DATA-INFORMED FUNDRAISING

We help nonprofits gain a deeper understanding of their donors through data.

For most fundraising organizations, collecting data isn't a problem. In fact, a lot are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donor and gift data being stored in their systems but are limited in their ability to organize or analyze it. What a missed opportunity!

​It's true that the more we know (and record!) about our donors the more targeted our strategies can become. We help organizations shift through their data to uncover the growth opportunities that exist with donors that are already connected to their mission.

How Focus Further Solutions can help you:

At Focus Further Solutions our team has expertise in:

• Telling stories with your data that inspire action
• Synthesizing your data into meaningful and visually appealing reports and dashboards
• Identifying areas for improved ROI and Return on Effort
• Strategic thinking to go from 'so what' to 'now what'
• Bridging the gap between your strategy and IT systems

Being data-informed while mission-centered is the key!

Book a free 30 minute consultation with Sigrid Penner, Focus Further Solution's Principal Consultant.

Why do we say data-informed​​ instead of data-driven or data-centric?

While we believe that data is at the heart of good decision making and can help ensure your mission's sustainability, data is the partner to human intuition, mission and values.

In a data-informed approach, data is used in a supporting role alongside the past experiences and knowledge that already exists in your team while adding a layer of objectivity.

CALLING THE CURIOUS

Case Studies for looking BEYOND THE REPORT

Understanding Donor Retention by Donor Type:

Is your organization keeping close tabs on donor retention -
​monthly, new and tenured?

​Reporting on overall retention is only a piece of the pie, and unfortunately most system reports can't break this critical piece of information down.

In this example, overall retention of 51% means that over half of all donors were retained year over year. Time to celebrate? Not so fast.

When we break apart donor retention we can see that tenured donors closely follow this number and have improved vs. last year, while monthly donors have much higher, more stable retention. New donors dropped 5%. Celebrate the increase in tenured donors while digging deeper into the dip in new donor retention.

Be CURIOUS!

• Was there something unique about events or appeals we did last year that impacted new donor retention?
• What type of appeals are more likely to attract donors who will give another gift?
• What else do we know about our new donors that can help us better understand the decline?

How do you Measure Success?

Too often, reporting is one size fits all and focused on revenue alone when it comes to determining "success".
Being curious means considering other valuable pieces of information:

A guide to Focus Further Solutions 'bubble chart'. In the image above we've plotted four appeals on a grid where the vertical axis is average gift (with an approach to trim the extreme gifts) and the horizontal is the number of donors).

In this example, "success" depends on your goals and objectives.

• Which appeal motivated more donors to give?
• Which appeal prompted higher giving amounts?
• Which appeal attracted more new donors?

Looking Underneath Top-Line Revenue

Is what you're doing now sustainable in the long run?

In this example, revenue has increased at the organization from $8M to $9M in 2023. That's no small feat and something to celebrate!

​That being said, it's important to also be looking underneath top-line revenue to monitor your donor health. In 2019, new donors made up almost 50% of the donor base, but by 2023 they had dropped to only 20% of the pool.

We all hear about 'donors down' and 'dollars up' (if you're lucky!). Other organizations are not so lucky. It seems to be an acceptable story that we take comfort in because 'we're not the only ones' in the trend.

​But does it have to be that way?

You may say: 'We've focused on major gifts and it's been working for our organization and mission'.

• Will it look the same in 5 years? 10 years?
• What happens when your tenured donors 'age out', 'tap out' or are 'tapped out'?

Beyond revenue, insights around donor acquisition, retention and engagement are crucial to longevity.

Book a 30 minute consultation with Sigrid Penner,

​Focus Further Solution's Principal Consultant​

Keep learning more about us!