Constituent Databases

Back Away From That Spreadsheet: Why Excel Isn't a Donor Database
By Robert L. Weiner, August 2009
It’s quick, easy, and you already have it.  Excel seems like it might be a great fit to manage your donor data.  But just back away from that spreadsheet – there’s a lot of reasons why it’s not a good idea.  Read more>

In Search of HIPAA-Compliant Software
By Laura S. Quinn, August 2009
Through HIPAA, the US government provides a set of instructions and guidelines for working with patient health data. What you should look for to ensure that a software package will comply with the HIPAA standards? We asked a number of experts and rounded up their answers. Read more>

A Consumers Guide to Low Cost Donor Management Systems
April 2009
Written in partnership with NTEN, this detailed, impartial report
walks through the features that might be useful to you, summarizes and compares 33 different donor management systems that cost less than $4250 in the first year, and then provides detailed reviews of twelve of them. Read more (free registration required)>

Four Principles of Choosing Donor Management Software
by Keith Heller, March 2009
Choosing a new donor management package can inspire both excitement and dread. What principles can help you pick a system that your staff will be happy with now and for years to come? Read more>

Do You Need New Donor Management Software?
by Keith Heller, February 2009
Will a new software package really support your fundraising strategy better? Or will it just be an expensive path to get you back to the same place? Keith Heller explores. Read more>

A Few Good Tools: Low Cost Constituent Databases
March 2007
Looking for an inexpensive way to track your volunteers, donors, partners, and other constituents? We've full updated this popular article, which recommends a set of free and low cost databases that have worked for those in the field. We've added new tools, tips and thoughts to help you find something that works for your organization. Read more >

A Few Good Association Management Systems
by Eric Leland, December 2008
An association management system can be a huge help in tracking your members, newsletter subscriptions, special gifts, invitations to events and workshops, discounts on products and services and more. We asked five different nonprofit experts about the systems that have worked for them. Read more >

A Few Good Donor Management Tools
by Eric Leland, November 2008
The right donor management software can make a big difference in your ability to raise funds. We asked six different nonprofit technology experts about the donor management software that has worked well for their nonprofit colleagues. Read more >

Open Source vs. Vendor-Provided Software: Comparing Them Side by Side
by Jeff Walpole, November 2008
The use of open source software applications as a viable alternative to vendor provided commercial software has seen tremendous growth in recent years, especially among non-profits. In this article, Jeff Walpole explores the pros and cons of each alternative, and explains the differences between vendor provided and open source software. Read more >

The Truth About Hosted Software Packages
November 2008
Should you consider hosted or Software As a Service software applications for your nonprofit? There are a lot of conflicting and often inaccurate messages out there: They're not secure! Use them – they'll replace your IT staff! Perhaps they'll change your life… or perhaps they're evil. What's the truth? We investigate. Read more >

The Perfect Fit: A Guide to Evaluating and Purchasing Major Software Systems
By Peter Campbell, September 2008
A major software package shouldn't be chosen lightly. In this detailed guide, Peter Campbell walks through how to find software options, evaluate them, make a good decision, and then purchase the system in a way that protects you. Read more >

Managing Constituent Relationships: Four Case Studies

By Anthony Pisapia and Brett Bonfield, July 2008

A Constituent Relationship Management can help track of all the ways that you interact with each of your supporters. But what does it take to implement one? Does it have to cost an arm and a leg? What changes will your organization need to make to support it? We look at four different organizations' CRM stories. Read more >

Comparing Lower-Cost Online Integrated Applications

By Eric Leland, December 2007

Online integrated applications allow nonprofits to manage a number of different aspects of their constituent information and Web presence all together in one package. Eric Leland took a close look at eight of the more affordable packages to compare their functionality in a variety of areas. Read more >

Getting Your Systems Talking:  A Framework to Evaluate APIs and Data Exchange Features

By Paul Hagen and Laura Quinn, Dec 2007
How can you assess the features that a software package offers to provide access to your data? This detailed report provides an evaluation framework that will help weigh the advantages and trade-offs of the data integration features across different applications. Read more (free registration required)>

XML, API, CSV, SOAP! Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Data Exchange

By Peter Campbell, October 2007

Let’s say you have two different software packages, and you’d like them to be able to share data. What would be involved? Can you link them so they exchange data automatically? And what do all those acronyms mean? Peter Campbell explains. Read more >

In Search of CRM Part 1: Understanding Constituents and Processes

By Paul Hagan, May 2007

Constituent Relationship Management can help to provide an important 360° view of your constituents. However, an effective technology solution requires a detailed understanding of your constituents and processes. Paul Hagen explains, in Part One of a two part series exploring the issues behind CRM. Read more >

In Search of CRM Part 2: Searching for Software

By Paul Hagan, June 2007

Finding Constituent Relationship Management software isn’t easy – there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. This article, the conclusion of Paul Hagan’s two-part series, helps you understand the CRM marketplace and offers practical advice to help you define a software infrastructure that will work for you. Read more >

Tales of River Databases: Tracking Constituents in Small and Mid-Sized Organizations

May 2007

How are small organizations tracking constituents? What are they struggling with, and what works well? In partnership with the River Network, we spoke to a number of river conservation groups about their constituent databases, and report back with best practices and case studies that apply to any smaller organization. Read more >

An Introduction to Integrating Constituent Data: Three Basic Approaches

By Laura S. Quinn, February 2007

Integrating all your constituent tracking applications so they can share data is highly desirable, but how should you go about it? We walk through the pros and cons of three basic methods of integrating data: Manual Import/ Export, Integrated Packages, and Automated Connectors. Read more >

Vendors as Allies: How to Evaluate Viability, Service, and Commitment

By Steve Heye and Steve Lancman, January 2007

When you’re using enterprise software to help run your organization, the software vendor becomes a key ally – and the right relationship may be as important as features or price. Steve Lancman and Steve Heye recommend methods for comparing the intangible aspects of vendor services. Read more >

Creating the Relationship-Centric Organization: Nonprofit CRM

By Paul Hagen, May 2006

Are you storing data about your constituents in three, five, even ten different databases? If so, you’re not alone – but it’s costing you in time, lost revenue and decreased impact. Paul Hagen describes how to get all your data into one place with an integrated CRM strategy.  Read more>

A Few Good Case Management Tools

September 2006

If thoughts of detailed client histories and reports to funders make you break out in a cold sweat, it may be time to consider the many good case management tools that will help you track demographics, interactions, scheduling, billing information, and more. We asked eight case management experts what tools they would recommend.

Read more >

A Few Good Databases for Membership Organizations

March 2006

Membership organizations can have a complex set of database needs, and there’s an equally complex market of tools that have been designed to meet them. We asked seven nonprofit technology professionals what membership databases they would recommend.   

Read more >

Ten Common Mistakes in Selecting Donor Databases (And How to Avoid Them)

by Robert Weiner, February 2006

How do you choose a donor database that will support successful fundraising? The software is only half the story. Fundraising technology strategist Robert Weiner addresses ten common mistakes that can prevent you from selecting the right database and managing it effectively.  Read more>

Retooling the eNonprofit: Expanding the Options for Integrated Online Software

by Michael Stein, January 2006

New integrated online software tools lead to more possibilities for nonprofits. How do you choose?  Internet strategist Michael Stein describes what's available and offers some considerations when choosing tools that can help with tracking constituents, emailing, online donations, advocacy online, and more. Read more >

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