The total number of donors to organization in the Target Analytics Index of National Fundraising Performance dropped by 4% between the first quarter of 2007 and first-quarter 2008. Even more disturbing, donated revenue fell by 1.8% during the same period.

The index has seen steady declines in donors since the surge in giving that followed hurricanes that damaged the U.S. Gulf Coast in fall 2005, but the most recent quarter marked the first time donations fell as well.

Roughly 39% of the organizations in the index saw year-over-year growth in donations.

According to a statement from Target Analytics, until first quarter 2008, increases in revenue-per-donor compensated for donor declines, allowing overall revenue to continue to grow. In the most recent quarter, however, continued revenue-per-donor growth could not make up for the donor decreases and prevent overall revenue from declining.

Overall, organizations saw a 2.3% drop in new donors between first quarter 2008 and first quarter 2008. This is on top of a 5.3% drop in donors during the previous year. Approximately 47% of the organizations in the index did generate more new donors during the first quarter.

The total number of donors to organization in the Target Analytics Index of National Fundraising Performance dropped by 4% between the first quarter of 2007 and first-quarter 2008. Even more disturbing, donated revenue fell by 1.8% during the same period.

The index has seen steady declines in donors since the surge in giving that followed hurricanes that damaged the U.S. Gulf Coast in fall 2005, but the most recent quarter marked the first time donations fell as well.

Roughly 39% of the organizations in the index saw year-over-year growth in donations.

According to a statement from Target Analytics, until first quarter 2008, increases in revenue-per-donor compensated for donor declines, allowing overall revenue to continue to grow. In the most recent quarter, however, continued revenue-per-donor growth could not make up for the donor decreases and prevent overall revenue from declining.

Overall, organizations saw a 2.3% drop in new donors between first quarter 2008 and first quarter 2008. This is on top of a 5.3% drop in donors during the previous year. Approximately 47% of the organizations in the index did generate more new donors during the first quarter.