News and updates from the USM Office of Advancement Research
Letter from the Director
Welcome to the May issue of Fundraising Talks. As we move forward in 2023, innovative approaches to discover and engage donors will continue to play a critical role in prospect research and fundraising. The challenges that lie ahead in 2023 can be mitigated by understanding trends from the past years. A document published by the World Economic Forum in May 2023 says that chief economists are divided on the likelihood of a global recession. Philanthropy in higher education is operating in a constantly changing economic landscape and there is now a greater need to have the right tools and strategies to adapt to any environment.
Have you seen the new report by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)? The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) was created in 2006 by AFP and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute to perform research on fundraising effectiveness. It includes metrics such as donor retention and acquisition rates and number of donors and dollar amounts raised by participating nonprofits. The FEP reports are released quarterly. Most recently, the FEP Quarter 4 (Q4) report from April 2023 provides the following insights about fundraising performance:
Even though Q4 FEP reports some challenges in areas such as donor participation and dollars raised and retention, we believe that these numbers can be improved. An article by the Chronicle of Philanthropy suggests improving communication and fundraising strategies for smaller-level donors to engage them throughout the year and encourage them to give multiple times a year.
Communication strategies should include ways to report back to donors about the impact of their gifts and express gratitude to donors at different giving levels. We wish you continued success in your fundraising efforts. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with questions, comments, or any assistance with fundraising research!
Best Regards,
Sapna and USM Advancement Research Team
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