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Utah State University Doubles Retention
and Unlocks $25K in Upgraded Giving
"We don't have the bandwidth to personally engage and retain all the donors who could be in our pipeline. Sage allows us to consistently cultivate 1,000 more donors, keeping them engaged and identifying those ready to upgrade." — Matthew White, Vice President for Advancement & President of the USU Foundation
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More Donors Than Staff Can Reach
USU’s Annual Giving team of two fundraisers manages over 200,000 constituents—a 1:100,000 ratio that makes meaningful individual cultivation impossible. This presents a significant opportunity to re-engage lapsed donors and reconnect with supporters who remain primed for deeper commitment.
The Challenge
USU’s Annual Giving team of two fundraisers manage over 200,000 constituents—a 1:100,000 ratio that makes meaningful individual cultivation impossible. This presents a significant opportunity to re-engage lapsed donors and reconnect with supporters who remain primed for deeper commitment.
The Solution
The advancement team introduced a Virtual Engagement Officer, Sage, to manage a portfolio of 1,000 donors. Sage’s portfolio includes unmanaged but engaged annual fund donors with a history of giving under $5,000.
The Results
Since launch, Sage has transformed retention and new revenue for its portfolio. Donors under Sage's management achieved 41% retention, which is double the rate of the previous year for this same cohort. That improved retention unlocked $25,000 in upgraded giving—revenue that USU wouldn't have captured otherwise.
Impact by the Numbers
$25K
Upgraded Giving
41%
Retention, doubled from previous year
300+
Gifts
Doubled Retention & Upgraded Giving
By keeping donors engaged through consistent, personalized cultivation, Utah State builds the sustained relationships needed for long-term growth. Retained donors become upgrade prospects, consistent givers become advocates, and engagement compounds, creating pipeline that wouldn’t exist without systematic retention.