bridging the gap between your database and your fundraising 2010 nsfa

Bridging the gap between your database and your fundraising

Bridging the Gap between Your Database and Your

Fundraising

Mike Kierce

[email protected]


When you hear “fundraising database” – what do you think of?


When you hear “fundraising database” – what do you think of?

…how do you feel?


While your database can’t…

• Read your mind• Raise money• Think• Replace human interaction• Or solve every problem…


Your database can, and should…

• Streamline processes

• Automate routine tasks

• Give you easy access to information

• Allow you to grow your fundraising and be more effective!


Your database can, and should…• Help you communicate better

• Help you improve the donor stewardship experience

• Expand your Internet presence

• Provide historical analysis

• Help with strategic planning


Agenda:

• The Basics - Why a good database is more important now than ever before

• Traditional versus New - selecting a database• Expanding Relationships

• Contact Management• Relationship Tracking• Communications• Integrated Tools• Analysis


• Your organization and the recession– Knowing your constituencies

• How are they affected; regionally & individually• Be ‘donor centered’

– Your donors, members, and prospects do not stop caring about your mission during a recession.• Compassionately manage your relationships

What Smart Nonprofits know about raising money during challenging times – Why a good database is more important now

more than ever before


New Breed of Prospect/Donor/Member

o Reads email before snail mailo Busy, satisfy interests on their schedule

o Expect to find information onlineo Expects information to be personalizedo Expects immediate feedbacko Demands information/stewardship

The Basics…


Why an integrated database system is more important now more than ever

An Integrated Strategy

In Person Meetings

Phone

Events

BlogsText MessagingSocial Networking Sites

Your Web Site


The Basics

Age?

Internet use?

Gift size?

Interests?

Communication preference?

Children?

Volunteer interests?


ID Your Key Needs

• Needs – not Features

• Remember the 80/20 Rule

• Envision growth and future needs

The Basics…

Prospect Research

Executive Reports

Planned Gift CalculatorseReceipting

Moves Management or RaisingMoreMoney

Advanced Security

Data Hygiene Tools

eCommerce

Outlook IntegrationWishList

Grant Explorer

Websites

Advanced Email

Matching Gifts


The Basics…Know your Resources

Time

Staff

Expertise

Money

Technology


The Basics…Something usable by Key Stakeholders

Admin staff

Board members

Executive staff

Volunteers

Researchers


Traditional versus New…

Traditional (Client Server) New (ASP)

• Bought or Built

• In-House Computer Systems

• Continual Maintenance

• Limited Users

• Limited Access

• Not all bad!

• Rented

• Internet

• Automatic Updates

• Unlimited Users

• Remote Access

• Integrate to Web Services


Use your database to help expand relationships…

• Contact Management

• Relationship Tracking

• Communications

• Integrated Tools

• Analysis


Contact Management…

Every phone call

Every email

Every conversation

Every event

Record it in your database!


Constituent interactions

"I open up my database and look at the journal entries to see the last time we talked. If I don’t know them very well, I can see who introduced them to the organization. It’s really powerful."

Connie Sherman, Connie Sherman, Executive Director, St. Mary's Child Center


Outlook Integration


Complete info on one page


Future Contacts/Calendaring


Relationship Tracking…

Six Degrees of

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000102/photogallery


Track Relationships


Relationships


Track Relationships


Communications…

Mail

&

Email


Communications & Tracking All in One Place


Envelopes Templates


Newsletter Templates


Events & Invitation Templates


E-Newsletters


Thank You Letters


Special Event Invitations


How else should our database help us raise money?


Integrated Tools…

Matching Gift Resources

Prospect Research

Online Giving

Website Integration

How else should our database help us raise money?


Don’t miss out on GOLDEN opportunities!

• Quite Simply a Doubling of Donation Amounts!

• Most Often Money that Falls Through the Cracks

• Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

• Again Leveraging Your Technology Investment


An Overall Strategy

Sign Up for Newsletter

Multiple Ways To Support & Get Involved

Donate Now


eCommerce

More than 1 in 3 donors to an online fundraising website say they would not have given at all without an online option.”

Source: Justgiving, 2005

Online Giving Integration?


# 1 reason donors’ say they give online is convenience – it’s easier than writing a check. Source: Network for Good – ‘06

eCommerce


Online Giving


Registration Capabilities (Volunteer/Events)


Volunteer Registration (page continued)


Website IntegrationWish-List


Website Integration


Personalized Fundraising Pages


Reporting/Analysis…

• Who are your top donors?

• Who are your top prospects?

• How many new donors do you have?

• How many donors increase/decrease giving?

• How many donors are lapsing?


How are gifts designated?

Fund Activity Summary


How are gifts designated?

Drillable Reporting Options


Top Donor Report

Who are your top donors?


How many new, increasing, decreasing, lapsed…?

Giving Dynamics


How many new, increasing, decreasing, lapsed…?

Giving Dynamics (cont.)


Benchmark Reporting & Donor Loyalty

Additional Analysis Tools – How they can help!

Keys to your Future Success!!!


Benchmarking - What is it?

• Now, for the very first time, you can get dynamic reports that let you compare your fundraising activities and results to other nonprofit organizations! You can even filter the data to match your results to organizations that are similar to you in type, size and location.

• Benchmark Reporting module is designed to gather aggregate statistics from a large number of participating eTapestry/FEP customer databases. The data is then displayed side-by-side with the same statistics from your own database, giving you a comparison between your organization and other nonprofits.

• Having access to this data will allow you to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie in comparison to similar groups. This valuable data supports growth-oriented strategic planning and budgeting for your fundraising programs, enabling you to raise more money!


Why Benchmark Reporting is Important?

• Direct Comparisons are Powerful

• Accurate Data from Thousands of Non-Profits

• Ability to Isolate Peer Groups

• Focus Your Team on Areas with the Greatest Impact


We are losing current donors, not focusing enough of our development time on lapsed donors, and

spending more money to acquire donors• Benchmark Giving Dynamics, Status,

Trends, Comparisons


Donor Loyalty• Your ability to fund your mission is dependent on

the generosity of donors. However, the loyalty of donors is what allows you to sustain, plan, and expand your mission. Do you know if your donors are “loyal” to your organization?

• Can provide a scientific measurement of individual donor loyalty, which provides accurate insight into future donor behavior.


Donor Loyalty


Conclusion:

Selecting your database – (know your needs & your donors)

Traditional vs. New Technology Offerings

Use your Database to Expand Relationships Contact Management Relationship Tracking Communications Integrated Tools Analysis

• Every piece of information you collect, put it in the database

Don’t be Afraid to try something


Thank you!For a Copy of Slides . . . [email protected]