Managing Raiser's Edge in Multiple Locations and with Multiple Users

Peter from the RESolutionsTECH team just posted a fantastic new blog post about managing Raiser's Edge in multiple locations and with multiple users.  Don't miss this exciting post!

Have an excellent day everyone.  Stay tuned for my next blog post that is coming soon.  :)

Managing Raiser's Edge users in Multiple Locations

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labour!

Both In NetCommunity™ and the Garden

Hello, friends and fellow blog-readers! It’s been another gorgeous weekend here in Kingston. Once again, my wife and I spent a large part of it out in our garden. While the toil of garden work seems to be never-ending, my family is constantly provided with tremendous happiness as well. We reaped our rewards, as we were able to pick and enjoy our first delicious tomato crop of the year. These scrumptious tomatoes reminded me of some of my recent discussions regarding the creation of a website with Blackbaud’s® NetCommunity™.   Our partnership with SJ Consulting LLC has produced the following information every non-profit should be aware of when creating a website with NetCommunity™.

Start With Clean-Up

Gardening is a lot like building a website with NetCommunity™. It is a good idea to always begin the process with a little clean-up of the web space and the data from your Raiser’s Edge® database, decide what you hope to achieve from your website, and become knowledgeable of the tools you will be using to create the site.

What are the most common mistakes made while using NetCommunity™?

• If you needed help with planting some cedar trees in your backyard, it wouldn’t make sense to call up a rose or tulip specialist. The same scenario is applicable to NetCommunity™. When you acquire designs/layouts from outside designers who have no knowledge or familiarity of NetCommunity™ (BBNC), or you hire developers to build your website who have only worked in Drupal or Convio, you are not making the best choice. The design setup may conflict with system functionality, and incorrect parts may be implemented. This will be of severe detriment to your entire website and your online mission to fundraise.

• All gardens, no matter the size, are unique in their own way. Every garden has distinctive features that make it special. When creating an organization’s website(s) with BBNC, it should look completely one-of-a-kind. BBNC doesn’t utilize a “standard” design and it is not templated like other content management systems. Blackbaud® NetCommunity™ allows total design customization and the incorporation of 60+ functional website elements.

• No one likes weeds, pests, or dead growth in their gardens. Yanking out dandelions or trimming back out-of-control grape vines can make a world of difference. Just like gardens need to be weeded on a regular basis, content and images in BBNC need to be kept fresh and up-to-date. Organizations and their developers are drastically underutilizing the ability to use scheduled parts, RSS feeds, discussion boards, Facebook Connect, personal pages, community sites, etc. to keep their website dynamic. This needs to be changed!

• Some people might use grape vines to create privacy in their gardens, while others use grape vines to produce delicious grapes. The same applies to BBNC, using the philosophy of, “One size does not fit all!” One organization might use a donation form for an entirely different purpose than another. For both organizations, the initial donation form is the same, but BBNC’s design flexibility, field displays, sections, multi-payment options, and more allow the form to be tailored to fit each organization’s custom requirements.

• Visiting greenhouses and garden centres, talking to nature enthusiasts, checking out other people’s gardens, browsing the Internet, and reading blogs like this one can increase your knowledge and awareness of the wonderful world of gardening. Broadening your horizons will provide you with insight and ideas beyond your wildest dreams! RESolutionsTECH has noticed that a lot of organizations only utilize about 5% of the 60+ functional elements that are available in BBNC. This is similar to planting simple geraniums every year and never daring to explore the vast assortment of other flowers and plants that are out there!

• Bees are buzzing around the garden to pollinate your flowering plants. Your nieces are frolicking and singing their favourite songs joyously in the glowing summer sun. The neighbours have come over for a visit, too, and are gushing about how gorgeous your garden looks this year. All in all, there are several different types of communication that tend to go on in your garden. Knowledge is power, and the more understanding you possess, the better prepared you will be when havoc breaks loose (and a new breed of insect starts eating your hostas). With NetCommunity™, organizations have the ability to use E-mail Campaigns, which allow for cross-section analysis of various e-mail appeals and assorted methods of communication, targeted content to customize messaging on the website, and discussion boards to encourage communication with and between constituents.  Tracking all types of communication will let you better understand what is working and what is not so you can shape future emails and website strategy.

What can a charity can do with NetCommunity™ to make its website rock?

• Garden parties and summer BBQs are always fun ways to share the fruits of your gardening labours with your friends and loved ones. This can be accomplished in NetCommunity™ websites by incorporating social media networking.

• Discuss your garden with those around you to learn more and help others do the same. A NetCommunity™ website engages users with surveys, discussion forums, polls, and personal pages.

• Many factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding what to plant in your garden. How much sun will the area receive? What is the soil like? Who will be able to view the garden? Is it on public display, or is it private and only for family and friends? A NetCommunity™ website has many similar aspects to your beloved garden. There are options to customize your content - whole sections of websites, single pages, or small segments of pages – to site users who are logged in. Targeted content can be based on any segment of constituents in Raiser’s Edge® and categorized by geographic region, donor level, interests, event participation, chapter engagement, etc.

• It’s often a good idea to keep it simple in the garden. Introducing several new species at once, or planting too many things in a congested area, is not the best way to get plants to thrive. Plants can get choked out, die, or simply never live up to their full growth potential. The same applies to users who visit a NetCommunity™ website. With multi-payment processing, users can make a donation, register for an event, and update their membership with a one-time payment of total amount. This is far more efficient, effective, and less stressful than restricting constituents to paying for multiple items individually.

• Maintaining a consistent, well-planned theme in your garden enables better flow and a much more desirable appearance.  It is the same with NetCommunity™.  Tie the design of your e-mails into the overall website design so recipients become aware of the brand and the organization's cause, and respond by taking action, making a donation, registering for an event, and more!

End With Clean-Up

Whether in NetCommunity™ or Raiser’s Edge®, or washing the fresh cucumbers you have just harvested from your garden, it is always ideal to finish off with a bit of tidying up.

Reaping What You Sow

My wife and I have yielded much wealth from our garden this year. We picked cherries from our backyard and turned them into a mouth-watering sour cherry pie. More recently, we added some of our own juicy tomatoes to a fantastic Caprese salad. Being able to enjoy our fresh, organic produce that we nurtured from start to finish is incredibly rewarding. Hard work pays off, and good things come to those who wait. With NetCommunity™, you can reap what you sow too! Your website should increase donation and event revenues and you can experience, first-hand, the level of engagement between your cause and your supporters. The more thought you put into your BBNC website, the more your supporters will pay attention.

Parallel Universe

Not every charity has the resources to purchase or lease one of the NetCommunity™ products (i.e. Sphere, Spark, etc.).  In this case, just as in gardening, there is always another option.  We recommend looking at some of the open source solutions such as WordPress, Joomla and CiviCRM. Amazingly enough, they are totally free!   Similarly, when my wife and I decided to delve into the world of gardening, many of our friends gave us plants from their own gardens. We nurtured them year after year, and now our garden is flourishing more than ever before!

Let your website flourish like our delicious cherry tomatoes. Contact us at sales@resolutionstech.com or (866) 776-5414 to begin reaping your rewards!

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Communication and Team Work are the Keys to Success!

"When trying to express oneself, it's frankly quite absurd, To leaf through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect word. A little spontaniaty keeps conversation keen, You need to find a way to say, precisely what you mean..." -- Mary Poppins

Our clients come first at RESolutionsTECH. We are actively listening to you and constantly searching for new ways to improve our efficiency and provide you with the highest quality of service possible.

Although we strive for excellence in everything we do, our organization truly believes that there is always room for progression, growth, and improvement. Relationships with our clients can never be too strong.

We aim to provide you with the best possible service, in a timely manner, with guaranteed results.  We are committed to assisting not-for-profits, colleges, and universities utilize technology to generate income, reduce costs, and improve constituent relationships.

One aspect that sets RESolutionsTECH apart from the crowd is the personal interaction and tailored support that we offer our clients.  As technology continues to rapidly change and evolve, we see opportunities to become even more personalized while simultaneously increasing our efficiency.

We’re all about establishing a partnership and working with our clients so that they can best communicate their needs and immediate priorities to us.  Whether it is a request for training, a data audit, database clean-up, or an immediate and critical technology issue, the means by which these requests are communicated can have a tremendous impact on the timeliness and accuracy of the solution that we provide.

Not only do we demand an unparalleled level of service from our staff, our clients have come to expect and depend on it as well. It is crucial to establish and maintain clear lines of communication between RESolutionsTECH staff and clients.  There is a “communication partnership” that must be employed so that:

·      The client can clearly and thoroughly communicate the request to us, and

·      RESolutionsTECH can clearly and thoroughly communicate the solution back to the client.

This communication partnership benefits both us and our clients. Clients see improved and more efficient results, which lead to excellent value for their organization. At RESolutionsTECH, improved efficiency and client satisfaction results in renewal of business, referrals and testimonials, and new business opportunities.

Thus, this two-way communication partnership is mutually beneficial. There are several things that can be done to ensure that client requests are handled in a timely and efficient manner and that the solutions provided by RESolutionsTECH are clearly presented to best meet the client’s needs. 

Our clients are given access to a secure on-line environment referred to as ‘The Portal’ through which requests and solutions are documented, updated and followed-up on. This ensures efficiency, accountability, and value.

In order for RESolutionsTECH to generate a thorough and accurate solution, the client should provide, as clearly and with as much detail as possible, the following information:

·      Subject:  A short, yet self-descriptive and meaningful title for the request.

·      Description:  A detailed description of the request.  Sufficient detail provided by the client at the time of the request helps to eliminate the need for follow-up questions and clarifications. 

·      Due Date:  The client should provide a realistic preferred date of completion, thus assisting us in the management of our daily priorities. 

·      Contact Person:  The individual making the request on behalf of a client should provide a lead contact name for any follow-up questions or clarifications.  This person from the client organization takes ownership of the request.

·      Request Type:  Whether it is a request for a training session, a data audit, data clean-up, data transfer/integration, or any technology-related questions, indicating the request type will ensure the task is delegated to the most appropriate RESolutionsTECH team member.

·      Priority:   While clients invariably perceive all of their requests as top priority, in order to maximize efficiency and value, it is important that a method of “Plan – Schedule – Implement” is introduced. This will ensure that tasks are not only completed in a timely manner, but also thoroughly and with 100% accuracy.

Of course, there will be instances when requests are of an urgent nature, and due to the immediacy of the situation, other priorities may need to be shifted in order to complete the high-priority task.

The request should be as clear and concise as possible, and depending on the nature of the request; there may be additional information that the client can provide to ensure that the task is completed to the best of our abilities.  For example, if the request involves a query, an export, a report or data integration, information such as inclusions/exclusions is needed to ensure that the solution provided contains PRECISELY the data the client requires.  For technical issues or question examples, screen shots and supporting documentation can be extremely helpful.  Clients can provide us with an outline or sketch of their ideal report, or actual real-time data from their system, with confidence that their data is safe and secure at all times.

At RESolutionsTECH, we too have the responsibility to maintain open lines of communication, thoroughly outline the progress of our work, and to provide complete solutions that fulfill the needs of all clients.

Once a request has been submitted, RESolutionsTECH will provide the client with:

·      An Action Track:  This will clearly define the steps required to complete the request.  Each type of request has a pre-defined action track that outlines the typical steps required for completion.

·      A RESolutionsTECH Team Member:  Each request is delegated to a team member who becomes responsible for completing the task.

·      Expected Completion Timeframe:  This date is continually updated by the RESolutionsTECH team and communicated regularly to the client.  It is based on the client’s required date of completion and our knowledge and experience based on the requirements of the task.

·      Time Spent On Request:  RESolutionsTECH will provide a measure of how much time we have spent working towards the completion of the request.  In this way, clients can easily assess the value of partnering with RESolutionsTECH.

RESolutionsTECH is further enhancing client relationships by implementing a constituent survey that outlines the needs and priorities of clients and staff.

Whenever possible, we also use genuine client data and relevant, real-world examples. Sample data is usually not able to accurately communicate requests or solutions.

The goal of a quick response time benefits both the client and RESolutionsTECH, and is best acquired by working together and maintaining open lines of communication.  By having all requests and solutions logged in one centralized location, we are ensuring that information is secure and able to be shared between the client and RESolutionsTECH team members.  Requests are never mislaid, over-looked or left unfinished. The client can always check the progress to see what has been completed and what is still in progress. Clients can fully gauge our value and determine if expectations are being met.

It is vital that all RESolutionsTECH clients truly feel that our services are well worth the investment. We want you to get the most “Bang For Your Buck”. 

On a daily basis, we strive to improve the efficiency and quality of our services. The personal relationships that we have established with our clients mean everything to us. Although we embrace a variety of new technologies, we will never forget our personal touches and will always follow up requests and solutions with a one-on-one phone call.

At RESolutionsTECH, we pride ourselves on not only working for our clients, but being a part of their team. By working closely with you, we can ensure that our services are of maximum value and benefit to your organization.


How we provide superior value to our clients and always strive to improve our services:

a) Integrity: Conduct all our consulting services with the highest level of integrity and honesty at every stage of the client relationship, and in everything we do.

b) Compliance: Stop, think, and ask! Adhere to standardized approaches and follow all legal rules and regulations.

c) Value Creation: Create real long-term value via economic means by offering affordable consulting services with a proven track record.  Our Total Support Package (http://www.resolutionstech.com/tsp.php?page=tspdata) offers clients the maximum value for their investment.

d) Principled Entrepreneurship: Create value to RESolutionsTECH, employees, clients, and society.  Working with charities who improve so many lives is a privilege and honour for our entire team. We find ourselves humbled by our clients’ global spirit on a continual basis.

e) Customer Focus:  Anticipate and satisfy the needs of our clients with prompt response time and the highest quality of service. Our corporate goal is to always go above and beyond the clients’ expectations.

f) Knowledge: Seek and utilize the most in-depth knowledge possible. We are Raiser’s Edge Experts and have a deep understanding of our clients and their data. We love acquiring new knowledge because it allows us to improve our services to you!

g) Change: Embrace change! Always look for new methods to replace old, out-dated procedures. Strive to be more efficient and utilize technology as a tool.

h) Humility: Practice humility and intellectual honesty with clients, prospects and fellow team members at every stage and level of relationships.

i) Respect: Dignity, honesty, respect, and sensitivity = teamwork

j) Fulfillment: Produce results that create value; allow clients to reach their full potential!

RESolutionsTECH is always striving to not only meet, but exceed the aforementioned Market-Based Management Guidelines. These goals and guidelines are the core of everything we do. Your RESolutionsTECH team is here to work with you, make your life easier and do everything within our power to manage your technology needs as efficiently as possible.

We love assisting our clients in the areas of Measuring Results, Database Optimization, Internet Marketing, Communications Efficiency, Network Support, Software Implementation, and providing Support Systems.  Strong communication during requests and solutions improves efficiency and accountability for all parties involved.

Together, as a team, we will use technology to generate more revenue, reduce operating costs and improve constituent relationships.

To get the most bang for your buck, contact us at sales@resolutionstech.com or (866) 776-5414.

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The Fundraiser’s Dream: A Dashboard That Gets Results

The Fundraiser’s Dream: A Dashboard That Gets Results

As you head into your quarterly board meeting, you’re looking forward to touching base with them and making sure that everyone is on the same page. However, you’re experiencing stress and frustration because you haven’t been able to generate a thorough snapshot of your campaign’s current status. You marvel at how much easier your life would be if you simply had the ability to do so with the click of a button!

Has your staff ever been required to spend countless hours manually creating a report of total dollars raised? Are you uncomfortable with, and untrusting of, the accuracy of the reports which come from your database?

Why does your organization continue to tolerate the same aggravating problems each and every time a campaign report is needed? You deserve better!

It’s time to take action and stop beating around the bush. RESolutionsTECH’s sympathetic and highly-trained team is here to eliminate your reporting dilemmas and rid you of your unnecessary frustrations, once and for all!

So, how can you accomplish this? Here are the basic do-it-yourself steps to create your own Dashboards:

• Create your dream report manually; this only needs to be done once.
• Clearly document each data element and summary field in your report.
• Document what is possible and what is not based on your current database setup.
• Create and implement steps to improve your database setup.
• Create desired reporting without having to re-do them manually ever again.

The Dashboard

The Raiser’s Edge offers several different methods of retrieving information and reporting on data. Your data can be displayed in any number of formats.  One of the most visually appealing ways of displaying information in Raiser’s Edge is through the use of the Dashboard feature.

The Dashboard provides a real-time summary of information that can be customized for any user’s unique reporting needs and displayed at the click of a button.  The purpose of the Dashboard is to give the Raiser’s Edge user fast, accurate and up-to-date information on where the organization is at in terms of reaching specific goals.  These goals can be related to fundraising, volunteer management, solicitor management or event participation.  Dashboards are easily built to display tables, graphs, or both.  They are excellent for reports of analytical, statistical or financial information within Raiser’s Edge. 

For example, Dashboards can be built to display all donations in a current month or current year based on an organization’s top 50 prospects.  A Dashboard can be used to compare related Funds, Appeals or Campaigns in order to give a quick representation of how close an organization is to reaching its fundraising goals or to compare and analyze fundraising results over time.  In other words, the Raiser’s Edge user has tremendous flexibility as to how the Dashboard is built, the information it contains and how that data is displayed.  The graphs and tables created in the Dashboard present information obtained from several different areas throughout Raiser’s Edge, thereby giving users the options necessary to build Dashboards that are most relevant to their needs and their role within the organization.

While Dashboards are typically the most popular with senior management personnel who require real-time information to be displayed easily without building queries or reports, every Raiser’s Edge user, regardless of her/his role, will appreciate the visually dynamic display of information.  In addition to traditional Dashboards, other types of Dashboards are being put to good use by charities and non-profit organizations of all sizes.

Alternative Uses of Dashboard

• Data entry problems (e.g. Errors in entering new constituents, gifts, and actions).
• Donations outside predicted giving level (e.g. Predicted annual fund donor gives major gift).
• Prospect activity (e.g. Major gift donor attends recent event).
• Fundraiser inactivity (e.g. Fundraisers are not making enough visits to meet with donors).
• Pipeline activity (e.g. Projected gift that is 10% close to closing moves up to 90% close to closing).

Other Reporting Options

Keep in mind however, that like any pre-built reporting tool, there are certain limitations to Dashboard. This means that there’s a chance you might not be able to generate the exact information you require.  If your organization finds that Dashboards are not able to meet all of your visual reporting needs, then creating a Crystal Report might be your best alternative.  A Crystal Report provides all the benefits of both a traditional report and a Dashboard while alleviating the built-in restrictions that naturally hinder the Raiser’s Edge reporting functionalities.  Do not let anything get in the way of acquiring the reporting that you need.  Anything is possible!  Be careful what you ask for though; the results of such precise reporting tools can sometimes be a little too real. J

How Can Your Organization Take It To The Next Level?

• Dashboards e-mailed to you on a daily basis.
• Automatic e-mailing to notify you of key milestones being met or not.
• Instant access to Dashboards from your Blackberry, iPhone, or iPad.
• Dashboards based on external data (e.g. social networks, web and e-mail metrics).
• Real-time predictive model Dashboards (e.g. top major giving, annual giving, planned giving prospects).

Do You Get External Help?

It is also important to remember that like all reporting tools, the Dashboard is reflective of the data that is input into Raiser’s Edge. Therefore, accurate information can only be retrieved if data is being populated into Raiser’s Edge in a consistent and accurate manner.  The notion of “Garbage In – Garbage Out” applies just as much to the Dashboard feature as it does to reports and queries.  In fact, Dashboards can help identify where problems exist within your database.  Creating a Dashboard is a great first step to getting rid of your garbage data.

How to Get What You Need and Save Money

• Sketch out your dream report.
• Document data elements and summary fields in a report.
• Request a quote from a consultant to complete your dream report.
• Decide which method of reporting makes the most economic sense: utilizing an internal team, a consultant, or both.
• Measure how much time and money you can save your organization.

With any database system, the ability to retrieve accurate, real-time information is an absolute necessity. Raiser’s Edge is no different.  The reason that an organization carefully and accurately tracks and maintains Constituent information is so that analytical, statistical, demographical and financial data can be retrieved from the system.  Frequently, however, this can be a burdensome and difficult task, and often the end results are not as intended in either format or content.  At RESolutionsTECH, we are data clean-up and reporting experts and can assist your organization in retrieving accurate data in any format you wish.  Whether you require queries, standard reports, Dashboards, or Crystal Reports, our goal is to ensure that you receive the information you need, in the format you desire, with the absolute highest level of accuracy possible.

Next Steps – What RESolutionsTECH Can Do For You

• Provide a quote on any Raiser’s Edge-related task.
• Train staff on how to be more self-sufficient with your database and reporting needs.
• Clean up your database to ensure a higher accuracy of reporting.
• Create all of your single-click dream reports.
• Assist you with analyzing your reports to improve fundraising results.

RESolutionsTECH is here to assist your organization and make life easier. Let’s get rid of your frustrations and improve the quality of your database. Stop daydreaming, and make accurate, efficient reporting an everyday reality.

Contact us at sales@resolutionstech.com or (866) 776-5414 to start living your dreams!

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How I Got My Goat

Before my birthday, Christmas, and all sorts of other special occasions, my wife has always asked what I would like as a gift. For the past several years, I have been telling her that the only thing I want is a goat. Due to my current living situation – a residential neighbourhood in Kingston Ontario – a goat simply would not be the most manageable of pets. I wasn’t asking for a goat because I wanted one for myself, though.

Oxfam is an online alternative giving program where shoppers can purchase gifts for others which are used to help underprivileged women, men, children, and communities as a whole. Goats are one of the gift items that can be bought to help needy communities in developing countries. My wife had never been fully aware of Oxfam’s motives, and therefore was always joking and teasing me about my frequent requests for a goat.

One day, as she was watching the Ellen DeGeneres Show, she found herself listening to Sandra Bullock; a spokesperson for Oxfam. Sandra explained how the program worked, in terms of buying farm animals, health supplies, seeds, vaccinations, tools and equipment, etc. for villages in Africa and over 20 other underprivileged countries. Sandra mentioned that goats were one of the purchasable farm animals that could be used to help countries in need! My wife was touched, and instantly went to the Oxfam website to see about getting me the goat I’d wanted for years!

My wife had a ton of fun in the process. She especially loved that she could use the website to create and customize a gift card for me, featuring a full-colour picture of good ol’ Billy-Bob the goat. In the process, she ended up making a donation of $58 to help people who are far, far less fortunate than us.

Oxfam Unwrapped

So, after several years, I finally ended up getting my goat! I keep the card hanging up in front of me on my bulletin board, and every day it makes me chuckle and smile. I love telling people the story of how I got it, and so does my wife. Many of her friends have also followed suit with Oxfam. They are constantly telling us about how their loved ones are not interested in receiving an actual gift, but rather, having a donation made on their behalf.

Donors and prospects, such as my wife and her friends, are plentiful. How does your organization appear to these potential constituents? What would be their incentive to donate to you?

Let’s take a look at what Oxfam is doing. (It should be noted that we have not worked with Oxfam before.)

Technology in Fundraising

Pertaining to technology in fundraising, here are some key areas/issues that I hope Oxfam is paying attention to:

• How is my wife’s gift recorded in their database?

• What additional information did they record, on top of standard biographical and gift information?

• Do they know how much fun my wife had in the process?

• Do they know how many people my wife has referred to them?

• Did Oxfam soft credit or acknowledge me in some way for the gift?

• How am I recorded in their database?

• What is their communication strategy to my wife (the donor)?

• What is their communication strategy to me (the recipient of the gift)? (E.g. Do I get an update on Billy-Bob?)

• How will they stay in contact with my wife and I; email, snail mail, phone, or all of the above. Perhaps they don’t plan on contacting us at all. Hopefully this is not the case because I would love to make a donation myself, if asked!  :)

• How did the data that my wife submitted via the Oxfam website get into their actual donor database?

• What information moved from the website to their donor database?

Fundraising

Looking at Oxfam from a fundraiser’s perspective, here are some questions that this organization should be asking:

• How do we continue to build the relationship with this newly acquired donor(s)?

• Is this actually a new donor, or has this donor given to us before?

• How do we move this donor from the $58 level to the next level?

• What exactly is the next level for this donor?

• How should I communicate with this donor?

• What amount of ‘people-time’ should be allotted to this donor?

• Where should this donor be located on my daily reports?

• What is his/her score in terms of how close he/she is to making a major gift, annual gift, etc.?

• What should the next touch point with this donor(s) be?

In conclusion, Oxfam provides innovative and extremely beneficial gift and donation solutions to people who seemingly already have everything. They have tremendous appeal to donors and are hopefully doing everything possible to build their existing relationships while continuing to steward new donors as well. It is absolutely possible for your organization to appeal to a large spectrum of donors as well! The key to success is making sure all your bases are covered, pertaining to technology in fundraising as well as actual fundraisers’ perspectives.

If any readers decide to donate to Oxfam as well, please let me know! I’d love to hear your stories of chickens, donkeys, and even goats that are helping to provide the less fortunate with a better quality of life. :)

Parallel Universe:

RESolutionsTECH has a convenient and extremely efficient service which will assist your organization in answering many of the important fundraising questions that I have posed above.

Our Complete Database Audit is a thorough and affordable way to identify all of the ideas within your database where improvements could and should be made. Our technology and fundraising experts will assess your database to ensure it is properly set up to meet and even exceed the needs of your organization.

When we audit your database, our ultimate goal is to provide you with a roadmap to help your organization grow and move forward. We want you to clearly understand:

• Where your organization is at now

• Where your organization needs to go

• How our proposed changes will benefit you and your constituents alike

Our database audit will also assist you with:

• Staff training and support

• Data clean-up

• Accurate reporting

• Your online presence

• Communicating effectively

• Reducing operational costs

• Saving time

Let RESolutionsTECH help your organization reap the benefits of a clean, efficient database while saving money and building better relationships with your constituents.

Contact us at sales@resolutionstech.com or (866) 776-5414.

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It's All About the People!

It’s been a gorgeous weekend in Kingston and my wife and I were fortunate enough to spend a good chunk of time together while doing our spring gardening. Shoveling, digging, weed-whacking and getting my hands nice and dirty reminded me how important the balance between humans and technology is, in all areas of our lives. When it comes to gardening, some tasks are best done with your own two hands while others should be left to tools and machinery. The same applies to the world of fundraising. At RESolutionsTECH, we help hundreds of local, national and international charities on a daily basis. A major goal of each charity we work with is to acquire new donors for the organization. However, the reality is that not all newly-acquired constituents originate as major donors right off the bat. Instead, they may begin their relationships with charities as $10-donors, volunteers, peer-to-peer fundraisers, connectors, or even just friends of the organizations.

Once a newly-acquired constituent is added to the database, a charity’s goal now shifts to engaging and stewarding this relationship. If done effectively, the constituent will move forward along the pipeline and become closer to his/her ultimate major gift to your organization.

So, what is the most effective balance between humans and technology that will allow your organization to maximize these major gifts?

With the thousands upon thousands of constituents that charities are managing in their databases, we always hear that there are not enough hours in the day to properly nurture and build relationships with them all. Do not fret, though. Tackling this problem is very doable!

Constituents need to be segmented into two groups:

• Those you should be spending your time with
• Everyone else

Typically, charities will have lists of key people who they feel they should be spending their time with. However, there are always other constituents who they aren’t even aware of yet. At RESolutionsTECH, we use predictive modeling and other data mining activities to assist our clients in identifying new constituents who they should be allocating time towards. These special constituents should get personalized attention. As for everyone else in the database, technology becomes critical in the continuance of building relationships.

We pride ourselves on successfully helping charities use email, websites, social networking, surveys, and a great deal more to engage their constituent groups of ‘Everyone else’.

Whether charities are spending one-on-one time with constituents or making use of technology, it is critical that they are creating regular touch points with every constituent and collecting all pieces of the constituent puzzle. This data needs to be tracked in one convenient and centralized location: the constituent database.

As charities continue to piece together their constituent puzzles, it becomes clear that knowledge and data are their new best friends. All activities, both present and future, will be based on the puzzle pieces that charities have collected and recorded in their constituent databases.

Improving and increasing your technology usage will allow your organization to collect more relevant data than ever before. New data will flow in at all hours of the day and night, even when charity staff is not involved! Your reach will be significantly expanded and relationships will continue to be built between both constituent groups: those you should be spending time with, and everyone else.

With all of this additional information, technology can be utilized even further to prioritize activities. We can help you determine which activities, with which particular constituents, will provide the best return on investment.

A proper balance of human interaction and technology usage will provide your charity with:

1) An improved total picture of each constituent individually as well as collectively with the rest of your database.
2) Convenient, informative single-click dashboards and reporting.
3) Data and information benchmarks over time.

At this point, your charity will have a clear road map or strategic plan for utilizing technology, as well as people, to broaden your reach and maximize your fundraising results.

You will increase your gifts and revenue, reduce costs, and improve the relationships you have with all of the constituents in your database.

Remember – it is all about your people spending time with the right people and letting technology assist with the rest!

Parallel Universe:

RESolutionsTECH provides our satisfied clients with two convenient and affordable options to achieve the aforementioned human and technology balance.

If you want absolutely everything taken care of for you, our comprehensive and worry-free Total Support Package is right up your alley!

Your second alternative is through our interactive, hands-on Unlimited Online Training Package.

The first option costs a bit more; however, our clients are always telling us that our services are considerably less expensive than what other companies are offering. Partnering with RESolutionsTECH will provide you with far more bang for your buck and is one of, if not THE best decision your charity will ever make!

Let RESolutionsTECH assist your organization in maximizing revenue and building better relationships with new and old constituents alike. Contact us at sales@resolutionstech.com or (866) 776-5414.

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Address Accuracy Success Story

About St. Lawrence College’s Alumni Relations Office

Since 1967, St. Lawrence College has been providing students with an education that not only gets results but also helps to build better communities. With campuses in three small to mid-sized cities in eastern Ontario, St. Lawrence College serves a wide and diverse catchment area. The Alumni Relations office exists to maximize positive engagement with St. Lawrence alumni, through life-long, mutually beneficial relationships. The Alumni Relations office offer a number of programs and services which provide graduates with exclusive benefits, as well as a wide range of opportunities for their alumni and friends to “give something back” by engaging in the life and work of the College today.

The Problem: Keeping in Touch with Alumni on the Move

St. Lawrence College’s award winning alumni magazine Voyageur is published bi-annually through the Alumni Relations Office and is distributed to 50,000 alumni and friends of the College. With a considerable mailing twice each year, Janine Foster, Manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, understands the importance of frequently updating their records. Janine works with RESolutionsTECH to ensure St. Lawrence’s address records are up to date.

The Solution: Taking Advantage of Available Resources

Each year in Canada, approximately 1.2 million households file a change of address notification with Canada Post. The Canadian National Change of Address (NCOA) database contains a 72-month history of NCOA information submitted to Canada Post from individuals, families, and companies. Addresses on the file are standardized and appended with the most recent forwarding addresses. Since approximately 20% of households and businesses in Canada move each year, the NCOA service is increasingly valuable in reducing undeliverable mail and helping increase response rates. (source: Canada Post)

The Results: Reducing Costs and Strengthening Relationships

Utilizing RESolutionsTECH’s NCOA cleanup has helped St. Lawrence keep in contact with Alumni, and helped to save money. Janine states: “When mailing an Alumni magazine to an invalid address, Canada post charges a fee around one dollar per return.” Of course, it isn’t difficult to imagine that 20% of 50,000 magazines can add up. St. Lawrence chooses to update their records according to the NCOA’s most recent data before each mailing of the Voyageur magazine. Janine states: “For a minimal investment in updating our address information, not only do we save money by reducing the return rate, we also ensure we maintain contact with our alumni.” Janine notes that when students graduate and move on to new endeavours, they expect their school will keep in touch with them. Janine remarks: “The NCOA offering from Canada Post is permission-based, and people pay for it with the understanding we will find them at their new address. People pay for this service to avoid the work of contacting everyone to update their address; they do it once, and understand that we will be able to find them. Our alumni want to be kept up to date, they want to be informed; it is our job to ensure that happens.”

St. Lawrence also has the option to regularly update their constituent phone numbers. Janine has previously worked in a call centre at another educational institution, and recalls being astounded at how often calls would be placed to numbers that are no longer in service, or that are no longer belonging to their constituents. Janine notes these invalid numbers did not appear to cost a lot of money; staff simply moved on to the next number, and time and money were not impacted with the lost call. Yet Janine states what people fail to consider here is the lost opportunity: “While an incorrect phone number does not cost a great deal, it is potentially a lapsed donor, or a lost opportunity. Considering the insignificant cost to update this information, it is foolish that someone wouldn’t follow through with this opportunity.”

Keeping Your Records up to Date: It Really is Simple

Each time St. Lawrence looks to update their contact information, Janine lets RESolutionsTECH know, and with a quick export of the relevant information, a summary report can be generated within days. The report contains helpful information, such as:

• Address Correction

Addresses are compared to Canada Post's master database of addresses in Canada, to help to identify what percentage of address are valid.

• National Change of Address – NCOA

Constituent names are compared to a master database of movers registered with Canada Post, to identify matches and determine how many forwarding addresses are available.

• Duplicate Summary

Advanced record matching technology helps to identify duplicate contact records.

• Telephone Verification & Append

Data is matched to Canada's most extensive and up-to-date 411 directory database, to determine which numbers are accurate and which can be corrected.

RESolutionsTECH provides a complimentary summary report for Canadian organizations, which provides statistical data describing the results. This free report provides an overview of the issues that can be corrected, allowing you to evaluate whether cleanup is required before you invest in doing so. Once St. Lawrence decides on the level of cleanup that is required, RESolutionsTECH helps to import this information back into their Raiser’s Edge database.

The Last Word: A Standard for Doing Business

Janine believes St. Lawrence has a responsibility to its constituents to maintain contact. As such, she views the cleanup of contact information as a necessary process. She states: “I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t use this available service. The NCOA is permission based, to not avail ourselves to that service doesn’t make sense. This really should be a standard for doing business.”

Maximizing the Potential of Raiser’s Edge: A Success Story

Total Support Package Success Story

Maximizing the Potential of Raiser’s Edge: A Success Story

Renascent has been a leader in addiction treatment since 1970. Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Renascent has helped almost 40,000 people reclaim their lives from alcohol and drug addiction. With the largest number of treatment beds in Canada and continuous intake, Renascent has set the standard for addiction treatment. For more information about Renascent, reach them online: www.renascent.ca

The Problem: We Have Invested in Raiser’s Edge…Are we getting the Most out of it?

Renascent has been using Raiser’s Edge for over 10 years, and like so many other organizations, have benefited from the tools that Raiser’s Edge offers. However, as Renascent has continued to grow with an increased focus on technology, more attention has been placed on Raiser’s Edge and trying to get a better understanding of what Raiser’s Edge is truly capable of.

Lorraine Johnson, the Systems Manager at Renascent , describes how Raiser’s Edge was being used at Renascent prior to RESolutionsTECH’s involvement, “‘We realized a few years ago that we had this wonderful program called Raiser’s Edge, that is only been half-used, but we weren’t getting everything that we could out of it.”

Lorraine knew Raiser’s Edge was capable of so much more than they were using it for but wondered what they needed to change? How would they change it? How would she get staff involved in this change? And how could she ensure Renascent is prepared for the future?

The Solution: A Partnership with Raiser’s Edge Experts

Lorraine and the rest of the staff at Renascent knew they required an investment in resources and time to ensure their Raiser’s Edge Database was operating at its fullest potential, but they knew it was necessary to put Renascent in the best possible situation moving forward.

There were plenty of options including hiring a full-time Raiser’s Edge expert, addressing each of the concerns separately or working with a Raiser’s Edge consultant. Lorraine was presented with another option from RESolutionsTECH – a Total Support Package that covered all of Renascent’s Raiser’s Edge needs. Lorraine decided to partner with RESolutionsTECH.

With RESolutionsTECH’s Total Support, Renascent has access to an entire team of Raiser’s Edge experts – all at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time staff member.

Lorraine recalls the decision-making process and how she ultimately chose the Total Support Package, “We decided to partner with RESolutionsTECH for the Support Package because we saw a chance to save a considerable amount of money. If we had chosen to hire consultant on a per project basis, it would have cost us more.”

Along with having access to our entire consulting team any time of day or night, the package also provides Renascent with a Complete Raiser’s Edge Audit, Unlimited Online Training, Unlimited Phone and Email Support, and additional services, such as customized Crystal Reports and Raiser’s Edge manuals that are specific to their organization.

Raiser’s Edge Audit to Provide the Necessary Clean-Ups

The first stage of the Total Support Package is the Raiser’s Edge Audit. For Renascent, the Audit was a priority because they knew their Raiser’s Edge system was being under-used and had not received the proper updating since being implemented approximately 12 years ago.

The main goals of the Audit include:

• Improving system processes, especially those with advanced function

• Identify areas where best practices can be implemented

• Addressing areas where customization is needed

• Identifying areas for data clean-ups

The Audit confirmed what Lorraine thought about the current state of their Raiser’s Edge system, “After consulting with the RESolutionsTECH team, we determined we had a variety needs, fixes and clean-ups that were required. We didn’t have the time or the expertise to do this so we leveraged the RESolutionsTECH team of consultants. We created a list of about 20 items that required the most attention and we have been working together to check off the list – one by one.”

Upon completion of the Audit, Renascent received a report which outlined the areas examined with recommendations and steps for Renascent moving forward, and how RESolutionsTECH will assist with those recommendations. The Audit is especially beneficial because the RESolutionsTECH staff can get a better understanding of the Renascent Raiser’s Edge system and can use that knowledge in future projects.

Unlimited Online Training to Ensure Staff are Equipped

Once the Audit was completed and the RESolutionsTECH team had a thorough understanding of the specifics of the Renascent Raiser’s Edge system, training is available for all staff using the system ranging from those using the system daily to staff that may use it less frequently or mainly during events. This training is particularly beneficial for new hires or for current staff to understand the best practices and areas specific to Renascent. Lorraine comments on training and how it will improve their Raiser’s Edge use,

“Once we have cleaned-up our system and have it in a condition that works for us, our staff will require training to ensure they are doing things the new way, the right way, the improved way. This training will focus on each user to equip them with the tools to use our improved Raiser’s Edge system to it’s full potential.”

RESolutionsTECH ensures training is customized to the needs of Renascent. Each organization uses Raiser’s Edge in a unique way and the training reflects those distinct differences. After each training session, a manual is provided which highlights the key areas discussed in the session. RESolutionsTECH’s is flexible, and can be requested at any time in order to meet the schedule and needs of any organization.

A Partner Who is Available When You Need Support

To compliment the findings of the database audit and the unlimited training, Renascent has access to unlimited phone and email support with their Total Support Package. An online support system enables each Renascent staff member to make requests - day or night.

The support portal provides Renascent staff a quick response time while still focusing on quality information. Each request is immediately assigned to the most appropriate RESolutionsTECH staff member that has knowledge about the Renascent Raiser’s Edge system.

Lorraine uses the portal frequently and has worked with RESolutionsTECH to implement a system that has worked for Renascent:

“I went into the portal and submitted 20 projects that we are working on. We are realistic with our timeframes and plan ahead with RESolutionsTECH so everyone knows what to expect. If we have an urgent request, within the hour, the RESolutionsTECH team has been there and came through. Any time I have dealt with staff, I appreciate the quick response time.”

Demanding a Complete Package

While the audit, training and support are important components of the Total Support Package, it encompasses every aspect of Raiser’s Edge. Lorraine and the staff at Renascent have more confidence in Raiser’s Edge because they know that if a project is required, they will have a team of experts on hand who are ready to assist. Lorraine states:

“There have been times when our team has needed a very specific report that was outside of our knowledge of Raiser’s Edge. We contacted the RESolutionsTECH team and worked together to clearly identify our needs and ensure we receive the reporting we needed.”

Making Changes today to Improve for Tomorrow

Many organizations can identify with Renascent’s previous situation. Similar to Lorraine, you may have made a significant investment in Raiser’s Edge, only to find you are not maximizing its potential. You may be searching for a partner that can help your organization in today’s economy. Lorraine was in your shoes once, and she feels RESolutionsTECH provide the best return on her investment in technology:

“What we are paying is irrelevant; I want value for monies spent. I feel like I get value from RESTECH. I feel the RESolutionsTECH team cares and strive to help us succeed …because of that support, we can now say we are maximizing Raiser’s Edge.”

Contact us to start maximizing Raiser’s Edge today!