Funders cite current overhead costs as proof that NGOs already spend too much on administration, apparently oblivious to their role in pushing up the very costs they question. by Jeri Eckhart Queenan, Jacob Allen and Jari Tuomala Generous funders have fueled the spectacular growth of global NGOs in recent years. But the money comes with strings that thwart these organizations’ ability to create the platforms for scale needed to solve global problems. The Bridgespan Group’s interviews with more than two dozen global NGO leaders revealed both a shared desire to implement operational and systems changes that could make their organizations more effective and widespread consternation over how to pay for those changes. Fully 65 percent said strengthening their core functions to create … [Read more...]
The Value of a Lifetime
How Charities Can Use LTV to Improve their Fundraising by Liesbeth van Uytven Lifetime Value (LTV) of a donor database is a subject that is often discussed amongst charities. SAZ’s experience shows, however, that few charities evaluate this important indicator of a long-term, healthy fundraising strategy on a regular basis. This article hopes to inform those who want to initiate a deeper evaluation of their donor database. The first part will explain the concept of Lifetime Value and its effect on fundraising strategy. Four analyses for you to consider will then be discussed. The article closes with some points for consideration. What is Lifetime Value? Lifetime Value is a valuable database marketing concept that allows a profound evaluation of the return on investment from donor … [Read more...]
Slices of the Same Pie
Segmentation of your database - The key to personalized fundraising When ensuring that your database is well maintained, it is worthwhile to delve more deeply into the donor data. A useful and common approach is segmentation of your database. The idea of segmenting the database can generate enormous profits for those charities that do it properly. People are all different, even though they may support the same charity. Segmentation could be defined as: “searching for groups of donors who resemble each other as much as possible within the group itself and differ as much as possible from other groups.” … [Read more...]
Do-it-Yourself? Some Thoughts About Outsourcing Your Fundraising Database
by Jeanette Eesmann-Foster In the age that everyone can host their own website, create databases, make your own blog or make your own direct mailing, the obvious question is why outsource at all anymore? The tools to do the complete database housing, maintenance and development are readily available. In the last 10 years, very efficient software has arrived on the market in Europe that can in some cases even combine financial and marketing information. After all, if the finance department is happy with any decision we make about a database, then our lives as marketers will be much easier. But is it important to have software that combines financial administration and marketing knowledge? Or isn’t it better to look for the most suited financial software and the best marketing solution? … [Read more...]
Practical Tips: Database Cooking
In an interview, Carsten Fronia, the Marketing Research Manager at the SAZ-IT subsidiary, SAZ smart.net, in Garbsen, gives practical tips for users of database management. In fine cuisine, it is the taste that counts. What counts in the practice of database management? Data quality, data quality and again data quality! This always has to remain at the same level. This is important so that a forecast based on a model may also actually become reality. Meanwhile, the recipe is always being changed to suit changing tastes. In cooking jargon, this means: on the basis of my current culinary knowledge, how can I cultivate vegetable ingredients and change recipes so I can prepare a meal next week which tastes just as good or even better than today? In the information world, managers receive so-called … [Read more...]
It’s a Matter of Taste
Or what the art of cooking and database management have in common by Frédéric Cavro Hotdog stand or fine cuisine? Lunchtime special or seafood buffet? – As in the culinary arts, database management is aimed at satisfying the tastes of the target group. There is an enormous range: depending on the customer’s requirements, simple dishes or elaborate creations are produced – with or without topping. Transferred to the world of database management, this means anything is possible. Starting from standard reporting, progressing to analysis methods, such as online analytical processing (OLAP), then on to forecasts. The information “dish” produced depends on the customer’s requirements and the capacity of the expert database chef. In addition, the quality of the information … [Read more...]
