Unlocking Fundraising Success with Carly Berna

The Social Impact Solutions Podcast

• 57 min

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In this conversation, Carly Berna, the Fundraiser-in-Residence at Virtuous CRM, discusses the importance of effective fundraising strategies and the insights from the latest benchmark report. The conversation covers key metrics such as donor retention, average gift sizes, and the significance of recurring giving. Carly emphasizes the need for nonprofits to adopt a data-driven approach to fundraising, highlighting the importance of understanding acquisition costs and lifetime value. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by nonprofits in diversifying their donor portfolios and adapting to economic conditions. Ultimately, Carly encourages nonprofits to remain resilient and focused on their mission, leveraging data to make informed decisions for growth. Access The Virtuous Benchmark Report: https://virtuous.org/resource/nonprofit-benchmark-report-2025/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Virtuous and Fundraising Expertise 04:04 The Importance of Benchmarking in Nonprofits 06:47 Key Metrics from the Benchmark Report 09:26 Donor Retention Strategies and Insights 12:04 The Role of Recurring Giving in Nonprofit Revenue 15:00 Acquisition Costs and Donor Lifetime Value 18:11 The Economics of Growth in Nonprofits 29:03 Understanding Lifetime Value (LTV) in Nonprofits 33:08 Acquisition Costs and Break-Even Analysis 38:03 The Role of High Net Worth Donors 38:40 Portfolio Balance in Fundraising 43:28 Diversifying Acquisition Channels 47:29 The Importance of Metrics in Nonprofit Growth 50:58 Encouragement for Nonprofit Professionals Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, donor retention, benchmark report, recurring giving, acquisition costs, lifetime value, donor engagement, Virtuous, social impact