149 - By the Numbers (Fundraising Trends, Data, Annual Fund, Major Gifts): Andrew Robison

Andrew and Rhen return this week for a fun episode on fundraising trends.  The best fundraisers don't make assumptions about what works.  Instead, they look to data to make informed decisions about the fundraising activities that bear the most fruit.  Listen as Andrew and Rhen give statistics about average success rates for a variety of fundraising activities.  Use these statistics to set reasonable expectations for your success!In this episode, Andrew and Rhen answer the following questions:What's a typical conversion rate for an appeal letter's results?  Is there a difference between direct mail and email appeals?  What kind of fundraising success should I expect from social media posts and requests?Can a phone-a-thon be successful?  What can organizations do to improve results?Why should fundraisers focus on monthly giving?  Are grants worth the time and effort?  What about banquets and galas?What is a good success rate for major gifts asks?  As Rhen mentions at the end of the episode, Petrus is offering a free annual fund checklist for listeners.  Use this checklist (along with the data from this episode!) to choose activities that can help you build a more robust annual fund.  If you'd like to receive this resource, please click here for more information.