Survey Spotlights Satisfaction with Fundraising Software

To add your resposes to this survey, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=t22HUb2FsHgWiuxjsVLWlQ_3d_3d

To view the responses of the survey, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=7Iqe_2bBk6bXn65vkfbVFXb2c5iQkvqplNMIYIrd3CeMo_3d

Late last month, Project Connect issued a survey to area nonprofits requesting what software they were using to track their fundraising efforts, how satisfied they were with it, and what technical support options were available. 37 people responded to the survey, but we will keep it open until the end of October if you wish to participate.

Key Findings:

• Although 2/3 of the respondents are satisfied, or somewhat satisfied, with their current system, over 30% are unable to do what they need.

• Training and affordable technical support increase the user's satisfaction level.

• The majority of respondents were unsure of how much they spent for implementation or for ongoing maintenance. It is critical to understand the total cost of ownership in order to justify the return on investment.

What do they use?

Hyperlinks refer to the home page of the software ...

* 3 of the Raiser's Edge users supplement their tracking with Excel spreadsheets and a whole bunch of files.

** Both GiftMaker Pro and eTapestry were just purchased by Blackbaud, the makers of Raiser's Edge.

 

How do they use it?

How do they rate the technical support?

Just because technical support is available does not mean its affordable or useful. And sometimes ANY technical support is better than no technical support!!

What support do they find most useful?

Nonprofit staff like email support vs. monthly user meetings.

TechSoup has a forum specific to Technology for Fundraising (http://www.techsoup.org/fb/index.cfm?fuseaction=forums.showSingleForum&forum=2022&cid=117) and some other excellent research tools (http://www.techsoup.org/search/index.cfm?query=fundraising%20software).

Yahoo Groups (http://yahoogroups.com) and Google Groups (http://googlegroups.com) have some great forums for users of (although the Google Groups seem to be unmoderated and full of unrelated postings).

If anyone wishes to host a local users group, mornings and lunch-times on Tuesdays and Fridays seem to be the most convenient. If you want to start a group, let me know and I'll announce the meeting information on this listserv.

Grantseeking Strategy & Proposal Writing for Technology
Presented by Marc Osten, Summit Collaborative

October 25, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
October 26, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Click here to register: http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/registerevent.htm

Project Connect's Technology Management Series continues with "Grantseeking Strategy & Proposal Writing for Technology." It will be presented by Marc Osten the afternoon of October 25th and all day October 26th. Attendance is limited to the first 30 registrations.

The workshop will be presented in three parts:

• Funding your Information Communication Technology Needs
  Thursday, October 25th, 1:00 – 4:00
   
• Identifying Information Communication Technology needs/priorities
• Identifying the total cost & budget of Information Communication Technology ownership
• Developing your case statement

• Grantwriting Skills and Strategy for Information Communication Technology
  Friday, October 26th, 9:00 – Noon
   
• Mapping a funding strategy
• Preparation of the grant
• The pitch

We will provide box lunches for all attendees for the break at noon.

• Individual mini-consults with attendees while others observe
  Friday, October 26th, 1:00 – 4:00
   

Marc is founder of the Summit Collaborative in Amherst, MA, an organization that provides research, program development, and management support to foundations, nonprofit networks and associations. He began his career in the nonprofit sector in the early 1980s as a peace and environmental activist. He was part of the first wave of nonprofit activists to use the Internet in the 1980's while he was at Greenpeace and the national organization of the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). In the 1990s he attained his masters in education and worked as an educator and teacher trainer. Since then, he focused on building Summit Collaborative and spending most of his time working as an organizational development strategist, builder of learning communities and collaborations, author, and provocateur. He recently launched a successful Internet publishing venture, Dot Org Media and developed an innovative change management program for nonprofits and executives, Strategic Technology. He is a member of the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (N-TEN) and serves in various other leadership positions in nonprofit organizations and networks.