A study released in April 2009 by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) affirms significant financial and marketing benefits for not-for-profit hospices that add a freestanding inpatient facility.

The study, entitled "The Effect of a Hospice Home on Advancement Efforts," was conducted by ME&V Fundraising Advisers between August 2007 and November 2008. Among other findings, the research posits that

* 88% of hospices increased annual giving since building a hospice home; the remaining respondents had no available data because their homes had been built so recently.

* 69% of hospices said the presence of a hospice home helped them recruit more volunteers.

* median lengths of service days fell by 18.6% in the year after the addition of a hospice home, but today, these hospices average 16.2% growth in service days.

* more than a third of the respondents with one or more hospice homes are considering adding another.

The research, conducted by ME&V Fundraising Advisers, an associated member of NHPCO, affirms the positive effects that a hospice home's presence brings, including increased donations of memorials, stock, planned gifts, and annual giving; more volunteers; and increased awareness in the marketplace.

ME&V conducted an online survey with CEOs of not-for-profit hospices operating freestanding facilities. The study examined and measured not-for-profit hospices' annual fund-raising results before and after building a hospice home. The purpose of the research was to discover how a hospice home affects annual support, planned gifts, memorials, and gifts of stock. In addition, the research explored the effect on volunteer recruitment, average daily census, and average and median lengths of hospice service.

ME&V has said that it would like to repeat the survey in 2 years as the number of hospice homes continues to grow. Copies of the research are available by request; telephone 319-268-9151 or e-mail [email protected].