--- title: RKD GroupThinkers Blog | Carl Brenner description: Carl Brenner joined RKD Group in 2024 as Senior Director, Analytics. He’s been creatively expressing himself through analytics for nearly 30 years. For most of that time, he worked at a commercial agency but also in retail and banking. Carl loves retelling the stories he sees in the data and bringing them to life in systems and processes to make a difference for nonprofit organizations. During his spare time, Carl is president of a 501(c)(3) that preserves 150 acres for youth outdoor education, vice president of his local Kiwanis club, and an Assistant Scoutmaster (and Eagle Scout). --- [![](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/210111-RKD-Groupthinkers-Rebranded-Logo-Blog-png.png?width=157&name=210111-RKD-Groupthinkers-Rebranded-Logo-Blog-png.png)](https://blog.rkdgroup.com) - [Solutions](https://rkdgroup.com/services/) - [Mid-Level Giving](https://rkdgroup.com/services/mid-level-giving/) - [Monthly Giving](https://rkdgroup.com/services/monthly-giving/) - [Lapsed Giving](https://rkdgroup.com/services/lapsed-giving/) - [Personalization](https://rkdgroup.com/services/personalization/) - [Connectors](https://rkdgroup.com/services/connectors/) - [Machine Learning](https://rkdgroup.com/services/machine-learning/) - [Marketing + Fundraising](https://rkdgroup.com/services/marketing-fundraising/) - [Audience Development](https://rkdgroup.com/services/audience-development/) - [Creative Services](https://rkdgroup.com/services/creative-services/) - [Data Management](https://rkdgroup.com/services/data-management/) - [Strategic Planning](https://rkdgroup.com/services/strategic-planning/) - [Analytics](https://rkdgroup.com/services/analytics/) - [Causes](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/) - [Animal Care](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/animal-care/) - [Food Banks](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/food-banks/) - [Health + Hospitals](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/health-hospitals/) - [Humanitarian](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/humanitarian/) - [Missions](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/missions/) - [Salvation Army](https://rkdgroup.com/causes/the-salvation-army/) - [Results](https://rkdgroup.com/results/) - [Acquisition](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=acquisition) - [Digital](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=digital) - [Mid-Major Programs](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=mid-major-programs) - [Advanced Analytics](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=advanced-analytics) - [Direct Mail](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=direct-mail) - [Multichannel Strategy](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=multichannel-strategy) - [Data Management](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=data-management) - [Media](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=media) - [Website Development](https://rkdgroup.com/results?cat=website-development) - [Resources](https://rkdgroup.com/insights/) - [Blog](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/) - [Benchmarks](https://info.rkdgroup.com/benchmarks) - [Webinars](https://info.rkdgroup.com/webinars) - [Ebooks + Research](https://info.rkdgroup.com/ebooks-research) - [Podcast](https://info.rkdgroup.com/group-thinkers-nonprofit-marketing-podcast) - [Field Guides](https://info.rkdgroup.com/field-guides) - [About Us](https://rkdgroup.com/about/) - [Leadership](https://rkdgroup.com/about/leadership/) - [Careers](https://rkdgroup.com/about/careers/) - [Let's Chat](https://rkdgroup.com/lets-chat/) #### Subscribe to our blog ### Subscribe to Email Updates ![Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/hubfs/carlbrenner.jpg) ## Carl Brenner Carl Brenner joined RKD Group in 2024 as Senior Director, Analytics. He’s been creatively expressing himself through analytics for nearly 30 years. For most of that time, he worked at a commercial agency but also in retail and banking. Carl loves retelling the stories he sees in the data and bringing them to life in systems and processes to make a difference for nonprofit organizations. During his spare time, Carl is president of a 501(c)(3) that preserves 150 acres for youth outdoor education, vice president of his local Kiwanis club, and an Assistant Scoutmaster (and Eagle Scout). ## Featured Post   [Lori Collins](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/lori-collins) ## [Why fundraising's record first half doesn't feel like one](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one) Our 2026 Mid-Year Benchmark Report is out, and the top line is genuinely good news: Mid-year revenue reached $1.86 billion—a 10-year high, up 51% over 2\[...\] [Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/fundraising) [Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one)   [Lori Collins](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/lori-collins) ## [Why fundraising's record first half doesn't feel like one](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one) Our 2026 Mid-Year Benchmark Report is out, and the top line is genuinely good news: Mid-year revenue reached $1.86 billion—a 10-year high, up 51% over 2\[...\] [Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/fundraising) [Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one) ## Recent Posts ### Posts by Carl Brenner [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/five-questions-2025-benchmarks) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Five questions every fundraiser should ask themselves: Inspired by the 2025 benchmarks](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/five-questions-2025-benchmarks) Looking back at 2025, charitable organizations navigated a year shaped by e... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/what-churn-tells-us-about-sustaining-donors) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Protecting the rhythm: What churn tells us about sustaining donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/what-churn-tells-us-about-sustaining-donors) Monthly sustaining giving is one of the fastest-growing segments of fundrai... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [Sustainer Donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/sustainer-donors) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/recurring-donors-extra-gifts-and-year-end-giving) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Recurring donors, extra gifts and year-end giving](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/recurring-donors-extra-gifts-and-year-end-giving) Fundraising follows need. And with increasing 2025 needs, donors have respo... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [Sustainer Donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/sustainer-donors) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/sustainer-impact-on-retention-rates) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Sustainer impact on retention rates](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/sustainer-impact-on-retention-rates) Let’s once again dive into the depths of the RKD Animal Care Benchmark, and... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Sustainer Donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/sustainer-donors) [Animal Care](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/animal-care) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/q1-2025-animal-care-benchmark) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Q1 2025 Animal Care Benchmark: Growth, gaps and what comes next](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/q1-2025-animal-care-benchmark) A lot has happened in Q1 2025, and in the midst of all the news, the 80 Ani... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Animal Care](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/animal-care) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/what-are-the-most-popular-monthly-sustainer-gift-amounts) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [What are the most popular monthly sustainer gift amounts?](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/what-are-the-most-popular-monthly-sustainer-gift-amounts) We are now tracking monthly sustainer gifts in our Animal Care benchmark. T... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Sustainer Donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/sustainer-donors) [Animal Care](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/animal-care) [Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/monthly-subscription-giving-2025-animal-care-benchmark) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE: ## [Monthly giving: 2025 Animal Care Benchmark](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/monthly-subscription-giving-2025-animal-care-benchmark) I grew up in a subscription household. My dad was a newspaper journalist fo... By [Carl Brenner](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/carl-brenner) |   [Sustainer Donors](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/sustainer-donors) [Animal Care](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/animal-care) #### Leave a comment: ### Search GroupThinkers ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/459002/Assets%20Apr/magnifying-glass.png) [![2026 Compass - Blog Rail - 1080x1080](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Compass%20-%20Blog%20Rail%20-%201080x1080.png?width=1080&name=2026%20Compass%20-%20Blog%20Rail%20-%201080x1080.png "2026 Compass - Blog Rail - 1080x1080")](https://info.rkdgroup.com/access-the-2026-nonprofit-marketers-compass-report) [![Solid Gold - Blog Rail 2](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Solid%20Gold%20-%20Blog%20Rail%202.png?width=400&height=400&name=Solid%20Gold%20-%20Blog%20Rail%202.png "Solid Gold - Blog Rail 2")](https://info.rkdgroup.com/donor-trust-access) - Latest Posts - Popular Posts [Why fundraising's record first half doesn't feel like one](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one) [ Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/fundraising) [ Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [ Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics) [What happens when a 'long shot' becomes the leader? | Susan Blouch, Lebanon Rescue Mission](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/what-happens-when-a-long-shot-becomes-the-leader-susan-blouch-lebanon-rescue-mission) [ Podcast](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/podcast) [ Missions](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/missions) [Rossi's Roundup: The fundraising landscape is shifting. 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