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.

Come Rain, Shine or Nor'easter, American Rescue Workers Offer Crucial Assistance

FesslerNewsreportImage


It’s been a tough winter in eastern United States. Happily, there are nonprofits who help keep people safe. American Rescue Workers in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is one, providing emergency assistance in the way of food, shelter, counseling, and more. 

Their mission is to give spiritual and material aid to those in need. New development director Valerie Fessler is busy fundraising in the community as well as working behind the scenes to build an even stronger program.

Even as Valerie and I spoke about her decision to upgrade to the Hosted version of FundRaiser Spark, another nor’easter storm was blowing to the north of Williamsport, but happily was passing them by this time. The upgrade to Spark Hosted was one of her first decisions as a new development director. She decided to move to Spark Hosted so she could access the data wherever and whenever she wanted.

Although Spark was at the organization when she arrived, it wasn’t being used much. Valerie, who had a strong background in fundraising in her previous work, has been expanding the use of Spark. So far, she has used it to send direct mail pieces, to identify potential donors for an ongoing capital campaign, and to pull many reports. She looks forward to utilizing the pledge feature in Fundraiser Spark as the fundraising program grows. “Right now the organization is incredibly fortunate to have many generous annual donors, but these gifts are not commitments that American Rescue Workers can plan on annually for budgeting purposes. I want to connect with those donors so the organization can have some multi-year commitments on the books,” says Valerie.

To help her identify prospects for those multi-year commitments, Valerie has been using the reporting features of Spark. “The report I am using the most is on Active donors that have given over a certain amount in the last 3 years,” says Valerie.

Before coming to American Rescue Workers, Valerie worked at a large rural hospital and a college. “I had experience with a complicated database. It was very costly every year. When I began working at American Rescue Workers, I wondered if Spark could really have what I needed. When I got into it, I was pleased to learn that it can do everything that I need now, and often in a more user friendly way. As our fundraising program grows, I am glad that I can move up the FundRaiser product line,” she says.

At my previous jobs, there had always had a team of capable people who did the database work, so doing this with just myself and our secretary has been a huge change. In the past I could make data requests of the team and remain largely hands-off in reporting and exporting,” she says. “I’m finding Spark very user friendly and am so grateful that Fundraiser support has been with me every step of the way.”

To learn more about using FundRaiser Spark

Download a Trial Version of the Software Here

Case study: Making members feel like they are the ...
Short Take: Spare Fields for Follow Up

Related Posts

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

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