Yesterday we reported the quantitative results from The Agitator’s Mid-Year Fundraising Assessment survey.

Those responses indicated relative calm at this stage of the fundraising year. As Tom summarized: “Being an optimist, I would characterize the results as saying that seven-in-ten fundraisers believe their programs are holding their ground or improving.”

As another optimist commented: “Good campaigns are winning out against a bad economy. Good issues that really matter to people can mitigate against pessimistic economic outlook.” Commented another: “The economy will continue to be a problem. On the positive side, we have a lot of best practices to establish here, so in the end I believe we’ll hold our own this year."  

Today we’re releasing the verbatim responses to the survey. These provide a richer sense of how fundraisers are assessing the situation … and what they are doing about it.

You can view the survey results, including verbatims, online here, or you can download a list of the verbatim comments here.

For fundraisers whose programs are performing worse than they expected at the outset of 2009, three reasons seem to dominate:

• For direct response fundraisers, average gifts remain down (although, for most, numbers of donors seem stable);
• Foundation and corporate giving is down, as well as grants from state governments; and,
• Events seem problematic.

We asked fundraisers about the adjustments in strategy they planned to make in the balance of the year, as they evaluated first-half results. These themes emerged.

1. First and foremost, a very strong emphasis on cultivating and deepening relationships with current donors of all types – from small donors to foundations. As one respondent put it: “Help our current donors ‘feel the love’”!

2. More careful donor analysis to tighten targeting and segmentation, sharpen “ask” strategies, and add personalization for house appeals.

3. Increased emphasis on planned giving.   

4. More online fundraising.

5. Reviewing and strengthening messaging and their core fundraising case.

6. And some are casting a wider net, looking for new foundation or major gift support. [Personally, we’d expect a tough go here. In a down economy, these types of donors – especially those with diminished resources – will be looking to narrow their giving to a “proven” few to whom they want to remain loyal and ensure “safe passage” through tough times … not looking to expand their universe.]

Finally, we also get the sense that fundraisers see themselves as more focused and working harder … on everything from donor analysis to finding cost savings.

No question … fundraisers will earn their keep in 2009!

Roger & Tom