Classification
Predicts categories (yes/no or one among many).
Why it matters: Core for response targeting and routing decisions.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Predict ‘will donate in 90 days’ or choose best channel.
Binary Classification
Two-class (yes/no) prediction.
Why it matters: Simple, highly actionable modeling.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Identify monthly‑donor conversion candidates.
Multiclass Classification
Predicts one of many classes.
Why it matters: Routes donors to the best option.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Choose best channel (email/SMS/mail).
Multilabel Classification
Assigns multiple labels to a single record.
Why it matters: Reflects reality when supporters fit many themes.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Tag donors with multiple cause affinities.
Regression
Predicts a numeric value.
Why it matters: Sets budgets and expectations on dollars and counts.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Predict expected gift amount for ask ladders.
Time Series Forecasting
Predicts values over time.
Why it matters: Planning, cash‑flow, and inventory.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Weekly donation forecasts with intervals.
Anomaly Detection
Flags unusual behavior or outliers.
Why it matters: Protects data quality and fraud detection.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Detect suspicious spikes or refunds.
Clustering
Groups similar records without labels (e.g., K‑Means, Hierarchical, DBSCAN).
Why it matters: Data‑driven segmentation for better personalization.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Create behavior‑driven donor segments.
Dimensionality Reduction
Compresses features while retaining structure (PCA, t‑SNE, UMAP).
Why it matters: Speeds models and enables visualization.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Plot donor universe for executive reviews.
Survival Analysis
Models time until an event (time‑to‑X).
Why it matters: Enables timing decisions.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Estimate time to second gift or to lapse.
Propensity Modeling
Estimates likelihood of an action.
Why it matters: Prioritizes spend and attention.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Likelihood to upgrade, re‑activate, or become a sustainer.
Predictive Maintenance
Predicts failure before it happens.
Why it matters: Prevents downtime and hidden costs.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Anticipate mail‑ops or data pipeline failures.
Churn Prediction
Identifies who is likely to stop giving.
Why it matters: Retention ROI via early intervention.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Trigger save series for at‑risk sustainers.
Demand Forecasting
Anticipates future demand/volume.
Why it matters: Capacity and budgeting decisions.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Forecast premiums/print volumes.
Scoring Models
Assign scores (risk, value, priority) to records.
Why it matters: Simple decisioning at scale.
Nonprofit/Squark usage: Credit‑like pledge‑fulfillment risk or mid‑level prioritization.