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

Printing a PDF letter


Most organizations will be familiar with the idea of a merge letter. Rather than creating a generic letter addressed to "Dear Supporter," you want a personalized greeting that includes the individual's first name, such as "Dear Sofia."

Sending a letter with a personalized greeting and other personalized content inside an envelope with the correct address on it is no small challenge when hundreds or thousands are being produced. Large direct mailing houses will often have special machines that print a personalized letter and its personalized envelope at the same time, and then insert the included content and seal the envelope, all within a strictly-defined workflow that eliminates the possibility of mismatched elements. Small organizations may have envelope-stuffing parties, where letters are folded, address labels are applied, the folded letters are stuffed in the envelopes, perhaps with a reply envelope or postcard, and the package is sealed and mailed. With all of...