"We can’t customize our donation page.”
“I can’t run reports to get the information my board wants to see.”
“We don’t have a developer on staff! Why aren’t platforms more flexible?”
These are all comments we’ve heard from nonprofits frustrated with their software. As organizations grow, it’s common for them to realize their software wasn’t built for their mission, donors, or team.
And when they try to bend it, it breaks.This article will explore why limited customization is a growing pain point for nonprofits and how you can break free from cookie-cutter fundraising tools.
In the beginning, CRM tools were designed for for-profit companies or really outdated nonprofit assumptions. While they were built with tools nonprofits needed, like workflows or donation forms, they were built with one appeal structure. Or a standard donation form.
But nonprofits grew and morphed and evolved with the times. Today’s nonprofit might be focused on advocacy and not traditional fundraising. A nonprofit might need robust functionality to track major gifts or event management software.
Systems weren’t built to be flexible, though. They were built to work the way they were built.
A report by GiveSmart revealed that nearly half of all nonprofits use seven or more tools a day. Many juggle six to 10 tools, just for communications and fundraising!
This meshing of different systems limits employee efficiency and leads to data silos, meaning your systems aren’t talking to each other and sharing information.
If you can’t get your core nonprofit CRM to work for your nonprofit, you’re not raising as much money as you could. And you probably spend more time being annoyed than you should.
Are you wondering if your workarounds are normal, or if they’re signs your systems are outdated and it’s time to move on?
Here are five of the most common hurdles you might face:
If you find yourself nodding along, you likely have software you’ve outgrown. And “bad fit” software carries a set of risks:
Okay. You get it. Inflexible systems make your life harder and your donors unhappy. But what are you supposed to do about it?
First, come to terms with the fact that you might need new software. Most nonprofits start looking for new technology every three years, so if it’s been longer than that, it’s a sign that you might want to shop for a new nonprofit CRM. Here’s a list of excellent choices, including what kind of nonprofit might choose each.
And know you’re not alone. According to a recent study, 64% of nonprofits still seek better technology for tracking and managing donors, hosting P2P campaigns, and managing events.
If flexibility is what you’re looking for, here are some keywords to keep in mind:
Modular flexibility means you won’t be forced into templates. Make sure you can drag and drop elements into emails, like a survey module, and that you can create custom donation pages and microsites (which are helpful, for example, in a peer-to-peer campaign).
Custom fields don’t require coding and can be included in reports. Your staff should be able to add fields easily without IT or vendor assistance.
Support for fundraising models means that major gifts, peer-to-peer, memberships, events and volunteers, text-to-give, and other tools should be at your fingertips. Even if they’re not, all donor data should be centralized. When you look at a donor record, you want to know that person attended an event and bid on an auction item, gave $150 two weeks ago, and volunteered to marshal an upcoming fun run. That shows engagement at levels you couldn’t see if you looked at information separately.
Workflow and automation controls let you define the process, not the software. Automation is key to efficiency, but it must be flexible and work the way you want it to be effective.
Robust APIs and integrations will allow your nonprofit to connect with other systems. Even though CharityEngine offers all core fundraising tools built into our platform, we often have clients who need to connect to specialized systems. With APIs and integrations, it’s a breeze.
As you’re shopping, see how systems stack up against that list. If you’ve got a five out of five, you’re looking at a CRM that will allow your nonprofit to soar.
Nonprofit technology shouldn’t hold you back. When your software is inflexible, outdated, or too difficult to adapt to your team’s creativity and your donors’ needs, it will inevitably slow your fundraising and growth.
Making a change can feel daunting, but it’s an opportunity to step back, see how tech has advanced, and invest in your team’s potential.
The result? You’ll have a platform that fits your team, your mission, your donors, and your future. That sounds like a recipe for success!