Canterbury School

Canterbury School set a goal to increase unrestricted giving through the Canterbury Annual Fund, with a growth goal of $200,000 additional dollars raised annually. Partnering with SFG, they were able to increase donor acquisition, retention, and leadership giving to secure their goal, qualify more major gift prospects, and generate a lasting annual fund growth strategy.

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NOTABLE OUTCOMES

$200K

Increase in unrestricted revenue in one fiscal year

Newly Identified

Planned Giving prospects

Newly Identified

Major Gift prospects

Data-driven omnichannel solicitation and engagement strategy

GOAL

The goal of the Canterbury School was to achieve a $200,000 growth in unrestricted giving in one fiscal year. The aim was to enhance the school's philanthropic and engagement support by optimizing the Annual Fund, reviewing metrics, streamlining volunteer management, growing the impact of Giving Day, and improving annual fund stewardship.

STRATEGY

Strategies included identifying new prospects for planned and major gifts, implementing personalized ask arrays based on donor behavior, developing donor personas, and adjusting the donation pipeline to focus on higher giving levels. SFG also developed a data-driven annual fund strategy, updated the language used in fundraising appeals, and revamped the overall Annual Fund strategy to include performance indicators based on different channels and constituencies.

RESULT

Assessment and Optimization: Conducted a comprehensive assessment to evaluate fundraising effectiveness, enabling data-driven decision-making and improvement.
Prospect Identification: Identified 37 new prospects for planned gifts, expanded the potential donor pool for long-term substantial contributions, and identified 25 new prospects for major gifts, increasing the chances of securing significant donations.
Personalized Approach: Implemented personalized ask arrays tailored to donor profiles, increasing engagement and improving the likelihood of successful solicitation conversions.
Pipeline Adjustment: Shifted focus within the donation pipeline to encourage donors to contribute at higher levels, aiming to increase the average donation size and maximize fundraising potential.
Strategic Fundraising Strategy: Developed a comprehensive, data-driven annual fund strategy with a focus on alumni, current parents, and previous parents, leveraging targeted messaging, engagement activities, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for effective fundraising outcomes.

CLIENT EXPERIENCE

Throughout our partnership with the Shaff Fundraising Group, I have been consistently impressed with their exceptional work. Their profound understanding of the fundraising landscape, combined with their up-to-date knowledge of the latest trends, has significantly impacted our organization. Their data-driven and audience-centric approach has been invaluable, providing strategic support and expert guidance in every step of our fundraising efforts.