Which Is It??
Fundraising Software, Donor Management Software, Donation Management Software,
or CRM Software for Nonprofits?
The type of fundraising software that we offer is generally known as donor management software, although some prefer to call it donation management software since the purpose of the software is really to increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which you solicit donations.
Donor management is the term most often used in the nonprofit industry, primarily because it focuses on your relationship with the donor. In the commercial sector, this type of software is referred to as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, although for it to be a proper fundraising software solution for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, traditional CRM software would also have to include the ability to track the many ways in which donations are solicited and received.
To further clarify, fundraising software is a broad category used to refer to any type of computer program that helps with fundraising. The problem with the term arises when you consider all the different fundraising methods.
Our fundraising software can track, manage, or process all but one of the following fundraising activities:
- "direct ask" (either by asking in person, at a house party, in a phonathon, by newsletter, or in a direct mailing)
- fundraising campaigns, especially capital campaigns and annual campaigns.
- special events, like banquets, golf tournaments, and chocolate festivals
- pledges (which can be simple phonathon or sharathon pledges, or "installment payments" of a larger pledged amount as is common in capital campaigns)
- memberships (which can be a simple membership program entitling members to a monthly newsletter, or multiple levels of club benefits by a YMCA or YWCA)
- grants from foundations, government, or individuals
- in memory of gifts, in honor of gifts (both of which we call tributes or tribute gifts),
- premiums (often used by public radio and TV or community-supported radio and TV stations),
- catalog sale of products (like inspirational tapes and videos offered by a ministry or hand-crafted items sold by a museum)
- solicitation of in-kind donations, which can be office supplies, clothing, used cars, or even real-estate.
- door-to-door fundraisers (small products sold in "high-school fundraisers").
Our software easily handles everything mentioned above, except for the tracking of small products used in school fundraisers.
Fundraising Tips and Techniques
This site is about more than just promoting our fundraising products. Our Library is jam-packed with fundraising ideas, including past FundRaiser eNewsletter articles, articles about getting started with fundraising, and the invaluable FundClass Archives, 7 years of lessons taught and discussed in the FundClass fundraising school that we sponsored. |
