Data

Creative and effective use of data transforms fundraising, yet few organisations claim to be happy with how they use their data and many are well aware they don’t make the best of it. When asked why fundraising results are below par most organisations at some time or other will admit they’re not fully on top of their data. Yet there’s real gold in data, for those who do it right. This showcase features a range of case studies from organisations committed to making the most of their data and several articles from leading experts to show you how to get more from your data.

CDE project 3 appendix 5: Glossary and appendix 6: sources of further information

by The Commission on the Donor Experience

 Glossary and Sources of further information

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M​usings of a direct response fundraiser no. 2: finding the ‘sweet spot’

by Jonathon Grapsas

Our job as fundraisers is to find the sweet spot: an amount that is appropriate to that donor at that time. In his second article on the musings of a direct response fundraiser Jonathon Grapsas shows exactly how to do it.

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St Michael’s Hospital Foundation: data-based planned giving campaign delivers heavenly results

Some of the teams and work that St Michael’s generous donors help.

by SOFII

St Michael’s Hospital Foundation’s in-depth analysis and profiling of their donor lists has gone a long way towards answering the oft-repeated question: are we marrying the needs of the donor with the needs of the cause in order to achieve a common goal? 

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The great donor exodus, and what to do about it. A three-part series from Jay Love

triangle

by Jay Love

Jay Love’s revealing infographics have been setting American fundraisers alight recently, with good reason. Why do donors head for the exit? How does our sector’s attrition compare with customers of for-profit businesses? Do larger donors leave sooner? How many donors could you keep, if you just did some things differently?

Now on SOFII, widely respected data specialist and entrepreneur Jay Love explores these seemingly permanent hot topics with two generous helpings of practical advice all fundraisers could follow.

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The Salvation Army: UK Christmas appeal

Pack shot

by SOFII

Some donors have rational reasons for giving, some have emotional reasons and some go on a journey. Our strategy was to model this behaviour, to take the insight and analysis to new levels of understanding.

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Data is gold. But only if you can get to its real value

people crowded onto a truck

by Chuck Longfield

All fundraisers know that their data is valuable. All fundraisers know that developing an existing donor is many times less costly than recruiting a new one. All fundraisers know that fundraising should be integrated, that focusing on the donor is more appropriate than on the medium of communication, that...well, that there are a lot of things we all know full well but we still don’t do the right thing by them. Data is one of these, perhaps one of the most obvious and important.

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We can boost donor retention. But only if we get smart

by Chuck Longfield

Chuck Longfield created a SOFII classic with his last interview Data is Gold, providing SOFII readers with free access to real fundraising gems hidden within their donor files. Today SOFII enthusiastically adds part two, an in-depth conversation with Chuck that draws out five more golden nuggets of smartness.

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Supporter insights: what are they, why bother with them and how to uncover them?

by Kevin Waudby

In this thought-provoking article, Kevin Waudby shows how great supporter insight can help differentiate your charity from your competitors and be the difference between a supporter giving to your cause instead of theirs.

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Dr Barnardo’s Homes: four fundraising greats from the distant past

by SOFII

Dr Thomas Barnardo was one of the Victorian era's great philanthropists. These archive examples of his personal fundraising style and efforts are a unique treasure for the body of fundraising knowledge and best practice.

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WWF Canada: new donor questionnaire

by SOFII

This questionnaire, though a separate and distinctive part of WWF’s new donor welcome process, is an integral part of it. Great donor development in practice, and easy to emulate.

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