FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

2 Situations When You Might Want to Consider Using Access or Excel for Donor Management

Gene Weinbeck

With the proper template (and there is one for nonprofits included with Access), it's not too difficult for someone with a modicum of computer savvy to put together a program to handle the basics of fundraising using either Excel or Access. However, remember that the fundraising world is not static, and neither should be your fundraising program—continuing maintenance could become a drain on your time and resources.

In our opinion, there are two situations in which using Access or Excel (or similar products) might make sense.

Continue reading
Tags:
Excel spreadsheets tech tip fundraising
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
9092 Hits

8 Ways to Know If You've Outgrown Your Homegrown Software

Gene Weinbeck

In this modern technological age, even the smallest nonprofits are likely to use some type of software to help with fundraising. These fall into two general categories:

commercial "off the shelf" donor management softwarehomegrown or custom programs.

The homegrown varieties are most often constructed using Microsoft's Access or Excel because they are the most readily available products from which to create a database. In our many years working with small to medium-sized nonprofits in various capacities, many organizations have come to us looking for a solution to having outgrown their homegrown programs. This experience has taught us a number of lessons that may be helpful if you are thinking it may be time to purchase fundraising management software.

Continue reading
Tags:
fundraising nonprofit fundraising spreadsheets Excel
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
6955 Hits

In the beginning... how network technology change has effected FundRaiser

Gene Weinbeck
When I first created FundRaiser in prehistoric times, it was cutting edge (this was way before Windows), but time passes and things change, fastest of all when it comes to computer technology. Since those DOS days, enormous changes have occurred, many of which affect our use of single/multi-user vs. client/server for FundRaiser, which is what I want to talk about today.

For many years, FundRaiser has offered users the option of using either client/server or single/multi-user for network setups. Both worked fine most of the time on local networks, although client/server was always faster and more reliable.

Single/multi-user was actually a carry-over from the DOS version of FundRaiser. For those of you who skipped computer history in school, DOS was before you could use a mouse and before graphics or images of any kind could be displayed on the screen. You used only the keyboard to enter commands and data.
Continue reading
Tweet
Tech Blog
6467 Hits

Volunteering in Joplin - My Impressions

Gene Weinbeck

On Wednesday (June 1, 2011) FundRaiser sent a carload of volunteers to help with the disaster relief in Joplin, which is just 3 hours from here.  I was one of them.  These are my impressions…

We worked with a crew of about 20 from one of several disaster relief centers (I would estimate that there were about 200 volunteers just at this one, which was coordinated by the Baptist convention).  We were working on the outskirts of the worst of the damage – where there were still houses standing.  The houses might have lost parts of a roof, or had part of the house caved in, siding blown off, windows blown in, etc, but they were habitable and the occupants were there.

Continue reading
Tags:
general volunteering
Tweet
Program News
137182 Hits

From the Developer: What is FundRaiser Online

Gene Weinbeck

FundRaiser Online works exactly like the current version of FundRaiser installed on your computer. The difference is that you can run it from anywhere that you have internet access:  home, office, library, hotel room.... you name it. You can let board members or other people have access to it, and you can limit what they can do and what they can see in the program, just like with the regular version of FundRaiser. Read more...

Tweet
Tech Blog
4664 Hits

From the Developer: What is FundRaiser Online

Gene Weinbeck

FundRaiser Online works exactly like the current version of FundRaiser installed on your computer. The difference is that you can run it from anywhere that you have internet access:  home, office, library, hotel room.... you name it. You can let board members or other people have access to it, and you can limit what they can do and what they can see in the program, just like with the regular version of FundRaiser. Read more...

Tweet
Tech Blog
5439 Hits
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
features thank you letters advanced tab repeat donors office Alternative Addresses donor profile data entry operating systems mailing phoning donors holiday letters follow up LYBUNTS PayPal giving levels capital campaign Task List In-Kind gifts spare fields gift acceptance policy ROI GivingTuesday Congratulations correspondence major gift prospects technical support reports donor engagement nonprofit fundraising volunteers appeal appeal letters correspondance ticket sales online donations data conversion moves management merge fields Importing Data Thanksgiving corporate sponsors Groupings endowment campaign government grants planning campaign management custom page #GivingTuesday community supported gardens membership programs upgrading donors lapsed donor alumni Reminders backing up data large donations donor prospects End of Year Letters anonymous donors Tickles Donor Portal segmenting donors training tip new leadership merge notes animal rescue NCOA processing understanding giving trends social media volunteering New Year vacation annual campaign new donors FundRaiser Basic passwords community arts nonprofits premiums development director annual maintenance plan Network for Good FundRaiser Spark add ons community broadcasting announcements adding personal notes to letters auction operational costs relationship tracking banquet FundRaiser Hosted letter board members accounting software spreadsheets targeted mailings giving history welcome packet holiday giving customer portal prospects increasing giving amounts membership benefits motivation code disaster relief monthly giving charity golf tournaments data analysis entering auction gifts flash sales user spotlights fundraising donor retention donor targeting role of nonprofits donor source happiness Thank You grants memorial giving donor attrition importing csv new version on site training mission driven donor attrition rate case study small donations planned giving how to handle auction gifts how-to videos building donor relationships major donors direct mail Volunteer module solicitors grassroots campaign National Change of Address donor loyalty SYBUNTS salutation mode code letter templates tech tip training tax summary letters transparency legacy giving Reporting to IRS tribute gifts in honor of donations GoFundMe project updates user interface the Ask new nonprofit donor relations new features recurring gifts donor advised funds Cloud support foundations general ticketsales change of address updating word processor publicity materials personalizing letters donor recognition donation history pictures donor contact information Facebook donor slip upgrade overview donor look and feel product news Personalizing budget password protection gift entry Facebook campaign Crowdfunding Campaign Company culture event management fundraising letters holiday online donations gift notes field texting donors Snow Birds donor preferences motivation raffle Resiliency customer service pledges campaign brick campaign email membersip benefits arts communications Codes Excel Constant Contact donor retention rate security

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

   

The customer portal is unavailable. If you need support please reach out to support@fundraisersoftware.com Thank you.

 
  User Name:
  Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password