How a Small Nonprofit Is Using Bloomerang for Donor Management
Managing donors is one of the trickiest challenges for many smaller nonprofits. Fundraising is essential for a nonprofit’s success—but managing and cultivating donors can be time-consuming, expensive, and generally frustrating. That’s where professional donor management systems come in.
Even though donor management tools cost money, the good ones more than pay for themselves by saving staff time and making fundraising easier.
To learn more about how small nonprofits choose and use donor management systems, I recently chatted with Jessica Denison, Executive Director of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center.
Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center chose Bloomerang—an all-in-one solution for nonprofits of any size—for their donor management.
Note that the Nonprofit Fixer likes Bloomerang so much, that we have entered a business relationship to support each other. As a Nonprofit Fixer reader, you can grab a free demo here.
What was your motivation to use or move to Bloomerang? What problem were you trying to solve?
Our organization is a small nonprofit offering Insight Dharma retreats to support awakening and intimacy with all things. Several years ago, we were using a different donor management system. But that system was very cumbersome, had a more difficult user interface, and had limitations to its reporting.
We needed a system that was easier and more intuitive to use with good customer support in order for it to be beneficial for our organization. Ultimately, we chose to go with Bloomerang.
Can you tell us about the process you used to evaluate and select a fundraising and donor management system?
We switched to Bloomerang several years ago and are still using it now. As part of the process, I did demos with a few different companies and talked to references. Cost was also a major factor as a small non-profit. We chose Bloomerang because it fit our needs and budget.
What has been the result of moving to Bloomerang? What are the best outcomes so far from using a system like Bloomerang?
Moving to Bloomerang has transformed our use of a donor management system.
Before, I rarely used our old system outside of the essential work as it was just too difficult. I would spend days pulling and manipulating the data needed to run a campaign. With Bloomerang, I can do it in a couple of hours.
“I would spend days pulling and manipulating the data needed to run a campaign. With Bloomerang, I can do it in a couple of hours. ”
Bloomerang has allowed me to be more prepared and engaged in stewarding relationships with their easy use of notes and reporting. Imports are a breeze freeing up a lot of our time as well.
The support in our previous software was also lacking and sometimes they would simply tell me that something I needed to do was not possible. In contrast, Bloomerang’s customer service has been very responsive and helpful.
How do you integrate data and workflow between Bloomerang and other systems you use, such as email and accounting?
Given the nature of our organization, we do have some giving outside of Bloomerang and I have to import the data. I find this to be very streamlined.
Unfortunately, I have not taken the time to integrate some of our other tools yet. For example, I still use constant contact for emails, except for acknowledgments and receipts. Accounting is separate as well, but easy reporting streamlines reconciling it.
Have you experienced any unexpected challenges transitioning to or using Bloomerang? What about unexpected benefits?
It’s been relatively easy to train others in the organization to use Bloomerang, which has been helpful. As far as challenges, I do wish that we could set up an online form that defaults to a recurring gift but I am told that is not possible at this time. That is something I hope for in the future, though, as Bloomerang is always updating features.
What would you advise other organizations that are unsatisfied with their current donor management tools?
Since I have been in this position, we have always had a donor management system. But it felt as cumbersome as a free solution. If fundraising and stewardship are key to your organization, it is worth the investment to have a user-friendly system to see all important information on donors in one place. This allows for much more relationship focus in your efforts.
Grab a Free Donor Management System Demo
The Nonprofit Fixer and Bloomerang are business partners and support each others’ solutions. I am an affiliate because I believe it is a solid solution for nonprofits needing fundraising, CRM, eblast, and volunteer management capabilities.
If you’re interested in checking out Bloomerang, you can sign up for a free demo to see if it’s right for you!
