donor management software-email compatibiltiy

We are a community leadership nonprofit looking for a "real" donor management system (have been using access forever).  One thing I'm trying to avoid is the duplication of data entry we now experience, particularly with regards to email address. i.e. update access database, update outlook, update icontact, update website, etc, etc.  Is there ANY (reasonably priced) system that eliminiates or at least reduces this issue?

I

leadbham:

One thing I'm trying to avoid is the duplication of data entry we now experience, particularly with regards to email address. i.e. update access database, update outlook, update icontact, update website, etc, etc

Hi leadbham,

This is a big issue for everyone. The need to integrate functions is one of the main topics of conversation when nonprofits get together to talk about technology and software.

You will certainly be able to find some of these things integrated into some donor management programs. Integrating your email addresses with your donor management will be a basic offering. Other things like integrating with your website will be less common, though they are available. In terms of cost, it depends on what 'reasonably priced' means to you.
 

To start your search, take a look at the recent Idealware comparison studyof donor management software programs.

Hope that helps for a start,

Sasha

Dear leadbham,

Yes, there are systems that can integrate most of those functions.  Many offer built-in integration with online donations, online newsletter subscriptions, and mass emailing (which could take iContact out of the picture).  Some have built-in integration with Outlook, though that's less common.  Check out the Idealware report that Sasha posted, and their report on Lower-Cost Online Integrated Applications.

Robert

The for-profit CRM market has a leg-up when it comes to Outlook integration with a few different choices offering a good solution (salesforce.com, SugarCRM). Integration is less important though if you can get the team to copy in emails sent & received and have them consider your CRM database as the defacto source of up-to-date information.

Your other needs of website integration and email marketing are relatively easy to come by in the nonprofit space.  CiviCRM, Convio, Kintera (blackbaud) all have this functionality.

Overall, there is not a complete solution for you so the best process is to prioritize your needs.  I would think getting off Access, integrating your website forms, and having a built in email marketing tool will offer the biggest bang for your buck.

Have you tried Neon from Z2systems Inc.   http://www.z2systems.com/en-US/

I'm from NCEIA in Australia (North Coast Entertainment Industry Association) and I am about to sign up as it is quite extensive and more important nowadays, it's web based.

Please let me know if you have or if you know about them, also can you suggest any other web based Gannt chart software for Project Management.

Take a look at the awsome instant web portals Neon makes.

Regards

Malcolm Fine

NCEIA

Lismore NSW Australia

email: malcolm@nceia.org.au

Dear Malcolm,

Welcome to TechSoup!

Z2 Neon is discussed in the Idealware comparison study that Sasha linked to.

Robert

Hey Malcom,

There's a free, basic GANTT chart tool available online at http://www.gantter.com/ and I imagine there are probably a variety of others you could Google. It's not got as much functionality as a paid software app like Microsoft Project, but depending on your needs and depth of the project, it might be an options for you.

Feel free to report back on these forums if you find a tool you like.

Thanks,

Becky

Dear Malcolm,

Sorry, I missed your request for Web-based GANTT chart software.  I've used http://www.ganttproject.biz/  Also, DotProject isn't web-based, but it claims to produce Gantt charts.

Robert