Knight Foundation Giving Days InitiativePeer Learning Exchange

Summary of Survey: Feedback 2014

Summary Findings and Takeaways• PLE offers strong values to participants because it helps them keep ideas

fresh, access to just in time requests for program materials or help. • Playbook content very valuable, especially for those just starting out,

but strong interest from all in more advanced content – especially endowment fundraising, DAF engagement, corporate sponsorship, and marketing campaigns.

• Facilitator that asks right questions, pulls out expertise from the group, and encouraging sharing amongst participants is valuable.

• A strong interest in more open discussion and Q/A on the calls connected to a particular topic – less content delivery.

• More interest in opening up the calls to other CFs, other staff members from their organizations, and expert guests.

• Participants are thinking about or beginning to experiment with many of the sustainability topics and identified a robust learning agenda for 2015.

Who completed the survey?Blue Grass Community FoundationCentral Carolina Community FoundationCentre FoundationCommunity First FoundationCommunity Foundation of GF, EGF & RegionCommunity Foundation of Greater Fort WayneDuluth Superior Area Community FoundationGeorgia Center for Nonprofits / GA Gives DayGiveMNLegacy FoundationMississippi GivesSilicon Valley Community FoundationThe Miami FoundationWaccamaw Commuinity Foundation (Coastal Community Foundation)Wichita Community Foundation

How did the participating in the PLE help participants be more effective hosting Giving Days?

Statements RatingI learned useful tips and strategies for making our Giving Day more effective 4.69

I shared insights and materials about hosting Giving Days with others in my organization

4.63

I increased my confidence and comfort using skills to host a Giving Day 4.44

Our giving day got better results because of my participation in the Peer Learning Group

4.31

“The Peer Learning Exchange allows us to collectively come up with new ideas and concepts to keep giving day strong!”

“This experience has been extremely worthwhile, and we are excited to continue the opportunity to work together! We love collaboration!”

Scale 1 to 5

Rating Effectiveness of the Facilitator and Delivery

Facilitator Evaluation

Content Knowledge 94%

Call Facilitation 89%

Responsiveness 94%

Delivery Evaluation

Playbook 93%Conference Calls 75%Facebook Group 60%Wiki Resources 50%“Facilitator is very skilled at asking the right

questions to guide you to a solution of your own, pulling out expertise from the group, and encouraging us to share amongst ourselves”

“I referred to the Giving Day Playbook a lot - it was a great resource!” – first time Giving Day

“Since our Foundation had already hosted 2 giving days when this program began, we found a lot of value in hearing about new ideas on the calls that could improve our existing giving day and using the Facebook group for quick questions/materials requests. The Playbook and wiki are good materials, but struck me as more for Foundations just getting started and needing a full briefing.”

% of participants ranking 4 or 5

Interest in Content Format and TopicsFormatOpen Discussion 2.6Q/A Peers 2.5Case Studies Invited Guests 2.5Playbook Content 2.5Peer Consults 2.2Mini-Case Studies from Peers 2.2In-Depth Case Studies from Peers 2.0

Scale 1 to 3

“Topics with free flowing conversations are a really great way to learn”

“Would like to have more guests”

Donor Outreach Strategies 67%Endowment Donation Strategies 67%Corporate Sponsorship 67%Community Engagement Strategies 60%Marketing Campaign Strategy 60%Sustainability or Financing the Giving Day 60%Prize and Match Strategies 53%Technology Platform 53%Social Media 47%Content Strategy 47%Assessment and Learning from Data 47%Donor Retention 40%Nonprofit Training and Support 40%Measurement Techniques 40%Earned Media 40%Credit Card Payment Platforms 40%Structure for Giving Days 33%Events 33%Thanking Donors 33%Setting Measurable Goals 27%Using Corporate or Professional Volunteers 27%Paid Media 27%Online Media 27%Day of Logistics 27%Apps 27%Nonprofit Outreach Strategies 20%

TOPICS

Sustainability Topics: Thinking About Or Experimenting With?

Corporate Sponsorships/Relationship-Building 75%Giving Day Sustainability/Cost-Effectiveness 69%Community Foundation Marketing/Branding 69%Capacity Building for Nonprofits 56%DAF Engagement 50%Endowment Fundraising 44%Using Giving Day Skills or Data in Other CF Work 38%Raising Money for the Community Foundation 31%Using Corporate or Professional Volunteers 25%Integrating the Giving Day into Existing Programs 6%

Sustainability Topics

Sustainability Learning AgendaTOPIC Learning Questions Expressed CuriosityCorporate Sponsorships/Relationship-Building How can we partner with a corporate sponsor

for the whole event? What are some options for corporate sponsorship beyond the prize pool? What are the best practices to soliciting and retaining corporate sponsors for the event?

Central Caroline Community Foundation, GiveMN, Wichita, Miss Gives, GeorgiaGives

Giving Day Sustainability/Cost-Effectiveness

What are some ways that our CF can recoup transaction fees? Is a viable strategy charging the nonprofits? How can we more efficiently implement Giving Days with limited staff? How to integrate the Giving Day into grant and fundraising staff work? How can we study and analyze staff time investment and make it more efficient? How to get more donors for bonus funds or de-emphasize it as incentive for nonprofit participation? Can we get a corporate partner to cover transaction costs?

Central Carolina Community Foundation, Colorado Gives, Waccamaw Commuinity Foundation, MissGives, GeorgiaGives, Miami, Centre Foundation

Community Foundation Marketing/Branding

What are the best practices of getting participating nonprofits to incorporate our branding in their giving day campaigns? What are the best practices for investing more of CF's marketing budget into Giving Day?

Central Carolina Community Foundation, GiveMN, Miss Gives

Topic Question Expressed CuriosityCapacity Building for Nonprofits What are some models or best practices to deliver

capacity building to nonprofits that helps them increase skills for social media or online fundraising beyond the giving? Is there an opportunity to monetize capacity building programs for nonprofits? How can we encourage and nurture more peer learning or networking with participating nonprofits so they can support one another year round? What is the best approach to providing more comprehensive training for nonprofits?

Central Carolina Community Foundation, Legacy Foundation, GiveMN, Blue Grass Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Waccamaw Commuinity Foundation, Centre

DAF Engagement What is the best messaging and strategy to encourage more DAF participation in the Giving Day? How to increase the amount and number of DAFs?

Central Carolina Community Foundation, GiveMN, Waccamaw Commuinity Foundation, Miami

Endowment Fundraising What are the best strategies for integrating endowment fundraising into the Giving Day? How to incorporate endowment fundraising in your online platform? How can we get started? How can we build an unrestricted endowment fund via the Giving Day for grants? What are examples or best practices of endowment fundraising and as part of Giving Day?

Legacy Foundation, Blue Grass Foundation, Miss Gives, Miami, Duluth

Sustainability Learning Agenda

Sustainability Learning Agenda

Topic Question Expressed CuriosityUsing Giving Day Skills or Data in Other Community Foundation Work

What are some examples of using skills and knowledge from Giving Day for other programs?

Central Carolina Community Foundation, Wichita

Raising Money for the Community Foundation

What is the best way to partner with other funders to host or support the Giving Day?

Central Carolina Community Foundation

Using Corporate or Professional Volunteers

How to increase participation of corporate volunteers?

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Integrating the Giving Day into Existing Programs

What are some examples of using skills and knowledge from Giving Day for other programs?

Wichita

Interest in New Ideas for the PLE Program Design

Face-to-Face Convening with CF's for a Deep Dive

90%

Opportunities to collaborate with peers 80%Lead and facilitate on of the peer learning calls 30%More frequent conference calls 20%

“I think it would be cool to be there in person for different Foundation's Give Days to really see how it's done in their area, like an exchange program.”

“Can we start inviting other people on staff at the CF to the calls?”