Feeling "Whelmed" in a Cause Driven World

Over the long weekend I had an opportunity to catch up on some blog posts and stories that caught my eye last week. It’s not often that I’m disciplined enough to actually go back through my feeds to play catch up – but I’m glad I did. I was struck by a conversation taking place on Skoll Foundation’s Social Edge moderated by Jill Finlayson and Hildy Gottlieb called, Issue Fatigue – Fighting for Attention and Funds in an Aware World. The basic premise is that perhaps we’re not suffering from donor fatigue as much as we are overwhelmed by the causes that surround us as we go about our daily lives. 

• It’s the economy.  With the disappearing grants, dwindling corporate support, and declining donations, fundraising confidence is at 10 year low with more than 93 percent of fundraisers saying the economy is having a negative impact on fundraising. There is less money and more need.
• It’s the number of nonprofits. With more than 1.5 million in the U.S. alone (up about half a million in the past four years), and new people starting nonprofits, appeals are up and competition for discretionary funds is greater. 
• It’s the awareness. With Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth and global leaders speaking out, people believe they need to change their habits to save the world.  We have reached a tipping point in public understanding of climate change and many other issues.
• It’s the internet. With so many more ways for people to help and ways for nonprofits to reach supporters, it is no longer just direct mail. People can help their favorite nonprofits by nominating, voting, joining, sharing, evangelizing, blogging, petitioning, auctioning, gifting, loaning, and making small changes, taking small actions. 

Is your organization or cause tredding a little differently in this new hyper-connected world?  Do you see your personal style of giving changing? Or, are you just plain overwhelmed?