Numbers & Percentages

Question 1

It is generally accepted among professional fundraisers that…

Answer 1

3 to 5 percent of contributors enrolled in an organization’s donor base have the ability to make major gifts.

Question 2

Organizations are increasingly in campaign mode at all times…

Answer 2

i.e. planning stages for the next campaign begin immediately at the end of the previous campaign; cultivation of** major donors (10% who gave 90% of funds and those in top tier**) continues in preparation for the next campaign.

Question 3

Traditional “Rule of Thirds” Gift Table

Answer 3

i. Top 10 gifts account for 1/3 of the total

ii. The next 100 gifts account for another 1/3 of the total

iii. The final 1/3 come from everyone else

Question 4

The final pre-campaign activity is preparation of a gift-range table:

Answer 4

 A realistic reflection of the approximate levels of giving and the number of gifts requires at those levels to achieve a stated dollar objective.
 **A campaign is likely to reach its goal if the largest gift equals 10% or more of the goal and it, along with the next nine gifts, total one-third of the goal, **and the next 90 gifts equal one-third of the goal
 If these first two-thirds of the campaign are achieved this way, it is most likely that the final one-third of the goal can be raised from all other gifts

Question 5

Not uncommon for a lead gift to be 30% of the campaign goal – sometimes even 50%…

Answer 5

and the top 10-15 gifts often account for 60% of the total.

Question 6

Major-Gifts Campaign Quiet Phase:

Answer 6

When gifts from “family” and lead gifts are solicited, with a goal of 100% board participation and about 40-50% of the goal has been achieved.

Question 7

Duration of pledge period:

Answer 7

typically 36-60 months/3-5 years

Question 8

(AG) Personal solicitation is still the most effective

Answer 8

16 times more effective than mail solicitation!

Question 9

(Arithmetic of Fundraising - AG) The Formula:

Answer 9

 The top 10 percent of the gifts received during the annual fund have the potential to produce 60 percent of the money required to meet the goal.
 The next 20 percent of gifts will account for 15 to 25 percent of the money required.
 The remaining 70 percent of gifts will cover the remaining 15 to 25 percent of funds required.

Question 10

What percentage of volunteers give financially?

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

Corporate giving now accounts for 5% of total giving.

Answer 11

Of that total, 1/3 comes from corporate foundations.

Question 12

Matching Gifts

Answer 12

A highly effective tool to encourage others to give. **Research has demonstrated that the likelihood of a gift increases 22 percent when a match is offered, and the revenue per solicitation increases 19 percent. **These may be matches offered by a donor or donors to the organization, a community foundation, or the organization itself.

Question 13

High Net Worth Volunteers

Answer 13

Volunteers whose income and/or assets put them in a position to make a substantial donation to an organization. In addition to the monetary contributions that high net worth individuals make, they often play strategic volunteer roles (board members or consultants) which are often based on their special skill set and experience. 75 percent of high net worth individuals who give to charity also volunteer.

Question 14

In successful campaigns, contributions from the board and the foundation and companies they control range from:

Answer 14

20 - 50% of the total amount raised.

Question 15

100% board participation in a campaign is the most powerful signal to prospective donors that:

Answer 15

the organization excels in carrying out its mission.

Question 16

Volunteers give at:

Answer 16

double the rate of the general population that doesn’t volunteer.

Question 17

80% of volunteers give at least

Answer 17

once per year.

Question 18

75 percent of high net worth individuals who give to charity…

Answer 18

also volunteer!

Question 19

A budget for conducting a capital campaign is typically 10-12 percent of the campaign goal itself (under $10 million)

Answer 19

and 4 percent for a well-established organization with a goal of $25 million or more.

Question 20

The budget implies a long-term growth strategy with a rate of return at minimum that exceeds US$1 per dollar invested…

Answer 20

and ideally realizes a rate of US$10-$20 per dollar invested.

Question 21

Organizations viewed as highly transparent receive:

Answer 21

53 percent more in revenue than those perceived as not transparent.

Question 22

General Gifts (under MG, Big/Leeadership/Principal/key/strategic) make up:

Answer 22

The final 5-20 percent of funds raised.

Question 23

What is the accepted ratio of solicitations assigned to a volunteer?

Answer 23

5 to 1