Supporting a stronger fundraising sector
Strong fundraising outcomes depend upon collaboration.
Charities, consultants, technology providers, agencies and specialist suppliers all play an important role in helping organisations achieve their fundraising ambitions. Contributor Membership has been created for organisations that want to remain closely connected to the challenges, priorities and emerging trends shaping Australia’s and Aotearoa New Zealand’s fundraising sector.
Rather than focusing on benchmarking individual fundraising performance, Contributor Membership provides access to the knowledge, relationships and sector intelligence that enable suppliers to better understand and support their charity clients.
It recognises that meaningful partnerships are built on shared understanding rather than sales conversations alone.
The fundraising environment continues to evolve rapidly. Donor expectations change, technology advances, regulation develops and charities continually adapt their fundraising strategies.
Contributor Membership helps suppliers remain informed by providing access to trusted sector research, practical discussion and opportunities to engage with one of the region’s most active fundraising communities.
This enables members to develop products and services that genuinely reflect the needs of fundraising organisations rather than relying on anecdotal feedback or isolated client experience.
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.
Contributor Members receive access to a suite of resources designed to support fundraising decision making throughout the year.
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.
One of the defining characteristics of The Benchmarking Project is its community.
Our members recognise that fundraising improves when organisations are willing to learn from one another. While every charity has its own mission, many face similar strategic questions. Membership creates opportunities to discuss those challenges with peers who understand the realities of fundraising and who value evidence-based decision making.
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.
IMPORTANT: This comes at an additional fee. Email adam.watson@benchmarkingproject.org for more details.
Contributor Membership is designed for organisations that work alongside charities, including consultants, fundraising agencies, technology providers, data specialists and other organisations supporting the not-for-profit sector.
It is particularly valuable for organisations that wish to remain informed about sector developments, strengthen relationships with fundraising leaders and ensure their services continue to respond to the changing needs of the sector.
The Benchmarking Project has always been built on collaboration. Contributor Members play an important role in supporting that community by bringing specialist expertise, encouraging innovation and helping charities translate insight into action.
Membership is not simply an opportunity to stay informed. It is an opportunity to contribute to a stronger fundraising sector while building trusted relationships with organisations that value evidence-based decision making.
We look forward to welcoming organisations that share that commitment.
