The Agitator

OCTOBER 23, 2012

Overall donor attrition in 2010 was 59% — that is, 59% of 2009 donors did not give again to participating nonprofits in 2010. Last year new donor retention was only 27%! If you’re interested in a low-cost, easy-to-use CRM that is built for fundraising results based on engagement and retention, I predict you’ll love Bloomerang.

Retention 102

Retention Management Activism Communication 102

The Charity CFO

APRIL 18, 2024

Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the five most common challenges for nonprofits in 2024. These challenges include financial issues, data security compliance, and talent retention problems. Let’s look closer at the challenges nonprofits will face in 2024–and how to solve them!

Non-Profits 52

Non-Profits Nonprofit Accountability Finance Nonprofits 52

The Agitator

APRIL 12, 2012

Tom’s post yesterday, Nonprofits and the Customer Experience not only warrants reading a second time, but I also feel compelled to pile on some more emphasis and detail because it goes right to the heart of retention and donor value. Here’s why I think this is so important. Donor Service centers (inbound calls and email response).

Retention 90

Retention Production Values Activism 90

Bloomerang

JULY 6, 2023

To do this, your organization will need to increase fundraising revenue by $10,000 by finding new outreach opportunities and strengthening relationships with existing supporters to increase donor retention. Meanwhile, you may assign another person to call new donors to thank them and increase your new donor retention.

Nonprofit governance and management 120

Nonprofit governance and management Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Administration and Development Nonprofits 120

The Agitator

JANUARY 27, 2015

Sure, not so long ago maintaining the status quo — repeating the same activities year after year — was considered less risky than innovation. After all, the reasoning goes, “let others take the risk on ‘new’ things.” Just one problem. These days maintaining the status quo will ultimately kill your fundraising.

Retention 92

Retention Nonprofit Management Activism Management 92

The Agitator

MARCH 5, 2018

The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity, and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity, will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Are all departments aware of and focused on the same donor retention, commitment and satisfaction goals?

Participation and motivation 63

Participation and motivation Retention Leadership Donor Motivation 63

The Agitator

JANUARY 21, 2018

Any discussion of metrics in The Agitator must include a nod to “ The Curse of Fundraising Innumeracy ” about an Agitator reader who tried to keep a straight face when someone said they had a 95% retention rate. Starting off simple, this is the answer to why we must invest in acquisition and retention. The leaky bucket.

Retention 72

Retention Activism Marketing Marketing 72

Bloomerang

JANUARY 22, 2024

However, many nonprofits find that these solutions become limiting as their organization grows and don’t offer the scalability necessary to support their activities. To make the most of your investment, it’s helpful to find an all-in-one platform with top-quality solutions for all aspects of nonprofit management, like Bloomerang.

Public and Social Policy 83

Public and Social Policy Nonprofit governance and management Public and Nonprofit Management Charitable Organizations 83

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Target Analytics has just released its Index of National Fundraising Performance for the 12 months of activity through the 2 nd Quarter of 2010. decline in retention rates) and the health sector with a 7.2% decline in retention. And please let us know if the trends you’re seeing match those in the Index.

Fundraising 89

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Healthcare 89

The Agitator

MAY 3, 2010

But backing off from that extreme a bit, and assuming Step #1 was to focus on retention, retention, retention … what else would we do? Step 8: Identify and activate your missionaries. In his challenge, Godin postulated a scenario where it was "impossible" to get new customers or donors.

Retention 94

Retention Production Universities Nonprofit Management 94

The Agitator

DECEMBER 13, 2017

One non-profit (who wishes to remain anonymous) segments by animal, whether the donor enjoys nature inside versus outside, and whether she involves her children in their nature activities. Those donors who were highly committed to the organization had their retention go down by nine percentage points when they got additional communications.

Non-Profits 74

Non-Profits Retention Medical Communication 74

The Agitator

AUGUST 4, 2011

You see, tons of tips and conjecture, while well-meaning, aren’t going to get us very far in dealing with the horrendous problem of donor retention that continues in free fall mode. More than 20 organizations, large, small and representing all sectors came forward and are participating in The Agitator/DonorVoice Retention Lab.

Participation and motivation 74

Participation and motivation Retention Fundraising Fundraising 74

The Agitator

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Chip Grizzard in a comment on Part 1 asked what kind of lift, or improvement in second gift conversion and retention is possible using various techniques. It does mean that you should concentrate extra second gift activity (phone calls, special packages, etc.) He cited the use of thank you calls as example of one technique.

Retention 49

Retention Values Energy Fundraising 49

The Agitator

JUNE 29, 2011

Thanks to Joanne Fritz at About.com for pointing us to this great communications guide from the International Council on Active Aging. No one will ever accuse Roger of not aging actively! Seriously Roger, speaking of retention, other than the ICAA, what organization have you donated to the longest, and for how long?

Retention 63

Retention Activism Communication Marketing 63

The Agitator

JANUARY 5, 2010

Tags: Don't Miss these Posts advocacy communications direct marketing donor retention innovation issue fundraising loyalty new media nonprofit management nonprofits online activism online advocacy online fundraising online publishing online video politics social networking.

Retention 49

Retention Activism Nonprofit Management Management 49

The Agitator

JANUARY 11, 2010

What strikes me as most worrisome is that now both donor acquisition and donor development (house file activity) are in trouble. In fact, Target Analytics’ 2009 Index of National Fundraising Performance for the Third Quarter indicates the decline is speeding up. and the number of new donors by a whopping 19.4%.

Retention 58

Retention Nonprofit Management Activism Management 58

EveryAction

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

We've searched far and wide for the best and brightest nonprofit conferences from all around the country! Nonprofit Management. Nonprofit Technology, and more! Nonprofit Management / #AMI2019 / @NPL_Alliance. Nonprofit Management. Nonprofit Management / @usdsoles. March 1 - 2.

Nonprofit governance and management 105

Nonprofit governance and management Public and Nonprofit Management Associations Finance 105

The Agitator

NOVEMBER 1, 2017

Despite rising competition, declining numbers of active donors, and falling retention rates most fundraisers continue whistling past the graveyard of the future — blithely ignoring or sidestepping any serious efforts to address these issues head on. The disease nonprofits are not alone. Begin at the Beginning.

Fundraising 56

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Values 56

NonProfit Hub

MARCH 6, 2020

End bidding either manually or automatically, depending on whether you’re working with auction management software. Don’t schedule any other event activities during the final moments of bidding. Effective communications are a crucial donor retention strategy ! Store all of the data from your auction in your nonprofit’s CRM.

Retention 52

Retention Management Values Marketing 52

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

They appreciate the pay-off in terms of higher retention, net income and lifetime value. They’ll show you the seven ‘drivers’ of Donor Commitment … the activities and actions you can take to increase Commitment. Most fundraisers talk a good game these days about the need to build durable donor relationships.

Retention 63

Retention Activism Values Fundraising 63

The Agitator

JUNE 2, 2009

My vote goes to Pareto’s 80/20 rule — 80% of the value or activity tends to come from 20% (or less) of customers, or whatever the active universe. The rule is confirmed in marketing scenario after scenario, including fundraising. Register here.

Marketing 40

Marketing Marketing Retention Recruitment 40

iMarketSmart

DECEMBER 5, 2022

The best metrics encourage activity. But not just any activity. We might multiply activity metrics by capacity rating. Among older adults, the ten-year retention rate for a charitable estate component is only 55%.[13] Relationship improvement, andImproved retention.[27]. Another might be words per day. The answer?

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Administration and Development 52

The Agitator

JUNE 8, 2011

A couple of further points … Re-soliciting lapsed donors can be viewed as last-stage donor retention. How much to invest in ‘re-activating’ lapsed donors? And she’s right, predictive tools can help your ROI, especially with large files. Start by looking at your present cost of acquiring a brand new donor!

Retention 73

Retention Education Education Activism 73

The Agitator

JUNE 17, 2018

That means actively asking for feedback at every possible point. I’m not ready to elevate these recommendations to the level of a law yet, but I’d still wager this will more than pay for itself with your resultant retention increase. Asking about commitment and satisfaction.

Law 56

Law Retention Values Activism 56

The Agitator

JULY 12, 2018

I once had a vendor who accidentally put active donor names into a lapsed telemarketing program. In fact, I said that lack of survey-answering is something that should be included in your retention models, as these are donors less likely to retain. They got a payment for every call that was made. Cui bono ?

Retention 45

Retention Activism Communication Marketing 45

The Agitator

MARCH 15, 2010

Among the most concerning trends is the steady decline in the number of active donors and the fact that despite increased average gifts on the part of the donors, that increase is no longer enough to make up for declining acquisition and retention rates. For several years The Agitator has been reporting on trends revealed by the Index.

Non-Profits 87

Non-Profits Public and Nonprofit Management Retail Activism 87

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

" activities surveyed. But even among Newbies, these activities are engaged in “frequently&# by very few donors. " do represent a new kind of engagement with your supporters, a new level of relationship-building personalization, and a huge potential for improving donor retention. No real surprise there.

Fundraising 40

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Activism 40

The Agitator

JULY 21, 2009

How have nonprofits adjusted to the fundraising environment in the course of 2009? 78% of nonprofits have invested more in donor retention, 60% in online fundraising, and 59% in major gift solicitation. Only 11% of consultants are more pessimistic than when the year began. More on that tomorrow.

Fundraising 40

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Nonprofit Management 40

The Agitator

MARCH 20, 2011

First-year retention rate for new donors, by acquisition media (The linchpin of future value). Growth in e-relationships over past twelve months (No immediate dollar value here; this is meant to suggest fundraising potential): Unique visitors to website(s); Email address file size (actives only); Social media friends, followers, etc.

Fundraising 89

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Recruitment 89

The Agitator

DECEMBER 15, 2009

Aguably it’s the toughest calculation for nonprofit fundraisers to make … because upfront costs exceed revenue, because of the risk involved in banking on (and miscalculating) future donor performance, and because fundraising is then perceived to be "raiding" funds that "should" go into programmatic activities.

Fundraising 58

Fundraising Fundraising Values Retention 58

The Agitator

MAY 6, 2009

How much energy do you want to invest in a venue with a 40% retention rate? Tags: Don't Miss these Posts Seth Godin celebrities communications email marketing innovation media usage new media nonprofit management online activism online advocacy online fundraising online publishing social networking.

Energy 40

Energy Retention Activism Nonprofit Management 40

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

We’ve created a number of volunteer opportunities and awards dinners that we only invite people to who we have deep personal relationships with as an organization because they are loyal and active in our community. For instance, we’re an entrepreneurship focused program that deals in changing lives for a historically underserved population.

Entrepreneurship 67

Entrepreneurship Environmental Retention Energy 67

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Let’s say your policy is that everyone who is being mailed as an active donor is ineligible to receive acquisition pieces. Let’s further say you quantify being “active” means that you get the best performing mail piece of the year. Worse, these piece-by-piece segmentations can mess with how you work to reacquire donors.

Communication 59

Communication Activism Retention Values 59

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Our August post on Catch & Release Fishing focused — yet again — on the burning need to get serious about retention. If donor acquisition were a single activity entire of itself then the yeses would of course have to subsidise the nos. And they could get very much better at retention. Why should they?

Non-Profits 77

Non-Profits Retention Construction Recruitment 77

The Agitator

JANUARY 12, 2010

Here are the risks (“investments&# , “dares&# , “experiments&# – call it what you will) I believe every nonprofit wanting to survive and grow in the coming decade must take: Start from Scratch. Get rid of this year’s plan based on last year’s activity. Donor Loyalty.

Retention 65

Retention Technology Nonprofit Management Marketing 65

The Agitator

JANUARY 10, 2010

Dropping to the point where new donors no longer offset attrition, and higher per donor income from existing donors no longer offsets the fall-off in the overall active donor population. For some time now, their figures have shown that the overall number of donors is diminishing.

Fundraising 56

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Nonprofit Management 56

The Agitator

AUGUST 5, 2018

Even folks who have been in this trade for decades act as though there’s a quick fix just around the corner rather than admit that we could all do far better if we simply invested the time, money, patience and skill in rearranging priorities and focusing on activities that make a huge difference for the future.

Healthcare 49

Healthcare Medical Retention Values 49