A Finger on the Pulse of Donor Relations

Lynne M. Wester

@donorguru

The Pulse

• www.donorrelationsguru.com/pulse

• The 915 respondents to this survey not only make it statistically significant, they also show the need and desire for relevant information on the profession of donor relations -- a need that until this study has never been filled.

Higher Education61%

Healthcare11%

NonProfit18%

Arts 2%

Independent Schools 7%

Other (please specify) 1%

Organization Type

122%

222%

316%

411%

58%

6-1014%

10+8%

How many staff members (including yourself) work in donor relations at your organization?

less than 1036%

10-2524%

25-5018%

50-10012%

100-2508%

250+2%

How many staff are in your fundraising/advancement operation or division at your organization?

1-2 years19%

3-5 years25%

5-9 years 27%

10+ years 29%

How many years of experience do you have in donor relations?

Stay in the donor relations

field

Do something else in the fundraising

world

Work for nonprofits but

not in fundraising

Work in the for-profit world

Retire0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

In the next five years, would you like to...

Acknowledgm

ents

Giving s

ocieties/c

lubs

Events

Reporting

Birthday

/holid

ay ca

rds

Communications

Individual

steward

ship plan

s

Signag

e/plaq

ues

Honor rolls

Gift ite

ms

Gift ag

reements

Socia

l media

Other D

uties

Fundrai

sing

Mark

eting/Communica

tions

Training

Database

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

All Duties You Are Responsible For

AD ASD DIR EXD SAD0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

Higher Education Average Salary in US $

less than 48 hours20%

48-72 hours34%

a week30%

more than a week10%

more than two weeks6%

What is the average turnaround time for acknowledgments at your or-ganization?

Monthly6%

Quarterly25%

Yearly38%

Other21%

Few Years2%

Can't Remember2%

Custom6%

How often is the acknowledgment template letter refreshed at your orga-nization?

Yes, in print50%

Yes, in print and digitally

13%

Yes, digitally only2%

No35%

Do your donors receive annual narrative reports on their funds?

Yes, in print66%

Yes, in print and digitally

13%

Yes, digitally only1%

No19%

Do your donors receive annual financial reports/stewardship on their funds?

Yes, in print25%

Yes, in print and digitally40%

Yes, digitally only10%

No25%

Does your organization produce an annual report?

25 or less48%

26-5020%

50-9913%

100+20%

If your organization has custom/individual stewardship plans, how many donors are included?

Annual Giving Planned Giving Cumulative Lifetime Giving

Consecutive Giving0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Organization has the following gift society/club types:

Yes35%

No65%

Does your organization have a comprehensive catalogue or listing of all named spaces?

Yes, perm

anent

Yes, both

perman

ent and digi

tal

Yes, digi

tal NoOth

er

Only

campaig

ns/build

ings

Planning s

tages

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Do You Have a Donor Wall?

Yes51%

No49%

Are you involved in the gift agreement/MOU process at your organiza-tion?

Draft Review Draft and Administer

Consult Manage process0

20

40

60

80

100

120

How Are You Involved With Gift Agreements?

Yes79%

No21%

Do you have standardized gift agreements/MOUs for donors?

Recogn

ition events

Fundrai

sing e

vents

Reunions/homeco

mings

Off campus e

vents

Alumni/member g

atherin

gs

Lectu

re serie

s

Commencement/c

onvoca

tions0.0%

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%

100.0%

What types of events are you responsible for at your organization?

1-556%

6-1021%

11-2013%

21-406%

40-602%

60+2%

How many events do you have under your responsibility every year at your organization?

Yes45%

No55%

Does your organization have a comprehensive or strategic plan for donor relations?

Yes, formal18%

Yes, informal10%

No, only with reports or

special projects

17%

No55%

Have you conducted a formal or informal donor survey?

Yes, a strong one3%

Yes, somewhat30%

No62%

In progress5%

Do you have a metrics program for donor relations?

Thank You!

• Lynne Wester• lynne@donorrelationsguru.com• www.donorrelationsguru.com• Friend me on Facebook• Follow me on Twitter @donorguru