram has a new algorithm. Twitter is in flux. And the next Big Thing in social media ? Snapchat ? is baffling to many seasoned social media managers. But digital and mobile app payments are coming. The global internet population is set to triple in the next four years. The Internet of Things will transform our world. And email ROI and online giving is up, up, up! In reality, the peak years of email, online fundraising, and social media are ahead of us and the next decade will astound us all.


1. Nearly one in three (31.5%) people worldwide donated to charity in 2015 and one in four (24%) volunteered.

PIR-Illustrations

Source: CAF World Giving Index 2015

2. By 2018, the global population of social media users is projected to grow to 2.44 billion, or 33% of the world population.

global social media audience

Source: TrackMaven

3. Total giving is expected to grow 4.1% in 2016 and 4.3% in 2017. The vast majority of the giving will be done by individuals.

total giving growth

Source: The Philanthropy Outlook

4. Matures donate $683 annually. Boomers $478. Gen Xers $465. And Millennials $238.

how much different generations give to charity

Source: Abila

5. Donors 40-59 years old are now the most likely to give online.

Donors40-59NowMostLikelyToGiveOnline_Dunham_2016_website

Source: Dunham+Company

6. Millennials most inspired to give by social media. Gen X and Baby Boomers by email. Prediction: Gen Z will prefer mobile apps.

2016 Global Giving Trends SMALL

Source: Global NGO Online Technology Report

7. 95% of NGOs worldwide have a Facebook Page. 83% have a Twitter Profile. 40% are active on Instagram.

Social Media Used By NGOs Worldwide SMALL

Source: Global NGO Online Technology Report

8. Internet users have an average of 5.5 social media accounts. They are regularly active on 2.8 of those accounts.

number of accounts worldwide

Source: Global Web Index

9. 18% of all online donations come from mobile device users.

mobile giving stats

Source: CDW

10. On average, your followers should grow 23% annually on both Facebook and Twitter.

global social media growth

Source: TrackMaven

11. Short videos, short online articles, and short emails keep donors the most engaged, informed, and inspired to give.

inspired giving engagement

Source: Abila

12. For every 1,000 fundraising emails delivered, a nonprofit raises $44.

Email Revenue

Source: M+R Benchmarks Study

13. For Every 1,000 email subscribers, nonprofits have 355 Facebook follower, 132 Twitter followers, and 19 Instagram followers.

For every 1,000 email subscribers

Source: M+R Benchmarks Study

14. 11% of all online giving occurs over the last three days of the year.

December Giving

Source: Network for Good

15. Given the opportunity, 48% of American adults would make donations within a mobile app.

Cone Communications Mobile App

Source: Cone Communications

16. 42% of nonprofits use WordPress as the Content Management System for their website.

wordpress nonprofits 2

Source: npENGAGE


The 2016 Global NGO Online Technology Report
2,780 NGOs • 133 Countries • 6 Continents

Report Cover JPG 99A collaborative research project by the Public Interest Registry and Nonprofit Tech for Good, the 2016 Global NGO Online Technology Report is based upon the survey results of 2,780 NGOs from Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America. The research is unprecedented and provides valuable insight into the global NGO sector and its use of online technology.