Evidence-based Fundraising: Elevating Your Impact

Our social sector is under pressure.  Nonprofits are under pressure to secure the resources needed to advance the mission of the organization. Pressure to demonstrate to funders that their programs are positively impacting the community. Funders are under pressure to manage requests and maximize investments. And everyone is under the pressure of time – not enough time to get to every priority. 

Taking an evidence-based approach to fundraising leads nonprofits to build and implement effective strategies that yield results.  Data can be a compass, guiding organizations to better understanding of the motivations of donors, and how to prioritize the fundraising activities that leverage donor/funder interests and passions.  

In this keynote, we will explore different kinds of evidence that can inform planning, various sources of data, and what we can learn from them.  Broad scale analysis can help illustrate current fundraising trends, such as the types of nonprofits that are inspiring donors nationally. Collecting information at an organizational level can be used to focus efforts and establish benchmarks to measure success. 

Developing meaningful relationships with donors is a continuum that utilizes multiple  approaches to connect with and inspire them. Through small group activities and discussion, we will take a deep dive into donor engagement strategies (eg. events, annual fund, major gifts, stewardship and planned gifts). Building on leading practices, we will see that a holistic approach that leverages evidence is at the heart of a strong and lasting culture of generosity for the social sector.