Apteco Learn Mission Schedule Time with an Apteco Architect Play with a Live System

Flags, scores and rhythms

Stop 13 of 58 · about 12 minutes

How does Mission decide who needs attention first? Some software calls its scoring "artificial intelligence" and refuses to explain itself. Mission shows every formula.

Action Score Distribution on the Action Clock tab: how many donors sit in each urgency band this week.
Action Score Distribution on the Action Clock tab: how many donors sit in each urgency band this week. Open full size

Sample charity: the people and numbers in these screens are made up, so the picture shows the tool, not a result.

The lesson

Mission's scores are built from simple pieces.

  • Flags are yes-or-no questions, stored as 1 or 0. Volunteer Flag. Event Participant Flag. Second Donation Within 90 Days.
  • Scores add flags together. Sleeping Giant Score adds five checks, like giving in 3 or more different years and a latest gift 25% above their average. A score of 3 or more out of 5 makes someone a Sleeping Giant: a supporter already acting like a major donor.
  • Rhythms compare each person to their own pattern. Rhythm Drift Score divides the days since someone's last gift by their usual gap. Under 1 is on rhythm, 1 to 1.4 is drifting, 1.5 to 1.9 is overdue, and 2 or more means they have gone quiet. Predicted Days To Lapse says how many days they have before they cross their own lapse point, and Cliff Edge Band sorts that into urgency. Critical and Urgent need action first.
  • Weighted scores count urgent signals more. Action Clock Score rolls nine signals into one urgency number, banded Critical, High, Moderate and Low, and Primary Action Flag says what to do for each person this week: a call, a thank-you, an upgrade ask, a monthly giving ask.

Because every formula is open, every score can be tuned to fit you.

Watch this stop · about a minute

More of it in Orbit

Sleeping Giant Score, 0 to 5. Everyone at 3 or more is a Sleeping Giant; 2 is the watch tier.
Sleeping Giant Score, 0 to 5. Everyone at 3 or more is a Sleeping Giant; 2 is the watch tier. Open full size
Rhythm Band Distribution on the Rhythm Reader tab: Drifting, Overdue and Gone Quiet, each against the person's own giving gap.
Rhythm Band Distribution on the Rhythm Reader tab: Drifting, Overdue and Gone Quiet, each against the person's own giving gap. Open full size
The Lapse Triage Funnel on the Cliff Edge tab: supporters by urgency group. Critical (0 to 21 days) and Urgent (22 to 60) need action first.
The Lapse Triage Funnel on the Cliff Edge tab: supporters by urgency group. Critical (0 to 21 days) and Urgent (22 to 60) need action first. Open full size

Your turn, in Field Guide

  1. In the Field Guide, look up Sleeping Giant Score, Rhythm Drift Score and Action Clock Score.
  2. Open the Audiences tab and find which audiences use these scores. Two to notice: Drifting Donors and Critical Action Required.

Quick check

Someone has a Sleeping Giant Score of 4. Are they a Sleeping Giant?
  • Yes, 3 or more counts
  • No, they need 5
  • Only if they're Loyal

Answer: Yes, 3 or more counts

Someone's Rhythm Drift Score is 2.3. What does that mean?
  • Right on time
  • Drifting a little
  • Gone quiet compared to their usual rhythm

Answer: Gone quiet compared to their usual rhythm

Where can you see exactly how a score is calculated?
  • In the Field Guide
  • Nowhere, it's proprietary
  • Only Apteco staff know

Answer: In the Field Guide

Need a hint?

Sleeping Giant is 3 or more out of 5. A drift score of 2 or more means they have gone quiet.

Why it matters

Scores point you to the supporter who needs a call this week, by their own rhythm, not a rule for everyone.

Read on

Read more in the Apteco Help Hub

Learn Mission is a free course. You read a little, do it yourself, then answer one quick check. Orin, the assistant in Orbit, walks with you. Your progress stays in your browser.

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