Ballard Food Bank

Ballard Food Bank’s challenge was not a lack of donor generosity, but a need for structure. Like many growing non-profits, donor relationships were being managed without formal caseloads or clear segmentation. The timing added complexity. The organization had recently come off a capital campaign and the height of the COVID crisis, both of which disrupted giving patterns. Revenue had dipped for several years, and while growth had resumed operationally, fundraising strategy had not yet caught up

Veritus began by helping Ballard Food Bank establish the foundational systems that had been missing. This included analyzing donor data and building formal major gift and mid-level caseloads for the first time. The organization onboarded a new Major Gift Officer and Mid-Level Officer into clearly defined roles, each supported with structured portfolios and guided by the principles of The Veritus Way.

The results were both immediate and sustained. Ballard Food Bank saw significant improvements in donor retention, revenue growth, and pipeline health within the first two years. Donor value attrition dropped from 33% to 18.6%, while total giving more than doubled from $2.35 million to $5.01 million. The organization also cleared key bottlenecks in its pipeline, particularly at the mid-level threshold, creating smoother donor progression into major gifts.

Year-over-year performance reinforced the strength of the new system. In FY24, overall giving from the two caseloads increased by 38%, with major gifts revenue jumping 61%. The following year saw another 38% increase, with an additional $922,000 raised beyond what would have been expected under previous attrition rates. Major gifts revenue alone grew another 60%, while mid-level giving rose 18%. By FY26, the organization had added a second Major Gift Officer, and six-month revenue was already up 43%, signaling continued momentum.

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Other organizations that have taken us up on this free assessment have been able to determine:

• Where existing donors are giving less
• The rate at which they’re losing existing donor value
• Where there’s potential for a turnaround
• How many fundraisers they really need in mid-level and major gifts
• Their revenue potential over time

The sooner you understand what’s happening in your data, the sooner you can act. This is information you need to be successful in your fundraising efforts and make an even greater impact on your mission. And it starts when you request a free donor file assessment.