Optimizing Fundraising Success: A Deep Dive into Performance Metrics

Through organizational growth and lessons learned during a comprehensive campaign, the South Dakota State University Foundation has evolved rapidly with data and relationship management best practices. In collaboration with BWF, the SDSU Foundation is now equipped to utilize data analysis to gain insight to truly understand activities and practices that drove fundraiser performance, resulted in top gifts, and influenced donor journeys. This presentation will cover a review of post-campaign gift officer activity data analysis alongside how prospect development policies and practices evolved and formalized over the course of a campaign. This session will include emphasis on exploring how to prioritize data clean up, sustaining data maintenance efforts, selecting the right data to look at closely, and conducting meaningful analysis. Examples of data visualization, detailed analytical techniques, and relationship management practices will be offered to guide discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key data and analytical techniques assessing fundraiser performance and relationship management. Participants will learn tangible tactical applications for their existing program structures and practices.
• Implement data visualization reporting to complement robust portfolio management practices. Participants will learn to discuss and apply these techniques within their own organizational journey.