Managing a nonprofit is often about making the most out of limited funds. Often running on tight budgets trying to do good for their communities, some nonprofits are reluctant to invest in technology that can make their lives easier.
Unfortunately, that often means they’re spending more time than they need to on day-to-day tasks and not as much time improving fundraising and cultivating donors.
Don’t ignore the benefits of CRM software and how much it can do for your organization. Some of the most commonly-cited benefits include:
- Increased donor retention
- Increased productivity
- Membership and donor communication management
- Volunteer management
- Streamlined email marketing
- Event and grant management
A small investment can make a big difference in your operations.
Affordable CRM for Nonprofits
Many nonprofits avoid having the conversation about CRM software because of cost. Nonprofits are used to running on very tight budgets. There never seems to be enough money, and the people in charge of budgeting are always reluctant to approve new spending or make amendments to approve new software.
Don’t let budgeting concerns stand in the way of your nonprofit’s growth. Software investments are often the key to unlocking new potential, saving your staff time and opening up new opportunities for fundraising.
You might be surprised by how affordable CRM software for nonprofits can be. Look for software that starts at a low base fee and lets you pick and choose features and functionality as you go. This allows organizations to build the software they need and only pay for the features they plan on using.
Simplify Donation
One of the best things a nonprofit can do is make donating even easier. Online audiences want everything to be easy. Too many clicks or problems with inputting credit card information can frustrate a conversion.
A good CRM provides a convenient donation form that will match the look of your website and help you streamline fundraising.
Integrating your donation form with your CRM saves so much time. You can look at the data and check on your progress without having to pore through endless spreadsheets. Automated data collection also reduces your risk of errors.
Improve Email Marketing Management
Effective CRM software makes managing your email marketing campaigns easier and more effective than ever. One of the best things you can do for your email marketing efforts is audience segmentation, where you break down your members or donors by age, behavior, geography, or lifecycle.
This allows you to target donors who tend to donate around certain times of the year, like the holidays, or differentiate your messaging between first-time and long-term donors.
More targeted email messaging helps you connect with members and donors. Your audience is more likely to open emails when the message strikes a chord with them.
Staff and Volunteer Management
Managing staff and volunteers is critical to delivering your services. A good CRM will let you integrate all of your scheduling, calendars, service planning and delivery, billing, and reporting in one place. The amount of work it can save you will open up your team’s time so they can strive toward bigger organizational goals.
