Bottom Segment Upgrade Prospect List
How to use the Bottom Segment Upgrade Prospect List analysis
This analysis helps you identify donors in your bottom giving segment who are showing signs of increased engagement and are strong candidates for targeted upgrade strategies. By examining gift data from the last two fiscal years, it surfaces those donors who have made at least one gift in a given fiscal year that meets or exceeds the 75th percentile for the bottom segment, signaling above-average generosity for their group. The analysis leverages your organization's segmentation thresholds to ensure that only those genuinely in the bottom segment are included, and it automatically excludes anyone who had already moved into the middle segment in the previous year, keeping your focus on newly emerging upgrade prospects.
You'll see detailed supporting information for each constituent, including their name, the date and amount of their signal gift, total giving for that fiscal year, and which fiscal year the activity occurred. This level of detail enables you to tailor outreach and stewardship plans, knowing not just who gave, but exactly when and how much. It lets you reference recent activity and personalize your approach.
The key calculation involves identifying gifts at or above the 75th percentile for bottom-segment donors in each fiscal year. This percentile threshold is important because it highlights donors whose giving behavior is notably stronger than their peers, suggesting they may be receptive to more ambitious asks or deeper engagement. By focusing on these donors, you can prioritize your efforts where the potential for an upgrade is highest.
Strategically, you should use this analysis to inform mid-level donor pipeline development and early-stage major gift qualification. It is especially valuable for development officers and annual giving managers responsible for donor retention and growth. Review the analysis regularly—ideally quarterly or as part of your Constituent Intelligence routines —to ensure you're capturing new prospects as giving patterns emerge. Assign specific follow-up actions, such as personalized thank-you calls, invitations to special events, or tailored upgrade solicitations, to the donors highlighted in this analysis.
To evaluate the success of using this analysis, track metrics such as the percentage of identified prospects who increase their giving, conversion rates from bottom to middle or higher segments, and overall revenue lift from this cohort. Over time, you should see improved donor retention, higher average gifts, and a more robust mid-level pipeline.
Analytics Reference: QX96
Focus: 2.3: Within-Segment Growth
Type: Summary+Detail | Lifecycle: Growth/Upgrade | Time: Retrospective | Audience: Operational
Segments: Bottom | Scope: Segment, Individual Donor
COLLECTIONS: Growth & Upgrade Pipeline
VARIANT FAMILY: Upgrade Prospect Lists (segment variants)
Other members: QX97 Middle Segment Donor Upg Prospect List; QX99 Bottom Donor Upg Prospect List
SEE SUMMARY: QX98 Donor Tier Upgrade Pathways Summary
ALSO TRY: QX138 Middle and Bottom Donors Proximity to Up
Columns included in this analytic: Constituent ID, Donor, Signal Gift Date, Signal Gift Amount, Total Giving that FY, Fiscal Year of Gift, Constituency, Assigned Fundraiser