Why it matters
Average gift helps you set ask amounts, plan an appeal and spot a shift in your file. If it climbs while your donor count falls, you may be leaning on a few bigger donors. If it falls, you may have added many small first-time gifts.
Do not mix it up with average giving per donor, which divides total dollars by the number of donors instead of the number of gifts. A donor who gives every month is one donor but twelve gifts, so the two numbers can be very different.
How to calculate it
Average gift = total dollars given in the period ÷ number of gifts in the period
Last year you received 400 gifts.
Together they came to $48,000.
$48,000 ÷ 400 = $120. Your average gift is $120.
How Steward shows it
In Steward, each group page shows its people's average gift beside what they gave this fiscal year and how many gifts that is. Click any of those numbers to see the gifts behind it.
Related terms
- Donor lifetime value Donor lifetime value is the total amount a donor is likely to give over the whole time they support you. You estimate it from their average gift, how often they give and how long they stay.
- Gift range chart A gift range chart is a table that lists how many gifts you need at each size, and how many prospects you need for them, to reach a campaign goal.
- Major gift A major gift is a gift large enough that your organization handles it personally, with visits, a tailored ask and close stewardship. The dollar threshold is set by each organization, not by the sector.
The free Lost & Found audit reads a giving export in your browser and shows your lapsing donors and what they used to give. Nothing is uploaded. Then bring the same file to a 20-minute demo.