Are you still using Excel to manage your donor data?

Image by Software Advice

According to a 2015 Software Advice research report, 52 percent of nonprofits are still using Excel and Google Docs to run their development operations. While spreadsheets and documents can be a good place to start for a young nonprofit just beginning to fundraise, as soon as the number of records increases and the needs of the organization become a bit more sophisticated, this method tends not to be up to the task of managing data and the work required to make use of it.

The report highlights the interesting point that “99 percent of professionals surveyed say their use of fundraising software positively impacts the number of donations their organizations collects—and 98 percent say it has a positive impact on overall record keeping, reporting and workflow efficiency.”

As nonprofits need to be able to better predict, grow, and analyze their fundraising outcomes, a more specialized nonprofit donor management system becomes imperative. But a more formalized system isn’t just for the big guys.

According to the research, a donor management system has some excellent benefits for small nonprofits, especially those with limited staff, where automating even one task—such as sending acknowledgment letters to donors—can free up hours of time to focus on crucial projects.

Of course, finding the time to evaluate systems and knowing what features to look for can be daunting. (Software Advice offers a comprehensive review of many donor management systems and can be a great place to start your search.)

But, for the adoption of any new software product to be successful, it must be a good fit for the organization implementing it. To help decide if a system is right for your nonprofit, Software Advice’s research suggests considering these four important criteria:

1. Ease of use. In any size organization, a solution that is intuitive for users will be quicker and easier for staff to embrace than a more complex solution, especially if it is taking the place of general-purpose software.
2. Integration with other systems. Many nonprofits—especially midsize to large organizations with multiple departments—use more than one application to manage data. In organizations where it is important for those systems to communicate, ensure that the new software can be integrated with them.
3. Communication tools. For organizations that communicate with constituents en masse (or expect to start doing so), buyers should evaluate products with built-in outreach tools. Most nonprofits need email marketing functionality, but fewer require text, social media, or direct mail support.
4. Reporting options. Most products include basic reporting functionality that is suitable for many nonprofits. Those nonprofits requiring more in-depth insights should look for applications that also offer custom (sometimes called “ad hoc”) reports.

Little Green Light offers a comprehensive donor management/CRM software solution for small and growing nonprofit organizations. We’d love to show you how our system can help you make the transition from using Excel and aid you in becoming more efficient in your development operations. See LGL in action by joining a tour today.

Interested in hearing what some of our customers have to say? Check out our reviews at Software Advice or meet some of our customers on our website.