The Power of Simple September 29, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

When people ask us why GiftWorks is different than other software, we typically reply "because it's easy to use and it's very affordable."  These GiftWorks attributes are certainly differentiators.  We hear daily from organizations who invested (and continue to invest) large sums into fundraising software packages that no one really understands or can actually use.  We also hear daily of nonprofits struggling with the inadequacies of Excel as a donor management system.  We gladly welcome these organizations into our ever-growing community of GiftWorks enthusiasts (now more than 9,000 nonprofits across the globe!).

But GiftWorks is more than easy-to-use and affordable.  Why? How? Because we embrace the power of simplicity in everything we do. 

Software Design: In designing and enhancing GiftWorks, our team is constantly considering the intersection of functionality and simplicity.  How can we take important nonprofit activities, and make them less complex and easier to comprehend?  Instead of a building bucket of features, we've tried to consider how people think and work and to design the software intuitively around nonprofit work processes.  If you try GiftWorks, you will see that you can easily create a highly-targeted list and then flow right into a letter or an email to this list, or flow right into a highly-targeted report analyzing the data from this list. Very simple, very powerful.

Working with Customers: We respect our clients and prospective clients and do our very best to exude this in all of our interactions.  We recognize the critical work nonprofits perform in the world, often under the most challenging circumstances.  Bottom line: From sales to customer support, we strive every day to treat our clients the way we like to be treated. A simple concept with powerful potential.

Pricing:  Yes, GiftWorks is affordable. We believe that great software should be accessible to all nonprofits.  GiftWorks works very well for established, mature organizations, and it's important that those with smaller budgets can have the right tools too.  You'll also notice all of our pricing is available on our website - we have nothing to hide and want to make it simple for nonprofits to have all the information needed to make important software decisions.

Our Company:  GiftWorks is made by Mission Research, and we are a mission-driven team. We are passionate about creating simple, yet sophisticated tools to empower nonprofits to build and cultivate their community of supporters.  Most of us have worked in non-mission-driven environments and know we have something special at Mission Research. And like our nonprofit clients, we know it is a privilege to have work you truly believe in.  When you love coming to work every day, and you know your work is making a difference, is there anything more simple and powerful?    

Appreciating Our Consultant Partners September 24, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

One of the best things we have done here on the GiftWorks team has been to cultivate great partnerships with nonprofit consultants across the US, Canada, Australia, and beyond.  These relationships have enabled the GiftWorks word to travel well beyond where we can go ourselves.  These consultants are able to provide hands-on help to nonprofit organizations looking to rise to the next level, and we are so appreciative when GiftWorks is part of that process.  Check out some of the things our partners are doing and saying:

Laura Huth, President and CEO of doGood Consulting in Urbana, Illinois, is hosting a large database open house in October for nonprofits in her region. “Too many nonprofit organizations use programs like Excel or Access to store and try to manage information on their donors, special events, and volunteers. It’s laborious and can be error-ridden.” said Laura. “GiftWorks is a high-powered, low-cost, and easy-to-use system that can literally transform nonprofit operations, fundraising, and success.”

Mark Saffren, CFRE, of m3Development in Manorville, NY, contributes great content to help all of our clients think strategically.  Check out his article from our June enewsletter here.   

Duke Speer, of Park City, Utah, is a true GiftWorks guru and evangelist.  He is a very frequent contributor to our GiftWorks User Group on Linked In.  He and his colleague, Meeche White, of Ideal Solutions, represented GiftWorks at the Utah Nonprofits Association conference last week in Salt Lake City (that's Meeche in the photo below!).   

Karen Schaller is a database expert in Exeter, Maine, who recently started her own practice after many years with a large firm.  She provides our team with super candid and spot-on advice and recommendations on how to continuously enhance GiftWorks.  She is a great advocate for the day-to-day user of GiftWorks and we know to listen, very closely, to what she tells us.

Susan Lucas of Third Sector Consulting based in Sydney, Australia, is making sure GiftWorks is known Down Under.  Susan's energy and advocacy are wonderful and so appreciated - we are all excited to meet her in person when she visits us in Lancaster, PA on October 7 and 8!  

Finally, please meet our Consultant Advisory Group here.  This talented group provides our company with insight and advice on a daily basis for which we are extremely grateful.

Have You Joined Your State's Nonprofit Association? September 17, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

Yesterday I wrote about Pennsylvania's budget impasse and its affect on nonprofits.  I also mentioned that PANO is leading the nonprofit advocacy effort in Harrisburg and is the unifying force for the sector in an extremely difficult time in our state. 

Your state likely has a nonprofit association too.  Are you a member?  As a partner of many state nonprofit associations (see below), our GiftWorks team has seen firsthand the benefits membership provides.  These organizations are the leading advocates for the nonprofit sector in terms of public policy.  They keep you informed and represent the sector's interest in the regional, state and federal government. The importance of this function should not be underestimated as seen in our state of PA. 

Also, your state association can provide you with leadership training, collaboration and networking opportunities, product and services discounts, and access to a plethora of resources that can make your organization stronger.

We all know that there is strength in numbers - joining your state nonprofit association or the national council will make your organization stronger and strengthen the power of the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Here is a directory of nonprofit associations:  http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/salocator for your reference. 

GiftWorks is very proud to partner with and be recommended by:  Arkansas Coalition for Excellence, Colorado Nonprofit Association, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, Hawai'i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, Idaho Nonprofit Center, New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, New York Council of Nonprofits, N.C. Center for Nonprofits, North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizaitons, South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and Utah Nonprofits Association. 

Pennsylvania Budget Impasse is Hurting Nonprofits September 16, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

Here in Pennsylvania, we still don't have a state budget.  Without going into the politics of the situation, the result is that many PA nonprofit organizations are unable to receive earned reimbursements for services provided and other state funding.  While at some unknown point in the future, some funding and most payments will come, but until then, there is a cash flow crisis.  How many organizations have the reserves or lines of credit established to cover 3-4 months or 5-6 months of unexpected shortages? 

In Pennsylvania, the PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), has been leading the advocacy effort in Harrisburg.  The importance of having a cohesive voice for the nonprofit sector is never more important than in times like these.  More on that topic later, but please visit their site if you want to learn more about the budget impasse and how you can help.  

Here is a letter to the editor written by Maureen Powers and Tina Nixon, co-chairs of the YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region, describing very well the issue at hand. 

"Since the passage of the Governor’s Stopgap budget, State budget negotiations have stood at an impasse.  State workers are now receiving paychecks, but organizations and agencies with contracts with the state are still not being paid for their services.  During this recessionary time, this adds to the severe economic distress nonprofits are already under.

As Co-Chairs of the YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region, we are witnessing the impact the lack of a state budget is having on the 24 YWCAs in PA.  YWCAs provide childcare for thousands of low-income families daily that is subsidized through the state.  We also operate domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers that are almost wholly dependent on government grants, and we certainly cannot refuse these crisis services to victims of crime because of inability to pay.  However, because we currently are not receiving payment from the state for services provided and may become unable to pay our staff, these services and others are at risk of shutting down.

As one example, at the YWCA of Lancaster, we continue to provide child care for 300 children daily, counseling and accompaniment for sexual assault victims, parenting education for low functioning parents, and youth services that are costing us $100,000 per month for which we are not receiving our expected and earned reimbursement.  School is starting, and there is no state money to subsidize childcare for babies of teen parents who want to finish high school.

Some YWCAs have exhausted their reserves and their lines of credit.  If the state does not pass a budget promptly, they will have no recourse but to lay off staff and suspend programs.  This will only add to the number of unemployed people in PA, and deprive communities of essential services.

And in forcing us to use our own reserves or lines of credit, the state is essentially using nonprofits as a bank.  We are virtually “lending” the state money at no cost to the state, but at a loss to us, as we will not be reimbursed for interest payments and fees incurred.

We urge our representatives and senators to abandon their intransigent positions and focus on resolving an intolerable and unworkable situation.  Posturing for a certain constituency may enhance an individual candidate’s political image, but it damages the underlying fiber of the community and exacerbates an already difficult situation for our most vulnerable populations.  

The issues involved in the budget are the same today as they were in May and June, and could have been resolved then as well as now.  In the name of democracy, we call on the state legislature to put an end to this injustice charading as political debate."

Sincerely,

Maureen Powers     Tina Nixon   

Co-Chairs  

YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region

GiftWorks - Techsoup Partnership Expands! September 9, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

More breaking news from the GiftWorks Team!  We have just expanded our ongoing offer and partnership through Techsoup to encompass nonprofits with annual operating budgets up to $100,000.  Starting now, nonprofits with an annual operating budget of up to $50,000 can purchase one license of GIftWorks Standard through Techsoup for only $25.  Organizations with budgets between $50,000 and $100,000 can purchase one GiftWorks Standard license through Techsoup for only $99.  

Our partnership with Techsoup is part of our mission to empower all nonprofits with the best tools to perform their important work (yes, that means GiftWorks!).  We take this mission very seriously and are thrilled to expand our Techsoup partnership to make GiftWorks more accessible for these smaller and newer nonprofits. 

We hope you or a nonprofit you care about can benefit from this offer.  Please spread the word and visit www.techsoup.org to get started! 

GiftWorks 2010 is Here! September 8, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

Today we release GiftWorks 2010 Standard and Premium! 

These latest editions of GiftWorks represent more than just a new list of features (although we hope you will find the new features very beneficial); these editions represent our ongoing commitment to our clients and to the nonprofit sector.  The feedback we receive from customers is read and evaluated thoroughly, and many, many of the recommendations we have heard have been implemented in the past few years.  We know that one of the best ways to build great software is to listen, very carefully, to those who are using it.

So as of today, all nonprofits who are seeing GiftWorks for the first time will benefit from these years of accumulated insight and wisdom.  All who are using GiftWorks today will be able to upgrade to take advantage of new functionality recommended by their colleagues.

We will continue to listen and to enhance GiftWorks in the years to come.  All of us on the GiftWorks team remain extremely motivated to do our very best to support the important work you do in your community and in the world.

The Best Way to Learn about GiftWorks 2010:

For prospective clients:  Download a free GiftWorks 2010 trial and try it out!  If you like it, you can purchase the software and we will provide a key to make your trial permanent.  Also, you can sign up for one of our live guided webinars, so you can see GiftWorks in action.

For current clients:  Sign up for one of the GiftWorks 2010 feature preview webinars here.

GiftWorks 2010 helps your organization to:

• Increase efficiency with quick, efficient keyboard-based "batch" entry for donors and donations that will save data entry hours right away.
• Raise more with SmartFields available for insertion into letter templates where amounts and dates can be calculated so you can have more effective solicitations and communications.
• Increase accuracy with the ability to merge donor records and use key-based donor matching on imported data.
• Manage more with the ability to enter and manage zero-dollar donations for improved management of inkind donation programs.

Strategies Nonprofit Leaders Are Using in This Economy September 3, 2009 By Mary Pat Donnellon

What is your organization doing to survive the economic downturn?  With the demand for services up and many funding sources down, it can be a huge challenge to make good decisions to solve the serious short-term issues without sacrificing mid and long-term opportunity. 

The National Council of Nonprofits has been publishing a series of special reports throughout this current economic crisis, and their very interesting August report moves the conversation from "How is the economy affecting nonprofits?" to "What specific steps have nonprofits taken to address the sudden shortfall of resources in the face of heightened demand for their services?"  You can download the full report here. 

One of the things we have observed and that is affirmed in this report: Many nonprofits are responding to the current situation by increasing their efforts to attract and cultivate individual donors and to intensify overall marketing and fundraising efforts. 

Finally, the report concludes that these times call for strong, inspired leadership - focusing your internal and external communities on your mission, being prepared for change, planning for contingencies, and "affirmatively stepping forward to forge connections with others."