This is an enormous investment that needs to work for your needs. There are plenty of companies out there that are all to happy to visit you and talk about what their product offers. It will take some time but you should make contact with a few of them not only to find out what they have to offer but also to learn more about what a good system does.
The database is meant to do many things. It is no longer a simple storehouse for membership and contributions. It should contain or link to information on collections donors. it should be able to provide you reports in several forms. Your top 20 members. if there are no contributors, you want to keep in mind that at sometime their may be people who value your organization enough to make a gift. People who attend events, purchase auction items, and provide other support, should all be in the database and accessible. Plan for not only today's needs but tomorrows.
Its the job of the companies to articulate what kinds of forms the software can deliver and how they might be used. In this way, talking to others can be a great education and help you bring up new questions. You can also ask each company to provide references with similar and slightly larger organizations and call them to learn how it works on the ground. seek a database that can shoot out reports that give you the information you need to cultivate long term members, donors who give consecutively, and track your membership needs. As the director (and chief development officer) you will need a system that works for you long term.
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Anita Nowery Durel
Partner Durel Consulting Partners, Baltimore MD
anitadurel@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 11-02-2017 09:47 AM
From: James Walther
Subject: Development software for small organization
Hi, We use a software called Matchmaker that is QB compatible and does so with direct link. We also use an online portal called Q-giv that works with Matchmaker enabled through authorize.net fr payment processing. This system plan handles all our constituency information and integrates our development and financial departments well. I think it also works with QB POS for the store since a lot of membership transaction comes via POS.
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James Walther
Executive Director
National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
Albuquerque NM
Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2017 03:58 PM
From: Susan Goganian
Subject: Development software for small organization
Hi all:
I'm considering a change from Donor Perfect. I'd be interested in recommendations from small institutions (with no separate development staff) that are membership organizations. The software needs to integrate with Quickbooks.
All suggestions welcome! Thanks
Sue
SUSAN GOGANIAN, Director
sgoganian@HistoricBeverly.net
117 Cabot Street | Beverly, MA 01915
P 978-922-1186 x204
3 Houses, 5 Centuries, 1000s of Stories