Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are defined as a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organization is achieving its goals. In
donor development, KPIs include historical growth in donors and in dollars, average donation amount, donor retention rates, donor lifetime values, and much more.
Not all KPIs may apply to your organization, but together they tell a story of where you are and where you have been, and can help to guide your future development efforts. For instance, knowing the lifetime value of your donors can help you determine how much to spend on new donor acquisition. Knowing your donor retention rate can tell you whether you're doing a good job of thanking your current donors.
If you would like to know more about how your organization stacks up against the competition and where to focus your organization's limited resources most effectively, a KPI analysis is a great place to start.