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Idea Contest Results

The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) is pleased to announce the winners of SPI’s first Idea Contest. The Idea Contest invited nonprofit organizations across the US to submit fundraising ideas that could be tested by SPI researchers. SPI was interested in hearing from the philanthropic community about their fundraising challenges.

The Idea Contest began in March 2013 and the three-month duration of the contest brought in 58 entries from nonprofit organizations around the US. The winners were chosen by the SPI researchers and staff.

“We were pleased with the turnout,” said executive director, Edie Dobrez. “It was fascinating to see what issues nonprofits are faced with and how they thought about bringing science into their work. We are excited to move the conversation between science and philanthropy forward.”

Each winner will be awarded a cash prize and will be invited to the first annual SPI conference. The conference will take place on October 18, 2013 at the University of Chicago.

1st Place: $5,000
  • United Way of Dane County (Wisconsin)
    • Idea: When soliciting financial support, are people more compelled to give by the depth of the problem or the efficacy of the solution?
2nd Place: 3-way tie, $700 each
  • Chicago Lights
  • Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois
  • Respond Now
    • Idea: All three organizations submitted similar ideas: Is it more effective to solicit for specific needs/program (ex: stock a food pantry) versus general issues (hunger)?
3rd Place: $500
  • Illinois Legal Aid Online
    • Idea: What role does social media play in a donor's likelihood to make a charitable contribution at a fundraising event?

Congratulations to the winners of the SPI Idea Contest!



 

Summary statistics of our contestants

Region

  • South (21%)
  • West (10%)
  • East (16%)
  • Midwest (53%)

 

Organization Type

  • Human services/public benefit (33%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Religiously Affiliated (19%)
  • Education and other services (14%)
  • Health and human services (7%)
  • Art, culture, humanities (5%)
  • International health and human services (2%)

 

Organization by budgets

  • $1 million--$3 million (21%)
  • Less than $100,000 (19%)
  • $250,000--$1 million (17%)
  • $100,000 -- $250,000 (16%)
  • Over $10 million (16%)
  • $3 million-- $10 million (12%)

 

Current fundraising methods *

  • Board giving (81%)
  • Direct mail solicitation (72%)
  • Event (attendees < 50) (69%)
  • Corporate partnership/sponsorship (69%)
  • Email solicitation (67%)
  • Event (attendees > 50) (67%)
  • Major gifts solicitation/relationship management (55%)
  • Social Media giving (50%)
  • Corporate employee giving (47%)
  • Planned gifts (45%)
  • Payroll giving (41%)
  • Services (36%)
  • Products (34%)
  • Membership dues (24%)
  • Face-to-Face, Guerrilla marketing (19%)
  • Telemarketing (14%)
  • Crowdsource funds (14%)
  • Text solicitation (9%)
  • Door-to-Door (3%)

 

Reasons why a new fundraising method was used in the past fiscal year *

  • Successful for other organizations (41%)
  • Staff ideas (34%)
  • To take advantage of technology (34%)
  • Strategic plan/program shift (22%)
  • Volunteer idea (19%)
  • Method learned from conference/consultant (19%)
  • Board idea (19%)
  • Donor relationships changes (lost or gained) (14%)
  • Wanted to try the new "hot/trendy" idea (10%)
  • Funding source changed (8%)
  • Geographic change (3%)

 

Reason why a new fundraising methods was NOT used in the past fiscal year *

  • Limited staff (33%)
  • Limited funds/resources (21%)
  • Continue to use currently successful methods (22%)
  • Did not change method but adjusted strategy (testing, experimentation) (9%)
  • Lack of support from leadership/board (5%)
  • Same method, new strategy learned from a conference/workshop/consultant (5%)

 

* May add up to over 100%, as organizations were able to select all that apply