Charity Dynamics and NTEN Conduct Nonprofit Donor Engagement Research, Gather Benchmark Data on Individual Engagement Trends

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit organizations that engage their supporters stand to benefit the most when it comes to receiving their cut of an individual's overall charitable donations, according to results from a recent benchmark survey conducted by Charity Dynamics and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN).  

The first-of-its-kind donor engagement survey was focused specifically on how individuals engage or prefer to engage with the nonprofits they support, and how their involvement impacts giving. The unique donor-focused study gathered feedback from consumers across a diverse range of giving levels ($25 – $5,000+) who have donated to a nonprofit in the past 12 months.

Among the preliminary findings from the Charity Dynamics/NTEN Nonprofit Donor Engagement Benchmark Study:

• Nearly half of the survey respondents (47%) give a majority of their annual total donation amount to the charitable organization with whom they're most engaged.
• Nearly 30% of respondents indicated they fundraise on behalf of the charity they're most involved with at least once a year. 18% do this activity several times a year or more.
• Respondents who are highly involved with their favorite charity prefer to find out information about the organization on its website (28%), via email (18%) and Facebook (13%). 

"The data collected in our survey helps validate a point many nonprofits have likely heard at one time or another — that donors want to engage with charities beyond just giving," said Donna Wilkins, founder and president of Charity Dynamics. "Providing donor engagement opportunities and understanding the impact on giving is an important long-term strategy that's integrated into all of the work we do with clients, and is essential for nonprofits that want to build a growing and sustainable fundraising program."

"We partnered with Charity Dynamics on this survey because it's an opportunity to provide valuable insight to nonprofit professionals to help guide their donor engagement strategies," said Annaliese Hoehling, Publications Director, NTEN. "With input collected from a good cross-section of donors across the country, nonprofits soon will have a new level of data and benchmarks to compare against as they seek to deliver new engagement opportunities in ways that today's donors prefer."

A full report with key findings from the Nonprofit Donor Engagement Benchmark Study will be available in early November. Nonprofit professionals who'd like to hear additional commentary on the survey's results are encouraged to attend a joint Charity Dynamics/NTEN webinar on November 8. The free webinar will provide an overview of the survey results, analysis of key findings and recommendations on how nonprofits can leverage the data to improve donor engagement and giving. To register for the webinar, please visit: http://www.charitydynamics.com/webinar/engagement/.

Additionally, nonprofit organizations that would like to conduct a similar donor engagement survey specifically for their own constituents should visit Charity Dynamics (#308) during the upcoming 2012 Blackbaud Conference. Charity Dynamics will help organizations set up their own surveys, then provide a free benchmark comparison report that compares a nonprofit's individual results against those from the Nonprofit Donor Engagement Benchmark Study. Nonprofits also can visit www.charitydynamics.com/surveyoffer/ for more information and to request their own donor engagement survey.

About the Nonprofit Technology Network
NTEN is the membership organization of nonprofit professionals who put technology to use for their causes. We enable our members to do their jobs better and help their organizations strategically use technology so that they, in turn, make the world a better, just, and more equitable place. www.nten.org

About Charity Dynamics
Charity Dynamics provides comprehensive online marketing and fundraising solutions for nonprofit organizations. The company's expert consulting services enable nonprofits to create and implement results-driven fundraising strategies through online programs, live and virtual events, social media and mobile solutions. Organizations using Charity Dynamics' innovative Boundless Fundraising® solution have raised more than $150 million directly through the suite of applications since it launched in late 2008. Charity Dynamics' clients include The ALS Association, American Cancer Society, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Salvation Army. For more information, please visit www.charitydynamics.com.

SOURCE Charity Dynamics