FundRaiser Software and Capital Campaigns, Part Two

by Larry Weaver

This month’s lead article describes what needs to be done during the different phases of a capital campaign. FundRaiser can assist in much of this, from identifying prospects based on previous giving in the early phases, to collecting pledges and creating reports in the final “Wrap Up” phase. Here is a partial list of FundRaiser capabilities, depending, of course, on the data you have entered, the version of FundRaiser you are using, and any modules (Select/Professional) that you may be using:

• Identify Major Donors or Lead Prospects
• Identify Frequent Donors whom you may approach for larger pledges
• Track donations and totals during the "Quiet Phase"
• Record media contacts for announcing the "Public Phase"
• Prepare and distribute "Ask" lists for volunteers to solicit
• Prepare any mailings or other events, tracking participation and resulting donations
• Sending Thank You’s for gifts
• Record pledges made, payment schedules, including amounts and frequency
• Sending Thank You’s for Pledges, and for pledge payments
• Prepare reports including pledge and non-pledge gifting, event participation, solicitor activity, and projections of income on pledges

Because major donors are so important to the success of your campaign, spending time to learn about the FundRaiser tools that help with them is a great investment. In the first place, the information in your donor records will be crucial to identifying your most hopeful prospects. FundRaiser is able to identify which people have given in the past, and can narrow those lists to people who have made significant gifts, your major donors.

In addition, in Select and Professional you can do groupings based on the number of gifts that have been given. This shows you your loyal donors. These donors are ones that may be willing to extend themselves for your capital campaign, and are the most likely ones to become major donors, even if they are not now.

To see a list of those donor records, you use the groupings tool (in Select and Professional) and the query tool in FundRaiser Basic. Here is more in depth information on how to do groupings.

In addition, in either Professional or Select, you’ll be able to keep track of contacts with Major Donors and Lead Prospects using the Tickle system.

Reports are also important for working with major donors throughout the campaign. They help you pull together the information to give to the people who are soliciting gifts, as well as give you an overview of how well specific solicitors are doing. Reports also can give you an overview pledges and gift. For information on how specific reports can help with your major donor drives, see Using Reports to Help Organize Your Major Donor Drive.

You may also hold some special events during different phases of your campaign. In Professional, you may use the Campaign Management section to outline exactly what events (mailings, meetings, dinners, house parties, walkathons, etc.) you will be having, when those events will occur, how much they cost, how much you expect to raise, who will be participating, and much more. You also have the ability to report on those events (and the campaign as a whole) with in depth looks at Return On Investment (ROI) figures, number of participants, average gifts, etc. Here is more information on the the Campaign Management section of Professional.

Your organization will have its own approach to a campaign, but there are some that are basic to any campaign--

• Are you recording accurate information?
• Are you consistent in coding people and gifts?
• How can we use the information being stored to help in current and future fundraising endeavors?

Take the time to look over your systems for these basic things, and you will have a solid foundation to build on. Here is more on the basic information you need to have in order before starting a capital campaign.

Larry Weaver leads online training for FundRaiser Select and Pro. In his free time Larry enjoys music, motorcycles and being a grandfather.

Resources

Capital Campaign Phases facilitated by Kim Klein

BRING Recycling and Their Capital Campaign

FundRaiser Software offers non-profit organizations intuitive donor management software that is easy to learn and easy to use. Three programs, ranging from simple to sophisticated, let you choose the features you need now, while guaranteeing a built-in growth path for the future. Software flexibility, budget options, and superb technical support make FundRaiser Software uniquely adaptable to the needs of non-profit organizations - whatever their mission.