Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By : Erik Hommel, Joseph Murray, Brian P Shaughnessy
Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By: Erik Hommel, Joseph Murray, Brian 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 (20 chapters)
Using CiviCRM - Second Edition
Credits
About the Authors
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Chapter 11. Interacting with Constituents – Managing Cases

We come to a chapter that may not appear at first glance to apply to many not-for-profit organizations. The concept of case management is often considered with reference to the human service agencies, such as those within the healthcare industry. This is actually where the original functionality of CiviCRM's case tools was born. Having said that, we actually know of quite a few customers that use the CiviCRM case tool for things such as contract processing, travel arrangements, and volunteer projects.

The concept of case management extends to many other industries and organizations as well. In essence, it is the management of a multistep process, surrounding a single theme, issue, or project, centered on a constituent.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

  • Thinking through your case management system

  • Configuring cases

  • Tracking, managing, and resolving cases

Even if you do not initially think CiviCRM's case management tools...