Comments on: The Donor Pyramid Lie – II

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:47:14 +0000

If I were to follow the traditional donor pyramid (the only kind I’ve known until reading this conversation), I would be put off asking my regular givers to give a one-off donation. So am I right in thinking I can ask now?

By: Lisa Sargent

Lisa Sargent — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:26:25 +0000

Katie,
Mal Warwick wrote about who gives bequests in an excellent article on the website SOFII, called “Just the Facts on Legacy Giving.” It’s free. Well worth a read.
All best,
Lisa Sargent

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:46:09 +0000

Thanks for pointing the way, Nancy & Virginia, I appreciate the cites – it is hard to know how to google-search for that kind of info.

By: Virginia Ikkanda-Suddith

Virginia Ikkanda-Suddith — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:22:20 +0000

This has been an interesting discussion. I have used the pyramid in training and presentations as a way to visualize numbers of donors and staffing issues with institutional leaders.

Rather than comparing it to a ladder, I’ve emphasized that a donor could entered at any level although a goodly portion come through the large base of the pyramid. I’ve also emphasized that one of a Development Officer’s goals is to guide donors at one level to be donors at all levels–annual giving and major gifts and planned giving. Some will continue to give at one level; others at two; and the ultimate donor at all three. In presenting this concept, the pyramid is not as useful a tool.

To Katie: Yes, look at research in loyalty. You might find something at Robert Sharpe’s website.

By: Nancy Withbroe

Nancy Withbroe — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:14 +0000

Katie – check out the book “Iceberg Philanthropy: Unlocking Extraordinary Gifts from Ordinary Donors” by Green, McDonald and van Herpt, published in 2007. Lots of good research about how bequest donors are typically DM donors, generally NOT wealthy, with a history of giving many small gifts over many years.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:33:44 +0000

Is there any research supporting the link between long-time givers and bequests? I have been pushing for a club for long-time givers and this would be a helpful piece to have in hand. Thank you for this interesting conversation.

By: Kristin McCurry

Kristin McCurry — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:04:57 +0000

Bravo John, Tony, Lisa, et al! The donor pyramid hasn’t been a pyramid for a long time – if it ever was. In the best of cases it is a trapezoid – and only then if communications and contacts are well managed, staff work well together through the donor continuum, and all teams are held accountable for results.
At this week’s DMA Nonprofit Federation conference in Washington, I’ll be sharing MINDset’s view on managing these communications. It dovetails well with Tony’s, as included in Think’s whitepaper. Tom and Roger, I’m sending to you under separate cover – feel free to share with the Agitator audience.

By: John Sauvé-Rodd

John Sauvé-Rodd — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:55:20 +0000

On the ‘seven years to a £1000 gift’ assertion, a way to prove/disprove 7 (or any other number of years before a serious gift is made) is * calculate years of giving – easy – from the start year * select those with $1000 gifts * do a cross tab * apply Pearson’s timeless Chi Square test and see if there is any significant connection. Simples.