Fundraising Report Card

JUNE 10, 2020

Donor retention is one of the most important things to keep in mind when running a charity or a nonprofit. As we’ve discussed in the past, donor retention refers to the number of donors who gave to your organization last business period (year, quarter, etc.) that stuck around to give again this business period. While … Continue reading "Donor Retention: 6 Things You Need to Know". The post Donor Retention: 6 Things You Need to Know appeared first on Fundraising Report Card.

Cards 43

Cards Business Charity Donors 43

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 29, 2019

You tell me, is that what’s really holding back nonprofits from growth — their lack of machines to make decisions in place of their staff? The post Artificial Intelligence Is the Newest Shiny Object — Don’t Fall Prey appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Objectives 67

Objectives Fall Cards Report 67

Fundraising Report Card

JULY 8, 2020

Cost per dollar raised, or CPDR, is not discussed as often as donor acquisition cost or donor retention. Rather, this somewhat underrated metric is tied carefully to both. Staying on top of CPDR is critical to understanding the donations made to your organization and what they mean. CPDR is a fairly straightforward term – it … Continue reading "Cost Per Dollar Raised, What It Means, and How to Stay on Top of It".

Cost 40

Cost Acquisition Cards Report 40

Fundraising Report Card

JUNE 23, 2020

Simply put, donor acquisition is the number of first-time donors you’ve acquired within a given time frame. More formally, the term refers to the number of donors who hadn’t previously donated to your organization last business period that donated for the first time this business period (business period meaning year, quarter, month, etc.). Monitoring donor acquisition can … Continue reading "Donor Acquisition: What is It? And How Do You Optimize It?". The post Donor Acquisition: What is It?

Acquisition 40

Acquisition Optimization Cards Business 40

Fundraising Report Card

MAY 28, 2020

In any organization, be it for-profit or non-profit (as well as everything in between), metrics are essential. They help organizations to measure their successes and failures. They aid them in analyzing what brought them to either result. Careful analysis of metrics can show trends in behavior to help organizations understand who to target and how … Continue reading "7 Fundraising and Charity Metrics to Measure Your Success".

Metrics 40

Metrics Measure Non-profit Analysis 40

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 8, 2019

Transitioning your organization into one that is fueled by numbers, metrics, and data-driven decisions is not impossible. Yes, organizations with larger endowments may have been able to bypass some of the challenges you face (budget, staff, etc.), but we can use their successes as a roadmap for implementing data-driven practices at the small or mid-size scale. The post 2 Ways You Can Become a Data-driven Nonprofit in 2019 appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Metrics 58

Metrics Cards Budget Practices 58

Fundraising Report Card

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere else.” That sentiment couldn’t be more true when it comes to achieving fundraising success. The post One Simple Rule for Fundraising Success appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Rules 59

Rules Cards Report Fundraising 59

Fundraising Report Card

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

Not all organizations run on the calendar year, but if yours does, you know that we've entered "crunch time." Budgets are set, the fundraising calendar is in place, and 2019 is looking you squarely in the eyes. During these last few weeks of the calendar year it's important you feel confident in your fundraising goal for 2019. The post 3 (Foolproof) Ways to Set Data-Driven Fundraising Goals for 2019 appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Calendar Year 55

Calendar Year Goal Cards Budget 55

Fundraising Report Card

NOVEMBER 20, 2018

That’s when it clicked. I didn’t mean to say “work” earlier that day, instead I meant to say “company culture.” I derive meaning from my life by giving to others, and our culture at MarketSmart allows me to do that. It began to crystallize as I watched the road pass by in the window. The post Something to Be Thankful For: A Great Company Culture (Plus 3 Ways You Can Foster It) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Companies 54

Companies Cards Click Report 54

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 18, 2019

This is a guest post from our friends OneCause. Running a charity auction involves tracking many moving parts. But, one of the most important elements of your event is the items you procure. Without a solid list of auction items, you’ll have a harder time hitting your fundraising goals. That’s why it’s important to engage … Continue reading "Soliciting Item Donations for Auctions: 5 Best Practices".

Best Practices 40

Best Practices Best Practice Auction Practices 40

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 19, 2018

Zach and Tim interview Dan Doyle, the new Chief Evangelist at Fundraising Report Card. Learn about Dan’s background, why FRC is such a powerful tool for nonprofits and consultants, and how Dan can help you make the most out of it. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Introduction [00:00] Who are you? [01:16] 01:16] … Continue reading "Introducing Dan Doyle and Using the Right Tools for Fundraising (Season 2, Episode 10)".

Cards 52

Cards Youtube Consulting Tools 52

Fundraising Report Card

NOVEMBER 28, 2017

Philanthropy tends to be fairly transactional — I give you some money, you send me a year-end appeal — and less relational — I give you some money, you ask me about my life story and connection to your mission. This could be (and most likely is) a contributing factor to dismal donor retention rates. The post Three Steps to Build Meaningful Relationships in Life (and with Your Donors) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Relationship 63

Relationship Cards Philanthropy Rate 63

Fundraising Report Card

MARCH 6, 2018

Does this shift in thinking mean that fundraising is more science than art? I don’t think so. It could be that the entire argument is actually broken. Successful fundraising relies on neither art nor science to perform its best. Let’s add another phrase to the conversation: evidence based. The post Art vs. Science in Fundraising? It’s Neither. Try Evidence Based. appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Cards 59

Cards Conversion Report Best 59

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 8, 2018

Fundraising plans, starting a major gifts program, engaging in a capital campaign and a host of other nonprofit initiatives are like caverns — they take time, diligence and patience to develop. The post Building a Fundraising Program Takes Time appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Program 60

Program Build Cards Fundraising Plan 60

Fundraising Report Card

OCTOBER 2, 2018

To suggest that fundraising has become saturated would be an understatement. There are more than 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States alone, many with overlapping missions and visions. Nonetheless, each works tirelessly to secure your financial contribution. The post How to Stand out in the #GivingTuesday Crowd appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

United States 52

United States Cards Mission Report 52

Fundraising Report Card

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Measuring your organization’s fundraising performance against itself (year over year analysis for example), is the first step towards benchmarking. After that comes peer comparison. The post Fundraising Benchmarks — What Can You Learn from $40B in Donations? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Benchmark 47

Benchmark Comparison Cards Measure 47

Fundraising Report Card

APRIL 29, 2019

Over the next fifteen minutes we’ll discuss proven and documented techniques you can implement to win business, grow your consultancy, and check all of those boxes off our original checklist (while still maintaining your sanity). The post How to Grow Your Nonprofit Consultancy appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Consultants Corner

Consulting 45

Consulting Techniques Cards Report 45

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 14, 2019

No BS, no trickery, no cajoling… here’s a foolproof way you can retain your soon-to-be lapsed donors. The post A Foolproof Strategy to Retain Lapsed Donors appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Cards 47

Cards Strategy Report Donors 47

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 16, 2018

The quest to become a data-driven nonprofit is not simple or easy. Use these three steps as guidelines. If you had a checklist for “becoming a data-driven organization,” these three steps would be on it. The post How to Become a Data-driven Nonprofit (in 3 Simple Steps) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Guidelines 57

Guidelines Cards Report How To 57

Fundraising Report Card

JUNE 12, 2018

Unlike other business-focused resources though, I have great empathy and understanding for the unique circumstances and challenges nonprofit organizations face. How then can we take what is considered best practice in the for-profit space and make use of it at your development shop? The post How to Improve and Develop Process at Your Nonprofit appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Process 52

Process Develop Cards Best Practices 52

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 11, 2018

Preparing for the end of year is stressful. Executing your end of your strategy can be even more challenging. We get it. No matter what, 2019 will be here before you know it, and the beginning of the calendar year is a great time to audit your annual fundraising performance. The post 6 Simple Steps To Your Annual Fundraising Audit appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Calendar Year 45

Calendar Year Cards Report Strategy 45

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 4, 2018

“What does leadership mean to you?” Ever since we started hiring for four positions at once, I’ve been asking a lot of candidates this question. if you’re reading this, checkout our current open positions!) Well, I think it means not being afraid to roll up your sleeves every once in a while and doing … Continue reading "The Best Answer I’ve Ever Heard to “What Does Leadership Mean to You?”". The post The Best Answer I’ve Ever Heard to “What Does Leadership Mean to You?”

Cards 45

Cards Positioning Best Report 45

Fundraising Report Card

APRIL 10, 2018

Today we’ll walk through 3 metrics you’ll absolutely want to share with your board members at the next annual meeting. These metrics come from our team’s experience presenting to dozens of boards over the past few years. The post 3 Key Fundraising Metrics Your Board Members Want to See at the Next Annual Meeting appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Metrics 51

Metrics Cards Team Experience 51

Fundraising Report Card

OCTOBER 16, 2018

Take these 3 motifs and apply them over the next few months. You can do this, your board will be appreciative, and your organization will grow stronger because of it. The post 3 Tips to NAIL Your Year End Board Report appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Cards 45

Cards Report Tips Organization 45

Fundraising Report Card

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

As a development professional, it’s safe to say you have a lot on your plate. Coordinating appeals, engaging constituents, helping with programs; the list of responsibilities you oversee is undoubtedly long. The post How Your Nonprofit Can Find the Time to Be More Data-Driven appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Cards 43

Cards Report List Develop 43

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 12, 2017

Engaging with donors (just like I engage with my clients) takes thought, skill, and care. Your content — the materials you use to interact with your constituents en masse — carries great weight with them. The post Original Content is Crucial For Fundraising Success appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Content 49

Content Cards Interactive Report 49

Fundraising Report Card

DECEMBER 19, 2017

Yes, it is busy right now. Yes, we are in the midst of a heavy fundraising season, but in two weeks, when we all return to our offices after a brief holiday respite, it will be a clean 12 month slate for us to work with. The post Goal Setting for 2018: Three Metrics You Must Measure appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Metrics 49

Metrics Goal Measure Holiday 49

Fundraising Report Card

AUGUST 14, 2018

Reporting to the board may be daunting, but it’s incredibly important. Your board is tasked with overseeing your organization, and providing them with a snapshot into the health of the organization’s fundraising is critical to their success. The post What You Should Include in a Board Presentation (with Examples & A Free Template) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Template 43

Template Cards Examples Report 43

Fundraising Report Card

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Measuring key metrics monthly provides the president to “move fast.” Take for instance a three month trend in donor lifetimes values. If month over month over month you see LTV decreasing it would be a sign that something is going on in the minds of your supporters. The post How Often Should You Measure Fundraising Metrics? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis

Metrics 46

Metrics Measure Cards Trends 46

Fundraising Report Card

JUNE 26, 2018

When it comes to major gifts can we use the concept of the outlier to determine our major giving threshold? Since we qualitatively and psychologically agree that a major gift is one that has a major impact on your organization, would it also be fair to then suggest that an outlier gift is the same thing? The post How Big is a Major Gift? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis Culture

Cards 43

Cards Report Organization Organic 43

Fundraising Report Card

NOVEMBER 7, 2018

Learn how to stand out and be novel on Giving Tuesday in this episode of Metrics That Matter. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Introduction [00:00] How do you stand out? [02:30] 02:30] Where do you start? [04:56] 04:56] Novelty [06:34] Go Offline [07:50] Getting ahead of the rush [13:11] Blue Ocean Strategy [13:20] Timing … Continue reading "Giving Tuesday – Season 2, Episode 9".

Youtube 40

Youtube Metrics Cards Click 40

Fundraising Report Card

MAY 16, 2018

Learn just how important donor retention is and how to make smarter decisions to improve retention and donation revenue. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook at [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Donor retention [02:00] Overall revenue impact? [03:10] 03:10] What mistakes do people make analyzing this data? [06:06] 06:06] Segmenting your data [06:46] … Continue reading "Beyond the Basics with Donor Retention (Season 1, Episode 5)".

Youtube 43

Youtube Metrics Segmentation Cards 43

Fundraising Report Card

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Achieve fundraising success by creating a plan. Zach and Tim discuss the components of a successful plan and how to create one for your organization. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Introduction [00:00] Success [00:36] Defining Success [01:22] FundraisingReportCard.com/Benchmarks [04:23] Heather Yandow [04:35] A Plan [05:33] Blog Post on FRC [06:24] Is anything … Continue reading "The Plan for Fundraising Success – Season 2, Episode 8".

Benchmark 40

Benchmark Youtube Cards Click 40

Fundraising Report Card

APRIL 3, 2018

Relationships are tricky. They’re also scientific. Many smart people have dedicated their lives to researching and understanding why human beings interact with one another. As fundraisers, we can leverage this research to inform how we approach raising major and planned gifts. The post Knapp’s Relational Model: The Key to Raising More Major (and Planned) Gifts appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Research

Cards 43

Cards Interactive Relationship Report 43

Fundraising Report Card

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Zach and Tim discuss the Pearson Family Members Foundation vs. The University of Chicago lawsuit and when you should turn down a major gift. Read this blog post for additional context for this episode: [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Introduction [00:00] Lawsuits! [00:34] 00:34] Pearson Family Members Foundation vs. The University of … Continue reading "Do You Really Want Every Donation? – Season 2, Episode 7". The post Do You Really Want Every Donation?

Chicago 40

Chicago Youtube Cards Foundation 40

Fundraising Report Card

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Zach and Tim discuss some of their favorite apps, services, and tools. Have your question answered on the podcast by calling in to (575) 815-4573. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Introduction [00:00] Tools! [01:16] 01:16] 2017 Blog Post [01:35] 2018 Blog Post [01:43] Evernote [02:17] Blog Post (Evernote Tagging) [03:38] Slack [06:08] Workflow’s … Continue reading "Apps, Services, and Tools For Nonprofits (Season 2, Episode 6)".

Tagging 40

Tagging Service Youtube Cards 40

Fundraising Report Card

AUGUST 28, 2018

I wish I didn’t have such a “clickbait” title. Even I’d think twice before reading a blog post that suggests it can make you more effective at everything. But, before you press the back button or open a new tab, please hear me out. The post One Simple Tactic You Can Use to Be More Effective at Everything appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Tactics 40

Tactics Press Cards Effective 40

Fundraising Report Card

AUGUST 22, 2018

Zach and Tim answer questions on what data can be ignored and how the approach changes for a larger nonprofit. Have your question answered on the podcast by calling in to (575) 815-4573 or by emailing tim@imarketsmart.com. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Terry from San Francisco, California [01:58] Blog Post – Nonprofit … Continue reading "What Data Can Be Ignored and Does the Approach Change for Small and Big Nonprofits (Season 2, Episode 5)".

San Francisco 40

San Francisco California Youtube Cards 40

Fundraising Report Card

AUGUST 21, 2018

Spoiler alert: the Family Foundation is suing the University for not meeting all of the requirements outlined in the 60-page charitable bequest agreement. As a result the Foundation would like the $22.9 million they’ve already given returned, and to revoke the rest of the donation. The post Do You Really Want Every Donation? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Cards 40

Cards Charitable Foundation Donations 40

Fundraising Report Card

JULY 31, 2018

It may be disappointing, but one of the best outcomes you can arrive at after analyzing your organization's data is to realize that you need to measure a different set of metrics. The post 2 Outcomes You Should Arrive at after Analyzing Your Fundraising Data appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis Culture

Metrics 40

Metrics Cards Measure Report 40

Fundraising Report Card

JULY 25, 2018

Zach and Tim answer questions about handling negative metrics, what the one monthly or weekly metric every fundraiser should monitor is, and benchmarking in tribute donations. Have your question answered on the podcast by calling in to (575) 815-4573 or by emailing tim@imarketsmart.com. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps TJ from Indianapolis, Indiana … Continue reading "Handling Negative Metrics, The One Metric To Track, and In Tribute Donation Metrics (Season 2, Episode 4)".

Indianapolis 40

Indianapolis Metrics Indiana Benchmark 40

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 30, 2018

Whereas most nonprofits send the same old mail to each and every donor (a newsletter, an annual report, a solicitation), the “learn from your experiences” organizations send out something different: they survey their donors. The post Learn from Experiences (and Build Stronger Relationships as a Result) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

Experience 43

Experience Relationship Cards Survey 43

Fundraising Report Card

JANUARY 23, 2018

What would you do with $20,447,633,199.37? Fund a new program? Hire more staff? Buy that new database software you desperately need? Our team here at Fundraising Report Card has $20,447,633,199.37 and we decided not to buy anything with it. Instead, we wrote some complex algorithms and made a free website to talk about nonprofit fundraising … Continue reading "New Year, New Benchmarks: How Does Your Organization Stack Up?".

Benchmark 43

Benchmark Cards Software Organization 43