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

Chapter 4. CiviCRM Basics – Moving through the System and Working with Contacts

At this point, you will have worked through the important steps of analyzing your organization's structure and processes as it relates to constituent management. You will also have installed and configured CiviCRM in your preferred CMS environment. In addition, you have also been introduced to the case studies that will be used throughout this book. It is now time to gain familiarity with the CiviCRM interface and begin working with the contact records.

Whether you are already in the process of implementing CiviCRM, simply seeking to learn more about the software, or seeking a more in-depth understanding of the tools it provides, you are ultimately here because you represent some type of organization with constituents. Those constituents may be members, volunteers, donors, event participants, or just people and organizations you come in contact with. However, at the core of your purpose...