Fundraising Talks
News and updates from the University of System of Maryland Office of Advancement Research
 
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Looking for funding opportunities? We've identified a few funds that might be useful to you. Visit the links below to learn more about the requirements and deadlines for these opportunities.
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Mazda Foundation Deadline: July 1
 
 
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 Sapna Varghese

Director of Advancement Research 

301.445.2709

 Nell Walker

Prospect Researcher 301.445.1952  

 

Raechel Winder
Office Clerk
301.445.1950
Letter from the Director
 
Dear Colleagues,

After a long, rainy month of May, I am sure you are as happy as we are to finally feel the warmth and sunshine of summer!

In this message, I would like to take a moment to look at donor segmentation. Segmentation allows you to develop communication strategies and messages tailored to different types of audiences depending on various factors such as their interests and past giving to your organization. In short, segmentation can improve the effectiveness of appeals, engagement, and communications with donors.

There are a few helpful and easy ways to use segmentation. Donors and prospective donors can be grouped or segmented by looking at communication frequency, methods of communication, program interests, institutional affiliations, demographics, constituent types, gift amounts, total giving, and payment methods. After segmenting  existing and/or prospective donors, strategies can be developed to match your segments. For example, grouping donors by their giving patterns can help you to create effective strategies to increase gift amounts. We can then go back and measure and analyze the effectiveness of the segmentation and subsequently use the findings to develop improved strategies.

Engaging and retaining donors by using creative and innovative strategies is important in every fundraising campaign. We hope that donor segmentation increases the effectiveness of your fundraising efforts. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or assistance with prospect research services.

Best Regards,

Sapna and USM Advancement Research Team


Simply giving is not enough. There is huge potential in investments where the social good is at least as important as the profits. This so-called impact investing is seen as the most promising trend in philanthropy, according to New Philanthropy: Building Lasting Change, a new report from BNP Paribas Wealth Management. This article describes this emerging giving trend. 
 
Fundraisers and nonprofits typically have lots of people who support their causes and care about what they do as an organization. However, this interest doesn't necessarily translate into funding support. Organizations must find ways turn interest into action. In this blog, the author lists five practical steps that will help with converting fans into supporters.  
ICYMI: Digital Inspiring More Donors to Act
 
It's no surprise th at in the age of technology, the best means of  inspiring donors is through digital outreach. Print methods now rank third and fourth in reaching Baby Boomers and GenXers, respectively, as compared to digital methods. Organizational strategies are responding by looking into digital methods for fundraising. In this blog Global NGO Online Technology, data from the Public Interest Registry's (PIR) 2016 report, show the varying levels of donor inspiration by generation and from data of organizations worldwide from continent to continent.
Wealth Data: Five Ways To Learn More About Your Prospect's Capacity To Give
 
Wealth data is extremely useful in helping you qualify prospects for giving potential. That given, it is only one piece of the discovery puzzle. For example, not all people with capacity to give are philanthropic or passionate about your cause. This blog provides five useful wealth data research tips to supplement your raw wealth screening data so you can do a better job of prioritizing gift prospects for your fundraising efforts. 
 
   
Philanthropists are thinking harder and more deliberately about how  they invest. Gone are the d ays where donors would essentially write you a blank check. Today, we are seeing the rise of the strategic philanthropist. Much like charitable foundations, strategic philanthropists have a specific giving strategy when it comes to their philanthropic investments. Fundraisers must adapt by meeting the donors where they are in terms of their giving strategies. Here are a few approaches to strategic philanthropist in regards to ideas, leadership and engagement with nonprofits.