Supporting Brain Trauma Nonprofits In Their Critical Fundraising Efforts

Did you know that each year, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a major cause of death and lasting disability? These injuries can range from mild to severe, impacting millions of lives.

Here’s a staggering fact: annually, 2.8 million people sustain a TBI in the U.S. alone, with many resulting in hospitalization or even death. These numbers highlight a desperate need for support and care.

Across the U.S., there are 51 Brain Injury Association nonprofits, with 14 displaying seals of transparency. These nonprofits are on the front lines, battling conditions like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and TBIs—the leading causes of disability and death globally.

The American Brain Foundation, supported by the prestigious American Academy of Neurology, funds research into these interrelated brain diseases.

But here’s the thing: brain trauma nonprofits can’t do it alone. They rely heavily on government funding and insurance, but private giving is essential for their survival.

This is where the Vancouver Brain Injury Association’s story turns into one of hope. 

Faced with the need to raise more private funds, the association turned to Bloomerang CRM for efficient donor management and payment processing. By consolidating their donor data, they’ve been able to build and nurture stronger relationships with donors and gain clarity into donor preferences, critical for effective fundraising.

Program delivery and donor management go hand in hand

The Vancouver Brain Injury Association isn’t just about raising funds. Their programs fill a vital gap by providing support, resources, and education to survivors and their families. They’re making real, tangible differences in people’s lives. 

Vancouver Brain Injury Association was looking for an affordable donor management system that could help them effectively grow their donor base. “[We wanted something] affordable for an organization needing to grow a donor list from scratch,” said Vancouver Brain Injury Association President, Richard Wagar.

The devil is in the details

After doing intensive research and comparing different nonprofit CRM systems, Richard and his team chose Bloomerang as their donor database solution. This decision wasn’t made lightly. They compared it with other systems like DonorPerfect and Blackbaud. They were confident that Bloomerang was the best option for their growing nonprofit for its affordability and comprehensive features.

Since implementing Bloomerang, the Association has seen improvements in managing fundraising challenges around donor data accessibility and software consolidation. “Combining our CRM system with email contacts and website forms now using one platform”  has helped Richard and his team save time and money through consolidation. Richard and his team have also been impressed with the level of service and knowledge the Bloomerang customer support team provides. In a nutshell, Richard would tell other nonprofits that Bloomerang delivers “Excellent service, very affordable telephone support, continuous great webinars and tutorials.”

Keeping up with the times

With donors using their smartphones, smartwatches, and credit cards to tap to make donations, the Vancouver Brain Injury Association has embraced innovation with Bloomerang Tap to Pay, revolutionizing how they accept donations. Using Tap to Pay, donors just tap their RFID-enabled credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay digital wallet onto a mobile device running the Bloomerang Mobile App. No need to purchase or implement specialized card readers or other equipment. Using Tap to Pay not only eliminates manual entry—speeding donation processing and saving time for Richard’s staff and donors—but also enhances the donor experience by offering a quick, secure, and contactless method of giving. 

Improving routine functions

Beyond these tech advancements, Bloomerang has also helped the Association streamline routine tasks like sending donors year-end tax documentation. Now they can send year-end tax summaries to their entire database in minutes. What used to be a cumbersome process is now a breeze. 

So why does all this matter? Because a robust donor management solution like Bloomerang isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline for brain trauma nonprofits like the Vancouver Brain Injury Association. It makes it possible for them to focus more on their mission: supporting those affected by brain trauma.  

Do you also see the connection? Let us know in the comments below.