Why Your Fundraising Software Isn’t Working for Your Nonprofit

Over the years, I’ve heard many nonprofit professionals say something along the lines of, “Our fundraising software just isn’t working for our nonprofit.” 

If that’s something you’ve been saying, you might be right. Your nonprofit might have outgrown its old fundraising software, and it’s time for a software change.

But consider that there might be other reasons that your fundraising software isn’t working for your nonprofit. There might be things you can do to make it work better and even work really well to support your fundraising efforts. 

Here are five reasons why your fundraising software might not be working for your nonprofit — and what you can do about it.

1. You Aren’t Using All of Your Fundraising Software’s Features

The thing is that some of today’s fundraising software can be relatively complex, and you might not be using all of the features available. For example, many fundraising platforms offer workflow capabilities to help you streamline and automate common processes that can improve your fundraising. Also, some platforms offer multiple product modules that each offer a wealth of capabilities. Are you using them?

If you aren’t sure about all that your fundraising software can do, then take a look at your software documentation. And if your software vendor has a user community, check it to see how your peers are using the software and overcoming challenges. Ask your software vendor to give you a fresh overview of all of the capabilities of your software. Also, consider working with one of your software vendor’s service partners to understand what your software can do and make sure you are optimizing your use of it.

2. Your Nonprofit Has ‘Dirty’ Donor Data

If your nonprofit has “dirty” donor data, don’t feel too bad. It’s common. But it’s time to do something about it, because even the best fundraising software won’t work well when it has duplicate and inaccurate data running through it. 

Start by merging or deleting duplicate records. Most fundraising software has some type of built-in capability to support this. Next, identify records that need additions and corrections, and make the needed changes. Then, update your database policies and procedures. Have a plan in place to clean your data regularly so that you don’t end up right back where you started — with “dirty” data.  

I know this sounds like a tall order, but it’s achievable. If you need help with the initial cleanup, consider hiring a nonprofit technology consultant to get your data in top shape and keep it there.

3. Your Fundraising Software Doesn’t Integrate Well With Other Systems

Even if your fundraising software has all the features and functionality that you need, if it doesn’t integrate well with your nonprofit’s other key systems, then your fundraising data and processes will suffer. 

Take time to re-evaluate your fundraising processes and document the points in the process where your systems lack solid integration. Work with your IT team or a nonprofit technology consultant to strengthen the integrations. If that’s not possible due to a lack of integration capabilities with your fundraising software, then consider switching out one or more systems to improve integrations and the flow of processes and data.

4. Your Staff Needs More Training

This is a big one. Your organization has staff that comes and goes. New employees need adequate training to understand how your fundraising software works and how to optimize its use. Plus, software vendors are often updating their software with new features, so even staff that might have already received training will need new and ongoing training to make sure they’re using the software to its fullest.

If you’re starting with new software, plan for initial training sessions and ongoing training/support to keep your team working efficiently and confidently. If you’ve had the same software for a while, consider offering regular training for new staff as well as staff members that need updates and refreshers.

Keep in mind that improving technology training can be relatively easy and affordable if you turn to the right resources. For example, most technology vendors offer a variety of free and inexpensive online courses, in-software help menus and basic customer support. You can also turn to one of your software vendor's service partners for custom training and support if you have a highly configured or customized implementation of your technology.

5. Your Nonprofit Has Outgrown the Fundraising Software

Software that might have been a good fit for your organization at one time might not be the right fit after your goals and processes have evolved. If you’ve considered all of the previous potential reasons that your fundraising software isn’t working for your nonprofit, then it might be time to reevaluate your software needs and find a better fit. 

Clearly define what you're trying to accomplish with your software. Next, identify key challenges in meeting those goals using your current software, and establish a list of must-have features and functionality. Then, create a short list of software to evaluate. 

If you find yourself saying that your nonprofit’s software just isn’t working, take time to consider these five points. You might find that it’s time for new software, but then again, you might find that with a few changes, you already have the software you need at your fingertips.

The preceding post was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.