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Database management for nonprofits

fusionSpan

And whether you have a few people entering and maintaining data or a large team with their own areas of speciality, locking in the best practices for database management is key to making sure your database works for you, not against you. Contents : Why should an organization have a database?

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6 Qualities A Nonprofit Database Management System Should Have

TechImpact

Nonprofits use databases to handle volunteers, donors, staff, and more. For smaller nonprofits, a database may be nothing more than an Excel file. Medium to large nonprofits might have an IT staff and a simple database, designed by the in-house development team. A good system is one that makes maintenance easy.

Database 225
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Training on your new database

Robert Weiner

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. Not everyone can train. Train them again just before going live. It's an art.

Database 166
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Ask Maureen: Cleaning Up a Messy Fundraising Database

sgEngage

Dear Maureen, My organization’s fundraising database is a hot mess! We’ve had some turnover on our development team, and it seems like every person has used the system differently. There are no rules, and that means our database is almost useless. Ask them how (or if) there were trained. These aren’t about placing blame!

Database 113
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ROI for a donor database

Robert Weiner

My colleague Charlie Hunsaker posted the following question on the FUNDSVCS Advancement Services listserve: I have two clients who are looking for new systems and want a “cost justification” for their acquisition to share with their management. Our system is like the “roach motel” of data; the data goes in, but never comes out again.

Database 181
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Maybe It’s Not Your Database, It’s You

Robert Weiner

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
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7 tips for preparing your nonprofit for a move to new software

EveryAction

Ask if they’re capturing and maintaining data in places such as spreadsheets or email inboxes to make sure you migrate all necessary information into your new software system. Create a list of all queries, reports, exports, and dashboards that your organization uses so that they can be created in the new system as appropriate.

Software 226