# 6 preview insights from 2016 Fundraising Media DNA research

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/04/18/6-preview-insights-2016-fundraising-media-dna-research/
- Published: 2016-04-18T00:12:04+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**This year’s Institute of Fundraising/_fast_.MAP Fundraising Media DNA report will
be launched in June, but UK Fundraising can exclusively reveal six insights that
the report will contain.**

Last year’s [inaugural _fast_.MAP Fundraising Media DNA report](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/06/12/how-do-donors-react-to-different-fundraising-channels-fundraising-media-dna-report-explains/)
was covered by UK Fundraising in a [series of monthly reports](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/01/25/fundraising-media-dna-social-media-is-this-the-future-of-fundraising/)
looking at the different channels used in fundraising, examining how they were viewed
by fundraisers and donors.

## 2016 report

The launch of the 2016 report will take place at the Holiday Inn London-Bloomsbury
on 10th June.

## Advertisement

This report will follow the same formula as last year, examining in detail the attributes
of each fundraising channel – its DNA.

This includes each medium’s

• **Profile** – the people who engage with it

• **Personality** – the attributes associated with it

• **Action** – the ways people respond or react to the communication

Almost 3,000 donors and more than 100 fundraisers have been interviewed as part 
of the research. These responses have been aggregated to build an index where the
average score of 100 provides the benchmark against which performance can be measured.
So, for example, a score of 150 indicates a 1.5-times-above-average performance.

 

![How do you think donors would describe different fundraising channels? What would
they say the ‘personality’ and attributes are of those media? And what action do
they take when engaging with fundraising?](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2016/04/fundraising-media-dna-helix-quotation.png)

 

Channel sponsors include **ONEPOST** (direct mail), **Home Fundraising** (door-to-
door), **WPN Chameleon** (DRTV), **Kudos Data Solutions** (preferences) and **Listen**(
telephone). Sponsorship opportunities are available for agencies and experts in 
email, SMS, social media, street fundraising and for the new channels – press and
inserts. A lead sponsor is also being sought.

_fast_.MAP Account Director Mark Mina explained:

> “We are seeking sponsors to champion fundraising channels not just at the event,
> but with the ongoing publication and distribution of the report. If you would 
> like to know more, please contact me on 020 7242 0702”.

## What will the 2016 study reveal?

The preview insights that _fast_.MAP shared exclusively with UK Fundraising are:

1. **Email** – donors aged 55+ strongly prefer it as their way of receiving communication(
Preferred Index: 55+, 264).

2. **Inserts** – a new channel –fundraisers underestimate the likelihood of them
being shared with others (Share with Others Index: Overall, Estimated – 78 vs. Actual–
101).

3. **SMS** – donor engagement is growing (Engagement Index: Overall, 2015 – 64 vs.
2016/17 – 75), particularly among 35-54s (2015 – 54 vs. 2016/17 – 71).

4. **Street fundraising** is welcomed among 18-34s and those who donate more than
£100-a-year (Welcomed Index: 18-34, 106, High Donors, 106).

5. **Social media** is welcomed among high-value donors (Welcomed Index: High Donors,
137)

6. **Press ads** are most likely to encourage people to research further (Research
Index: Overall, 105) e.g. by visiting a charity website.

Daniel Fluskey, Head of Policy and Research at the Institute of Fundraising, said:

> “[This year’s Fundraising Media DNA research](http://www.fastmap.com/fundraising-media-dna-2016.aspx)
> will help charities and fundraisers to understand the nuances of different channels
> and the way donors engage with them. By knowing more about how people respond 
> and react to different forms of communication we can build compelling campaigns
> that will resonate with what donors want.
> “The dual approach of the research, both asking donors what they think directly,
> and asking fundraisers to predict what donors will say, creates a compelling piece
> that will help guide how we think about fundraising.
> “The full results – which will be revealed on Friday 10th June – will provide 
> useful insights to help to challenge assumptions and add fresh thinking to campaign
> development and promotional activity.”

_fast_.MAP Managing Director David Cole added:

> “By studying the strengths and weaknesses of each medium’s DNA, fundraisers wishing
> to maximise the effectiveness of a campaign can carefully combine the most effective
> media mix by balancing one medium’s weakness against another’s strengths.
> “The way people consent to charity marketing which is communicated by each medium
> is a specific area of investigation. To learn more about consent generation UK
> Fundraising readers can take advantage of free access to the [_fast_.MAP Guide to Creating Permission Statements](http://fastmap.com/consent-guide.aspx)
> which would otherwise cost £50.”

[Register your interest for this year’s Fundraising Media DNA event](http://www.fastmap.com/fundraising-media-dna-2016.aspx).
_fast_.MAP state that attendance is limited.

 * **[Fundraising Media DNA 2016/17 – telephone fundraising: who’s listening?](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/02/fundraising-media-dna-201617-telephone-fundraising-whos-listening/)**(
   2 November 2016)
 * **[Not to be underestimated: what donors think of door-to-door & street fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/12/02/not-underestimated-donors-think-door-door-street-fundraising/)**(
   2 December 2016)
 * **[Fundraising Media DNA – ‘old’ vs. ‘new’ media](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/26/fundraising-media-dna-old-vs-new-media/)**(
   26 January 2017)

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