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.

Transitioning from FundRaiser Basic to Spark: Donor Codes

60_basic-to-spark-codes

FundRaiser Basic offers three codes for donor records: a category code, a source code, and newsletter preferences. These three codes provide an excellent foundation for transitioning into FundRaiser Spark or even Select or Professional. Let’s look at each of the codes.

Continue reading
2952 Hits

My Experience: Moving from FundRaiser Basic to Spark

BasicSpark

After 5 years of using FundRaiser Basic, the organization I volunteer for decided to move to FundRaiser Spark. The 5 years we've been using Basic have been good to us, and Basic has played a significant role in that. The organization has stabilized donations at the level needed for our operations, and increased fundraising to create 'a little extra' each year. In a kind of feedback loop between success with fundraising and growing confidence, we've also been willing to try new things and expand our impact. Although quite happy with what we've been able to do with Basic, the time seemed right to give ourselves more power in our donor management software and to explore having a greater impact in our community. 

The move from Basic to Spark has been enjoyable and interesting. I've learned two basic things--

Continue reading
3530 Hits

Importing from Spreadsheets to FundRaiser

Many non-profits began their data management using spreadsheets.  Yours may still use them, but there are many reasons to move away from them and into donor management software, as you may be aware.  In fact, here are a couple of articles that some folks have referenced in telling us why they no longer want to use spreadsheets:  
 
One of the big stumbling blocks to converting to a better system is the old argument: “We would have to re-enter all the information, and no one has time to do that!”  Well, in FundRaiser (even in FundRaiser Basic) there is a file option that allows you to import from other file formats.  Here are some tips and tricks on how to do set up your spreadsheet for optimal importing:  
Continue reading
5736 Hits

4 ways to evaluate how easily your data will move from one donor management program to a new one

How easily will your data move from one donor management program to another?

Part 2 How easy will moving my data be? In part 1 last week, we talked about the reasons you might need to move your data. Now, you probably want to know how easy that move might be. The answer may decide whether you do the work yourself, or decide to go with professional data conversion.

Moving data from one program to another may be amazingly simple or extremely complex. If you are considering such a move, the answers to the following 4 questions will reveal to you just what the case will be for your organization and data situation:

Continue reading
4666 Hits

How your nonprofit can plan a successful data migration from one donor management program to another

Thinking ahead to the need for moving data can create a smooth conversion process
Part 1  Why move data?

In a survey of FundRaiser users, 50 percent of respondents have moved data from one donor-management software program to another. Of that 50 percent, most have moved data more than once.

The most common reasons for moving data are:

Continue reading
4651 Hits

When your spreadsheets aren't enough: import options in FundRaiser donor management software

Many non-profits began their data management using spreadsheets.  Yours may still use them, but there are many reasons to move away from them and into donor management software, as you may be aware.  If you're having trouble convincing others of this, you may want to use one or the other of these linked articles as good examples.

Why NOT convert?

One of the big stumbling blocks to converting to a better system seems to be the old argument of "we would have to re-enter all that information, and no one has time to do that!".  Well, in FundRaiser there is a file menu option that allows you to import from other file formats.  Here are some quick tips and tricks on how to do that efficiently and successfully:

Continue reading
5986 Hits

What does a data converter do?

Joe Salrin at his desk in the FundRaiser office

Working mostly from his corner desk by the windows, Joe Salrin quietly fields many data emergencies for both FundRaiser customers and staff. His primary job is data conversion – moving data out of other brands of software and into FundRaiser for new customers. He is also the ‘go-to’ person for difficult, quirky, or just plain obstinate problems that involve technology and data at our office.

I asked him to tell me what he does in a normal day, and he laughed. “There is no normal day,” he answered. “Normal is whatever happens.

Continue reading
2759 Hits
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
animal rescue backing up data donor profile product news Codes budget importing csv membership programs donor loyalty adding personal notes to letters tribute gifts merge notes mode code look and feel repeat donors new version Resiliency operational costs capital campaign Donor Portal nonprofit fundraising Thanksgiving salutation office reports New Year arts accounting software donation history user spotlights giving history prospects moves management email donor attrition rate the Ask major gift prospects Volunteer module training direct mail role of nonprofits updates donor prospects personalizing letters fundraising technical support upgrade customer service gift acceptance policy motivation code disaster relief Groupings Crowdfunding Campaign appeal letters donor advised funds entering auction gifts new features ticketsales flash sales social media correspondance change of address updating ROI grassroots campaign data analysis Reminders general data entry grants Personalizing letter templates how to handle auction gifts development director features #GivingTuesday memorial giving donor targeting premiums Tickles donor retention overview donor source gift entry Thank You pledges auction appeal passwords spare fields letter anonymous donors banquet PayPal Importing Data merge fields vacation fundraising letters brick campaign thank you letters community broadcasting on site training FundRaiser Hosted lapsed donor welcome packet phoning donors ticket sales word processor FundRaiser Spark membership benefits NCOA processing corporate sponsors foundations holiday operating systems donor attrition holiday letters Network for Good community arts nonprofits Company culture transparency relationship tracking tax summary letters new leadership solicitors custom page advanced tab government grants mission driven raffle customer portal membersip benefits password protection donor slip donor engagement LYBUNTS donor relations volunteering donor preferences communications Reporting to IRS pictures annual maintenance plan In-Kind gifts annual campaign motivation Task List in honor of donations recurring gifts publicity materials Alternative Addresses security spreadsheets Congratulations donor planning follow up large donations new nonprofit major donors monthly giving campaign happiness understanding giving trends alumni SYBUNTS planned giving online donations charity golf tournaments mailing correspondence add ons FundRaiser Basic tech tip community supported gardens volunteers legacy giving GivingTuesday Cloud online donations giving levels texting donors Constant Contact small donations End of Year Letters building donor relationships data conversion donor contact information announcements new donors GoFundMe project Facebook campaign Excel board members donor retention rate targeted mailings increasing giving amounts campaign management holiday giving gift notes field Snow Birds segmenting donors National Change of Address Facebook case study how-to videos event management upgrading donors endowment campaign donor recognition training tip support user interface

Connect With Us

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

Customer Portal Login Form

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