Self Assessment: Annual Giving Programs - AGN

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Self Assessment: Annual Giving Programs

Step 1 of 13 - Section 1

7%

Read each of the following statements and rate your program according to the scale below. Don’t spend too much time thinking about each statement; your first instinct is usually the best one. If you’re not certain, make your best guess or go with your gut instinct.
A. Strategy
1. There is a basic understanding of, and appreciation for, the importance of annual giving at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
2. Annual giving is clearly defined at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
3. Annual giving is a high priority at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
4. There are specific and realistic goals for my institution’s annual giving program.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
5. Appeals and communications are segmented by prospect giving history, institutional relationship, and interest.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
6. The annual giving program begins each fiscal year with a documented plan and schedule of communications and activities.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
7. The staff and resources that support annual giving efforts are administered/managed effectively.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
8. Annual giving staff collaborate well with advancement colleagues and campus partners.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
9. Annual giving metrics are regularly tracked, analyzed, and used to inform future strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
10. There are clear and effective strategies for retaining and renewing prior-year donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
11. There are clear and effective strategies for reactivating lapsed donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
12. There are clear and effective strategies for acquiring new donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
13. There are clear and effective strategies for increasing donor giving levels over time and cultivating annual leadership gifts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
14. There are clear and effective strategies for diversifying my institution's donor population.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
15. Annual giving plays an important role in my institution’s broader comprehensive campaign plans and long term advancement efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

B: Direct Mail
16. Direct mail appeals are effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
17. Direct mail appeals are written clearly and effectively.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
18. Direct mail appeals are personalized for key segments.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
19. Direct mail appeals include specific asks/suggested gift amounts based on prospect capacity and inclination.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
20. Testing is conducted regularly and results are used to inform future appeal strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
21. There is a clear process in place for evaluating direct mail results and using them to inform future strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

C: Digital Campaigns
22. Digital channels are effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
23. Email is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
24. Social media is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
25. Crowdfunding is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
26. Digital ads are effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
27. Video is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
28. Texting is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
29. Online volunteers/ambassadors are effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
30. Websites and giving forms are well-designed, easy to navigate, and contain current and relevant content related to annual giving.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
31. Gamification techniques are used effectively to engage and excite prospects and donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

D: Giving Days
32. Giving days are effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
33. Giving days are effectively promoted through multiple channels and marketing efforts are well coordinated so as not to conflict with other ongoing advancement programs.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
34. Volunteers, advancement colleagues, and campus partners play an important role in giving day and are provided with clear expectations, training, and tools.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
35. Giving day donors and volunteers are effectively stewarded following the event.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
36. There is a clear process in place for evaluating giving day results and using them to inform future strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
37. #GivingTuesday is effectively leveraged to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

E: Phonathons
38. Phone outreach by students and/or volunteers is effectively used to support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
39. There are clear and effective strategies for recruiting phonathon callers.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
40. There are clear and effective strategies for training and motivating phonathon callers.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
41. Phonathon scripts are written clearly and effectively.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
42. There is a clear process in place for evaluating phonathon results and using them to inform future strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

F: Frontline Fundraising
43. Staff effectively manage and solicit the annual giving program’s top prospects in a personal way.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
44. There is a system in place for developing, maintaining and evaluating prospect portfolios for the annual giving program’s top prospects.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
45. Gift officers are comfortable in their ability to conduct research on individual prospects, and are generally prepared going into meetings with prospects.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
46. Gift officers are able to conduct effective meetings with prospects virtually and in person.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
47. Key prospects are engaged as volunteers and are managed effectively in support of annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
48. Gift officers are comfortable making verbal asks and addressing objections as needed.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
49. Gift officers know how to write clear and compelling gift proposals and agreements.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
50. There is a clear process in place for evaluating gift officer productivity.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
51. Faculty and key administrators are included in prospect cultivation and/or stewardship efforts when appropriate.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
52. Alumni board members are managed effectively and help support annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
53. There is good coordination of annual and major giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
54. There is good coordination of annual and planned giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

G: Stewardship
55. There are clear strategies and effective programs for stewarding annual donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
56. Gift acknowledgments are generated promptly and personalized by gift amount and designation.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
57. The impact of annual giving is regularly and effectively communicated to donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
58. There are programs in place to effectively/publicly recognize annual donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
59. Events are effectively used to engage and steward annual donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
60. Gift clubs/societies are effectively used to recognize giving at leadership levels.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
61. Gift clubs/societies are effectively used to recognize consistent giving.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
62. There are clear and effective strategies in place to steward new/first-time donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
63. Scholarship donor stewardship is well coordinated with annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
64. Endowment donor stewardship is well coordinated with annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

H: Alumni Giving
65. Alumni participation is a high priority and there are clear and effective strategies for increasing it.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
66. Alumni from different generations are segmented and effectively engaged and solicited for annual gifts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
67. Alumni are asked to give to specific areas based on their unique interests and affinities in addition to making unrestricted gifts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
68. Alumni are solicited every five years in honor of their reunion/anniversary of their graduation.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
69. Alumni communication, engagement and solicitations strategies are customized by the regions in which they live and work.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
70. Alumni who live internationally are effectively engaged and solicited for annual gifts are customized and appropriate for various cultures.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
71. There is good coordination of annual giving and alumni relations efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

I. Young Alumni Giving
72. Young alumni are effectively engaged and solicited for annual gifts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
73. There is a clear strategy in place to engage alumni in their first year after graduation.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
74. There are targeted efforts to identify, cultivate, and steward young leadership donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
75. Young alumni are effectively engaged, cultivated, and stewarded through events.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
76. Young alumni volunteers play an important role in supporting annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

J: Student Giving
77. Students are effectively engaged and educated about philanthropy each year they are in school.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
78. There is a clear strategy in place to engage students during their first year.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
79. There is a senior class gift program that is widely recognized and has specific and realistic participation goals.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
80. Student donors, volunteers, and leaders are regularly cultivated and stewarded through in-person and virtual events.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
81. Student volunteers play an important role in supporting annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

K: Parent GIving
82. Parents are effectively engaged and solicited for annual gifts each year their children are in school.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
83. There is a clear strategy in place to engage and solicit parents during the first year that their children are in school.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
84. Parents with leadership gift capacity are closely managed by gift officers, cultivated through personal meetings, and solicited early in their children's school experience.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
85. Parent donors, volunteers, and leaders are regularly cultivated and stewarded through in-person and virtual events.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
86. Parent volunteers play an important role in supporting annual giving efforts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

L: Other Programs
87. Faculty and staff are effectively engaged and solicited for annual gifts.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
88. Athletics giving opportunities are promoted and managed effectively.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
89. Recurring gifts opportunities are promoted and managed effectively.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
90. Donor challenges are used frequently and effectively to incentivize giving.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
91. Premiums/token gifts are used effectively to incentivize and steward donors.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
92. Predictive modeling is effectively used to identify potential donors and inform annual giving strategies.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
93. Surveys are regularly and effectively used to understand donor interests and motivations.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
94. Benchmarking is regularly and effectively used to compare annual giving results with peer programs.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
95. There is a basic understanding of financial aid fundraising at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
96. There is a basic understanding of corporate matching gifts at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
97. There is a basic understanding of donor-advised funds at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
98. There is a basic understanding of grants at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
99. There is a basic understanding of planned giving at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
100. There is a basic understanding of capital campaigns at my institution.*
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree

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