The Right Tool for the Job

by Larry Weaver

 I could devote this article to explain all the ins and outs of the various areas and modules of the program. That still wouldn't solve some basic problems you encounter when beginning to use a full-featured program like FundRaiser Select or Professional. 

Many nonprofits seem similar to me in that they each use a good portion of the program.  Many require at least one or more Module features, such as Tributes, while some need the extended utility that only FundRaiser Professional can provide, such as the Relationships feature, which is available only in Professional.  No matter which features are needed in handling all of the data surrounding your donors and donations, one of the more critical elements of all is learning how to use the tool.

Learning how to use the tool is more than just how to enter a name, a gift, and/or a code of some sort to further identify a donor or prospect.  It’s taking the time to get things set up correctly for your organization right from the start, or, if you are taking over an existing database, taking the timeto: 

1. understand how the program has been used
2. learn how the program has been designed to work through training available, and
3. plan how to modify existing data entry and upkeep to ensure better use of the program in the future. 

 

Sure, this may sound like a lot of time taken away from all of your other important tasks, but if you want those important tasks to become easier, and increase your potential for raising funds, they are necessary steps, and the sooner they are recognized, the better.  And this learning should NOT be limited to a single person, unless your organization is a single-person outfit, of course.  Staff members will come and go over the course of time, period.  So it’s a good idea to always have at least two people who have a good working knowledge of the program.

HELP for you

At FundRaiser we give you several options on how to learn more about the software and how it works. 

There are sections in the Help | Help Contents specific to areas of the program, which can be reached by clicking on the “Help?” button found on the screen during almost any operation.  Or you can browse the Help | Help Context area to the “How-To” section, which has a large number of everyday tasks explained.  You can print out any of those sections, too. 

Videos Online

Some people learn better by watching instructional videos. Many, covering the basic usage of the program, are available through the Customer Portal section of our website.  These include titles such as:

• FundRaiser Overview
• Coding & Spare Fields
• Groupings
• Reports
• Word Processing / Mail Merge

There are others available there, as well, that cover other basic areas of the program. These videos cost you nothing but time to watch. No training credits are necessary, although you do have to have your AMP current in order to have access to the Customer Portal.  If you have any troubles signing in to the Customer Portal section, give Tech Support a call and they will help. Once you're logged in the first time, you’ll have your own user name and password to gain access to those videos at any time, even from home, if you like.

Online webinars to cut your learning curve

To get training with a more personal touch, you can take advantage of the “Live” webinars on these subjects (and more) which are scheduled through the Training section of our website on the training calendar you’ll find there. These are one-hour classes that cost just one training credit per class (even if you have several people attending), and have the added advantage of immediate response to your questions about the subject, especially as it relates to your situation.  Typically these classes are held on Tue/Wed/Thu of each week, at 10am and 3pm (Central time), and require at least one business day advance notice for scheduling.

Onsite training to focus in

Some folks prefer working with their own data, in their own familiar “digs” while learning, and onsite training is available.  Usually this takes the form of two days intensive study, with the first couple of hours of the first day used as a “discovery” time, for the trainer to become acquainted with

• your organization
• your organization's donor management data needs
• the people who will be involved both in maintaining and in producing output from your data
• setting the schedule on how to proceed with the onsite training based on your organization’s individuality

This type of training takes a bit of time to schedule, and varies in cost, depending on many variables, so you’ll want to speak with Autumn Shirley (800-880-3454, ext. 302) or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for more information.

Is it Tech Support or Training?

Now, all this may sound more like a “training” article than a “tech” article, but believe me, it isn’t.  I suppose I could take the time to explain all the ins and outs of the various areas and modules of the program that were touched upon in the main article of this newsletter, but it would take up many more pages than I’m allowed.  Instead, I would rather that you clearly understand that one of the most time-consuming aspects of technical support is really nothing more than training users.  Usually when people call, it’s because they don’t know how to do something within the program.  Something that is critical to them at that time.  And it’s usually something that is covered in training sessions.

And while you may not feel you have the time to take training, consider how much time you can otherwise waste trying over and over and over to accomplish a task, never getting any nearer the end, until perhaps, in a last ditch effort, with growing frustration and downright anger, you call tech support to discover it was some simple thing you’d missed.    These classes and training venues will help you to understand the workings behind the program just enough to help in planning how to set up the program to do what you want to do, without having to learn any programming language or “geek-speak” to accomplish your tasks.  So take the time to take the classes to take your efforts in a positive direction, toward more effective, efficient, and profitable use of the powerful tool you have in FundRaiser Software.

Larry Weaver leads online training for FundRaiser Select and Pro. In his free time Larry enjoys music, motorcycles and being a grandfather.

Resources

Case Study: Onsite Training at The Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home

Customer Portal for Training Videos

Online Training 

For information about FundRaiser Onsite training, contact  Autumn Shirley at 800-880-3454 ext 302 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.