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Founded in San Francisco, California in 2001, One Brick provides support to local nonprofit and community organizations by creating a unique, social, and flexible volunteer environment for those interested in making a concrete difference in the community. The founding team recognized that while many nonprofits have the need for volunteers and many people are interested in volunteering, there are very few organizations that make the volunteer experience convenient and can sustain continued volunteer commitment. One Brick built a new approach necessary to build a sustainable volunteer pool to support these organizations. One Brick enables people to get involved, have an impact, and have fun, without the requirements of individual long-term commitments.

Challenge

• One Brick used spreadsheets and a self-developed method for tracking data, which had to be shared with offices in various locations across the country.
• Staff members and volunteers didn't have the ability to gather and track data outside of names, email addresses, and address information.
• The organization had about 150 donors it wished to reach out to on a regular basis, but the absence of a CRM system inhibited these efforts.

Solution

• One Brick selected eTapestry's fundraising software, which is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.
• This affordable, web-based system connects staff and volunteers located throughout the country, allowing them to work from one consolidated database.
• The organization also selected specific modules for email, online giving, and eCommerce.

Results

• After selecting eTapestry in 2008, One Brick was able to increase its annual giving goal by $10,000. The goal was attained and then passed by $6,000.
• The eTapestry solution has enabled staff to send emails from the CRM solution and increase the organization's reach.
• eTapestry's easy-to-use system means that staff members and volunteers do not need training to get up and running quickly, saving time and money.

"Since using eTapestry in 2008, we have more than doubled our gifts during our annual campaign (compared to 2007), and we have also increased the average gift as well as the total number of donors. The software helps us raise and save more money, which is invaluable to charities in these challenging times. Thanks, eTapestry!"

- Jennifer Willis
Director of Fundraising
One Brick