noun lab·o·ra·to·ry \ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē sometimes ˈla-bə(r)-ˌ or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌ,British usually lə-ˈbär-ə-t(ə-)rē\
a : a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis; broadly: a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study
b : a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice
(“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory)
This is a place to kick around ideas, try out hypotheses and tip over some sacred cows.
There’s never been a better time to be a fundraiser. We have more research, knowledge and experience to pull from. We have inspirational thought-leaders and experts sharing real-world success stories. We have resources and tools right at our fingertips designed to make fundraising easier and raise more money.
And yet . . .
- Average Donor Retention Rate is at 45.5% (Fundraising Effectiveness Project)
- Overall Giving remains at 2% of GDP (GivingUSA)
- Fundraiser tenure is about 18 months (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)
So, what are we doing? How do we tackle the common challenges and potential pitfalls of fundraising?
Is what we’re doing working? Could there be a better way? What’s the other fundraiser doing and is it working?
How do we answer the question, “What IS Fundraising?”
These are just some of the questions and ideas we can tackle here in the Lab. Most of them will come from the lens of the Annual Fund – and, in our context, “Annual Fund” will mean ongoing, unrestricted support at all levels, primarily from individual donors.
And one of the biggest questions we’ll tackle – in fact the thought that kicked this blog off to start with – is, “The Annual Fund isn’t Annual!”
Annual Fund Lab 
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