The California Attorney General's report found that nonprofits might have gotten more out of their fundraising efforts in 2011, as local charities received 51 percent of the $338.5 million for-profit fundraising companies earned. The year before, they received 41 percent of campaign success. San Diego charities did even better, benefiting from 71 percent of the funds private companies raised on their behalf.

"Because of the economy, nonprofits are doing more with less and are being smart about how they are going about doing business," Carole Fish told the source. Fish is a professor at the University of San Diego and board member for the San Diego chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. "The numbers are showing that many nonprofits are making sure that they are being accountable to the community."

This change may be driven in part by donors' demands for greater transparency into fundraising efforts and a push to ensure their contributions are going to their preferred causes.

Individuals, programs and organizations that rely on fundraising to fuel sustainable operations might find nonprofit fundraising software advantageous. The solutions can facilitate the process of identifying grant opportunities, generate reports that demonstrate current financial need and showcase previous achievements.