Midlevel Metrics: Four S’s – and one of them is not “sucks”
Do I have your attention now?
If you work in midlevel fundraising, I bet your first guess was “sucks.” Because let’s be honest, when midlevel programs are under-supported or mismanaged, they can feel exactly like that.
But here’s the truth. Midlevel fundraising doesn’t have to suck, in fact, it can be one of the most rewarding and high-impact roles in your organization if it’s managed well, and your leadership is tracking the right metrics.
So, what are the Four S’s?
Stay. In its simplest form, this is donor retention. One of the key components of a strong midlevel program is to stop the bleed. You're bleeding donors every year because no one is showing them how their support is making a difference.
Stretch. This is about value. How much are you increasing your average gift size? A big part of midlevel is encouraging larger gifts from donors who want to do more. But it's not just an ask. It's thoughtful. It's rooted in the relationship you’ve built.
Soar. This one’s all about the donor pipeline. The top aim of every midlevel program should be moving donors to major gifts. You are their runway, and your role feeding the major gift pipeline might be one of the most important jobs in your organization.
So, at this point you see three of the S’s – what’s the fourth?
Strengthen. By strengthening relationships with your donors, you’ll see real movement in the first three s’s as you see them stay, stretch and soar. Building relationships means having meaningful conversations, finding out the “why” behind donor giving, and making sure they see how their support is fueling their love of your organization.
This is what midlevel is all about. It’s what turns tasks into transformation and makes your work feel a whole lot more joyful along the way. Having a donor share how much they loved your touchpoint – joyful! Having a donor email you back and explain their why – joyful! Seeing an increased gift after sending a meaningful touchpoint – mentally, transformational!
Midlevel fundraising is where strategy meets soul. It’s data, relationships, revenue, and purpose, all wrapped into one (see our previous blog, the Art and Science of Midlevel).
When it’s working? It’s magic. When it’s not, yeah, it kind of sucks.
