Maturity Assessment | Fundraising Commons Handbook

Level 1: Clean Base

"How many donors do we have?" gets the same answer from everyone. Reports do not conflict and query logic is standardized across systems.

"Lapsed" has one written definition we all use. There is a documented, agreed-upon definition (dates, transactions, pledges).

We trust "last gift date" without checking. Staff do not manually audit batches or entry logs to verify recent giving.

Duplicates are actively managed, not just noticed. We have dedicated routines/automated matching to clean split records.

Level 2: Connected Intermediate

We separate a pledge/commitment from the transaction that pays it. Recurring agreements, memberships, and pledges are modeled distinct from cash entries.

We could change CRMs without losing history. Data maps cleanly to a neutral common data model, making us independent of a vendor.

Two systems can be reconciled because they share definitions. Finance ledger and advancement CRM tables align directly without manual mapping hoops.

Level 3: Predictive Advanced

We rank prospects/lapsed donors by a score, not a hunch. We use data-driven reactivation, modeling, or regression scores to guide outreach.

We can answer "what if we change X" before changing it. We have simple model simulations to anticipate changes in rates or policy outcomes.

Our metrics match a sector standard (e.g. FEP). Our metrics align with broader industry standards rather than being custom-built inside.

Advancement Data Maturity Assessment

Level 1: Clean Base

Level 2: Connected Intermediate

Level 3: Predictive Advanced

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