Fundraising and Software - Nonprofit Technology

Idealware’s Field Guide to Nonprofit Software: Fundraising, Communications and Outreach

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

Idealware recently released its Fundraising, Communications and Outreach. They describe it as follows: What types of software should your nonprofit be using? It's likely to be a useful guide to nonprofits who are planning to purchase (or request donations) of a lot of software in the near future.

Software

Software Guide Communication Fundraising

Thoughts on Software RFPs

Robert Weiner

MAY 4, 2010

I then see software vendors, who are already busy with other prospects, scrambling to pull together responses and often (quite frankly) not able to deliver their best because of the timeframe. Tags: Databases Donor Databases IT Management Nonprofit Technology Software. Techsoup article: The RFP Process: An Overview.

Software

Software Database Phase Proposal

ROI for a donor database

Robert Weiner

JULY 10, 2012

It does Direct Marketing but not Major Gift fundraising (or it does Major Gift fundraising but not Direct Marketing); we need support in both areas. The current software does not interface with our current/new technical environment (MS-Exchange and Office, or Google g-mail, calendar, docs, etc.).

Database

Database ROI Donor Listserv

On the value of donor database ratings

Robert Weiner

MARCH 17, 2013

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. Bottom line – (our software) received more “Excellent” ratings than any of the over 33 products reviewed!

Rate

Rate Database Donor Analysis

How Many Donor Databases Are There?

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 11, 2009

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). Allegiance Software, Inc. Compton Fundraising Consultants. nFocus Software. Summit Software. FundTrack Software.

Database

Database Donor Kintera Oracle

Donor Tracking vs. Business Intelligence

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

Track Business Donor Database

Blackbaud kills Common Ground: So What?

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

This could undermine nonprofits’ willingness to use cloud-based (aka Software as a Service or SaaS) databases. As I mentioned in my previous post about Common Ground , even though Blackbaud announced in 2006 that it was killing GiftMaker Pro (GMP), since the software ran on clients’ own servers it’s still in use.

Blackbaud

Blackbaud Convio Database Statistics

Thoughts on the Blackbaud – Convio deal

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 27, 2012

Provides robust, flexible support for all forms of fundraising, membership, marketing, and communications. Software alone seldom gets the job done. During the NTEN call we discussed Tessitura , the performing arts fundraising and ticketing system as an example of a successful effort.

Blackbaud

Blackbaud Convio Open Source Product

Chosing a donor database

Robert Weiner

JULY 25, 2010

Talk to organizations with similar fundraising programs, staffing, IT support, etc. Tags: Advancement Services Donor Databases Nonprofit Technology Software. How easy is it to do things you'll need to do regularly, like enter gifts, look up donors, change addresses, and run reports. Then you need to check references. event_KEY=29015.

Database

Database Donor System Test

Robert in the news(paper)

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

News Interview Philanthropy Interaction

Migrating recurring donors to a new system

Robert Weiner

MAY 15, 2017

A client is migrating to new Association Management Software, which will entail changing their credit card processor. Credit card image from Ed Ivanushkin. They asked for advice on how to handle their existing recurring donations, and whether it’s possible to migrate those transactions to the new processor.

System

System Donor Advice Convio

What’s a good donor database?

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

to "I do not recommend SalesForce, even if it is free" and "It may be free, but as someone with software development experience, I found administration of it to be much too complex for the average nonprofit user.". Salesforce has the most disparate comments, ranging from "I am a huge Salesforce fan" and "Salesforce is excellent!"

Database

Database Donor Linkedin Map

Important changes for GiftWorks users

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

As such, current and new clients are guaranteed access to ongoing software updates, training and support, and enhanced features. Sync event information: registrants, event donations, fundraisers, and team information seamlessly flow into CRM. Donor Databases Fundraising Nonprofit Technology Software'

Change

Change Database Module Hosting

Blackbaud kills off Common Ground

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 30, 2012

Yesterday the news was that Blackbaud had laid off 50 employees it acquired when it bought Convio in May. In what was said to be an unrelated development, they also announced the departure of Gene Austin, the former CEO of Convio.

Blackbaud

Blackbaud Convio Database Austin

Ingredients of a High Performing Advancement Services Shop

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2010

I've been thinking about what it takes to run a great Advancement Services operation (aka Development Services, Development Operations, Development Systems, the fundraising infrastructure, the back office). Understand the capabilities of the software and hardware they work with. Collect and enter data accurately and efficiently.

Service

Service Policy Law System

Idealware’s revised Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Donor Management Systems

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

System Guide Donor Management

Blackbaud – Convio merger expected to close this week

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

Blackbaud Convio Story Support