142: Unlocking Donor Engagement: Understanding How Fundraiser Behavior Leads to Donor Behavior

In the world of philanthropy, Jessica Channell Iler's journey was anything but ordinary. As the Director of Fundraising, Intelligence, Analytics, and Reporting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Jessica's navigated the labyrinth of higher education fundraising for two decades. Harnessing the power of data-driven decision-making, she's deftly amalgamated her knowledge of analytics and fundraising intelligence to build robust bonds between fundraisers and donors, blending the precision of data science with the delicate art of relationship-building.

In this episode, Jessica and I delve into the intricate relationship between fundraising activities and donor behavior. There's a tendency in our sector to view donor behavior as a meteorological phenomenon - as if it randomly occurs without provocation. However, donor behavior often mirrors fundraiser actions; the latter acts as a leading indicator, while the former is a lagging indicator. I'm intrigued to explore what transpires when we scrutinize this correlation closely - which behaviors yield the most impact and thus require prioritization? What shifts when we actively track our actions, rather than solely focusing on the end result? 

Jessica's current focus is on understanding the relationship between fundraising activities and donor behavior makes her the perfect person to discuss this with. Her mission is to uncover the drivers of productivity and to refine the approach, particularly in the mid-level giving space. Through her work, Jessica continues to inspire a culture of giving that is aligned with the interests and capacities of her constituents.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Illuminate the importance of accurately reading and tracking fundraiser and donor interactions.
• Understand how fundraiser behavior inspires donors to take action.
• Experience the power of focused prospect development in nurturing fundraiser-donor bonds.
• Identify key engagement pointers crucial for small nonprofit sustainability and progression.
• Discern the profound impact of true engagement, openness, and stewardship in fundraising activities. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Many thanks to our sponsor, Bloomerang for making this episode possible. Bloomerang offers donor management and online fundraising software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron, a nonprofit that empowers kids and teens through the game of golf. After just one year with Bloomerang they doubled their unique donors, improved donor stewardship, and raised more funds. Head to bloomerang.com/whatthefundraising to learn more about Bloomerang. 

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If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization.