Are you still relying on ‘Excel Sheets’ to store and manage donor data? If that’s the case, then you must already be experiencing the limited capabilities of this data management method. Excel spreadsheets are good for startups, however, they are difficult to manage, track, and continue with large constituents and data sets. Manual errors, limited analytics/visualization, and unfortunate data loss constantly worry the mind of most non-profit organizations that use spreadsheets or traditional CRMs.
To meet fundraising goals and have limitless donation management, organizations need a specialized solution for Nonprofits that offers all the necessary tools: smart analytics, dynamic dashboards, visualization, automation workflows, low-code customization, etc. Apart from these capabilities, multiple fundraising options, payment methods, and easy donor list segmentation features are some of the features you would need in a nonprofit CRM.
While there are hundreds of solutions available online, how do you select the right one for your organization? In this blog, we have 6 crucial points that will help you make a well-concerted decision for donation management software. So without further ado, let’s jump straight in!
- Discuss With Key Stakeholders
A nonprofit CRM will be a significant investment for your organization and to reap the best ROI post-implementation, you need to have an effective strategy in place. Before you engage with a CRM partner, highlight your performance gaps and expectations by engaging with all important business stakeholders. To make an effective strategy:
- Ask staff members from different departments about their wishlist and migration/integration needs.
- Which fundraising activities need automation and which need customization?
- Check if your budget will be sufficient to manage implementation and maintenance costs.
- Check if the functionalities (list segmentation, payment methods, and more) in the software will match your fundraising needs.
2. Decide the Number of Staffers You Will Need
The more CRM users you will have, the more licenses you will need to buy from your CRM vendor. Most CRM vendors put a cap on the number of users who can access a CRM. So if you have a team of 20 members, you can look for a package where the cap is up to 20 or more users. Once you determine the number of staffers you will need for effective operations management, you can easily select a solution that matches your users and budgetary needs.
3. The Number of Constituents You Want to Store In
Along with staff members, you should also think about the number of constituents you can store in your CRM. In general, the higher constituents you can store, the higher the license cost will be. Before you buy-in, in a license, do keep note of your constituents. Remember that:
- Constituents are not just donors but also volunteers, members, corporate sponsors, service recipients, and everyone else involved in your mission.
- Your donor management software will have lots of irrelevant constituents who do not add up to your cause. Prefer deleting records that have not contributed in the past 2-to 3 years.
- Prefer a CRM that allows you a much higher number of profiles than you currently have. With this, you can ensure, it will be able to facilitate your future needs.
4. Built-In Features and Integration Capability
Features of one Donor Management Software will differ from another. Some will have strong AI-analytics capabilities, others will have better data visualization. As the developer of Salesforce-powered solution i.e. NonProfit Navigator, we encourage organizations to consider Salesforce custom or AppExchange solutions. Salesforce solutions offer better built-in features than most CRM vendors. Custom dashboards, data visualization, AI-Analytics, Automation workflows, Easy integration with third-party solutions are some of the capabilities to look at in nonprofit CRM Software.
5. Evaluate Your Communication Requirements
Superior communication sets the foundation of long-lasting relationships. To secure recurring donations from constituents, Nonprofit organizations need an effective communication strategy. While one solution may allow you to send emails directly from the platform, others may require using an outside tool to ensure direct engagement. While most advanced CRMs offer features that allow you to run campaigns, send emails, manage social media channels, and everything else from a centralized interface, it is best to understand how the communication capabilities of a solution stack up to your needs.
6. Focus on CRM Compatibility and Support
While selecting a nonprofit CRM, you should also think about its compatibility and support. Understand that some solutions will be more compatible with your current data management systems while others will be hardly compatible. Additionally, you will need ongoing support and initial training for CRM usage. For training, administration, or support assistance, you can hire reputed IT Services companies. With on-demand support, you can address issues and remove potential bottlenecks in CRM functioning.
Conclusion
A Nonprofit CRM Software can help organizations bridge the gaps in fundraising and ensure the best use of data on digital channels. With so many options to choose from, Nonprofits should choose a solution that offers the best built-in features, easy integration with third-party solutions, and maximum constituent storage capabilities. Additionally, look for a solution that is easily customizable and compatible with multiple platforms. To maximize implementation outcomes, Nonprofits should involve all stakeholders including business executives, solution developers, and team members, and execute a CRM strategy that helps in realizing fundraising goals.
Damco Group is a leading IT Services and Solutions Partner with over 25+ years of experience in implementing, administering, and maintaining tech-integrated solutions on various platforms and frameworks. Check out our in-house developed NonProfit CRM Software “NonProfit Navigator” with best-in-class fundraising management features.