Sometimes, we’re asked questions that feel like they’re in a different language. At times, we really are speaking two different languages and translation is a challenge. But all languages have some things in common and with a little work, you can often find creative solutions to communicate with one another. Have you been asked to articulate and support your request for expanded staffing? What about being asked to predict cash receipts for University budgets during times of economic uncertainty? The finance office or Dean wants to see one thing, but your fundraising database isn’t exactly aligned. This session will present several ways existing data can be used to help development leadership clarify the need for additional staff resources, articulate the impact gift officers have on total fundraising results, and demonstrate ways in which past and projected staffing and cash receipts can predict cash flow in a language both sides understand. No shouting, pointing, or 'cave speak' required.

Most Prospect Management models rely on the gift cycle to categorize prospects. But is this the most accurate way to describe a prospect's philanthropic engagement with the institution? Does a prospect being cultivated for their first major gift really fall in the same category as a seasoned donor being cultivated for their 10th? The Prospect Development Team at Temple University decided to reframe the way they code and report on prospects based on simple measurements on the donors' records. This enabled the team to engage with the fundraisers they partner with to uncover new opportunities and allowed fundraisers to approach their portfolios in a more strategic way.

As personalized and curated experiences continue to take over digital and commercial spaces, donor engagement teams must continually innovate to keep up. All-in-one solutions can provide small teams with scalable platforms and comprehensive tools that drive results, but they often come with limitations in product development that don’t meet the needs of individual clients. Over the last year, Georgia State University’s Donor Engagement and Communications team has used data analysis, strategic engagement and personalized outreach to develop an internal donor experience program focused on long-term results: the acquisition and retention of mid-level donors with the aim of carrying them through the “murky middle” and establishing them as our next generation of major donors.