Data Mining with Windfall

Introduction and Overview

Career Background: Speaker has 15 years of experience in independent schools, starting as Director of Communications at Tilton School.
Presentation Focus: Overview of ISB and a case study on fundraising efforts focusing on small schools and teams.
Target Audience: Emphasis on small organizations; larger teams may not find the specifics as applicable.

Financial Goals: Annual fund goal for FY 2024 is $400,000, up from $350,000 in FY 2023.
Alumni Participation: Last year included 15 gifts, a significant increase from only 3 in the past—highlighting challenges in cultivating alumni support.
Parent Participation: Predominantly involves board involvement with minimal outreach previously to parents, indicating an opportunity for growth.

Staffing: Team includes one staff member focusing on advancement; tasks involve annual fund strategy, gift acknowledgments, and parent volunteer coordination.
Wealth Screening: Discussion of three main tools: wealth screening, propensity to gift modeling, and DataLink for larger teams to unify datasets.
Importance of Data: Utilizing data to identify giving capacity and donor interest without bias; focus on discovering hidden gems in the donor community.

Past Fundraising Practices: Prior to implementing data-driven strategies, all donations over $1 were considered leadership gifts, lacking significant segmentation or targeted asks.
Annual Campaign Appeal: Existing campaigns like the fall appeal had underwhelming results, prompting the need for a transformation.
Adjusting Leadership Gift Levels: Transitioned to define leadership giving as donations starting at $1,000, fostering an aspirational giving environment.

First Year Metrics: Notable increase in leadership donor numbers, moving from 61 to 74.
Event Impact: Successful events, such as annual galas and fall appeals, saw increased revenue due to better planning and targeted asks based on wealth screening data.
High-Value Donor Engagement: Development of VIP receptions and selective invitations to increase participation and commitment from high-potential donors.

Segmenting Families: Screening current and prospective families, including historical parent participation, to tailor engagement efforts.
Triggers for Engagement: Utilizing various triggers (e.g., life changes, philanthropic interests) to prioritize research and outreach to prospective donors.
Benefits to the Board: Transparency with the board regarding screening efforts, which aided in boosting board support and participation.

Revenue Comparison: FY 2023 ended with $365,900 raised; significant growth is expected in FY 2024, with emerging trends indicating strengthening leadership participation.
Parent Giving Statistics: Notable increases in both the number and amount of parent donations, suggesting newfound engagement and strategy effectiveness.
Event Participation Rise: Additional targeted outreach led to increased participation rates across fundraising events, particularly in leadership gift segments.

Data Utilization: Regular engagement with data is vital for generating actionable insights and maximizing fundraising potential. Data must be used actively to guide donor interactions and strategize on fundraising initiatives.
Ongoing Relationship Management: Developing personal relationships with donors through individualized meetings enhances fundraising success.
Continuous Improvement: As the school transitions to more sophisticated fundraising strategies, ongoing evaluation and adjustment of approaches will be necessary for sustainable growth.