Online Charitable Donations Increased 14% in 2013

Gone are the days when non-profits needed to rely only on street canvassing and paper pleas for donations. Email and social media are quickly revolutionizing charity, and according to a new study from M+R and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), 2013 was the space's best year yet.

The study breaks down exactly how leading U.S. non-profits performed online in the past year. In 2013, Internet users donated more than ever before — online giving increased 14% since 2012, with more than 5.5 million total gifts and nearly $325 million raised.

The average one-time donation increased as well, from $60 to $68 ($57 via email only), and overall non-profit website traffic grew 16%. Organizations' annual social growth is also booming, with the average number of Facebook fans increasing 37% and Twitter followers increasing 46%. Read more...