GuideStar Impact Call 5.11.15

Editor's Notes

1. Here are the things we want to cover today. Let’s dive in. GS’ work: GuideStar 2020 2014 operational results GS’ finances: 2014 financial results
2. Lessons learned: Planning takes time Powerful transition Less execution Cost to that
3. **Since Earth Day, we are pleased to share that the ClimateWorks Foundation has pledged to submit their diversity data to GuideStar.** April 22: WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 25 of the leading environmental advocacy organizations in the United States submitted their employee and board diversity information to the first-of-its-kind data transparency platform on GuideStar, Green 2.0 announced on a press call on Earth Day.  Green 2.0, GuideStar and D5 – who designed the diversity data questionnaire – applauded all of the foundations and organizations that submitted their data, as it is a sign of commitment towards improving diversity at all levels at their respective institutions.  Across the entire nonprofit sector, over 1,000 nonprofits submitted diversity data. Within the environmental sector, over fifty nonprofits and over twenty five foundations submitted diversity data.
4. **Since Earth Day, we are pleased to share that the ClimateWorks Foundation has pledged to submit their diversity data to GuideStar.** April 22: WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 25 of the leading environmental advocacy organizations in the United States submitted their employee and board diversity information to the first-of-its-kind data transparency platform on GuideStar, Green 2.0 announced on a press call on Earth Day.  Green 2.0, GuideStar and D5 – who designed the diversity data questionnaire – applauded all of the foundations and organizations that submitted their data, as it is a sign of commitment towards improving diversity at all levels at their respective institutions.  Across the entire nonprofit sector, over 1,000 nonprofits submitted diversity data. Within the environmental sector, over fifty nonprofits and over twenty five foundations submitted diversity data.
5. Here are the things we want to cover today. Let’s dive in. GS’ work: GuideStar 2020 2014 operational results GS’ finances: 2014 financial results
6. We pivoted to refine messaging and incentives for GX (anticipate dividends in Q2). Found landing page to be ineffective at converting visitors to participants, so held on mass upsell emails until it is redone.
7. Unique users: -We had almost 2 million users to gs.org in the first quarter of 2015. -This is a 5.3% increase compared to the previous quarter and nearly a 10% increase when compared to the same quarter of 2014. -This is the best quarter in 4 years. Data Distribution Network – We’ve simplified our API offerings, adjusted pricing to more accurately match the customer base, targeted webinars for prospective customers, and transitioned from an e-commerce sales to a direct sales approach. Exchange Adoption is a new metric aimed to measure the overall adoption of the Simplify “standard”. This number represents the number of foundations who are supporting the Simplify initiative, which means they are using GuideStar Exchange data to pre-populate their own unique grant application.
8. Comparison and Learning Tool Participants are 2 new metrics we have added to the dashboard. We are tracking the number of nonprofit users that have used GuideStar products to either compare one organization to others or to learn about various topics and/or product functionality. We have decided to slow down the Philanthropedia research in order to shift it over to GuideStar main sight and fully integrate it into the website there. So we have done considerably less research in the last year. Learning Participants – In 2015, we reinvigorated the webinar program by aiming to bring in stronger speakers and content, experiment with our traditional webinar format, and by dedicating more promotional email space to the events. In Q1 we hosted webinars with thought leaders such as Beth Kanter, Andrea Kihlstedt, and Mario Marino. We also presented our first ever 3-part webinar series with the experts at Orr Associates, Inc. This strategy shift along with greater email and social media promotional capacity has proven successful in Q1 and we look forward to continuing high registration numbers and engagement for the rest of 2015.
9. We are in the beta phase of launching the GuideStar Community. The GuideStar Community will be an engaging, collaborative part of GuideStar's site that will bring together the nonprofit sector. Not only with the GuideStar Community provide a more direct link to GuideStar and our programs and initiatives, it will provide a place to connect with your peers.
10. Here are the things we want to cover today. Let’s dive in. GS’ work: GuideStar 2020 2014 operational results GS’ finances: 2014 financial results
11. JAMES
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15. Closing thought