Our Newest Endorsement: Idaho Nonprofit Center April 30, 2008 By Mary Pat Donnellon

We are proud to announce our endorsement by another state nonprofit association:  Idaho Nonprofit Center!  The mission of the Idaho Nonprofit Center is to "provide a toolbox (resources) to build strong and accountable nonprofits and a soapbox (platform) to rally public involvement and gain support for the nonprofit sector." 

The state of Idaho has over 4,000 public charitable nonprofit organizations and the majority of them are small - over 85% have budgets of $500,000 or less.  INC Executive Director Lynn Hoffman and Associate Executive Director Debbie Bloom recognize the need these organizations have for comprehensive, understandable, and affordable tools to do their critical work, and that includes fundraising software so these nonprofits can raise ever-necessary funds most effectively. 

Idaho Nonprofit Center is the 7th state association to partner with GiftWorks.  Other partners include the Council of Community Services of New York State, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Utah Nonprofits Association, Colorado Nonprofit Association, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, and Hawai'i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations.

All of these organizations are nonprofit leaders in their states and we are honored to work with them so closely.  Whether you are a nonprofit, consultant, or other reader who cares about the nonprofit sector, do consider joining your state nonprofit association (check here to find your state's association).  You will be amazed at the resources they provide and service they perform for the collective nonprofit community.

-Mary Pat Donnellon

GiftWorks 2008 Standard Upgrade is Here! April 14, 2008 By Mary Pat Donnellon

As promised, the GiftWorks 2008 Standard Upgrade is available for our customers today!  We released GiftWorks 2008 Standard to the public on March 17, and now have it available as an upgrade to existing customers.  Many nonprofits have already ordered the upgrade and will receive it today.

Our team has been overwhelmed by the enthusiam for the enhancements delivered in GiftWorks 2008.  We are grateful to all of our customers for providing excellent feedback that has helped us shape this next generation of GiftWorks.  We are also grateful to our consultant partners.  This stellar group of professionals serving the nonprofit community has provided us with both constructive critism and praise, and has helped to steer our product and our company in direction that best serves the nonprofit community.   For their hours of beta-testing, review, instruction and more, well, it is really impossible to thank them enough.  Maybe the best thank you would be to remind you that you can find nonprofit consultants in your area on our website by clicking the Partners tab.

Finally, with GiftWorks 2008 we have some hopefully very helpful new resources.  I encourage everyone to check out the GiftWorks 2008 Guides.  From Donor Management to Campaign Management, these guides help nonprofits use GiftWorks 2008 to achieve their fundraising goals.  These guides are the result of a team effort:  Fundraising consultant Karen Schaller of Bangor, Maine; Chris Walker and the Mission Reserach crew; and editor Craig Lauer all collaborated to create them.  We also have some short videos created by our own Russ Burke, which highlight different GiftWorks 2008 features.  Check them out here!

Next up:  GiftWorks 2008 Premium.  Coming soon so stay tuned!

--Mary Pat Donnellon