AskGenius Frequently Asked Questions.

An ask string (also called a gift string, gift array, ask array, ask ladder, or bump table) is a group of suggested ask amounts found on a fundraising solicitation letter, donation page, or reply card. It typically consists of 3-5 pre-determined ask amounts. For example, a generic ask string might present a donor with the option of donating $25, $50, $100, or $200. High-performing appeals set custom ask strings for each donor, based on the donor’s giving history and other wealth indicators. The more personalized your ask string, the more likely it is that your donor will make a gift to your appeal.

AskGenius is a software that sifts through data from your donor records to help you set personalized ask strings based on a donor’s giving history, wealth research, and demographics.

This is done in four easy steps:

1. Connect AskGenius directly to your donor database or upload an Excel file
2. Choose one of our proven ask strategies and apply it to your data
3. Review the suggested ask strings and fine-tune the ask amounts individually, or as a group
4. Export your Excel file for printing

Depending on the size of your database, AskGenius can help you squeeze a few thousand more dollars from your appeal or a few million. See how much money you might be leaving on the table with your appeal by using our ROI calculator HERE.

Our strategies and algorithms work best when your data is up to date and well organized. But we also live in the real world, and we know that most donor databases are far from perfect. So, even if your data isn’t in the best shape – that’s okay! AskGenius will review the data you have and deliver custom ask strings for every potential donor – even ones without a giving history. Our proven formulas don’t just look at giving history, they also consider a donor’s zip code, wealth research, and other factors when setting custom ask strings.

AskGenius is a subscription service, and you pay an annual fee based on the numbers of records in your database. Your subscription allows you to run unlimited appeals, using all of our strategies to create intelligent ask strings for every single donor in your database.

To view our subscription pricing tiers, click HERE. Or click HERE to try us out for free – no credit card required!

Our app works seamlessly with Raiser’s Edge NXT. RENXT users can sign up for an AskGenius account, then connect it directly and securely to their Blackbaud environment.

If you don’t have RENXT, you can still use AskGenius by exporting a list from your donor management program and uploading it to AskGenius.

Do I need to enter my credit card info to sign up for a free trial?
No. You can try AskGenius absolutely free, and you don’t need a credit card to sign up.

How does the free trial work?
Just set up a free account (no credit card required) and start your trial. You’ll have full access to every AskGenius feature. You can play around with our practice audience, upload an Excel file, or securely connect AskGenius to your Raiser’s Edge NXT database and set ask amounts using real, live data.

Does my free trial limit my access to features?
As a free trial user you’ll have full access to every AskGenius feature. You’ll be able to sync and upload data, apply different ask strategies and set customized ask strings for every donor in your database. As a free trial user, you’ll only be able to export up to 100 custom ask strings at a time. Once you see how easy it is to use AskGenius (and how much more money you’ll be raising), you can purchase a subscription and export an unlimited number of records.

Yes. Your data belongs to you and you alone. AskGenius is built to keep your data safe and secure. We have layers and layers of protection built into the app including:

1.  AskGenius requires two-factor authentication for both your user account and the connection to your Raiser’s Edge NXT account.
2. AskGenius includes a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to provide secure communications over a computer.
3. Passwords are hashed through AWS Amplify, which is used for password and user management, as well as multi-factor authentication. You can find more information on AWS Amplify here.
4. The front-end of the AskGenius app has a secure “handshake” with the backend – so only AskGenius can access the data you provided, and no one else.
5. All billing is provided through Chargebee, which is a PCI DSS Level 1 certified service provider. For more on Chargebee’s PCI compliance and security, click here.
6. We use secured servers managed by Amazon Web Services (AWS). For more information on AWS’ server security and protocol, click here.

Read about our security and privacy policy here.

Absolutely not! AskGenius will never sell your data to any third parties. Our business is to empower you to use your data to raise more money. We have no interest in your data – that all belongs to you. We use your data to build smarter and smarter ask strategies, help you create custom ask strings, and help you measure the success of your appeal once gifts start coming in.