Fundraising in Non-Profit Organizations of the USA and Russia: Comparative Analysis

Key indicators confirm a relatively high level of socio-economic development of Russia. The Human Development Index (HDI) gives freedom of choice for all citizens, there is not any sign of social exclusion on the basis of poverty, education or gender discrimination. Economic growth , which began in 2000 , led to GDP increase more than 70% and was accompanied by a tenfold average wages increase. The unemployment rate has returned to pre-crisis levels of 2010. Nevertheless , social stratification , according to the Gini coefficient has increased markedly and remains almost unchanged for the last time ( 0.42). Russia is among the countries with high income by per capita income indicator today. Despite the fact that our country is one of the last places Russia is excluded from DAC list of recipients of official development assistance (ODA). Due to the global crisis , foreign financial assistance for NGOs of post-Soviet countries , including Russia , has been reduced by more than 20 percent. Under pressure from the Russian government , the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID) , UNICEF, and SOROS, the Open Society Foundation , Counterpart International, Freedom House ceased to operate in our country. All these facts and events have a negative impact on the financial sustainability of nonprofit organizations. In connection with this, Russian NGOs is an urgent need to find and attract additional sources of funding , both traditional and new . Besides, there was considerable interest in such activities as fundraising, which came from the United States.The purpose of this thesis is to determine the similarities and differences between the American and Russian fundraising by comparing used practices for future using the best combinations subject to the conditions and features of development of fundraising activities in Russia. Due to the fact that the US and Russia are using a large number of diverse forms, in this study were selected of the 10 practices observed in both countries as the most popular. Carried out in this work, the study focused on the identification of existing opportunities for the development of fundraising in Russia.For the comparing, i have used statistic data, which shows the population attitude for charity in USA and Russia and it is the base for fundraising. Therefore, it was analyzed the conditions under which developing fundraising in Russia and the reasons why Russia does not apply successful American practices, which have been carried out comparing the standard of living of Americans and Russians, their level of religiosity, political and economic conditions and government policies to non-profit organizations in both countries. Particular attention was drawn to the study of performance used in the Russian practice of fundraising, their advantages and disadvantages. There was 5 specialists working in the field of fundraising and they answered by my questions. It was 11 questions in the list. The theoretical studies was confirmed by the answers of practitioners.