FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

Increase Donor Loyalty with a Membership Program

Sasha Daucus
AdventistQuilt

Membership programs may have many practical benefits, but the biggest benefit to an organization is their potential to increase donor loyalty. Someone who sees herself as a member of an organization will generally feel more ownership and involvement in an organization than someone who sees herself just as a donor, even if the member never has any more concrete involvement than simply giving money. 

In order to create a strong membership program, there are  four basic questions you need to be think through in order for things to run smoothly. Knowing the answers will get a new membership program off to a strong start; or help clear up problems in one that is already established. Either way-- whether you are new to membership management or needing to strengthen one you already have, knowing the answers to these questions creates a solid foundation:

Continue reading
Tags:
membership programs membership benefits donor loyalty
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
4914 Hits

Do you know the difference between the 2 types of nonprofit membership programs?

Sasha Daucus
Membership2types

Membership initiatives can be a powerful way for your organization to increase donor loyalty and the size of gifts... but what do you actually mean when you say 'membership'? In fact, two very different types of outreach efforts are both called 'memberships' and they are managed in very different ways. Different staff skills are needed for each, as well as different donor database features. Understanding the differences between the two main types of membership will help you create a thriving outreach effort.

The two main types of memberships are...Benefit-driven memberships where donors give more money to receive greater benefits. Often these are used during membership drives. Often, there are several membership 'levels', with higher donations amounts bringing more valuable benefits/premiums/privileges.Recognition-driven memberships where donors give money and receive recognition, such as a wall plaque, engraved brick, or even a named building. These are also called 'philanthropic memberships'. They are a development tool, used to convert  prospects into donors and to increase the size of gifts.These also often are offered in levels, with greater donation amounts offering greater recognition.How donor management differs between the two types of memberships

In a nutshell, donor management of benefit-driven memberships depends on keeping track of lots of different pieces of data, and following up in a timely manner on those bits of data. It is in fact, very much like accounting. Donor management of recognition-driven memberships relies on the tools that help you build relationships. It relies more on the people-side of development work.

Continue reading
Tags:
solicitors membership benefits membership programs
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
8655 Hits

Case study: Making members feel like they are the only one in your database

Sasha Daucus
MembershipCaseStudyIRLT

This case study from the files of FundRaiser demonstrates how effective a membership program can be to increase donor loyalty. Original published in 2008. 

Indian River Land Trust, where Melanie Jones works as the Membership and Events Coordinator, is a completely membership-based organization. Instead of donor drives, they have membership drives. For Jones, "the most important aspect of my job is knowing my members and making them feel like they are the only member in our database." FundRaiser Select helps her to accomplish that. "With FundRaiser, we can be as specific as we want with each donor entry. We can record the information that lets us know the interests of each member."

Continue reading
Tags:
membership benefits reports membership programs
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
4556 Hits

Establishing Giving Levels and Perks Can Increase Membership Donations

Tony Poderis
Establishing Giving Levels and Perks Can Increase Membership Donations

 

What's in a Name?

You can be creative in determining the names you'll assign to each membership giving category, but donors will be drawn immediately to "tags" specific to your organization and related to your mission. You can also employ familiar categories such as, Friends, Benefactors, Pacesetters, etc., or designations such as "Individual," "Family," "Associate," or "Sustaining.

Continue reading
Tags:
giving levels membership benefits membership programs
Tweet
Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
15391 Hits

Magnificent Memberships: Using FundRaiser To Boost Your Numbers

Mary Lenker
Magnificent Memberships: Using FundRaiser To Boost Your Numbers

My nonprofit experience has been limited to membership groups, and in my training, I’ve discovered this is an area in which FundRaiser excels. All three versions of FundRaiser (Spark, Select, and Professional) have the ability to manage members, though in Select it is an optional module. The process is very similar in all three versions as well.

When you enter a gift the type can be marked membership dues. This triggers the system to set up a new membership where you can input the type (family or individual), any benefits, and double check the renewal date. As an organization, you can choose how you want the memberships to renew and any default benefits as part of the settings. In fact, you can print membership cards.

Continue reading
Tags:
membership benefits membership programs
Tweet
Tech Blog
7081 Hits
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
Importing Data donor preferences prospects development director Crowdfunding Campaign campaign management Facebook mode code overview holiday giving change of address updating raffle advanced tab flash sales Congratulations customer portal merge fields password protection customer service moves management Resiliency Task List donor loyalty mailing how to handle auction gifts ROI legacy giving reports tribute gifts volunteers donor contact information Cloud New Year appeal letters donor slip operational costs texting donors updates data conversion holiday letters email gift notes field donor advised funds tech tip brick campaign Company culture online donations targeted mailings correspondance donation history general donor profile ticket sales donor engagement nonprofit fundraising appeal office features Alternative Addresses security spare fields personalizing letters ticketsales happiness PayPal Facebook campaign salutation user spotlights on site training event management donor attrition rate merge notes board members communications Reporting to IRS vacation Personalizing relationship tracking in honor of donations upgrading donors membership benefits pledges foundations social media training membersip benefits banquet welcome packet upgrade National Change of Address new version disaster relief premiums government grants data analysis gift acceptance policy repeat donors data entry thank you letters direct mail grassroots campaign donor volunteering donor recognition planning anonymous donors GoFundMe project FundRaiser Spark alumni Snow Birds online donations donor retention LYBUNTS gift entry spreadsheets auction role of nonprofits look and feel End of Year Letters arts operating systems lapsed donor motivation code GivingTuesday solicitors building donor relationships donor prospects donor relations animal rescue transparency support corporate sponsors grants importing csv donor source Constant Contact motivation passwords publicity materials small donations product news annual campaign campaign donor attrition Codes Groupings new donors mission driven budget holiday accounting software Tickles memorial giving add ons giving history case study major donors backing up data charity golf tournaments follow up FundRaiser Basic annual maintenance plan community supported gardens donor retention rate user interface the Ask fundraising new leadership word processor membership programs how-to videos endowment campaign pictures letter increasing giving amounts Thanksgiving Network for Good monthly giving NCOA processing giving levels SYBUNTS technical support training tip segmenting donors Donor Portal major gift prospects custom page recurring gifts Reminders Volunteer module #GivingTuesday adding personal notes to letters community arts nonprofits tax summary letters community broadcasting correspondence FundRaiser Hosted capital campaign letter templates Excel In-Kind gifts new features phoning donors announcements new nonprofit entering auction gifts large donations Thank You fundraising letters understanding giving trends planned giving donor targeting

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

   

The customer portal is unavailable. If you need support please reach out to support@fundraisersoftware.com Thank you.

 
  User Name:
  Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password