Project Data

The FEP (Fundraising Effectiveness Project) aims at helping non-profits quicken fundraising. The Project strives towards the above objective by offering yearly charity growth tracking and evaluation features to nonprofits. An increase in giving may be defined as net gains minus net losses in contribution (Tools - Fundraising Effectiveness Project). Nonprofit entities raise a larger sum of money via investments in growth-focused fundraising methods which amplify gains as well as decrease losses. FEP's emphasis is "effectiveness" (or charity growth maximization) instead of "efficiency" (or cost minimization).

A yearly survey is performed, helpful performance measurement instruments for gauging increase in giving are provided, and loss/gain statistics are issued via an annual report, by partnering with The Urban Institute, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and participant donor software companies. FEP resources back growth-focused fundraising initiatives. The Gig (Growth in Giving) program endeavors to increase philanthropy's GDP (gross domestic product) share.

This initiative has assumed the shape of a large umbrella agency, in tandem with the development of the novel Gig Database (with its considerable research capacity). At present, over 6,000 nonprofits are now participating in the effort. Data/Variables An Excel-based, downloadable Fundraising Fitness Assessment has been developed by the FEP, enabling nonprofit entities' fundraising program measurement and evaluation against a collection of more than one hundred performance indicators based on 5 levels of donor giving (Tools - Fundraising Effectiveness Project).

Additionally, the 7 Excel-based downloadable Gig Reports templates (simplified and revised) offer informative, though brief, representations of fundraising losses and gains -- attrition and growth in philanthropy -- in an easy, reader-friendly design which may be conveniently understood by executive board members and staff. By means of the Gig Database, developed recently at the NCCS (National Center for Charitable Statistics) of the Urban Institute, FEP has created its downloadable NFFS (National Fundraising Fitness Statistics).

The Excel file offers comparative statistics to users of the Fitness Test, in a format identical to that of eleven Fitness Assessment reports for a total of 6314 medium and small sized organizations (more than 750 performance indicators). Research Data Availability Nonprofits normally track their overall Gig results carefully but are typically not as attentive to the losses and gains making up these results.

Examining only the bottom-line or net performance, on the whole, offers no information to boards and managers regarding what's actually happening to their fundraising efforts or which area to invest more resources in, for improving the effectiveness of their fundraising (2016 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report). Having an eye only on the new contributions coming in also doesn't suffice.

For understanding what is actually transpiring in a useful way that benefits budgeting and planning activities, analyzing fundraising losses as well as gains -- in contributors and money -- from year to year is imperative. Major losses are capable of substantially decreasing or even eliminating gains. For instance, a nonprofit with annual giving gains amount to 65% from year to year, but with simultaneous yearly giving losses amounting to 55%, attains a mere 10% net Gig.

Gig increases through loss minimization as well as gain maximization, and boards and managers must be aware of this fact for making informed, intelligent, and growth-focused budgeting and planning decisions. The FES's (Fundraising Effectiveness Survey's) fundamental concept is that year-to-year Gig is nothing but net gains minus net losses. The FES's data helps nonprofit boards, managers and fundraisers compare year-to-year organizational performance as well as other organizations' performance with regard to total funds raised and overall donors in various categories.

Intended Data Collection Methods Analysis Participant donor software companies offer client gift transaction information to an Urban Institute database. All facts offered by the companies are kept strictly confidential and anonymous. Result-reporting occurs in cumulative form. The Project utilizes.