Guess which task stumps 53% of fundraisers?

Welcome to this week's LinkedIn-only excerpt of the Donor Participation Project newsletter! The Donor Participation Project is a community of 6,000+ fundraisers where you can network, learn, and advance your career.

Almost ready! The results of the State of the Development Profession Survey that we recently ran with Langley Innovations are almost ready for release.

I thought you'd enjoy a couple of insider previews.?

Full results and a webinar to help you and your team parse the results are on their way.

Preview 1: The Metrics Misalignment

We uncovered a startling disconnect between how fundraisers are evaluated and what they believe truly matters. A whopping 52% of respondents feel that "total dollars raised" is overemphasized as a performance metric.

But here's the kicker: despite the industry's increasing focus on data-driven decision-making, less than 1% of fundraisers consider data analysis to be the most crucial skill in their profession. What skills do you think they value most?

Preview 2: The First Meeting Hurdle

Your answers revealed a universal challenge in the fundraising world: getting that crucial first meeting. An overwhelming 53% of fundraisers identified this as their biggest hurdle in prospect engagement.

But that's not all – a staggering 41% of respondents report that only 0-20% of prospects respond positively to initial outreach. These numbers paint a picture of a profession grappling with the fundamental task of opening doors.

Preview 3: The Storytelling Paradox

In a profession built on communication, our survey uncovered a surprising contradiction. While 56% of fundraisers believe their materials effectively communicate their organization's mission and impact, the same percentage identified "demonstration of impact" as the aspect of their fundraising materials most in need of improvement.

Stay tuned for the full release of our 2024 State of the Development Profession Survey, where we'll dive deep into these findings and many more, offering a comprehensive look at the challenges, opportunities, and evolving landscape of fundraising in 2024.

If you're in the Philadelphia region, I'll plan to see you this week . If you're not, read the academic study below, sign up for our online session on Giving Circles , and check out our AI tools .

Thanks,

Louis

PS: Which fundraising skill do you most want to improve?

PPS: It's all about energy management .

Lunch Analysis

Curious about giving circles and collective giving - the fastest growing model of individual giving?

Join Susan Benford (Philanos), Joy Webb (Community Investment Network) and Michelle Cottrell (Women’s Impact Fund) to learn more about how giving circles connect new philanthropists with local, community-based nonprofits.

Key topics include:

• Understand the size and growth trajectory of collective giving
• Explore the demographics of giving circles and how they can help reach under-stewarded donors
• Learn about trends in giving circle granting and support beyond financial contributions
• Discover how giving circles connect individual donors with local issues and organizations, combating the current decline in donor participation

Visit Event Page →

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Have a great week,

Louis