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Today's CRM systems are much more than the original "Customer Relationship Management," systems that tracked customer names and addresses, and little else.  Today's CRM systems are complex platforms that track every aspect of a company's client relationships and activity. Nonprofit CRM systems, also known as "Constituent Relationship Management" systems, similarly can track almost any piece of information about all of your supporters. 

We sat down recently with Joyce LeBombard, the President of the League of Women Voters Austin Area, to talk about the process her organization went through to select a software system.  Joyce and the League of Women Voters Austin Area (LWV-AA), the largest League of Women Voters chapter in Texas, have agreed to let us follow them through their implementation and share their story with other organizations who might be going through the same process.  We started by discussing how they made their system selection in the first place.

Advocacy can be defined as individuals taking action to publicly express their support for specific causes. These clear and defined actions help advance that particular mission or cause and promote its success. 

Employers are facing a tough job market right now. With low unemployment rates, the market heavily favors candidates and employees over organizations. 

A whopping 3.6 million employees voluntarily quit their jobs in July 2019, the highest number on record since April 2001. Employees are becoming pickier about the jobs they’re applying to and interviewing for, and are more open to jumping ship for opportunities that appear to be greener. 

"Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don't much care where.

The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.

Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere.

The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.”

– Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

As summer fades into fall and we start donning scarves and warmer jackets, no doubt your staff is abuzz with putting the final touches on fall fundraising events and programs, and preparing for your final end-of-year fundraising push. 

If your nonprofit has conducted research about CRM software, you've probably come across Salesforce. Salesforce is a popular CRM for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

In nonprofit organizations, communication is key to ensuring your fundraising goals are met, and that your events go off without a hitch. 

As an Executive Director, you have to make sure everyone is on the same page, that roadblocks or challenges are identified as soon as possible, and that last-minute surprises are kept to a minimum. 

While you may hold regular staff meetings to collect status updates and keep everyone on the same page, don’t underestimate the power of one-on-one team member meetings to keep your initiatives and organization running smoothly.

This post was submitted by our friends at Averill Solutions.

Many nonprofits plan for year-end fundraising months in advance, and with the season quickly approaching, it’s time to make sure your organization’s strategy is perfected.

Like many nonprofits, there’s a lot of effort that goes into the mission of the organization. You and your team spend months planning and organizing events, and coming up with creative ways to cultivate and retain donors. Not to mention working on your corporate gift programs, grant writing, and building relationships with community partners. Nonprofit work can be fulfilling, yet tiresome, sacrificial and emotionally draining. 

Salesforce is a powerful constituent relationship management (CRM) solution. There’s a reason it’s one of the most commonly used for organizations of all types: it’s completely customizable.