
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.
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