Welcome to FastDecisions.org
Welcome to FastDecisions.org
Tracking Metrics

Tracking Metrics

These are fundraising metrics worthy of tracking.

Overall Fundraising Metrics

  • Total Revenue:

    • The sum of all funds raised, segmented by channel (major gifts, grants, annual fund, etc.).

  • Revenue by Channel:

    • Break down total income to see which programs or channels (e.g., major gifts, grantwriting, annual fund) are performing best.

  • Cost per Dollar Raised (Fundraising Efficiency):

    • Total fundraising expenses divided by the funds raised. This helps evaluate the efficiency of your fundraising investments.

  • Return on Investment (ROI):

    • Measures the net revenue generated relative to the fundraising expenditures for each campaign or channel.

  • Donor Acquisition Rate:

    • The number of new donors acquired during a specific period.

  • Donor Retention Rate:

    • The percentage of donors who continue giving year-over-year.

  • Average Gift Size:

    • The mean donation amount, which helps set benchmarks and goals for each fundraising channel.

  • Donation Frequency:

    • How often donors contribute; useful for understanding donor engagement and planning recurring giving programs.

Major Gifts Metrics

  • Pipeline Value:

    • The total estimated value of prospective major gift opportunities currently in your pipeline.

  • Conversion Rate:

    • The percentage of major gift prospects that convert into actual donors. Tracking this helps assess the effectiveness of your cultivation strategies.

  • Average Major Gift Size:

    • Understand the typical size of donations received in this channel to set realistic targets and expectations.

  • Cultivation Activity Metrics:

    • Track the number of one-on-one meetings, personalized proposals, and follow-up interactions. These activities often correlate with successful major gift outcomes.

  • Time to Close:

    • The average time from initial contact with a major gift prospect to the receipt of a donation. This can help optimize your engagement and follow-up processes.

  • Pledge Fulfillment Rate:

    • The ratio of pledged gifts that are eventually received, ensuring that commitments turn into revenue.

Grantwriting Metrics

  • Number of Proposals Submitted:

    • Total count of grant applications submitted over a period.

  • Success Rate:

    • The ratio of awarded grants to the number of proposals submitted. This metric helps assess the effectiveness of your grantwriting efforts.

  • Average Grant Amount:

    • The mean dollar amount of successful grant awards.

  • Proposal-to-Award Cycle Time:

    • The average time span from submitting a proposal to receiving a grant decision. Shorter cycles can improve cash flow projections.

  • Grant Renewal Rate:

    • The percentage of grants that are successfully renewed or re-applied for, indicating long-term relationships with funders.

  • Total Grant Revenue:

    • Overall funds received through grants, tracked over time to gauge growth and stability.

Annual Fund Metrics

  • Total Annual Fund Revenue:

    • The aggregate funds raised during your annual campaign.

  • Donor Participation Rate:

    • The percentage of your donor base that contributes during the annual fund campaign.

  • Average Annual Gift Size:

    • The typical donation amount within the annual fund, which can differ from major gifts or grants.

  • Year-over-Year Growth Rate:

    • The percentage increase or decrease in annual fund revenue compared to previous years.

  • New vs. Returning Donors:

    • The split between first-time donors and repeat donors during the campaign, providing insight into your acquisition and retention efforts.

  • Annual Donor Retention Rate:

    • Specifically measures the repeat giving behavior within the annual fund donor pool.

Additional Considerations

  • Donor Segmentation:

    • Analyze donor demographics, giving history, and engagement levels. Segmenting your donor base can help tailor messaging and improve targeting.

  • Lapsed Donors:

    • Track the number and percentage of donors who have stopped giving. This is crucial for planning re-engagement strategies.

  • Lifetime Value (LTV):

    • Estimate the total donation a donor is likely to contribute over their relationship with your organization.

  • Online Engagement Metrics:

    • If you use digital channels, track email open rates, click-through rates, social media interactions, and website conversion rates. These provide insights into how well you’re engaging your audience online.