Epiphany Benchmarking was built to help nonprofits move beyond static, backward-looking reports and toward timely, actionable benchmarking insights that support smarter fundraising decisions.
As we head into 2026, Epiphany Benchmarking is growing quickly, and so is the value participants are getting from cohort-based analytics and peer comparisons.
25+ Participants and Growing Across Nonprofit Cohorts
Epiphany Benchmarking now includes 25+ participating nonprofits, with additional organizations joining as we expand across nonprofit verticals and cohort groups. We’re also seeing a clear pattern: many participating organizations are modernizing their analytics approach, including those transitioning from other benchmarking options, such as donorCentrics, to a more agile benchmarking model.
We also reached a major milestone with our first Raiser’s Edge NXT participant, expanding the program’s CRM coverage and setting the stage for broader participation across platforms. We’re also working with organizations that use Salesforce and Blackbaud CRM.
Near Real-Time Benchmarking That Drives Faster Decisions
A core difference between Epiphany and traditional nonprofit benchmarking is speed: Epiphany is designed for near-real-time analytics, so teams can spot trends as they happen and adjust strategy while it still matters.
Sarah Burke, Director of Marketing at the Southern Poverty Law Center, shared how the shift from delayed reporting to near real-time benchmarking has changed the way her team works:
“Having access to nearly real-time analytics and benchmarking data through Epiphany has eliminated hours of staff time and allowed us to easily pinpoint areas of focus. We can spot trends as they’re happening, understand how we’re performing relative to our peers, and adapt our fundraising strategies immediately rather than course-correcting months too late. The data is intuitive, easy to access, and has increased our confidence in data-informed decision-making.”
And as fundraisers plan for an environment that demands agility, Daren Winckel, Senior Vice President, Fundraising Strategy at CDP, sees Epiphany as a way to uncover opportunity and help teams adapt faster:
“After a volatile year filled with uncertainty and fundraising challenges for non-profits, I’m excited about Epiphany’s ability to impact results by shining a light on real fundraising opportunities with near real-time insights. And in an era that will call on fundraisers to remain flexible and ready to adapt to a changing environment, we built the Epiphany model with a strong commitment to bringing participants together—creating a space for meaningful connections, collaborative learning, and a true sense of community at a time when it matters most. In essence, we’re building an environment where results, proven strategies, and innovative techniques are shared, and fresh ideas can thrive.”
Segment-Level Insights: From Guesswork to “We Know What Good Looks Like”
Epiphany Benchmarking goes beyond high-level metrics by helping organizations identify specific donor segments and giving behaviors driving success, and then comparing those results to peers in a meaningful way.
Deb Ashmore, Analytics Strategist at CDP, explains why that level of benchmarking matters:
“I love helping organizations uncover their success stories and their next steps, and I can’t wait to take what I do to the next level with Epiphany. A tool that makes it easier for you to dig into your data and identify the exact donor segment and the exact giving behavior that is driving success or could use some extra attention is a must. Being able to see how your peers are performing in that same segment and behavior is a game-changer. Now you’re not guessing what a ‘good’ result should be. You know what the top results are and who the top performers are, so you can make meaningful strategy decisions. That’s why I’m so excited about Epiphany.”
Cohorts Are Where the Learning Accelerates
Epiphany is not only about benchmarking data, but it’s also about what happens when peer organizations learn together in cohorts designed around shared fundraising models and nonprofit verticals.
In February, we’ll host our first two-day virtual cohort meeting for public media, bringing organizations together to review benchmarking trends, discuss what’s working, and share strategies around sustainers and donor engagement.
Donna Ducati, Director of Member Communications at WHYY, described what stood out about learning alongside a diverse set of organizations:
“Being part of ROI’s and CDP’s initial collaborative efforts in sustainer benchmarking with a diverse group of nonprofits was enlightening. You may think public media excels in acquiring sustaining donations until you sit down with other non-profits from outside the public media sector. It’s inspiring to hear how various organizations engage their donors in sustaining contributions. By sharing insights (pun intended), we can all learn from each other and improve our relationships with the most crucial segment of our donor base, from acquisition to retention.”
A Joint Project Between ROI Solutions and CDP
Epiphany Benchmarking is a joint initiative between ROI Solutions and CDP, combining nonprofit expertise, analytics strategy, and data operations to deliver benchmarking insights that lead to action.
Lee Gartley, General Manager, MiLo Intelligence & Epiphany Benchmarking at ROI Solutions, summarized the mission and what’s coming next:
“Our goal with Epiphany Benchmarking is to help nonprofit organizations generate actionable insights that will help their programs grow. Having access to current data on a cross-organizational basis is a key component to achieving that goal, and the only place orgs can get that kind of information. We’re proud of this innovation and what it could mean for the nonprofit sector, but we’re also continuing to push the envelope in other ways, including new types of reporting on DAF giving, digital payments, demographics, and more. The Epiphany Benchmarking launch has been a great success, but we’re just getting started!”
What’s Ahead in 2026
As we move into 2026, our focus is on expanding participation, expanding cohorts, and expanding the kinds of insights nonprofits can act on quickly:
- Continued growth beyond 25+ participants
- More cohort expansion by nonprofit vertical and peer group
- Broader support across CRMs
- New benchmarking views and reporting areas (DAFs, digital payments, demographics, and more)
- More structured cohort learning, starting with public media’s two-day virtual cohort meeting in February
Epiphany Benchmarking is helping nonprofits shift from hindsight to insight, so teams can spend less time assembling reports and more time improving results.
Join the Cohort—and the Conversation.
Epiphany Benchmarking is more than a dashboard, it’s a growing community of nonprofits learning together in cohort groups designed around shared fundraising models and verticals. If you’d like to participate, compare results with peers, and be part of upcoming cohort sessions in 2026, connect with ROI Solutions or CDP to learn about available cohorts and onboarding.
You can also watch the explainer video for more information.
Want to learn more? Let’s Talk!
