Practical fundraising intelligence for organisations that want to grow
Not every organisation is ready to contribute benchmarking data, but every organisation benefits from understanding how fundraising is changing.
Accelerator Membership has been created for fundraising teams that want access to trusted sector intelligence, practical learning and independent evidence without participating in the benchmarking dataset. It provides many of the same resources enjoyed by Core Members while offering a flexible pathway for organisations that are developing capability, expanding their fundraising programs or simply looking for better information to guide decision making.
Fundraising is becoming increasingly complex. Supporter expectations continue to evolve, acquisition costs fluctuate, retention remains a priority and new fundraising approaches emerge every year. In this environment, organisations need more than opinions or isolated case studies. They need reliable evidence that helps them understand broader sector trends and identify opportunities relevant to their own fundraising programs.
Accelerator Membership has been designed to provide exactly that.
Rather than relying on occasional reports or conference presentations, Accelerator Members receive ongoing access to information that supports planning, budgeting and day-to-day decision making.
The focus is not on overwhelming members with data. Instead, membership provides carefully interpreted information that helps fundraising professionals understand what matters most and how it may affect their own organisation.
Every organisation collects data. Fewer organisations know whether that data represents success.
A donor retention rate may appear healthy until it is compared with organisations of a similar size. An acquisition campaign may exceed budget expectations while still underperforming against sector norms. Conversely, a fundraising program that appears average internally may in fact be performing exceptionally well when viewed alongside comparable charities.
Benchmarking provides the context that turns information into insight.
It enables organisations to identify strengths they may not have recognised, uncover opportunities that deserve attention and make strategic decisions based on evidence rather than assumption. Importantly, it also provides confidence. Decisions supported by independent benchmarking are easier to explain to executives, Boards and colleagues because they are grounded in objective evidence rather than opinion.
Accelerator Members receive access to a suite of resources designed to support fundraising decision making throughout the year.
The Insights Engine provides a streamlined way to access key benchmarking findings and emerging trends. It has been designed for busy fundraising professionals who need quick access to the information most relevant to their work. It provides quick access to key benchmarking findings and fundraising trends, allowing members to explore the information most relevant to their role without needing to navigate complex datasets.
Each year we publish our flagship Essentials Reports, summarising the most significant trends emerging across our benchmarking community. These reports provide a sector-wide view of fundraising performance and are widely used to support planning, budgeting and strategic discussions.
Some fundraising questions require greater depth than a high-level report can provide. Our Deep Dive Channel Reports examine individual fundraising channels in detail, exploring long-term trends, benchmark performance, practical observations and emerging opportunities. They are designed to help members understand not only what is happening across the sector, but why those changes matter.
Benchmarking becomes even more valuable when combined with discussion and shared learning. Throughout the year, members are invited to attend forums where benchmarking findings are explored alongside case studies, practical examples and open discussion with fundraising peers. These sessions encourage members to learn from one another while remaining grounded in evidence.
Many organisations begin their journey with Accelerator Membership before progressing to Core Benchmarking Membership.
Accelerator provides an opportunity to become familiar with The Benchmarking Project, understand how benchmarking works and experience the value of evidence-based fundraising before deciding whether contributing data is the right next step.
Accelerator Membership is well suited to smaller fundraising teams, organisations building internal capability, charities exploring new fundraising approaches and leaders who want greater confidence in their strategic decisions.
It is equally valuable for experienced professionals who recognise that good decisions require reliable evidence, regardless of organisational size.
Every fundraising organisation deserves access to reliable information. Accelerator Membership provides practical insight, trusted research and an engaged community that helps fundraising professionals make more informed decisions throughout the year
