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

Developing a fundraising plan


Larger nonprofits can benefit from hiring a staff person, with a degree or diploma in fundraising and development, who know, how to develop and deliver a fundraising plan appropriate to the organization. Smaller ones may benefit from hiring a fundraising specialist as a consultant to help with their planning. The unfortunate reality is that many small- and even medium-sized nonprofits place this responsibility on those without specialized training, and often aren't able to provide adequate training budgets for them, given competing priorities. If that describes your organization, plan on buying a fundraising book or spend a few evenings Googling how to develop a fundraising plan.

Templates for fundraising plans will vary by author and type of organization. The common elements are included as follows:

  • A version of the organization's mission

  • An analysis of the historical and current fundraising situation of the organization

  • A statement summarizing the case to give...