Investing in a software that fulfills your nonprofit’s exact wants and connects to the remainder of your tech can rework your fundraising efforts. Nevertheless, too usually nonprofit leaders aren’t certain the place to start out their search, whether or not a chunk of tech is actually vital, or how a brand new software will combine with the remainder of their tech stack.
Earlier than implementing one other tech software, you’ll want to audit what you have already got. On this information, we’ll cowl how one can conduct a tactical audit of your present stack to search out missed alternatives for insightful information and elevated income, plus the tech that may patch these gaps.
Map the Donor Journey Step by Step
Step one in any tech audit you conduct ought to be to problem your self to assume like a donor. You could stroll by way of your individual donation processes to see the place the street will get bumpy so that you could put money into the tech that can streamline their expertise.
For instance, let’s say your group hosts an annual group enjoyable run. If a participant indicators as much as be a fundraiser, how lengthy does it take for them to entry and share their private fundraising web page? If the interface is clunky and unintuitive, that’s a niche that may damage consumer experiences and discourage future participation.
Another widespread friction factors to check embody:
- Making an on-line donation
- Registering on your e-newsletter
- Signing up for a volunteer shift
Figuring out areas for development within the donor journey is step one in enhancing them. Conduct these opinions usually—at the least annually—to make sure your processes stay wholesome.
Handle Knowledge Silos and Guide Re-Entry
Having to export information from one system and manually import it into one other is a significant hindrance to your effectivity and an information safety danger. Guide information entry introduces human error, consumes useful employees hours, and delays your skill to thank donors in real-time.
As an alternative, be certain that your fundraising instruments combine, creating an interconnected internet of data that empowers data-driven insights. DonorSearch recommends prioritizing integration amongst your donor database, your prospect analysis instruments, and your occasion administration options. Your e-mail advertising and marketing platform and your fee processor also needs to be part of the identical ecosystem.
Ideally, an motion in one in every of these instruments ought to set off an replace within the others. If a connection is damaged or nonexistent, flag it as a precedence repair.
Consider Employees Adoption and Burnout
One of the best software program on the earth is ineffective in case your group refuses to make use of it. Typically, the hole is cultural, not technical. The basis reason behind low employees adoption is often a disconnect between management and every day customers of the tech. To keep away from operating into this challenge, implement these methods:
- Ballot your employees. Commonly test in together with your group to see which instruments are working and which aren’t. Ask them about workarounds they’re utilizing, similar to conserving aspect spreadsheets as a result of the CRM is simply too tough to navigate. When you discover that your group is bypassing your official tech stack to finish their work, you’ve gotten recognized a usability hole.
- Contain employees within the choice committee. When you resolve to put money into new know-how, it’s very important that you simply embody employees members who will really be utilizing the tech within the choice committee. This lets you confidently select an answer that aligns together with your group’s wants and their degree of technical experience.
- Designate a tech knowledgeable. If you introduce a brand new piece of know-how, enable time for an skilled group member to develop into an early adopter. This group member can study the ropes and advocate for the brand new system’s makes use of, appearing as a useful resource for the remainder of the group as they develop accustomed to the tech.
Taking these steps not solely helps you determine gaps and make sure you’re choosing the proper tech, but in addition demonstrates to your employees that you simply genuinely care about their expertise and worth their enter.
Analyze Your Reporting Capabilities
Your tech stack ought to present solutions, not simply retailer information. When you can’t simply reply fundamental questions on donor retention, marketing campaign efficiency, or donor lifetime worth, you’ve gotten a reporting hole.
In line with 99Pledges’ information to fundraising platforms, reporting and analytics capabilities are one of the vital options to search for in your software program, as these instruments show you how to monitor progress towards your objectives and rally assist.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally vital to keep away from fragmented information so you may cross-reference outcomes throughout numerous fundraising occasions. This might help you evaluate which occasions are greatest for ROI, participation, and consciousness, permitting you to make extra knowledgeable selections sooner or later.
Have a look at your final board report and replicate on how lengthy it took to compile these numbers. In case your group spent days cross-referencing spreadsheets to generate a easy year-over-year comparability, that’s an indication your tech stack is failing you. Efficient know-how ought to automate reporting so that you spend your time on extra high-priority strategic duties.
By mapping the donor journey, searching down information silos, checking in on employees adoption, and testing your reporting, you may construct a streamlined ecosystem that helps your mission.
With these insights in thoughts, you may make strategic selections relating to whether or not it’s time to put money into a brand new software or to boost the connections between instruments you have already got. When your techniques work collectively, your group can focus much less on information entry and extra on constructing the relationships that drive your mission ahead.
In regards to the Creator
Vinay Anne
Vinay Anne is the Founder and CEO of 99Pledges, a peer-to-peer fundraising platform trusted by lots of of faculties, booster golf equipment, and youth groups to launch partaking, efficient fundraisers with ease.
Vinay leads 99Pledges in combining intuitive know-how with on-line fundraising technique to empower partaking group campaigns like Stroll-a-thons and Learn-a-thons. With intensive expertise in fundraising know-how, Vinay is dedicated to serving to group organizations maximize fundraising influence whereas minimizing administrative effort.
