Web Fundraising and Choosing Software Henry A. Bromelkamp, President Bromelkamp Company

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Web Fundraising and Choosing SoftwareHenry A.
Bromelkamp, PresidentBromelkamp Company
Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Web Fundraising

• True or False?
• People give more online.
• People give online who would not otherwise give.

Generally true.
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Web Fundraising

• True or False?
• Online fundraising replaces conventional
  fundraising.

Nope.
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Web Fundraising

• Methods
• shared free (3 fee) service
• branded third-party processing
• custom web programming

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Shared free Service

• networkforgood.org
• justgive.org
• Great!
• easy
• low 3 fee
• no Visa merchant account needed
• But-
• No control over the appearance of the donation
  web site
• Visa bill shows the service, not your
  organization

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Branded Third Party Service

• donate.net
• Great!
• probably cheaper than processing yourself
• you can pay extra to use your own Visa account
• But-
• limited control over web site appearance
• expensive for small volumes

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Custom Web Programming

• hire a consultant to modify your web page
  directly
• Great!
• flexibility to customize anything
• total control of appearance
• But-
• expensive
• requires secure site and merchant account
• dependence on your web designer for any changes

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Donor Considerations

• Secure site? (Browser should display a small
  padlock on the bottom status bar.)
• Which credit cards? Direct debit from bank
  account?
• One time, installments, or a permanent recurring
  schedule?
• Does the donors Visa bill show your name or the
  services name?
• Can gifts be designated? Can they include in
  memory/in honor of?
• Can the donor see a record of past donations?
• Volunteering? Matching Gifts?

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Internal Considerations

• Cost
• Branding can the Donate Now screen look like
  your own web page?
• Support who will take care of any problems or
  changes?
• Is payment delivered to you by check or direct
  deposit?
• Are you notified of donations by mail, email, or
  do you need to look?
• Can the donor name and address be provided in a
  format that can be automatically inserted into
  your donor database?
• Do you need to register as a charity in states
  where people might be solicited or donate using
  your web page? (A good question for your
  professional association)

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Web Fundraising

• Questions?

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Software Tasks

• relationship management foundation, government,
  corporate, individual
• gift tracking cash and in-kind donations,
  pledges
• integration with accounting systems
• matching contributions
• memberships
• volunteer tracking
• event registration
• document management

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Why Software?

• speed
• accuracy
• institutional record
• public accountability
• service to constituents
• ease of use
• reliability
• adaptability
• integration Never type the same thing twice.

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Relationship Management

• remember interests, preferences
• record seasonal addresses
• compose single and group emails
• generate single and form letters
• make labels
• dial the phone
• look up geographic information
• record relationship management events
• store documents, images, media
• prevent duplicate entries
• allow for multiple people, multiple salutations
• connect to email/Outlook and your PDA

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Gift Tracking

• automate acknowledgements, reminders
• store documents/images
• keep track of when weve talked to them
• check antiterrorism lists
• report on success of methods and appeals
• track and remind pledge donors
• connect to accounting

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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More Fundraising

• integration with accounting systems
• matching contributions
• memberships
• volunteer tracking
• dinner/event registration
• auctions
• document management

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Shopping

• locate options
• view demonstrations
• get estimates
• talk to references
• negotiate

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Software Vendors

• Installed Software
• Raisers Edge (Blackbaud)
• DonorPerfect (Softerware)
• Paradigm (MIP)
• MIP Fundraising (MIP)
• ResultsPlus! (Metafile)
• Exceed! (Telosa)
• Giftmaker (Campagne)
• do-it-yourself
• ASP (Application Service Providers) on the web
• Convio.com
• Kintera.com
• eTapestry.com

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Vendor Evaluation

• availability of product
• reputation references
• support
• expertise
• ability to understand and communicate

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Apparent Cost Licenses

• 1,500 and under (including shareware and
  freeware) modest limited coding, sorting, and
  pre-configured reports export to word processing
  or spreadsheet for letters and reports
• 1,500 to 7,500 middle, with extensive coding,
  activity tracking, and reporting array of
  pre-designed reports and report generating
  capabilities
• 7,500 to 15,000 more complete for specialized
  operations add-on modules (additional cost) for
  special needs like membership, major/capital gift
  prospect, events, and integration with other
  departments, such as accounting
• 15,000 and up customized, proprietary systems
  developed for large institutions for large
  networks, even multiple sites, and large volume

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Real Costs

• one time ongoing
• software licenses
• customizations
• data conversion
• add-ons bridge to accounting, Outlook,
  antiterrorism, online application, other
  databases
• training
• travel or other expenses
• online hosting/rental fees
• ongoing support

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Finance

• rent/lease
• phase in your project
• share costs in group training

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Twists

• Integration how connected is the software
  within itself and to other data?
• Flexibility how will the software fit your
  process, now and in the future?

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Justification

• better relationship management
• less staff time
• more accurate reports
• faster reports

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Installation Cycle

• order
• customizations
• data conversion (you cant edit data for a week
  or two while the vendor works on it)
• training
• testing (verify the data matches the old system,
  and that the software works)
• warranty (what happens when something doesnt
  work?)
• adjusting (give yourself more time and leeway to
  make a few mistakes and learn)
• long-term support
• re-evaluation every few years

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Support Services

• help line
• training
• data conversion/importing
• customization
• data cleaning (removing duplicates, unused codes,
  etc.)
• internal procedures and customs (abbreviations,
  etc.)

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Resources

• Data Management Software Sparks Nonprofit
  Innovation The Nonprofit Times September 2003
  www.nptimes.com

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Marriage

• You are not purchasing a file cabinet. Its a
  long-term relationship with a business partner.

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Dont

• dont hire a consultant to choose your software
• dont expect youll cut staff
• dont be the guinea pig for untested technology
• dont shortchange training
• dont shortchange long-term support
• dont think software makes bad processes good

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Do

• check out all your options
• talk to colleagues
• plan well
• expect change

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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You Have Choices
Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005
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Questions?

• Thank you.
• Henry A. Bromelkamp, President
• Bromelkamp Company
• 106 E 24 St, Minneapolis MN 55404 USA
• 888-290-9087
• www.bromelkamp.com

Fundraising Professionals Southwestern
MinnesotaJanuary 2005