How to use the First-Time Bottom Segment Donor Month Rankings (LFY) analysis
This analysis helps you understand when, during the most recently completed fiscal year, you acquired new donors who gave amounts that place them in your bottom segment, based on your organization's defined giving threshold. By focusing on first-time donors whose total giving for the year falls below a specific cutoff, you can identify the times of year when entry-level donor acquisition is strongest and spot patterns that may inform your outreach strategies. The analysis draws on gift transaction data, fiscal year definitions, and your organization's bottom segment threshold to produce a monthly breakdown of first-time donor counts, total and average first gift amounts, and other key statistics such as median and mode of first gifts.
You gain insight into both the volume and quality of entry-level donor acquisition by month, allowing you to see which periods are outperforming others and whether specific campaigns or initiatives are driving spikes in new donor counts. The inclusion of metrics such as average, median, and mode for first gift amounts allows you to assess whether your acquisition efforts are attracting donors at your expected giving level, or if adjustments to messaging, ask amounts, or channels are needed. While this analysis does not list individual donors, it provides a high-level view that is essential for segment strategy and annual planning. If you maintain or supplement this with a donor-level view, you can further personalize stewardship and identify high-potential prospects for future upgrades.
You should use this analysis to time appeals more effectively, allocate acquisition resources to the most productive months, and benchmark your entry-level donor pipeline over multiple years. Development directors, annual giving managers, and anyone involved in donor acquisition or segmentation should review this analysis, especially as part of your regular Constituent Intelligence routines. Apply the findings by aligning campaign launches with high-performing months, setting realistic acquisition targets, and tailoring follow-up journeys to the typical first gift patterns.
Monitor your success by tracking increases in first-time donor counts, improvements in average and median gift sizes, and year-over-year growth in retention rates among bottom-segment donors. By integrating these insights into your fundraising strategy, you can establish a stronger foundation of new supporters and lay the groundwork for future enhancements and long-term donor value.