When it comes to individual fundraising, data drives decisions. You have probably heard terms like ‘evidence-led approach’ or ‘data-based decisions’. All this refers to a system where everything is tracked, analysed, and used to improve performance. In institutional fundraising, we often see the opposite.
Many organisations are not tracking proposal success rates, average grant sizes, or the time and capacity spent on fundraising. And without that, it becomes difficult to know what is actually working. The good news? You can start small.
A simple spreadsheet tracking submissions, outcomes, funding secured, donor types, and time invested can quickly reveal patterns and opportunities. What’s vital is understanding your numbers and using them to make better decisions.
