Database Investment

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Has your organization invested in a “Mercedes” constituent relational management (CRM) database such as Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge®, but feel you are driving a Junker?

Do you lack confidence in the reports and analytics produced by the development office?

Are you preparing for a major campaign yet lack a database implementation plan? One of the most important aspects of successfully managing, tracking, and reporting your fundraising initiatives is a reliable database coding and methodology system.

Leaving philanthropic dollars on the table due to staff changes, organization restructuring, inadequately trained staff members, and/or simply a lack of resources. The database often suffers from numerous inefficiencies as time goes by.

Are you tracking your philanthropic dollars as well as you could? Here are the top five categories in which database inefficiencies reside:  

• Security Levels – Is your organization protecting the integrity of its database? The database security controls should be clearly identified and defined for each database user and/or user group. 
• NCOA – Is your database in compliance with the USPS standardization? It is strongly advised that nonprofits process their database through the USPS’s NCOA (National Change of Address) system at least twice a year.
• Campaign, Fund and Appeal Codes – Are you able to manage all aspects of your fundraising efforts in your database? To run successful campaigns your fundraising initiatives and goals must be both clearly defined and incorporated into your database.  
• Incomplete Data – Are you able to successfully produce mailings and/or reports without manipulating the data? Incomplete biographical and addressee information can be costly and time-consuming to correct.
• Best Business Practices – Can you demonstrate what you do? It is critical to have the appropriate best business practices such as biographical and address standardization implemented in your database structure and methodologies. 

WHAT TO DO?
Consider a database analysis and operations assessment to address your information management challenges.  A database analysis consists of an in-depth evaluation of the organization’s database coding structures, security levels, query and reporting methodologies as well as an examination of module utilization, best business practices and overall fundraising management methodologies.

At the conclusion of such an evaluation, the consultant should provide a comprehensive report of the findings and make specific recommendations to help your organization meet the industry standards of database management and reporting.

If you think it’s time for a “tune up, Sync-REsults will be happy to help you determine what you need and create an action plan that is both customized, focused and affordable. Contact us today.