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. The trainer needs to understand the database, present technical concepts clearly and without jargon, teach at the students' level, and be incredibly patient. Train end users on a sample database, not production data.

Database 166

Database Training Train Classroom 166

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 26, 2009

The good folks at Asipration have taken my list of donor databases and put it into the Social Source Commons wiki. What's more, they added descriptions, logos, and links to the vendors' sites. You can go directly to the list at [link] or preview it below:

Database 122

Database Donor Wiki Site 122

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 6, 2012

I'm working on an article with the title, "Maybe It's Not Your Database, It's You." The premise is that complaints about an organization's database may be misdirected: the problem is how the system is being managed (aka management problems disguised as technology problems). Here are my thoughts so far. What am I missing?

Database 156

Database Law Policy Training 156

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 11, 2009

I thought it might be useful to compile a list of all of the commercial donor databases I’m aware of. This list came from my head, my bookmarks, and lists compiled by NTEN and Idealware for their donor management software surveys (and I’m not certain all of these are actually donor databases).

Database 100

Database Donor Kintera Oracle 100

Robert Weiner

MARCH 17, 2013

A colleague forwarded the following email from a vendor and asked how I think a potential buyer should respond. I've redacted the message to anonymize the vendor: Dear _, I thought you might be interested in a recent analysis of low cost fundraising software, conducted jointly by independent organizations Idealware and N-TEN.

Rate 138

Rate Database Donor Analysis 138

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Over the past few years I've been compiling what turned out to be a huge list of donor databases. The entries came from a variety of other lists and from customer satisfaction surveys done by Campbell Research, NTEN, and Idealware. Once I posted the list I started getting requests to add links to vendor websites, tags, and comments.

Database 100

Database Donor Wiki NTEN 100

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 1, 2014

I was recently contacted by the vendor behind a new cloud-based donor management system with this question: We have noticed that our clients have become much more conscious about archiving/deleting old donor/prospect records because our pricing model is based on the number of records. But don’t delete them. What do you think?

Donor 112

Donor Database Module Model 112

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 18, 2009

Idealware published a new article of mine today, on a subject that comes up whenever I teach workshops for small nonprofits: "Why not use Excel as my donor database?" Tags: Donor Databases. " The article is at [link].

Database 100

Database Donor Teach Tag 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 15, 2015

A few months ago I wrote a post on the topic of whether nonprofits should delete old donor records. 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?

Retention 100

Retention Discussion Data Donor 100

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 19, 2009

Idealware just published a new article of mine, on a subject that comes up whenever I teach workshops for small nonprofits: "Why not use Excel as my donor database?".

Database 100

Database Donor Teach System 100

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

The Nonprofit Times recently published an article called Is It Donor Management Software Or Business Intelligence. " This vision of donor management software is nothing new. This lack of analytic tools often drives nonprofits to look for new donor management software.

Track 112

Track Business Donor Database 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2009

Marketing research firm Campbell Rinker has published the results of its latest survey of donor and member management software. Of the 841 respondents, 27% would NOT recommend their current systems to a comparable organization, 26% were unsure, and 47% would give a positive recommendation.

Survey 100

Survey Results Database Donor 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

Idealware is updating its 2009 report on low-cost donor databases.

Report 122

Report Product Donor Database 122

Robert Weiner

MARCH 21, 2017

Idealware just released the latest version of their Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Donor Management Systems. It will give you an overview of 32 systems and in-depth reviews of their top 11 “best value” choices.

System 100

System Guide Donor Management 100

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 30, 2012

Today the news is that Blackbaud is killing off Common Ground , one of the two donor management products (aka CRMs or Constituent Relationship Management systems) that they acquired from Convio. As I wrote last January , there are lots of other database choices for small nonprofits.In I'm surprised that things turned out this way.

Blackbaud 264

Blackbaud Convio Database Austin 264

Robert Weiner

APRIL 28, 2009

Our friends at Idealware and NTEN have released their Consumers Guide to Low Cost Donor Management Systems. The guide presents detailed comparisons of 33 donor databases that cost less than $4,250 in the first year. Full disclosure — I contributed to the report and am one of the consultants listed.).

System 100

System Guide Comparison Donor 100

Robert Weiner

MAY 13, 2010

I received an email newsletter today with the following pitch for a web-based donor database (perhaps you can guess which one): The Cloud offers you constituent relationship management (CRM) software that's less expensive, easier to maintain, more accessible, more intuitive, and with greater flexibility and capacity than you've ever seen before.

Software 122

Software Free Database Newsletter 122

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Donors will give online and misspell their own names, or leave the caps lock on. If no one's in charge of quality control you're going to have a database full of garbage. If no one's in charge of quality control you're going to have a database full of garbage. Best Practices for Managing a Database.

Data 195

Data Listserv Database Policy 195

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 27, 2012

Idealware’s Consumer’s Guide to Low Cost Donor Management Systems reviewed 30 systems, the majority of which don’t come from Convio or Blackbaud. I’ve also been compiling a list of every donor database I come across at https://socialsourcecommons.org/toolbox/show/1661. I’m more concerned about the top end of the market.

Blackbaud 222

Blackbaud Convio Open Source Product 222

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

This could undermine nonprofits’ willingness to use cloud-based (aka Software as a Service or SaaS) databases. (And of course Blackbaud’s competitors are only too happy to capitalize on these fears.). But with a cloud-based system, when a vendor ends support or goes out of business the product can simply vanish.

Blackbaud 171

Blackbaud Convio Database Statistics 171

Robert Weiner

JUNE 3, 2010

Here they are, with links: Donor Retention. The Agitator’s post “No New Donors!&# [link]. Attracting New Donors. Donor Databases. Idealware's "Consumers Guide to Low Cost Donor Management Systems" [link]. AFP's Fundraising Effectiveness Project: [link]. Ebook: [link]. Social Media.

Resource 138

Resource eBook Social Media ROI 138

Robert Weiner

JULY 24, 2014

The credit card scam/fraud attempt that many nonprofits have experiences starts with a very large online gift from an unknown donor. A second source of credit card fraud comes from outright theft – primarily by hacking a popular website or retailer’s database. Kirsten Williams , Associate Director, Gift Services. AOL, Yahoo!,

Online 233

Online Giving Oregon Gift 233

Robert Weiner

MAY 4, 2010

I received the following email from Keith Heller , a database consultant who works with Raiser's Edge and Common Ground clients: We’ve been involved with responding to many RFPs over the years and I have a general inquiry that is in your bailiwick. Techsoup article: The RFP Process: An Overview.

Software 112

Software Database Phase Proposal 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2009

An organization’s databases store its history: contact records; people served; donors, funders, and prospects; VIPs, volunteers, and vendors; event attendees, and more. Yet many organizations don’t pay enough attention to the care and feeding of their databases. Tags: IT Management Security Databases.

Data 100

Data Database Laptop Convio 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2009

An organization’s databases store its history: contact records; people served; donors, funders, and prospects; VIPs, volunteers, and vendors; event attendees, and more. Yet many organizations don’t pay enough attention to the care and feeding of their databases.

Data 100

Data Database History Attention 100

Robert Weiner

JUNE 9, 2010

Tags: Donor Databases.

Blackbaud 112

Blackbaud Database Software Product 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 22, 2010

It needs to get data into and out of the database in a timely manner, produce accurate reports, respond to requests, anticipate needs, keep up with changing technologies and policies, and all the other things I mentioned in Ingredients of a High Performing Advancement Services Shop. He suggests several, including donor retention.

Service 183

Service Retention Evaluation System 183

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

The NonProfit Times ran the story The Evolution of Donor Management And Its Fundraising Future , which deals with how technology is transforming the way nonprofits interact with donors, particularly online. I was interviewed for two articles that were published recently. And the Chronicle of Philanthropy ran 'But It's Free!'

News 100

News Interview Philanthropy Interaction 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

Unlike their earlier guides (to inexpensive donor databases, content management systems, online donation tools, etc.) Idealware recently released its Fundraising, Communications and Outreach. this one is an actual book (84 pages, paperback) and costs actual money ($19.95, plus, I assume, shipping and maybe tax).

Software 100

Software Guide Communication Fundraising 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

We've programmed sessions on online fundraising with Madeline Stanionis, social media with Jeff Patrick, database selection with Eric Leland, and an open discussion session with me and Michael on whatever tech topics the attendees bring. Once again I have the honor of co-chairing the Technology Track with Michael Stein.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Fundraising Database Social Media 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

Push-to-sync online donations: sync donors and donations with CRM in a single click. Process recurring donations based on donors'' schedule of giving. Maintain cleaner data: set required fields for donors and donation records. Donor Databases Fundraising Nonprofit Technology Software'

Change 100

Change Database Module Hosting 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 7, 2016

CASE has just published the third edition of its guide to Advancement Services. The title of this edition is " Advancement Services: Enhancing Fundraising Success." The book was a labor of love for over 2 years by 25 of advancement services professionals, led and edited by the esteemed John Taylor. I'm honored to have written two chapters.

Service 100

Service Fundraising Chapter Guide 100

Robert Weiner

MARCH 4, 2013

Last year the big news in my industry was Blackbaud's acquisition of Convio and the merger/acquisition of Datatel and Sungard Higher Education (now called Ellucian). 2013 is off to a bang with Accel-KKR's acquisition of Sage's Nonprofit Solutions Group and iModules acquisition of Harris Connect.

Software 122

Software Convio Press Blackbaud 122

Robert Weiner

MAY 4, 2012

The Department of Justice signed off on Blackbaud's acquisition of Convio last week, and it looks like the deal will close this week. This is just the beginning of the story. I expect that it will take at least several months, and probably several years, before the dust settles and we know what's left behind.

Blackbaud 122

Blackbaud Convio Story Support 122

Robert Weiner

MAY 7, 2012

Blackbaud completed its purchase of Convio. The next adventure starts today, as we wait to see what the future holds for their various systems.

Convio 138

Convio Blackbaud System Database 138

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 12, 2011

NTEN just published a short piece of mine on data management in their Change magazine. It's in their DIY series -- short tips for implementing something for your organization without extensive tech know-how or extra budget. The topic they gave me was managing decentralized data entry.

Data 122

Data NTEN Tech Tips 122

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 12, 2009

I’m a member of NTEN and a huge fan. I’m thrilled that their 2009 Nonprofit Technology Conference will be held at the San Francisco Hilton this year, April 26-28. The Early Bird rate expires after January 31st, so it’s time to stop procrastinating.

NTEN 100

NTEN San Francisco Registration Conference 100