Donor Participation Project

Investing in Fundraising and Analytics – Exponential Returns or Outdated Thinking? Nonprofits that invest in fundraising and analytics can achieve EXPONENTIAL RETURNS and sustainable growth. However, many nonprofits underinvest in these areas due to outdated beliefs that portray fundraising costs as wasteful spending. According to fundraising expert Kirk Smith, this outdated thinking prevents nonprofits from making strategic investments that could drive future impact. --- 🔄 The Virtuous Cycle of Fundraising With an initial investment, effective fundraising and analytics programs can set off a virtuous cycle: - Acquire new donors - Gain data to better understand and engage them - Achieve higher retention and lifetime value - Generate more revenue to reinvest in acquisition and program improvements Over multiple cycles, returns multiply and compound. --- 🚫 The Hesitation to Invest Nonprofits are often hesitant to spend on fundraising due to: - Pressure to minimize costs - Outdated metrics focusing on percentages of dollars spent on programs versus overhead - The belief that fundraising costs necessarily reduce program funding In reality, strategic fundraising investments can grow the total funding pie, providing more resources for programs in the long run. --- 📊 Building the Case for Investment Nonprofits need to build the case for increased investment based on potential returns: - Analyze lifetime value of different donor segments - Model returns from greater investment in key programs - Small nonprofits can start by comparing the value of donor groups over multiple years --- 🗣️ Messaging to Stakeholders - Focus on compounding returns from fundraising - Explain how initial investments are repaid and multiplied over time - Use data and the right narrative to make a compelling case The view of fundraising as purely a cost center is OUTDATED and harmful, but it can be overcome by demonstrating the virtuous cycle of investment and return. Nonprofits that invest strategically in fundraising and analytics programs will achieve exponential growth and impact – the key is making the data-driven case to invest in the future. How is your organization making the case for strategic investment in fundraising and analytics?

Asking the Right Questions: Strategies for Fundraisers to Gain Donor Insight For nonprofit fundraisers, gaining insight into donor motivations and values is KEY to building meaningful relationships. Strategic questions are one of the most important tools for discovering what inspires donors to give and cultivating true partnerships. --- 🗣️ The Impact of Quality Questions According to fundraising expert Karen Osborne, the quality of questions fundraisers ask directly impacts their ability to gain donor insight. - Rapport-building questions like "How did you meet your spouse?" are useful for establishing a connection - But they fail to reveal donors' passions or motivations Fundraisers should move beyond superficial questions to unpack why donors care about certain causes and issues. Example: Instead of accepting a short response about a donor's career, ask follow-up questions: - "What did you find most rewarding about that work?" - "How did that experience shape your perspective?" --- 🎯 Understanding Philanthropic Values and Goals Fundraisers need to understand donors' philanthropic values and goals. Ask questions such as: - "What causes are most meaningful to you and why?" - "If you could resolve one problem in our community what would it be?" These provide insight into donors' priorities and vision for change. With this understanding, fundraisers can have more meaningful discussions about how the nonprofit's mission and programs align with donors' values. --- 👂 The Importance of Active Listening While preparing thoughtful questions is key, practicing active listening is EQUALLY IMPORTANT. - Donors will reveal a great deal if fundraisers are fully engaged and paying close attention - According to expert Jim Langley, unpacking responses through follow-up questions demonstrates genuine interest in donors' perspectives and stories - By listening for meaning and emotion in donors' voices, fundraisers gain deeper insight into their passions and priorities --- Fundraisers should develop a list of strategic questions tailored for each donor based on their interests and biography. Thought-provoking questions spark engaging conversations where donors feel heard and understood. With the insight gained from these meaningful discussions, fundraisers can cultivate true partnerships and craft fundraising proposals donors are excited to support. The secret to gaining donor insight is simple: ask good questions and listen intently for the answers. What strategic questions have you found most effective in uncovering donor motivations and values?

No-Code Solutions for Donor Experience: Eliminating Silos and Improving Relationships Nonprofit fundraisers today have access to a wealth of new technology that can help them strengthen donor relationships WITHOUT NEEDING TECHNICAL SKILLS. No-code solutions provide an easy way to automate and streamline processes, eliminating tedious manual work, departmental silos, and mistakes. The key is finding where technology can take over routine tasks so that fundraisers can focus on building meaningful connections with donors. --- 🔗 Integrating Systems with Zapier Several presenters discussed using Zapier, an integration tool that can seamlessly connect systems like: • Your CRM • Email service • Payment processor By setting up Zapier workflows called "Zaps," organizations can: • Automatically send gift acknowledgements • Trigger follow-up emails to donors who click newsletter links but don't donate • Pull data from different sources into a single dashboard --- 🛠️ Other Useful No-Code Tools - Airtable: Helps capture and organize information across teams - Postgrid: For automating handwritten thank you cards - EverTrue's ThankView: Generate personalized video messages An organization embracing these tools reported: • Reducing gift entry time • Identifying major gift prospects • Gaining useful insights from analyzing combined data --- 🚀 Keys to Success 1. Get buy-in across the organization 2. Identify a "quick win" to prove value 3. Reassure teams about data security and privacy 4. Remember that change takes time: - Start with small tests - Provide thorough training - Consider a "graceful fade out" by slowly transitioning to new systems --- Collective thinking from IT professionals, fundraisers, and data analysts helped identify solutions for breaking down silos and gaining efficiency. By using low-cost or free tools, any organization can: - Eliminate tedious work - Free up human time for high-impact activities - Gain useful data to build personalized donor experiences With the support of leadership and patience through the transition, no-code solutions can help TRANSFORM nonprofit fundraising. What no-code solutions is your organization considering to improve donor experiences?

Authentic and Human-Centered: The Winning Combination for Nonprofit Video Authentic and human-centered videos are the KEY to successful nonprofit video strategies. Donors today crave real stories and genuine connections to the causes they support. Highly polished, overly produced videos may look impressive but fail to forge emotional bonds or convey the urgency of needs. --- 🎥 The Power of Authenticity "The Internet, increasingly prefers authentic. A YouTube report said vloggers are winning all the views, and that viewers are starting to look for imperfections of speech, the ums, the ahs, the pauses…they know it's genuine, honest." Videos made on smartphones that capture authentic moments and stories tend to outperform slickly produced pieces that lack a human touch. --- 🔍 Creating Authentic Content To create authentic content: • Identify what information your donors and constituents urgently need • Survey frontline staff • Monitor online communities • Do user experience testing Look for: • Questions people repeatedly ask • Points of frustration in their experience with your organization Address these vital information gaps, no matter the video quality. "When information is vital, low quality and homemade is okay. Because when the information is vital, a crappy homemade video is the best thing they've ever seen." --- 👥 Human-Centered Approach Keep your videos human-centered by: • Focusing on your audience's needs and concerns, not your organizational priorities • Featuring real people • Sharing stories of how your nonprofit impacts lives in meaningful ways • Building empathy through humanity • Letting emotions shine through, even if it means imperfect delivery or less polished production --- Authentic, human-centered video content is a WINNING STRATEGY for nonprofits because it gives donors what they crave: genuine connection and proof of impact. While you could invest heavily in high-end video, you don't need expensive equipment or professionals to make a difference. With a focus on vital information, empathy, and authenticity, you have the power to motivate your supporters with the videos you create today. Keep it real, share the stories that matter, and let your humanity lead the way. How is your nonprofit leveraging authentic, human-centered videos to connect with donors?

Measure Results and Margin of Error Once you have conducted an A/B test, it's time to measure the results and determine the margin of error. The results will show whether the changes you made had the DESIRED IMPACT. The margin of error indicates how confident you can be in the results based on your sample size. --- 📊 Measuring Results To measure results, compare key metrics between your control group and treatment group: - Average gift amount - Click-through rates - Response rates The difference between the two groups is your effect size. A larger effect size means the changes you made likely had a bigger impact. However, you need to consider your margin of error before acting on the results. --- 🎯 Understanding Margin of Error The margin of error refers to the amount of variability you would expect in results if you repeated your test multiple times. It depends on: - Your confidence level (often 95% or 99%) - Your sample size A larger, more representative sample leads to a smaller margin of error and more confident results. With a small sample, your results could vary more if you rerun the test. --- Example: - Test shows a 10% increase in average gift - Margin of error is 5% at 95% confidence - You can be reasonably sure your changes had a positive effect - The effect is larger than the margin of error But if: - The increase was only 2% - Margin of error is 4% - The effect could be due to chance - You cannot rule out the null hypothesis that there was no real difference --- 🔬 Testing with Limited Resources Nonprofits often have limited resources for testing, but a smaller sample does not mean you cannot gain useful insights. - Aim for at least 200-500 donors or constituents in your test - Partner with other nonprofits to increase your sample size - Consider a consultant for major changes or multivariate testing With the right approach, you can measure results, understand your margin of error, and make data-driven decisions to better serve your mission. How is your organization incorporating margin of error into its A/B testing analysis?

Keep Donors Engaged with Cross-Channel Outreach To build lasting relationships with donors, nonprofits must engage supporters across MULTIPLE CHANNELS with a cohesive experience. Leveraging data and metrics at each touchpoint along the journey can help organizations boost donor retention and lifetime value. --- 🎁 When a gift is made: - Send an immediate acknowledgement - Thank the donor within 24 hours using your cheapest channel, like email - Follow up within a week with a video thank you for a more personal experience - Track open and view rates to see who engages with your outreach - Prioritize the most engaged donors for additional phone or handwritten notes --- 📊 Monitor digital communications: - Use web analytics and tracking links - See who downloads attachments or clicks links to your website - This indicates a higher level of interest and an opportunity to start a discussion about their passions and impact areas --- 🗺️ Pay attention to donor geography: - Some donors prefer to meet in person - Use mapping tools to spot clusters of donors - Look for opportunities to bring them together at local events - Build personal connections and share stories about the impact of their gifts --- Identify your most loyal supporters: - Export lists of deeply engaged donors from your fundraising database or tracking systems - Even if you can't fully integrate data in one place, being able to easily identify your most loyal supporters is key - Use multiple data points like donation history, event attendance, and web traffic to determine who should receive specialized stewardship --- The most effective cross-channel outreach is HIGHLY PERSONALIZED, which requires an in-depth understanding of your donors. By integrating data and insights across systems and at each step in the donor journey, you can provide the tailored experiences that build lasting relationships and transform donors into champions of your cause. Focusing on metrics and using data to drive decisions will help your organization prosper. How can your nonprofit start leveraging cross-channel data to improve donor engagement today?

Finding Major Donors: A Strategic Approach to Prospect Identification and Qualification [WEBINAR $80] Join us for an intensive webinar designed for development professionals who want to master the art of identifying, qualifying, and engaging high-potential donors. This comprehensive session will equip you with practical strategies and proven methodologies to: - Define and identify "good" prospects using the three key criteria: Inclination, Capacity, and Affinity - Develop effective qualification strategies for both traditional and virtual environments - Master the art of prospect outreach with tested call scripts and email templates - Navigate common donor objections with confidence and professionalism - Implement data-driven approaches to prospect pipeline management Perfect for: Development Officers Major Gift Officers Advancement Professionals Nonprofit Leadership Development Directors You'll leave this session with actionable tools including: - Ready-to-use call scripts and email templates - Pre-visit qualification checklists - Strategic approaches to portfolio management - Key performance metrics for tracking success - Best practices for virtual donor engagement Don't miss this opportunity to transform your major donor prospecting approach and maximize your development efforts. Space is limited to ensure an interactive learning experience. Register now to secure your spot and take the first step toward building a more robust major donor pipeline. #DPPGroups #FundraisingExcellence #DonorParticipation #PhilanthropyEvent #Networking

The Importance of Data When Setting Giving Levels When considering a change to giving levels in your nonprofit leadership society, focusing on your donor data is KEY. Several fundraisers on a recent podcast discussed their experiences changing giving levels and what they learned along the way. --- 📊 Analyzing Donor Giving Trends A common takeaway was the importance of analyzing donor giving trends before determining new gift levels. Gary Carskaddan of Sarah Lawrence College said, "decide what is the right number." That may be the founding year of your institution, or another milestone. But setting higher targets just for optics or branding "would be afraid to do that. It doesn't seem, are you all our annual giving folks. So, you all should appreciate the data." --- 🎯 Setting Achievable Targets At Temple University, fundraisers looked at the cluster of donors currently in their leadership society. They wanted to set a level that would encourage most donors to "get across the finish line" and upgrade their gifts. For their donors already at a higher level, a lower increase may make sense. As Natasha De Luna of Temple said, "going from 1200 to 2500 is a steep gap. And so you're gonna lose more because of how high that jump is." --- 🔍 Identifying New Opportunities The data can also reveal opportunities for new donor segments. Amy Layman of Franklin & Marshall College, used analytics to identify major gift prospects not currently giving at a leadership level. Creating a higher society level and additional new levels gave these donors "an opportunity to draw them into relationships." --- Continuous Improvement When rolling out changes, continue tracking donor response and be willing to make adjustments. Some fundraisers kept the $1,000 level but branded it differently next to higher society levels, to signify the gap for donors. Follow-up surveys and focus groups can also provide insight into how your changes and stewardship are being received. The data you gather from these insights will help strengthen your leadership giving program for the long run. How are you using data to inform your giving level strategies? What insights have you uncovered?

Want More Donors? Start With Better Data For nonprofits seeking fundraising growth, clean data is the FOUNDATION for success. With accurate donor records, you can gain crucial insights, personalize outreach, and optimize fundraising campaigns. However, most nonprofit databases contain errors, incomplete records, and duplicate entries that prevent a 360-degree view of donors. --- 🧹 The Importance of Data Hygiene Nick Prenger, CEO of fundraising firm Prenger Solutions Group, stresses the importance of data hygiene before innovation. "The data's not there. I can't do anything cool until we do that," he says. Prenger recommends nonprofits start by: • Auditing their data to identify issues • Making a plan to systematically clean records and update missing information This time-consuming process requires patience but pays off in greater fundraising effectiveness and efficiency. --- 🚀 Taking Fundraising to the Next Level With clean data, nonprofits can leverage automation and personalization: - Prenger’s team uses Microsoft Power Automate to detect when donors meet key milestones like a first gift or pledge fulfillment - This triggers personalized stewardship emails - Tailored messages build donor relationships and inspire loyalty and recurring gifts --- Focus on Retention Nonprofits should focus on retaining existing donors rather than chasing new ones. An 80/20 rule applies: 80% of donations come from 20% of donors. Pranger urges nonprofits to "spend 90 percent of your time just showering your existing donors with love and attention." Clean data and automation allow for the personalized, high-touch interactions that keep donors giving year after year. --- Getting Started Fundraisers need not have technical expertise to leverage data and automation. User-friendly tools like Power Automate, Unbounce, and Razor's Edge can be implemented without coding knowledge. The key is starting small: • Automate one process at a time • Test the results • Build from there With a solid data foundation and smart technology, nonprofits can scale fundraising to new heights. Continuous innovation and a focus on the donor experience will drive greater participation and transform fundraising. What's the first step your organization will take to clean up its donor data?