Waitlist Software Program

Hello from the DC area!

A Wider Circle is a local non-profit that uses a holistic approach to ending poverty. We are a relatively young organization, constantly changing and evolving to provide for our community. One of our largest programs is providing those in need with donated furniture free of charge.

We currently have a very large population that has requested our help with furniture, resulting in a waitlist of over 600 families. We are currently using Excel to keep track of our waitlist and are not completely happy with it. Does anyone in the non-profit community know of a software program that could provide us with a more organized and efficient waitlist system?

Thanks in advance for your help, and please check out our mission at www.awidercircle.org!
 

Sarah

Client Relations Team

Hello Sarah, I did a quick google search to see if I could find anything like you are looking for.  Unforunately, I only found the software for restaurant waiting lists that work with those nifty coaster pagers, and a property management waiting list.  The only other thing I could recommend is possibly building a customized database in MIcrosoft Access. 

Hi Sarah,

I have a few ideas, but can't "recommend" one without knowing more about your specific requirements.  Are families chosen off the waitlist simply by the order in which they signed up?

A basic solution would be to track the waitlist in your CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) database with extra fields for Sign-up date and Status (Waiting or Served).  In this way your team can do a quick search to pull up the list, sort by Sign-up date and start at the next person "waiting" to be served.  With a little programming the process can be simplified further and an actual number attached to the families in order of which they signed up.

Best,

Brian

Dear Sarah,

One option would be to use conference or event registration software.  Some packages can create waiting lists when an event is full.  In your case, I assume the event would always be full, so everyone would be added to the waiting list.  Another option would be housing software (some packages are designed for public housing, others for conferences).  Search for the following terms and you'll find options:

conference software waiting list

housing software waiting list

event software waiting list

Robert