Nonprofits and community organizations
Donor cohort retention and giving
Compare returning donors and their gifts with the same previous-period donor cohort.
Your inputs
Complete the fields for your selected method. Zero means intentionally zero, not unknown. Currency selection labels amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
How this calculation works
donor retention = prior donors who gave again/prior donors; retained-cohort giving retention = their current gifts/their prior gifts
Match donor identities and comparable periods. Giving retention here compares the same returning-donor cohort in both periods; it is not the share of all prior fundraising retained. New donors are excluded. Definitions must remain consistent when comparing another system's retention report. Use your own records for the same scope and period. Example figures are illustrative, not industry benchmarks. Results exclude income taxes and any cost you have not entered. Check the result before pricing work or committing resources.
What information do I need?
Use records for the same job, equipment or accounting period. Only the fields for your selected entry method are required. An unknown amount is not zero.
Input definitions and where to find them
- Distinct donors in prior period (donors): Use the matching measured quantity, time log, schedule or clearly stated estimate. Zero means intentionally none; an unknown amount is not zero.
- Those same donors who gave in current period (donors): Use the matching measured quantity, time log, schedule or clearly stated estimate. Zero means intentionally none; an unknown amount is not zero.
- Prior gifts from the returning donors only (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
- Current gifts from those same returning donors (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
Use the Where to find this value controls beside the inputs for available work-it-out helpers. Estimates remain your assumptions; a helper does not verify the source figures.
Worked example
Example amounts use US dollars (USD).
Example answer: Prior-donor retention rate is 40.00 % for the illustrative inputs below.
Example inputs
- Distinct donors in prior period: 250 donors
- Those same donors who gave in current period: 100 donors
- Prior gifts from the returning donors only: $12,000.00
- Current gifts from those same returning donors: $15,000.00
- Prior-donor retention rate
- 40.00 %
- Giving retention of returning-donor cohort
- 125.00 %
- Prior donors not returning in current period
- 150 donors
- Gift change within returning cohort
- $3,000.00
These illustrative values are not recommended rates or industry averages. Replace every example input with your own figures.
Use the result well
Compare returning donors and their gifts with the same previous-period donor cohort. Inputs come from your own records and stated assumptions; no rates or legal limits are looked up.
Keep inputs on the same scope and time basis. Calculations retain precision internally; displayed values generally round to two decimal places, with extra precision for very small values and whole-unit rounding where required. Economic comparisons describe your supplied assumptions and do not guarantee future results.
This tool provides business arithmetic. It does not approve engineering designs, establish legal or tax treatment, select equipment or certify safe operating conditions.