2014 fundraising technology trends study
DESCRIPTION
There's an overwhelming amount of technology choices available to fundraisers. But there's only so many hours in the day. And, only so many dollars in the budget. Which technology options can create the biggest impact? Which choices can truly help to accelerate your fundraising success? The recently published "2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study" took on these questions and provided answers. The study was published by software matching service Find Accounting Software and cosponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, as well as non-profit accounting software providers Araize and Cougar Mountain. http://findaccountingsoftware.com/expert-advice/2014-fundraising-technology-trends-study/TRANSCRIPT
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
By: Find Accounting Software
Study overview
● 142 fundraisers answered a 25 question survey providing actionable data on technology best practices
● Co-sponsored by: o The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) o Cougar Mountaino Araize
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Critical questions answered
● Which management software options, communication channels, and payment methods do fundraisers use and to what degree?
● What attitudes do fundraisers hold on technology and its impact on fundraising effectiveness?
● Most importantly: Which tools work and which don’t?
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Key finding #1
Success isn’t assured.
Nearly half of fundraising organizations (47%) generated the same or less revenue in 2013 versus 2012.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Key finding #2
Fundraisers believe in technology, but often lack it.
4 out of 5 fundraisers say better technology leads to fundraising success; only 1 in 3 say they have the tools they
need to be effective.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Key finding #3
Leveraging the web matters.
Fundraisers who accept online donations were 24% more likely to have increased their fundraising revenue.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Key finding #4
Diversification is key.
A greater variety of management software, communication channels, and payment methods lead to greater fundraising
success.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Key finding #5
The profile of a successful fundraiser exists--and it can be emulated.
Over 8 out of 10 fundraisers who met specific best practice standards in terms of technology adoption described themselves as either “effective” or “very effective”
fundraisers.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Fundraising growth is hit or miss. 53% of non-profits increased 2013 vs 2012 revenues.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Fundraisers feel they can improve. Only 45% say they are effective or very effective.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Different types of fundraising organizations are more effective than others.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
The ability to grow revenue year-to-year did not vary significantly by organization size.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
The ability to grow revenue year-to-year did not vary significantly by organization size.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Fundraisers have a high level of confidence in technology to improve fundraising.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Most fundraisers feel they don’t have the technology tools they need to succeed.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Fundraisers use a diverse set of management software tools.
What software works?Only 25% of the firms who reported not using any fundraising management software were able to grow 2013 revenues. Compare that to the proportion of revenue growing organizations who managed their fundraising with:● CRM software (65% of users reported revenue growth)● Contributions management software (62%)● Accounting software (61%)● Productivity applications (60%) ● Web analytics software (57%)
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Effective/very effective fundraisers use 2x as many mgmt. software tools as ineffective peers.
Contributions mgmt softwareNon-profit organizations using contributions management software are...
38% 49%36%More likely to have increased fundraising revenue between 2013 and 2012.
More likely to project increased fundraising revenue in 2014 versus 2013.
More likely to describe their fundraising efforts as “effective” or “very effective.”
...compared to non-profits not using contributions management software.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
In-person & web communication was reported at the largest # of fundraising non-profits.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Effective/very effective fundraisers use 2x more communication channels vs. ineffective peers.
Communication channel impactWith most non-profits using multiple channels, no individual channel correlates with a particularly elevated success rate. Consider the proportion of organizations projecting 2014 revenue growth in each communication channel user group:
● Newspaper (68% project 2014 revenue growth)● Phone (67%)● Postal mail (65%)● Broadcast (65%)● Web (64%)● Email (64%)● In-person/events (63%)
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Fundraisers leveraging the web utilize a variety of tactics.
Effective web channelsFundraisers who blog & use online video content are particularly effective.
+34%Non-profits that blog are 34% more likely to have increased revenue in 2013 than those that do not.
+47%Non-profits that use video are 34% more likely to have increased revenue in 2013 than those that do not.
*Additionally, the use of websites, social media, mobile web, forums, mobile apps, and web chat also all represented success factors. Each technology’s user groups had elevated rates of growing 2013 revenue compared to non-users.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Effective/Very Effective fundraisers use nearly 3x as many web channels as ineffective peers.
Impact of online donationsNon-profits organizations that accept online donations are...
24% 61%26%More likely to have increased fundraising revenue between 2013 and 2012.
More likely to project increased fundraising revenue in 2014 versus 2013.
More likely to describe their fundraising efforts as “effective” or “very effective.”
...compared to non-profits that do not accept donations online.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Cash is still king, but nearly 1 in 2 fundraisers accept paypal and eft payments.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Effective/very effective fundraisers accept payment through a larger variety of methods.
Successful fundraiser profileTop performers*: Consider the results of tech-enabled, highly
diversified fundraisers.
67% 83%83%Said their 2013 revenues were “considerably more” than 2012.
Project increased revenue in 2014 versus 2013.
Feel they are either “effective” or “very effective” fundraisers.
*Based on fundraisers accepting online donations and using at minimum 3 software management tools, 5 communication channels, 3 web-based tactics, and 3 payment acceptance methods.
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
Study population
2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study
All survey takers from US and Canadian fundraisers.