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Fundraising Database – Help!

Posted on 30 December 2004 at 1:02 pm
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  • Anonymous
    30 December 2004 at 1:02 pm #1928

    Hi,

    I am a lone fundraiser and my trustees would like me to look at getting a fundraising database together. All the present donor records are held on a spreadsheet/paper (there are about 500 records approx). This is our “Friends” scheme.

    They want me to look at increasing this number of friends as well as recording legacy donations, trusts, gift aid, etc. They would like a tool that can provide reports on progress, the ability to produce labels and letters as well as improving the overall fundraising strategy.

    The only thing is they want the most cost effective system as this will be the first time they have invested solely in a system for one person!

    Does anyone have any ideas? Any help on this one would really be appreciated!

    Michelle
    Royal Marines Museum

    Anonymous
    30 December 2004 at 2:11 pm #7082

    Hi Michelle

    See my reply under the thread “Raiser’s Edge alternative” – those 3 databases were recommended to me, although there are of course many others available.

    I was also advised not to try and build one yourself, off the shelf packages are all ready for you to use and come with back-up.

    Good luck!

    Anonymous
    17 March 2005 at 5:54 pm #7083

    Hi,

    We at JA Computer Solutions have just launched our Internet only company called Zebsoft. We have a Microsoft Access database called Donors Made Easy which would allow you to grow your database for only £100.00 with letter production, labels, queries, donor management, gift management and Gift Aid tax claims it could be what you require.

    To have a look, visit http://www.zeb-soft.com we offer a try before you buy 20 evaluation as well!!!!!

    Regards

    Alan Owen
    Managing Director
    JA Computer Solutions Ltd

    Anonymous
    21 March 2005 at 10:56 am #7084

    Here are some places to get more information about fundraising databases:

    http://www.itforcharities.co.uk/

    http://www.lasa.org.uk/it/index.shtml

    An Introduction to Data Management
    http://www.fundraiser-software.com/fundclass/fctop035.html

    http://www.techsoup.org/

    Also look in the archives of this forum.

    Don’t be tempted to build your own unless you already know database programming, it is not easy to learn.

    Anonymous
    14 April 2005 at 3:56 pm #7085

    Does anyone have any experience of Basic Funder and whether it is compatible with Excel? I don’t think it is, but not very knowledgeable on these things IT-wise.

    Basic Funder looks as if it might be very helpful to me, but that would probably mean our Charity running two separate databases, which doesn’t seem terribly efficient.

    Wish I was more knowledgeable on Excel/Access as they could perhaps do what I want.

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