BWF Fundraising Video Series: Facilities

Webinar on Fundraising Analytics: Dive into Predictive Modeling and Analytics

I just gave this WealthEngine Thursday workshop webinar with Jason Boley of Purdue University. Follow this link to view the webinar. It is free but requires filling out a contact form.

Here are the details:
Analytics is a science used by leading corporations for understanding customer behavior, prioritizing sales teams, and bringing efficiency to business processes. This session will highlight the application of this science to nonprofit fundraising and how it integrates your screening data with your existing prospect data. Want to learn more about how predictive modeling is accomplished? During the workshop, we will discuss how analytics are used for campaign decision making and the steps for building an in-house analytics capacity. Explore, why a “screen-then-model” method is the most effective approach, and why understanding these concepts are beneficial for both large and small fundraising organizations.

Presenters:
Joshua Birkholz, Principal at Bentz Whaley Flessner
Jason Boley, Director of Prospect Management at Purdue University

Follow this link to view the webinar.

Exploding Manhole Covers?

I recently stumbled across what I had previously considered an urban legend: the exploding manhole cover. I had heard several stories of this occurrence playing out across Washington on the news but had never seen the aftermath in person.

See picture

Due to the nature of our work, any article containing the word "predict" instantly catches my attention. The following cross-industry article discusses how predictive models are being developed to better identify manhole covers that may need to be inspected or repaired.

Every so often in New York City, a disk of cast iron weighing up to 300 pounds will burst out of the street and fly as high as several stories before clattering back to the blacktop. Flames, smoke or both may issue from the breach, as if somebody had pulled hell’s own pop-top.

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