4 tips for learning a new donor management system

Whether you need to learn to use a donor management system because you’re starting a new job, or because your organization has just implemented a new system, the process can feel overwhelming. But there are few steps you can take to make it more manageable and effective.

4 tips for learning a new donor management system

1. Block off time on your calendar

Learning a new system takes time. And, it requires too much of your focus to try and squeeze it in here and there around your other responsibilities. Schedule dedicated blocks of time on your calendar for yourself. Let colleagues know this is a priority that you’ll be focusing on.

2. Use your fundraising plan as a guide for your learning

Daily tasks like gift entry, sending acknowledgments, and basic reporting are important to get comfortable with early on. In fact, mastering the basics is a great way to get familiar with any donor management system. To help you identify other priorities, examine your organization’s fundraising plan. If you have an event coming up, exploring event-specific functionality may move closer to the top of your to-do list. By using your fundraising plan as a guide, you’ll have practical context that you can apply to your learning.

3. Review any existing internal processes

Take a look at any existing documentation of standard operating procedures as you explore gift entry and other routine procedures in the donor database. Following those SOPs can help you get oriented to a new system more easily. If your organization doesn’t have documentation yet, or the documentation needs to be updated, this can be a good time to work on that, too.

4. Learn what training resources are available

Are there live or recorded trainings available? Will you refer to resources, such as this Knowledge Base that Little Green Light provides, as you learn to use different features? Find out what’s available to you, and make sure the time blocks on your calendar can accommodate any time- or calendar-specific training sessions.

Conclusion

Learning a new donor management system will never be instantaneous, but these four tips can help guide your process and make the most of your time and effort.