Choosing A Database? Mistakes To Avoid
Consultant Robert Weiner recently presented a webinar for Fundraising Success, called "Understanding and Maximizing Your Donor Database for Fundraising Success."
As reported here, Weiner included a discussion of "ten mistakes nonprofits commonly make" when choosing a database.
Having sat on both sides of the table during this ugly and painful process, I thought his list was spot on! Here it is …
- Letting techies make the decision.
- Wishful budgeting.
- Prioritizing price above everything.
- Randomly looking at demos.
- Falling in love with cool features.
- Falling in love with the salesperson.
- Buying more than you need.
- Confusing highly functional software with highly trained staff.
- Hoping the database will install itself.
- Leaving the database to fend for itself.
For me, item #8 is the biggie. Your software is only as good as the people who are going to milk it. If you have a robust donor file, a well-trained data analyst is worth his or her weight in gold … or even something more precious!
You can still register to listen to this webinar here for another 90 days or so, for $65.
Tom
P.S. Speaking of online edification, don’t forget to check out IFC Online, the world’s first global, virtual fundraising conference. Taking place May 12-14 completely over the internet, the event will deliver live, interactive, workshops and plenaries to a world-wide audience of fundraising professionals. The e-Conference will feature raising funds online and building constituency through email, SMS and Web 2.0. If you register by next Monday (April 20th), you get a $25 discount. Info here.
2 responses to “Choosing A Database? Mistakes To Avoid”
Behavioral Science Q & A
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I’m not an expert in this but a quick search surfaced this article on the effect of tax reforms on 2019’s charitable giving. The researchers didn’t find a reduction. Actually, they observed an “increase in charitable contributions in 2019, even with the lower tax rates and the dramatically smaller number of taxpayers who itemize their […]
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Choosing A Database? Mistakes To Avoid | The Agitator – Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits…
A great list of 10 important things to think about when selecting a fundraising database….
Good article! I find the key for a solid dbase is to test it to assess it’s validity.