Online Fundraising & CRM System for Nonprofits: News

Blackbaud Announces Global Nonprofit Conference Schedule

jesslinger — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:12:04 -0500

North American conference expands with a move to Washington D.C.

Charleston, S.C. (February 3, 2010) - Blackbaud, Inc., (Nasdaq: BLKB) today announced its global conference schedule, including the 2010 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits™ - North America on September 7 to 10 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, Washington, D.C. and the 2010 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits™ - Europe on October 11 to 12 at Victoria Park Plaza, London.

"We're so excited to bring Blackbaud's 11th annual North American Conference for Nonprofits to Washington D.C. this year and to once again hold our European Conference for Nonprofits, which has a strong focus on supporter relations, in London," said Mary Beth Natarajan, Blackbaud's director of communications. "This year's conferences will provide unprecedented networking and learning experiences, partnering opportunities and fresh, new interactive sessions."

Blackbaud's 2010 Conference for Nonprofits - North America will provide nonprofit professionals with four days of specialized educational content and opportunities to network and interact with peers and nonprofit experts.

"Having attended most of the annual Blackbaud conferences and having had the privilege of speaking at two of them, it is wonderful to see how this conference continues to evolve in depth, knowledge and content of sessions as well as in the expertise of speakers," said Anne Caldera, director of philanthropy services at Lahey Clinic, who attended the first Blackbaud Conference in 1999. "With the Blackbaud product line continuing to advance, it is imperative to have an event like this that will accommodate client needs and deliver current and future product information."

"The keynote speakers at this conference have been outstanding over the years with very inspirational messaging. Blackbaud provides the best value for a complete conference experience. Washington, D.C. is a wonderful location, and it is well worth the time and expense to attend."

>> Watch video recordings of the 2009 Conference keynotes and breakout sessions

Building on the success of the 2009 Conference for Nonprofits in Charleston, which drew more than 1000 attendees, the move to the nation’s capital - the nonprofit hub - will provide an expanded venue to accommodate an increase in attendees.

"By providing unparalleled accessibility for attendees with affordable airfares, competitive lodging rates, and flat registration fees, we are making it easier than ever for nonprofit professionals and industry experts to attend, learn, and share their knowledge," said Natarajan. "With Washington, D.C. as the backdrop, the Conference will also feature several unique evening events."

In addition, this year’s North American Conference will feature an expanded venue with 200 sessions - nearly double compared to previous years. Conference sessions will include specific content for all Blackbaud products and nonprofit segments (higher education, k-12 schools, public broadcasting, etc.) and will once again feature in-demand subjects including future technology, donor retention, Internet marketing, online fundraising, and social media. The 2010 Conference will see the return of computer lab skill-building workshops. This year's marketplace will also be expanded, providing attendees with a chance to learn more about Blackbaud products and services and meet with Blackbaud partners.

In 2009, Blackbaud lived the value of the Conference theme (and its corporate value), "Service to Others Makes the World a Better Place," by directing approximately $200,000 worth of expenses to nonprofits and incorporating service projects throughout the event. In 2010, the company is committed to directing 25 percent of Conference expenses back to nonprofits.

Early-bird registration and a call for speakers will launch on March 1, 2010. For more information, and to see the agenda-at-a-glance, visit http://events.blackbaud.com. Follow the Conference news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bbcon or become a fan of Blackbaud on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackbaud.

The 2010 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits - Europe will build on the success of last year’s Relationship Management Conference in London which drew 220 delegates to learn about marketing, website management, fundraising, supporter relations, performance management and Blackbaud products.
The Conference will once again be packed with new content, practical ideas and valuable networking opportunities. Visit www.blackbaud.co.uk to learn more.

About Blackbaud

Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 22,000 organizations — including University of Arizona Foundation, American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School, Lincoln Center, In Touch Ministries, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation — use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbaud’s sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

Media Contact:

Melanie Mathos
Blackbaud, Inc.
843.216.6200 x3307
melanie.mathos@blackbaud.com

Source: Blackbaud

Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to our dividend policy and share repurchase program, including potential limitations on our ability to grow and the possibility that we might discontinue payment of dividends; risks relating to restrictions imposed by the credit facility; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.

Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Uses eTapestry to Track Supporter Relationships

jesslinger — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:10:17 -0500

The Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a contemporary, semi-cloistered monastic community; the sisters live according to the Rule of Benedict. They serve the Church through a ministry of contemplative prayer and a distinctive dedication to the Eucharist. The Benedictine Sisters offer a welcoming space for silence, prayer, and spiritual hospitality in a shared environment of monastic peace. They actively engage in interreligious dialogue, respecting those of all faiths and backgrounds. Their communities include monasteries in Clyde, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; and Dayton, Wyoming.

The Challenge

The Benedictine Sisters used spreadsheets as a method for tracking donor data, but because the sisters often traveled between each of their three monasteries, they needed an online system that could be accessed from anywhere.

The sisters also wanted one central system to hold each of the three monasteries' databases, which contained information about supporters and their unique details.

The sisters receive more than 1,000 prayer requests a month via email, and they wanted to streamline their prayer answering processes.

The Solution

The Benedictine Sisters selected eTapestry's relationship management software, which is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. This means they can access their database from anywhere with an Internet connection.

The sisters chose to implement specific modules for mass email, executive reporting, and eCommerce. They currently use the eCommerce functionality to accept and manage prayer requests online.

As prayer requests come in, the eCommerce page ties each individual's information back to the database.

The Results

After selecting eTapestry, the Benedictine Sisters have gained a consistent level of knowledge about their supporters, helping them maintain relationships accordingly.

The executive reports have enabled the sisters to demonstrate to upper-level management the impact of their support to their mission.

The sisters have used eTapestry to help identify and segment supporter lists. The advanced email functionality allows them to target their communications and further their reach.

eTapestry's easy-to-use system and recorded training sessions makes it easy for new nuns to learn the database.

eTapestry Partners with National School Foundation Association

jesslinger — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:20:55 -0400

Charleston S.C. (Sept. 9, 2009) – eTapestry, a division of Blackbaud Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), announced that it will partner with the National School Foundation Association (NSFA), to distribute the eTapestry database to its members with under 500 total records for free, members with records exceeding 500 will receive discounted services. NSFA, an organization dedicated to helping K-12 schools and foundations establish, develop and maintain school foundations, will recommend the eTapestry solution to all its members.

"We provide a nationwide network of partnering individuals, schools and districts a website packed with useful tools and a wide variety of advanced training options including our national conference, webinars, and other events," said Jim Collogan, Executive Director at NSFA. "Our constituents are looking for value, success, and return on investment and we can confidently recommend the eTapestry database solution because we are using it."

In 2001, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley was the driving force behind the establishment of the National Center for Public and Private School Foundations (NCPPSF) website with financial assistance from a U.S. Department of Education grant. NCPPSF became the National School Foundation Association (NSFA) in 2005, with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) volunteering to oversee its development. NSFA then seated a transition board in 2008 with the goal of becoming a self-sustaining organization with its mission to encourage the growth and development of K-12 foundations throughout the US, Canada, and other countries.

With more than 500 individual and state affiliate K-12 foundation members, NSFA assists members in fulfilling their missions by providing resources like on-site consulting, training programs, discussion forums, an interactive website, and an annual national conference.

Along with offering a free database to NSFA members, eTapestry will supply NSFA with two years of eTapestry database service, website hosting, data conversion, and maintenance.

"This partnership means that K-12 school foundations will have immediate access to the technology that will enable them focus on their missions and educate students," said Jay Love, chief executive officer of eTapestry, a Blackbaud company. "The National School Foundation Association clearly demonstrates its commitment to the school foundations it serves, and is now providing yet another resource to its members"

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 22,000 organizations - including University of Arizona Foundation, American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School, Lincoln Center, In Touch Ministries, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation - use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbaud's sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

About eTapestry
In 1999 eTapestry introduced the first on-demand fundraising software delivered over the Internet, giving users access from any location and a solution that is automatically backed-up, maintained and updated. eTapestry's web-based software spans the globe with over 5000 nonprofit clients. eTapestry's ala carte offering lets organizations choose the combination of services to best meet their needs. Solutions include a donor database, custom website, ecommerce tools, personal fundraising, prospect research, advanced email, and many others. eTapestry also provides a free and open application programming interface allowing full integration of third party and custom solutions. eTapestry's base service is offered free to organizations with fewer than 500 records. In 2007 eTapestry became a member of the Blackbaud family of companies. For more information, visit www.etapestry.com, or call at 888-739-3827. eTapestry is a Blackbaud Company.

About National School Foundation Association
The National School Foundation Association (NSFA) is dedicated to encouraging K-12 school and school foundation personnel in establishing, developing and maintaining school foundations. Since 2002, the NSFA has been helping school personnel with research, fundraising strategies, and fund management techniques. With NSFA, school foundation personnel can identify with other foundations nationwide, participate in instructional webinars, discussion forums and advanced training. NSFA members are associated with a national organization and receive monthly e-news blasts, a listing on the NSFA website, benefit from logo sharing and document sharing on the NSFA online archive vault, receive free access to Give2Schools online credit card donation program, and get four free instructional fall webinars, access to a K-12 foundation blog, and discounts for the NSFA national conference. NSFA also offers live discussion forums for foundation personnel to share successes and needs. For more information, visit www.schoolfoundations.org or call 515-971-2324.

Media Contacts:

Melissa Dodge
Blackbaud, Inc.
melissa.dodge@blackbaud.com
843.216.6200 x3209

Jim Collogan
National School Foundation Association
jim@schoolfoundations.org

Source: Blackbaud

School on Wheels Uses eTapestry to Quintuple Its Database in Just Five Years

jesslinger — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:51:54 -0400

Indianapolis' School on Wheels seeks to enhance and enrich educational opportunities for school-aged homeless children. Its vision is to break the cycle of homelessness through education. School on Wheels provides free tutoring services and educational advocacy; engages homeless parents in the educational success of their children; provides resources to adequately prepare homeless children for college; links homeless children with the appropriate services that will pay for their college degrees; and develops strategic educational and financial partnerships, as well as public awareness, that enables the organization to enhance additional educational opportunities for the children it serves.

The Challenge

School on Wheels used Microsoft Excel® spreadsheets to manage its data, but staff could not query for mailings to board members, corporations, foundations, etc. Further compounding the problem was the fact that different spreadsheets were kept across the organization and there was no visibility into the data, its accuracy, or the overall well-being of School on Wheels.

The Solution

More than five years ago, a board member introduced the organization to eTapestry, and as a small organization, School on Wheels began using the free "under 500" database (the very first offering in the eTapestry family). Since then, the organization's database has grown to 2,500 records and staff now use eTapestry's eCommerce, Web 2.0, and Executive Reports modules.

The Results

Staff recently completed a successful online fundraising campaign, raising $30,000 in just one month! They also used the solution to process auction items at the organization's recent gala, which raised more than $40,000. (For this event, staff used Web 2.0 to manage online giving, which was a huge success.)

"Every year we use the database more and more," said Janet Hiatt, vice president of development. "It's so user-friendly, and 'instant message' support is so convenient - the chat feature makes it so easy to contact the support team when we need to."

School on Wheels staff have built stronger relationships with donors and better engaged board members with eTapestry. Executive Reports has been especially useful; board members can personally call, write, or email donors to thank them for their gifts. Plus, staff can update the records with information about why each donor supports School on Wheels, how they got involved, and more, and they can quickly identify donors who have lapsed or downgraded so that the board can ask for their continued support. They say it's a great way to engage board members in the fundraising process and keep valuable information about donors in one place, all while retaining and even upgrading donors.

Looking Ahead

Staff recently purchased the Benchmark reporting tool to help assess how they are doing in terms of donor retention and acquisition throughout the year. This way, they can gauge performance quarterly and make necessary adjustments to their fundraising plans. In addition, they will use the data to apply for grants since potential funders want to see actual program assessments rather than anecdotal stories. They are looking forward to using benchmark reporting to be able to show black-and-white, concrete ways their programs have been successful over the past five years since using eTapestry, in order to secure those valuable grants.

Pasco Education Foundation

jesslinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:24:52 -0400

Pasco Education Foundation turns to eTapestry® for reporting and ecommerce needs

Established in 1991 in Land O'Lakes, Florida, the Pasco Education Foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for the community to help accomplish the goals of Pasco County's public schools through personal involvement and financial support. Since its inception,many committed individuals, businesses, and organizations have contributed both time and money to support the Foundation's work. Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $700,000 in creative teaching grants. In addition, numerous in-kind materials and supplies, as well as volunteer hours, are donated by local businesses and civic-minded individuals and organizations.

The Challenge

The Pasco Education Foundation was using Microsoft Excel® to manage donor information. Since the spreadsheets were only transaction-based and lacked reporting functionality, the organization had no idea how many donors it had in a given year – staff could only tell how many transactions had been completed in a given timeframe. Despite having more than 1,800 records, staff could not report to executives any specific information about the donors
or donations that were its bread and butter. Also, the organization had a website but could not process online donations.

The Solution

Director of Development Allison Broihier learned about eTapestry while reading the Association of Fundraising Professionals' technology survey. Based on the information and software options discussed, she knew that eTapestry would best fit the Pasco Education Foundation's budget while meeting its reporting needs and providing a vital eCommerce solution for its website.

The Results

Since purchasing eTapestry, The Pasco Education Foundation has been extremely happy with both the database offering and its reporting capabilities. The eCommerce integration brought a complete redesign of the organization's online donation page and provided the ability to manage several different events and ticket sales simultaneously. "eCommerce gives us the ability to automate transactions and keep records on everything," Broihier said.

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children

jesslinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:18:43 -0400

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children Uses eTapestry to Track Donor Interactions, Facilitate Growth, and Better Serve Its Mission

Founded in 1936, Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible, compassionate, and effective dental care to children from low-income families who reside throughout the South Sound area of Western Washington. The organization also provides family education and preventive care, and strongly encourages early intervention for even the youngest members of the family.

The Challenge

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children began operation as a dental assisting program at Bates Technical College and Clover Park in 1936. Since then, the organization has expanded considerably, making several moves from one facility to another in order to accommodate growth. Between 2000 and 2002, the Clinic increased its patient services by more than 50 percent, and staff members describe feeling like the organization was "bursting at the seams." Thanks to its many dedicated donors, the Clinic completed an expansion project in 2005 and moved into a new facility with 10 treatment rooms. The new facility has helped the organization expand the depth and breadth of its dental services, provide better access to care, and collaborate with other specialists to provide expanded services.

During all this, staff members at Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children were having difficulty keeping track of donor information. The Clinic was able to collect donations through its website but didn't have a way to track donations after they came in. Everyone knew that if the organization was going to grow to better serve its mission, it would need to keep track of who was giving so it could maximize exposure with those donors.

The Solution

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children had always relied on word-of-mouth advertising and local networking with community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, and the United Way to communicate its mission to the public. After teaming up with these and other local nonprofits and growing its database, it became even more important to track all of the information that came through the doors. The organization knew it was missing out on fundraising dollars because of the lack of visibility to its constituents.

With this in mind, the organization began looking for a database solution for constituent relationship management. The Clinic took a look at eTapestry, and knew it had found what it was looking for.

The Results

After selecting eTapestry, Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children has been able to store all donor information in one secure place. The web-based system is user-friendly and offers a level of convenience that other traditional systems can’t. eTapestry allows staff members to enter and extract information from anywhere, anytime.

Most importantly, the Clinic is now able to trace donor dollars and track donor records, plus provide a level of visibility it couldn’t before. Many of the organization’s donations arrive in the form of grants, and now with eTapestry, the Clinic can record how the money is being spent.

Thanks in part to all of this, the Clinic is well-prepared to open a new clinic. The organization plans to network even more with other nonprofits and eTapestry will help
staff members stay connected with all their constituents during this new endeavor.

Podcast - eTapestry's eVolve

jesslinger — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:15:59 -0400

CEO, Jay Love, and Director of Web Services, Josh Esslinger discuss eVolve. eVolve is a complete online fundraising solution built and managed by the experts at eTapestry.

Listen to the podcast

Find out more [PDF]

Podcast - What is viral fundraising?

jesslinger — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:35:43 -0400

What is viral fundraising? Join eTapestry's Melissa Jordan to learn about this growing fundraising strategy and how you can use it to raise more money.

Listen to the podcast

eTapestry Adds Personal Fundraising and Shopping Cart Features

jesslinger — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:25:23 -0400

New capabilities will empower constituents to raise more money

Charleston S.C. (May 13, 2009) – eTapestry, a division of Blackbaud Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), announced the availability of two new fundraising modules, eTapestry Cart for online retail and eTapestry Personal Fundraising, a viral tool empowering constituents to raise funds on a nonprofit's behalf. Both tools are part of the eTapestry on-demand fundraising solution, helping nonprofits take their mission to the Internet and reach new audiences.

"Our Personal Fundraising and Cart modules bring the sophisticated Internet fundraising tools larger organizations have found success with, to nonprofit organizations of all sizes in a simple to set up, simple to use format," said Jay Love, eTapestry's chief executive officer.

eTapestry Cart provides a way for nonprofit organizations to sell products with shopping cart functionality, separating donations from purchases. eTapestry Personal Fundraising is a viral fundraising module that uses the Internet and email to encourage constituents to raise funds for a nonprofit organization, leveraging their networks of contacts with personal fundraising web pages. Both modules tie directly into the existing eTapestry database so all the transactions are secure and recorded on the constituent record within a nonprofit's database. The seamless process helps organizations continue to grow their fundraising revenue while recording accurate and real-time data on each donor they have.

"A large percentage of our constituency is under the age of 25, so it was natural for us to explore options for bringing fundraising online to connect with our audience," said Kurt Jostes, director of development at RAI Ministries, and user of eTapestry Personal Fundraising. "Providing our supporters of any age, the tools to create personal web pages is just the first step in finding ways to communicate on a more personal level and expanding our reach via the Internet."

Many organizations, in addition to a standard online giving program, raise funds through the sales of various items on their website like music CD's, apparel and handmade gifts. eTapestry's Cart enables organizations to easily define the items they want shown on their website for purchase, including pricing, descriptions, sizes, and pictures. Items are displayed on the organization's website allowing visitors to shop online and then fill their “cart” full of items with a single online transaction. Organizations are able to manage their online store by tracking sales, issuing receipts, and even handling shipping through the eTapestry database.

eTapestry is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fundraising solution that tracks donors, prospects, or alumni while managing gifts, pledges and payments. Built to run on the Internet, eTapestry also provides and application program interface (API), enabling nonprofits to build custom features to meet organizational needs.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 22,000 organizations — including University of Arizona Foundation, American Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School, Lincoln Center, InTouch Ministries, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation — use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbaud's sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

About eTapestry
Since its release as the first web-based fundraising software for nonprofits in 1999, eTapestry has grown to a leadership position with over 5000 nonprofit customers worldwide. eTapestry provides On-Demand fundraising solutions, including a donor database, website development, ecommerce, and advanced email. For more information, visit www.etapestry.com, or call at 888-739-3827, "We'll be good for each other or its free." eTapestry is a Blackbaud Company.

Media Contacts:

Melissa Dodge
Blackbaud, Inc.
melissa.dodge@blackbaud.com
843.216.6200 x3209

Steve Rusche
eTapestry
steve.rusche@etapestry.com
317.336.3827 x7224

Source: Blackbaud

Boys and Girls Club of Evansville

jesslinger — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:23:14 -0400

Boys and Girls Club of Evansville Achieves $5 Million Capital Campaign Goal with Help from eTapestry

The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville began operations in December 1957. Originally opened as an all-boys youth serving agency, today the Club provides programming and services for the most at-risk boys and girls of its community.

As an affiliate of the Boys & Girls Club of America, the Evansville Club maintains high standards to remain in good standing with the national organization. In doing so, the national organization provides a variety of services and programs to help in creating a positive environment for young people.

The Boys & Girls Club currently has four sites: the Main Unit on Illinois Street and the Fulton Square Unit on Dresden (a partnership with the Evansville Housing Authority), and the Howard Roosa and Cedar Hall School Extensions (partnerships with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation). There are more than 2,000 kids served at these four sites. In addition to the youth directly served at the sites, the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville is reaching another 4,000 young people through the SMART Moves Program, sponsored by Vectren, in the schools.

The Challenge

The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville was using a customized version of Microsoft Access as a very specific data management tool for their annual fund campaign. This was effective for a one-time specific use only, but workers found it out-dated and inflexible.

Although the organization had experience with Microsoft Access®, reporting on the annual fund campaign from the Access database was almost impossible. The functionality was
one-dimensional, unsolicited donations couldn't be tracked, and the organization had zero reporting capabilities.

The Solution

The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville was one of 15 clubs that participated in a oneyear pilot program managed by the Boys and Girls Clubs national office. As part of the program, Evansville converted all of its constituent data into eTapestry's web-based donor management solution.

The chapter was the first to complete the pilot program, and professionals at the Evansville Club were so impressed with the success in the first year that they became the first chapter in the pilot program to sign up on their own to continue as an eTapestry customer.

The Results

The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville is now able to effectively manage multiple complex campaigns extending months and years. The Evansville Club has also been able to heighten awareness among staff members regarding day-to-day activities. This is achieved through eNewsletters, an internal and external community calendar, and new capabilities in programs, grants, and donations. Overall reporting has improved, and executive reporting not only allows for accurate and real-time data, but it can be delivered with the click of a button.