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Getting Started with Benchmarking Insights

Benchmarking Insights helps your organization understand performance through weekly benchmark data on revenue growth, active donor growth, revenue per donor, and sustainer performance. Follow these steps to add the four benchmark tiles to your home page and deploy them to your team.

0 of 5 steps complete
Admin = Solution admin or system administratorFundraiser = Fundraiser or gift officer

Steps

Step 1: Assign permissions to users Admin

Users need specific permissions to view the benchmark tiles. In your role management settings, assign the Analyze tasks > Benchmarking > View permission to fundraiser roles. Without this permission, users won't see the benchmark tiles even if they're added to the home page layout.

Learn more about home page permissions

Step 2: Add the four benchmark tiles to your home page Admin

Navigate to your home page and select Customize. Add the four benchmark tiles in any arrangement:

  • Revenue Growth — tracks how your total fundraising revenue is increasing or decreasing year over year

  • Active Donor Growth — monitors how your donor base is expanding through acquisition, retention, and recapture

  • Revenue Per Donor — measures average revenue generated per donor throughout the calendar year

  • Sustainer Performance — shows the health of your recurring giving program, including growth and retention rates (US and Canada)

Review what each tile shows so you understand how to brief your team in step 4.

Learn more about customizing your home page

Step 3: Deploy benchmark tiles to your team Admin

From your home page, select Manage > Update Home pages for users. Select the users or user group you want to update, then choose the option Update existing layout with additional tiles. Add the four benchmark tiles.

The tiles will display to users who have the Analyze > Benchmarking > View permission; users without this permission won't see them.

Learn more about managing home page layouts

Step 4: Brief your team on Benchmarking Insights Admin

Help your fundraising team understand the benchmarking tiles and how to use them:

  • Explain what each tile measures — revenue trends, donor growth, average gift value, and sustainer health

  • Set expectations about updates — tiles refresh weekly and use calendar year data (Jan–Dec)

  • Note the early-year caveat — the first two months may not provide actionable insights; meaningful data becomes available in March

  • Show how to get AI guidance — users can select Suggest actions on any tile to open Chat for Blackbaud AI and get personalized recommendations based on your organization's performance

  • Explain the difference — home page benchmarks are for internal performance tracking; the Benchmarking Dashboard (in Reporting) is for comparing to peer organizations

Learn more about the two benchmarking experiences

Training: n this video, learn how to bring benchmark tiles to your Home page.

Step 5: Start using benchmarks to guide strategy Fundraiser

Monitor your four benchmark tiles each week and take action based on trends:

  • Revenue Growth below peer median? — Select Suggest actions to get AI guidance on targeted acquisition campaigns, enhanced stewardship, or testing new appeal strategies

  • Active Donor Growth slowing? — Use AI recommendations to prioritize retention initiatives, launch re-engagement campaigns, or boost acquisition efforts

  • Revenue Per Donor opportunity? — Ask Chat for Blackbaud AI to identify undergiving segments or high-capacity donors for upgrade outreach

  • Sustainer Performance concerns? — Focus on untapped sustainers, test gift cadences, or refine onboarding to improve retention and growth

Use the insights to align your cultivation plans, pitch meetings, and campaign focus with real data about your organization's performance and opportunities.

All steps complete! Benchmarking Insights is fully set up and ready to use.