By Lisa M. Chmiola, CFRE, CSPG

The annual Giving USA report was released a few weeks ago, and there’s been much buzz about 2022 as a bad year for fundraising. It’s hard to ignore the numbers: individual giving is down to 64% of all gifts, and those gifts decreased 13.4% in 2022 from 2021 when adjusted for inflation. (Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy, “4 Takeaways from Giving USA and More.”)

CGP is pleased to welcome Jon Abrams as the 2021 national board chair. This is Jon’s fourth year on the board. He serves as Director, Gift Planning for the Central Atlantic and Northeast Divisions of the American Red Cross. He is a current member and past president of the Planned Giving Group of New England. In a recent Q&A with CGP, he shared his perspectives and vision for the upcoming year.

What will you focus on during your year as chair?
The board will continue its focus on four important activities. 

On March 25 the Senate approved a $2 trillion aid package (HR 748) to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic by a 96-0 vote. The bill, which is the third legislative relief package to address COVID-19, now goes to the House where Speaker Pelosi has said it will be taken up Friday “with strong bipartisan support.” President Trump has indicated he will promptly sign the measure into law when he receives it.

From completing work on pending appropriations bills to a landmark overhaul of criminal sentencing laws, the week before Christmas on Capitol Hill will go down as a hectic one, to say the least.  Lawmakers are also trying to make some headway on various tax measures and extend and/or reauthorize a number of important government programs, all against a backdrop of dwindling legislative days and the likely absences of lame-duck lawmakers not coming back next year.