By: Bob Scott, Director, Membership Operations & Linda Beza, Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration 

Each year, the National Health Council (NHC) conducts a Revenue Survey among our Patient Organization (PO) members, which reports consolidated revenue for each participating PO member’s national office and all affiliates and/or chapters over the last three-year period. Variables such as the pandemic and other economic challenges have affected the revenue growth in the nonprofit world. However, 2023 was a promising year with a positive rebound in revenues: the 2023 NHC survey shows growth in various revenue categories, showing resilience amid our various challenges and opportunities. 

Sixty-three percent of our PO members responded to the survey, providing on data campaign revenue, planned giving, grants, and online giving. Three categories of revenue are reported in the survey results: campaign revenue, other revenue, and investment revenue. 

Total Revenue increased by 20.6% in 2023, a big upsurge compared to the last several years. The 2023 revenue increase was preceded by a 11.6% decrease in 2022, a 14% increase in 2021, and a 7.4% decrease in 2020. 

All three revenue categories increased: 

• • Campaign Revenue, making up 57% of total revenue, was slightly up by 1%. 

• • Other Revenue, making up 37% of total revenue, was up by 15%. 

• • Investment Revenue, making up 6% of total revenue, had a tremendous rebound, up by 208%. 

Additional key findings from the 2023 Revenue Survey include: 

• • Campaign Revenue accounts for 61% of the total of Campaign & Other Revenue (excluding Investment Income). This is a decline compared to 68% in 2022 and in 2021, and 71% in 2020. 

• • Despite the percentage shift, Campaign Revenue slightly increased by 1% in 2023 compared to the 2022 survey, where Campaign Revenue increased by a 3% increase. Notably, foundation giving and corporate contributions increased in 2023. 

• • Other Revenue accounted for 39% of Campaign & Other Revenue in 2023 (excluding Investment Income), showing an increasing shift in the revenue share compared to 36% in 2022. Other Revenue was up 15% in 2023 compared to a 5% increase in 2022. There were several bright spots in this category: bequests, split-interest agreements, program fees, and meetings and events, which continue to increase year over year. 

• • The positive stock market outlook provided significant growth in Investment Revenue with a 208% increase in 2023, compared to a 172% decline in 2022. Interestingly, while interest income increased by 35% in 2023 compared to a 54% increase in 2022, the biggest driver in the overall investment income in 2023 was in the realized and unrealized gains. 

• • Full-Time Employees (FTEs) decreased by 1% in 2023 compared to a 6% increase in 2022.  

While all PO members can access the report, the major benefit of participating is a personalized report that compares a responding organization to other PO members in their revenue group. It is our understanding that members find the full report, and the personalized report in particular, invaluable for decision-making and giving their boards valuable data and context. Current PO members who would like to view the high-level overview report for all participating members should contact Bob Scott.