Customer Reviews

Fundraising Analytics: Using Data to Guide Strategy (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I loved this book. I have not read another book like it regarding nonprofit fundraising. It strikes me as kind of odd that one has not been previously written. But now one has! Awesome. Use it to establish a data-driven approach to fundraising in your nonprofit organization. There are 9 chapters in this book as follows:

1. Overview of fundraising analytics

2. Understanding your constituents

3. Analytics and prospects

4. Analytics and campaign planning

5. Data-driven prospect management

6. Annual giving analytics

7. Selecting data for mining

8. Descriptive analysis: Basic statistics and scoring models

9. Regression analysis

So much of fundraising involves building a database of donors. Then building relationships with the donors who want to get more involved with the organization. But how does a fundraiser funnel that database of donors into a filter so the donors with the commitment, connection, and capacity can be fully hosed down? The answer: fundraising analytics.

This book covers it all when it comes to fundraising analytics. And what it doesn't tell you can be easily dreamed up by the reader as she reads along. I particularly enjoyed the first Appendix entitled "Final Thoughts on Fundraising Analytics." However, I think it should have been included as a conclusion in the main body of the book. And the glossary included as an appendix was good, too. 5 stars!

PS. Don't expect to learn what tools or computer programs one should use to make all this analysis happen. But that is best saved for another book that I don't think has been written.

This topic is typically one that draws statisticians to theory based best practices. Joshua M. Birkholz has provided a broad based analysis on how fundriaisng trainers, fundraisers, managers and advocates can use analytics to ensure donor-centered fundraising success. His content and sequence is akin to a self-directed learning resource. Excellent examples and case studies.

There are just some things that we should read, and Josh's book is one of them. It's not sexy, but it sure is satisfying to understand how to dig the ore out of the goldmine that is your database.