Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 21, 2012

A question was posted to a listserve for nonprofit techies looking for tips on training staff on a new database. I discussed training at a high level on page 13 of this chapter from CASE's Handbook of Institutional Advancement. Train end users on a sample database, not production data. Not everyone can train. It's an art.

Database 166

Database Training Train Classroom 166

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 15, 2015

How many people in your database have gone off the grid for 7+ years and then come back? If it’s a record with no financial giving and no actions, is there another reason that it is in the database? in the database—that’s just taking up space.). Are you going to shelve them in another database – for review ?

Retention 100

Retention Discussion Data Donor 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

I've been enjoying the discussion in the Chronicle of Philanthropy's LinkedIn group in response to the question, " What's a good, affordable donor database program for a small non profit? " (you'll probably need to join the group to read the responses).

Database 136

Database Donor Linkedin Map 136

Robert Weiner

MARCH 17, 2013

In fact, the section of the report that discusses how to go about choosing a system concludes: Each available option has its own strengths and weaknesses. Needs vary tremendously from one organization to the next. Nonprofits need to know what they need and then test systems against those specific needs.

Rate 138

Rate Database Donor Analysis 138

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 30, 2012

I'd thought Luminate CRM, Convio's other database, was in more danger since it had only a tenth as many clients, was more of a work-in-progress, and competed directly with Blackbaud's Enterprise CRM product. As I wrote last January , there are lots of other database choices for small nonprofits.In

Blackbaud 264

Blackbaud Convio Database Austin 264

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

This could undermine nonprofits’ willingness to use cloud-based (aka Software as a Service or SaaS) databases. That discussion continued on my blog. (And of course Blackbaud’s competitors are only too happy to capitalize on these fears.). I expect it will be strengthened by this move.

Blackbaud 171

Blackbaud Convio Database Statistics 171

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

It discusses what Laura Quinn calls the "movement from merely tracking data to an emphasis on using it strategically to make business decisions." I've heard countless organizations describe their donor databases as "roach motels" or "data vaults" -- the data goes in but it doesn't come out.

Track 112

Track Business Donor Database 112