Woodfolk & Associates
Transform Your Advancement Strategy Through Donor Lifetime Value Analytics
Unlock the Hidden $50 Billion in Alumni Giving Potential
Led by Michael Woodfolk, with 30+ years of advancement leadership and over $100 million raised, we provide strategic donor analytics that reveal exactly where your institution stands—and precisely how to capture untapped value.
The Crisis Facing University Advancement
Your Donor Base Is Eroding While Risks Concentrate
Current alumni participation rate, down from 20% in the 1980s
Of institutions experiencing declining donor counts
Of total funds from just 3 donors—a dangerous concentration of risk
The gap between current performance and historical potential represents billions in untapped funding. While universities invest millions in advancement operations, they lack the strategic insight to reverse these trends.
Our Proprietary Methodology
See Your Donors Through a Revolutionary Lens
Lifetime Value Curves
We map your donors' giving patterns from graduation through planned giving, revealing the true arc of philanthropic engagement.
Peer Benchmarking
Compare your performance against similar institutions across 50+ key metrics, identifying specific areas of underperformance.
Gap Analysis
Our AI-powered analytics identify the exact cohorts, stages, and segments where value is being lost.
Strategic Roadmap
Transform insights into action with clear, prioritized initiatives designed to capture maximum value.
The Questions We Answer
Where are our performance gaps?
Identifying specific cohorts, stages, or segments underperforming
What is the actual lifetime curve of our donors?
Understanding patterns from graduation through planned giving
How do we compare to peer institutions?
Benchmarking performance against similar schools
What is the true lifetime value of our donors?
Calculating total giving potential versus actual results
How do we identify and develop our principal donors?
Creating unique strategies for cultivating high-capacity givers
Our Services
Engagement Options
Strategic Assessment
Comprehensive diagnostic of your donor base revealing:
- —Complete lifetime value analysis
- —Peer benchmarking across key metrics
- —Identification of top improvement opportunities
- —Strategic roadmap for transformation
Implementation Advisory
Hands-on guidance to capture identified value:
- —Campaign strategy optimization
- —Donor segmentation refinement
- —Engagement program redesign
- —Performance tracking systems
Optimization Retainer
Ongoing strategic guidance including:
- —Quarterly performance reviews
- —Benchmark updates
- —Strategic adjustments
- —Emerging opportunity identification
Benchmarking Subscription
Continuous access to:
- —Peer performance data
- —Industry trend analysis
- —Best practice insights
- —Quarterly benchmark reports
About
Michael Woodfolk
Three Decades of Transformational Leadership
Michael Woodfolk brings unparalleled experience in university advancement, having raised over $100 million throughout his distinguished career. As President of the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, he led campaigns totaling $400 million.
Michael's rare combination of advancement leadership, donor relationship expertise, and strategic vision provides clients with insights unavailable from traditional consultancies or software vendors. His deep understanding of both the art and science of fundraising enables transformational results.
Exceptional Track Record
- —70% alumni participation rate achieved at UVA Darden (vs. 7.8% national average)
- —$100M+ personally raised across multiple campaigns
- —18,000+ alumni network cultivated across 90 countries
- —$400M in total campaigns led
Leadership
- —Board Member, Washington College
- —Board Member, VPM Media Corporation
- —Board Member, St. Anne's-Belfield School
- —Strategic Advisor, Multiple Universities
The Opportunity
From 7.8% to 70%: The Transformation Possible
Current State
Declining Participation
Most institutions operate far below potential, with participation rates that have collapsed 61% over four decades.
Optimized State
Recovered Value
By understanding and optimizing donor lifetime curves, institutions can recapture lost ground and exceed historical performance.
The Difference
Strategic Intelligence
The gap isn't about working harder—it's about working smarter with scientific understanding of donor behavior.
What Sets Us Apart
Strategic Advancement Intelligence
We're strategic advisors who diagnose problems and prescribe solutions. Keep your existing systems while adding the intelligence layer you need.
Beyond Basic Analytics
While others provide reports, we deliver strategic insight that transforms advancement operations.
Proven Leadership
Led by an executive who has achieved what others only aspire to—70% participation in an era of 7.8% averages.
Proprietary Methodology
Our lifetime value analytics and benchmarking database provide insights unavailable anywhere else.
Start Your Transformation
Three Steps to Unlocking Your Donor Potential
Strategic Assessment
We analyze your complete donor base, benchmark against peers, and identify specific value gaps
Roadmap Development
Together, we prioritize initiatives based on impact potential and implementation feasibility
Value Capture
With ongoing guidance, you systematically capture identified opportunities while building sustainable competitive advantage
Key Statistics Dashboard
The State of University Advancement
Industry Trends
| Metric | 1980s | Today | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alumni Participation | 20% | 7.8% | -61% |
| Donor Retention | 65% | 42% | -35% |
| Average Gift Size | $250 | $380 | +52% |
| Cost Per Dollar Raised | $0.12 | $0.28 | +133% |
| Major Gift Dependence | 15% | 43% | +187% |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Your Donors Are Worth More Than You Know
The difference between average and exceptional advancement isn't effort—it's intelligence. While others guess, we know. While others hope, we measure. While others struggle with declining participation, we've proven how to achieve double digit participation.
The question isn't whether you can afford strategic analytics. It's whether you can afford to operate without them.
Schedule Your Strategic Assessment
Every month of delay means millions in unrealized potential. Connect with us to understand exactly where you stand—and precisely how to improve.
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