Get Help Choosing Fundraising Software from NTEN.org November 26, 2008 By John Walker

Be honest- there are a few things you’d rather do than evaluate software. We understand. So when we saw the new 2008 Donor Management Software Satisfaction Survey from NTEN, we were eager to share this useful report. Plus, I’ll be honest, GiftWorks Fundraising Software got ratings that we’re pretty proud of.

First, what is this report? It’s a survey of 942 people who answered questions about their Donor Management Software (DMS). The questions covered subjects including:

-         Critical attributes of DMS vendors

-         Which DMS you use

-         Willingness to recommend your DMS

-         Grade ratings for different DMS

In total, 40 donor management systems are rated by the survey.

Second, who is NTEN? For the few of you who don’t know NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Network), this is a membership organization for the nonprofit technology community. If your thinking about technology issues for your organization, visit www.NTEN.org. It’s a great place to read, learn and connect.

Lastly, how’d GiftWorks do in the survey? 92.3% said they’d recommend or highly recommend GiftWorks. GiftWorks got an “A” for Usability, and Quality & Reliability.

To see the complete survey, visit www.NTEN.org.

More on Fundraising in Tough Times November 23, 2008 By Mary Pat Donnellon

Let's face it.  How to ensure adequate funding in the current economic climate is the topic on everyone's mind.  I recently read an excellent white paper written by Mal Warwick and Dan Doyle, entitled Fundraising in Tough Times:  A No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving in a Challenging Economy.

In this paper, Warwick and Doyle take an interesting and useful approach to weathering the economic storm we are facing by presenting 3 scenarios for economic recovery:
- Long-running downturn for multiple years
- A one-to-two year downturn followed by a steady recovery
- A recovery taking hold by mid-2009

And then presenting 3 potential fundraising strategies:
- A defensive stategy of reducing fundraising activities to save money
- A selective approach of focusing on key donors and activities relating to their cultivation
- An aggressive approach:  pulling out all the stops on increasing all fundraising activities   

Then they create a grid to show the intersection of the economic scenarios and the fundraising strategies.  You can try this on your own and perhaps predict the results they find.  The only fundraising strategy that won't hurt your organization in all 3 economic scenarios is the selective approach.  It is in fact, according Warwick and Doyle, the only one that "maximizes a nonprofit's chance of surviving, even flourishing, regardless of the direction the overall economy takes."

So, the question for your organization is how to implement this "selective approach" by focusing on key donor groups who are most likely to help your organization.  Of course, from a GiftWorks perspective, we note that most of the suggestions to implement this approach can be facilitated by using GiftWorks fundraising software.  Here are just a few of the suggestions Warwick and Doyle provide:

- "Segment your donor file using the most sophisticated tools within your reach."  Instead of sending a generic appeal to all of your prospective and current donors, segment the top percentage of these and send a very personal appeal which takes into account information you know about the donor.

- "Learn more about your donors."  Conduct a survey to find out more data about your donors and then capture it in your database.  Use this data for segmentation and to craft a highly personal appeals.  If your organization is a humane league and you know that your donor has adopted 4 shelties, you can use this to communicate in a far more personal way.

- " Step up your online fundraising and communications efforts."  Use email and your website to work for you and make it easy for your donors to give to your organization.  Use your online strategy to convert regular donors to monthly donors.

- "Cut costs the smart way."  Make sure the lists you are mailing to are of high value; save postage by learning more about and using nonprofit postal discounts; share printing costs with other, non-competing nonprofits.

I encourage you to read the complete report, found at the Mal Warwick Associates site here.

Do You Manage Your Events or Do Your Events Manage You? November 12, 2008 By Mary Pat Donnellon

Events!  They can be wonderful functions to bring your community together in celebration of your mission.  They can also be major productions that drain your organization's energy and resources away from your mission.  Or most likely, your events can be some combination of these two. 

Here at Mission Research, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of GiftWorks Events.  We know that most nonprofits have at least one special event each year(although usually more!), and that managing them is not always the easiest.  We have created a tool to help you track all aspects of your events (from participation to expenses to event tasks) in one place - the GiftWorks database.  In addition to more effective event management, this will enable your organization to follow up with and cultivate event attendees - often where the real event opportunity lies.   

So how can you make sure you are gaining maximum benefit for your organization (and avoiding maximum drain) when planning a special event?  Here are 5 tips to consider:

1.  Know your purpose.  Why are you having this event?  Is it to raise a specific amount of money, draw attention to your mission, celebrate your supporters?  Make sure everyone is clear on WHY you are undertaking this effort and then plan accordingly to meet your objective.   

2. Is this event the best way to achieve your objective?  I have been on boards where those who are uncomfortable with direct fundraising suggest a new event for every financial need.  If your goal is to raise funds for a purpose, wouldn't it be better to incorporate this need into your annual fund or another appeal?  If you have a special event, will it take your organization's energy away from the bigger picture?  Consider limiting your events to one or two well-run, successful events a year.

3.  Know the real costs of running an event.  You may have talented volunteers to run your event, but  don't underestimate the amount of time and support your staff will need to provide even the best volunteer event managers.  Do consider the costs in terms of stationery, postage, copying, etc. that you may not relate to the event, but are a cost to your organization.  Be more detail-oriented when tracking event expenses.   

4. Can you sustain this event?  Congratulations, your event is an amazing success!  Now is your organization prepared to do it again next year?  If your top-notch volunteer organizer moves to another city, do you have the organizational knowledge to run it again?  Make sure your organization owns enough information to continue the event if personnel changes.  Know the critical activities that must occur (often 6 months to a year before the actual event) and plan accordingly.

5.  Follow up with event attendees.  The biggest mistake a nonprofit can make is to lose track of event attendees.  If someone cared enough about your organization to come to your event, at a minimum you should make sure you add them to your newsletter mailing list and send them a solicitation for your annual fund.  If you have had a successful event, the attendee has likely been "sold" on your mission.  Don't let their enthusiasm lapse by never talking to them again!

-Mary Pat Donnellon