Technology for Fundraising

Re: RE: Raisers Edge

catclark52 — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:18:44 GMT

NonprofitBooks is no longer in business. Development software is complex and requires skilled staff to manage it. After years of loathing Raisers Edge, I now recommend it to anyone who can afford it. But don't expect miracles. Garbage in, garbage out is true in spades with RE.

RE: Raisers Edge

CJWConsult — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:36:00 GMT

Jennie,

We are not based in California but we do work nationally. Feel free to contact me for more information, if you are still looking for RE training.

RE: Raisers Edge

rweiner — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:38:00 GMT

Dear JENNIEN13,

Raiser's Edge training options have been discussed on TechSoup before.
Click here to read the discussion.

Robert

RE: Raisers Edge

JENNIEN13 — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:26:00 GMT

I am looking to have an outside consultant come into my non-profit and give a one day training for the users of Raiser's Edge. I took the 5 day training offered by Blackbaud but there is no way to retain all the information given and am now stuck trying to figure it all out with the mauals given to me. Can anyone give me leads on where to go, other than Blackbaud, in getting a knowledgeable consultant to Orange County, California? Thank you!

RE: Raisers Edge

rweiner — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:02:00 GMT

Debbyflash,

Have you looked at roundup I wrote of inexpensive donor databases?

One way to evaluate them is to enter a batch of gifts and perform other tasks that you'll do on a regular basis (like changing an address while entering a pledge payment). While ease of use seems like a universal concept, it's not. As you've discovered, some people think Raiser's Edge is really user friendly, and others don't (although the version you used could be part of the issue).

Robert

RE: Raisers Edge

debbyflash — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 03:33:00 GMT

HELP! We are a small, newly founded non-profit serving children with cancer. I wrote the other day about finding the right data-base, mentioning e-tapestry. We want to keep track of personal information on our children/families adn volunteers along with event management and donor information all on the same database----the Non-profit I recently left used RE ,it is waaaaaaaaay out of our reach at this time, plus it was not user friendly. I am not the sharpes knife in the bunch with technicalies, so I need a very user friendly program. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? Has anyone had experience with e-tapestry? I read DonorPefect adn Filemaker are fairly nice programs.......we are starting with about 750 names.........HELP!

RE: Raisers Edge

Susan_Tenby — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 18:25:00 GMT

If you have a nonprofit tech job to post, please post it in the nonprofit tech careers

Thanks for respecting our policy,

Susan (as listmom)

RE: Raisers Edge

XPRIZE — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:55:00 GMT

Hi,
Well, we'd like to use our RE software, but we're having trouble finding someone to be our DBA here in beautiful Santa Monica, CA. I've posted on the Blackbaud site and others, but the respondees don't have RE experience.

Any advice or does anyone want a GREAT job?

RE: Raisers Edge

cmn88 — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:33:00 GMT

Hey - just a quick comment. We are in the process of implementing RE right now. This after using Paradigm for years and extensively researching Donor Perfect and Exceed.

My point is this. Not only do you have to look at what works for you now - but you have to choose a solution that will help you grow towards the goals you hope to achieve over the next 5-10 years.

A lot of the mistakes I see other NGO's make (and we made when first implementing our first solution) is choosing software that was just "enough" for us at the point and could support our growth, but only for a limited time.

If you have a goal to double your membership, or triple your income in a certain amount of time - purchase a product that will be good for you now - but GREAT for you when you're hopping.

RE: Raisers Edge

rweiner — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:07:00 GMT

Dear ljsmimosa,

If you read through this discussion you'll find endoresements for lots of databases. Also, try searching for the names of particular databases you're interested in.

However, just because an organization says they love a particular database doesn't mean it will work for you. You need to know your requirements, and then test databases to make sure they'll meet your needs.

Robert

RE: Raisers Edge

gfiorillo — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:05:00 GMT

We are a mac based office and are running Filemaker Pro - Donations 2.0 with many customized interface information. Basically we bought the off the shelf product and then have a consultant doing modifications and building out our specific needs (we are a membership based organization)

Gina
Director of Development
Slow Food USA

RE: Raisers Edge

ljsmimosa — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:07:00 GMT

Hello, I am currently evaluating Metrix. Did you come up with any good news re the other software programs?

Laurie

RE: Raisers Edge

Zola — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 14:54:00 GMT

Hello
I am a Database Manager and I have been using RE for 3 years. From a non-profit stand point I think it is a very good database.

You have to think about it like this- right now you probably are using about 3 to 4 different methods or programs to store and obtain information. With RE you can store and retrieve your information from one central location.

Must organizations have more than one database. Each database stores different data. This process can be time consuming; in this day and age, where everyting is expected to be processed and posted in a matter of seconds.

RE is a very good database, the traning aspect is the hard part. If your staff is not trained on the database you will lose your ROI because they will not use the database to its full potential, or they may enter data in wrong.

Try it out for a couple of days before you decide to purchase it.

RE: Raisers Edge

rweiner — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 00:17:00 GMT

Julie,

What organization are you with? That info will help people decide whether your nonprofit, and needs, are similar to theirs.

Robert

RE: Raisers Edge

julierodda — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:43:00 GMT

John:

There is a tool that may or may not be helpful...from the name of your organization, I am assuming it is a faith-based non-profit?
Have you looked at Church Management Solutions?
They have been helpful with our organization, which has 750 members, has an ongoing capital building project of 5M which has stretched into it's 3rd phase, regular gift tracking, donated in-kind, anonymous, planned estate, etc. The nice thing is that it tracks what others dont...active participation levels of families, ie. classes taken, volunteerism, camps attended, etc. May be worth checking into?