Connective Impact Self-Evaluation

Is your organization operating at peak efficiency?

Are the communications and donor development teams siloed?

Are they trying to work together but still seem to be in their own little vacuum?

If you’re like most organizations we work with, the answer is most likely yes.

We created this self evaluation to highlight specific areas organizations need to focus on and to provide you feedback based on your answers.

In this survey, you will find 10 statements to help you determine how connected your organization is. It should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please answer each statement to the best of your knowledge and remember: It’s not uncommon for organizations to overestimate their capabilities, so please be objective and honest with yourself.

Ok, let’s get started!

  • Question 1

    We currently have a written calendar plan for when donors and prospective donors receive specific emails and information.

    Yes
    No
    Not Certain
    Having a written calendar plan or a content delivery plan will maintain a consistent flow of communications with your targeted audiences without sending out repetitive or junk emails. Two of the keys to success are to re-purpose good, useable content and track responses so that you can avoid irrelevant information.

  • Question 2

    Our donor and prospect databases are integrated with the ability to select specific people for specific emails or invitations.

    Fully across departments
    Just within development
    Limited ability to select specific people
    Just a contact list
    No database available
    Integrating databases provides a uniform platform for delivery of content and for maintaining a consistent schedule. People hate to receive nearly duplicate emails from the same organization. Emails that support other communications efforts will also increase recall of your organization’s most relevant and current emphasis.

  • Question 3

    The digital communications software we use tracks the action the receiver takes regarding opening the email, click-throughs, and offer acceptances.

    Fully capable software system
    Somewhat capable system to track actions
    Very limited capabilities
    No real tracking available or not used if available
    Tracking provides three basic functions:
    1. It allows you to associate actions to take on a website with a specific user.
    2. It gives you a clear view at what is working and what is not.
    3. It allows you to either follow up with subject areas that the recipient has shown interest in or to switch to another subject area for more exploration.

  • Question 4

    Our communications assets – such as videos, photos, logos, stories, brochures, pamphlets, and banners, are available to our staff digitally without requiring new designs and new copy.

    Yes, a very well-populated folder/file/location
    Yes, but limited to a few items
    Yes, but just for our logo
    No, people need to request items
    One of the most consistent and avoidable internal areas of friction is over demands for materials. The more streamlined the process, the more time is free for communications to spend on creating new materials. Having an asset storage process – including rules and requirements for the use of images, identities, and logos – will make both development and communications staff more efficient and happier, too.

  • Question 5

    Our development and communications staffs work together to create strategic efforts.

    All of the time
    Some of the time
    Hardly ever
    Never
    It may seem like they are working together, but often the two departments are merely exchanging information and plans. If communications knows what strategic objectives development is planning, then they can offer suggestions and ideas. Communications needs to be more than an internal vendor.

  • Question 6

    Our communications staff understands that, as part of their responsibilities, fundraising and maintaining strong donor relations are:

    Very important as their primary goal
    Important as one of their primary goals
    Somewhat important as one of their goals
    Not very important as that is development’s job
    National research has established that communications staff are not usually in tune with the development’s needs. They may understand the need for resources, but they view their role as support. When communications staff participates in the planning process, they increase their value and productivity.

  • Question 7

    Our development and communications staffs understands and can profile the various types, wants, needs, and importance of our donor and prospect audiences.

    Completely 100%
    Somewhat
    In a few cases
    No
    Three factors have significantly changed the way in which donors relate to organizations:
    1. The availability of financial resources has changed among younger generations.
    2. Their views about how they select organizations is now more based on their desires.
    3. The internet has provided easy access to information and made the traditional “ask” less relevant.

  • Question 8

    You, along with your communications and development staffs, track and can identify the effectiveness of each donor outreach effort.

    Every time
    Usually
    Sometimes
    Hardly Ever
    Never
    The ability to vary the subject and delivery of content digitally creates opportunities to make on-the-fly improvements, but only if real-time tracking is being conducted.

  • Question 9

    We conduct research to determine the awareness and knowledge about our organization with donors and prospective donors.

    Regularly, at least once a year
    Once every couple of years
    Hardly ever
    Never, we rely on other data
    Never, we have very little if any data to rely on
    Our research has demonstrated that organizations overestimate the level of top-of-mind recall of their organization and the depth of knowledge about their programs. National research often compares one organization against others nationally with few if any local findings.

  • Question 10

    Which of the following do you feel you use effectively?

    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email Campaigns
    Website
    Blog
    Printed Newsletter
    E-newsletter
    Special Reports
    Text Messages
    Video
    All of these can be effective tools for communications if used properly. The challenge is to determine which to use for which subject areas and which will meet specific organization and program objectives.

  • That’s it! Now just fill out the form below to see your results: