• by June 17, 2005

U.S. online donations in 2004 hit more than $3 billion -- up 58 percent from $1.9 billion in 2003, according to a study by technology provider Kintera and Luth Research, an online market research firm.

The Kintera/Luth survey found that more than 8.6 million U.S. households gave online to their favorite charities or nonprofit organizations. More than 65 percent of all donors visited at least one of the Web sites of the nonprofit organizations or fundraising events to which they gave.

The report is based on 3,142 responses from two surveys conducted in March and April. Both surveys included five questions -- the first received 1,543 responses and the second received 1,599 responses. Among the survey's findings:

--On average, online givers donate in total (both online and offline) more than 50 percent more than those donors who do not give online.

--More than 12 percent of all donating households in 2004 made some online donations.

--More than 75 percent of donors who go online before making a donation noted that going online made some impact on their decision whether or not to give, and more than 25 percent say the impact was significant.

--Nearly 35 percent of all online donors gave at least half of their donation amount online; 22 percent of all online donors gave all of their donations online. Also, about 3 percent of all donors in 2004 gave all their donations online.

Kintera found that the tsunami in South Asia may have accounted for at least $200 million in total online giving in 2004. The tsunami hit last December.

The study also confirms what others have shown -- that donors who give online give in total (online and offline), more than donors who do not donate online. Online giving is increasing across all sectors of the nonprofit community.