My Favorite Advice
Getting Specific About Donor Data.
Collecting data about your donors is important. But you know that already! The tough part is always in the implementation. You need to get specific about what data points to track and what each means. This piece from Candid does a great job walking through that logic. I like this article because it keeps things simple, acknowledging that tracking too much data can, as they put it, become a “tidal wave that overwhelms any organization not equipped to handle it.” I suggest paying close attention to donor affinity (giving history, relationship to your cause, political giving) to help you understand a donor’s willingness to give to your organization.