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.

Emma Hinke

Director of Data Science

BWF

Emma L. Hinke is a director of data science with BWF specializing in analytics and implementation. She provides prospect development consulting, research and analytics training, and counsel in performance metrics and portfolio optimization. Prior to joining BWF, Emma was the lead data scientist in prospect development for Johns Hopkins University, where she worked with development leadership and fundraising units to create analytical solutions that add strategic value to fundraising operations.

Emma is a recognized leader in prospect development and analytics, and highly regarded as a thought leader through her service to the Apra community as a past program chair, speaker, and president of the Maryland chapter. She received her bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Maggie Miller

Director of Prospect Management & Research

South Dakota State University Alumni & Foundation

Maggie Miller is the Director of Prospect Management and Research with the South Dakota State University Alumni & Foundation. Maggie is a native of Brookings, SD, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in English at Hamline University (St. Paul, MN) and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Iowa State University (Ames, IA). Prior to working in fundraising, Maggie spent 10 years working professionally in student affairs in higher education, specifically with college student housing, new student orientation/transition programs, and first-year student programming. Maggie has worked in prospect development since 2022 and is passionate about blending people and processes supporting SDSU Jackrabbits!