Nonprofit Data Tip
The most valuable piece of advice I can offer for managing fundraising data?
Determine how data needs to come out of the database - think reporting and exporting - before putting data in the database - think constituent and gift entry.
Use these questions as a guide - think precise and simple answers.
- Who needs to be included in specific reports and lists? Think constituency groups.
- What fundraising areas are mission critical to report on? Think measurable metrics.
- Where did the donated funds go? Think campaigns, funds, and appeals.
- When did it happen? Think gift, post, and entry dates.
- Why did it happen? Think actions and interactions.
- How is progress to goal measured? Think year-to-date totals.
If you take the answers to these six questions into consideration before entering data into your system, getting it out will be much easier and less stressful.
Sign up to receive my weekly email with updates, fresh takes, advice, & tips on building better fundraising data.