Using data to shape fundraising strategies

Bath Cats and Dogs Home (BCDH) works across Bath, Somerset, and Wiltshire. Its work impacts a range of communities through services such as charity shops, providing veterinary care for pets of homeless or vulnerably housed individuals, educating young people about responsible pet ownership, and partnering with the Trussell Trust to supply pet food in local food banks. 

Problem

BCDH knew its services were far-reaching however, there were some areas that were being served less than others. Wanting to make more informed decisions and a bigger impact on their community, BCDH looked to PBE for support to analyse its service delivery location data, with the goal of understanding where to expand its reach and allocate resources where they are most needed.

Solution

Through the Data First Aid service, the PBE team dedicated time to understand BCDH’s needs and develop a detailed project brief to recruit a skilled volunteer. This was crucial in successfully matching Mohammad Jamei, Director of Economic Policy at the CBI, with the charity.

Results

Mohammad worked closely with the BCDH to define an output that met its needs. Through data analysis and consultation meetings, he created an Excel-based dashboard. The tool helps BCDH to understand their market penetration by postcode to find areas that its services do not reach, as well as enabling targeted location-based fundraising to help them continue delivering valuable support to various communities. 

By leveraging the expertise of a professional like Mohammed, PBE enabled BDCH to access high-quality analysis and insights that they may not have been able to access before. Nathan Fuller, Head of Fundraising and Trading, highlighted the impact of the work:

 "We now have a great template that allows us to understand the demographic of our area and target areas that need our support the most. It also enables us to tailor our fundraising strategies based on the specific areas we approach."

Volunteering with PBE for the second time, Mohammad found the experience deeply rewarding. "I really enjoyed undertaking the economic modelling," he shared. "Hearing that my analysis is already being used by the charity made me feel like I had made a difference, which is not something many people can say too often." 

Appreciating the benefits of working together, Nathan said, “Mohammad has done such a huge volume of work that will make a massive difference."

Image credit: Michael Leckie/ Centre for Homelessness Impact