Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By : Hommel, Murray, P Shaughnessy
Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By: Hommel, Murray, P Shaughnessy

Overview of this book

CiviCRM provides a powerful toolbox of resources to help organizations manage relationships with constituents. It is free, open source, web-based, and geared specifically to meet the constituent relationship management needs of the not-for-profit sector. Beginning with broader questions about how your organization is structured, which existing workflows are critical to your operations, and the overarching purpose of a centralized CRM, the book proceeds step by step through configuring CiviCRM, understanding the choices when setting up the system, importing data, and exploring the breadth of tools available throughout the system. You will see how to best use this software to handle event registrations, accept and track contributions, manage paid and free memberships and subscriptions, segment contacts, send bulk e-mails with open and click-through tracking, manage outreach campaigns, and set up case management workflows that match your organization’s roles and rules. With specific emphasis on helping implementers ask the right questions, consider key principals when setting up the system, and understand usage through case studies and examples, the book comprehensively reviews the functionality of CiviCRM and the opportunities it provides. With this book, you can help your organization better achieve its mission as a charity, industry association, professional society, political advocacy group, community group, government agency, or other similar organization and position yourself to become a power user who efficiently and effectively navigates the system.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
15
Index

Configuring CiviCRM

After successfully installing CiviCRM, your next step will be an initial configuration of the system. We say "an initial configuration" because you will find yourself returning to configure different elements of the system throughout your implementation process. However, there are basic configurations that should be done at the outset. We advise you to agree to a structured method to try different configuration settings, so you ensure that you keep what you want and only throw away what has been tested but is not needed in the end.

All of your system configuration will be done through the Administer menu item. The first submenu item, Administration Console, provides a full listing of all configuration options. In addition, the software has a Configuration Checklist page that is helpful in walking through the initial settings. The checklist was provided as a link after your successful installation, and can also be found in the Configuration section of Administration...