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: Gift Codes

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One of the improved features when moving from FundRaiser Basic to Spark is increased coding and options for your gifts. In FundRaiser Basic, along with the amount and date given, there is a checkbox to send a thank you letter, as well as a field for the notes. The “source” code acts as a way to document what drove the gift, for example an appeal letter or an event.

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Transitioning from FundRaiser Basic to Spark: Donor Codes

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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.

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My Experience: Moving from FundRaiser Basic to Spark

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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--

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Moving up the Donor Management Ladder

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I've been thrilled with my explorations as a volunteer fundraiser for a small all-volunteer nonprofit that I support. Four years ago, I moved donor information from Excel spreadsheets into FundRaiser's simplest program, FundRaiser Basic.  At that time, I had no hands-on experience raising money, and I was eager to try out some of the things I'd learned from talking to customers in my work at FundRaiser. 

As it turned out, success was relatively easy. Yes, it's true what 'they' say: sending thank you letters, following up with donors who gave last year but not this year, and making sure that donors don't fall through the cracks does result in more stable incoming donations. I've learned lots of good lessons in fundraising and what's more I've really enjoyed the work. Now, on our 5th year using FundRaiser Software, the organization is more financial stable than ever before, all funded by grassroots giving-- loyal donors who believe in our work and aren't likely to move on as a grant or foundation often does. 

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

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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.

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

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