|
|
Donor Software Study Reveals Most Satisfied Users
Campbell Rinker this week announced the results of its 2002
Donor & Member Database Survey of User
Satisfaction. The online survey by Campbell Rinker
gathered the opinions of 2,124 users of donor software
programs, service bureaus, and online “application
service providers” (ASPs). Respondents came from
a wide range of development and membership roles in
many nonprofit sectors, representing both large and
small organizations. More than 100 systems were rated.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals cooperated
with Campbell Rinker by fielding the study to its
members, as did associations
such as CMA, CSA, NCDC and EDM.
According to this study, most nonprofits use software
to manage their donor and/or member databases (95%),
as compared to service bureaus or ASPs (5%) Though,
Service bureaus and ASPs generally earned higher satisfaction
ratings from users compared to software systems.
One significant result of the survey is independent
ratings of software, service bureaus and ASPs. The
software program Donor2 from Systems Support Services
earned the highest level of user satisfaction overall
(among 50 or more raters) and in the software category,
while the online software provider eTapestry captured
top ratings in its class. In addition to these products,
Advance from Sungard BSR and PledgeMaker by Softrek
earned the highest ratings among organizations with
100,000 records or more. Matchmaker 2000 from Heritage
Designs was the highest rated product overall (yet
only 10 raters). Direct to Donor from DonorDirect was
rated in the top ten percent for user satisfaction.
The most
important characteristics of software were report
accuracy, system reliability and report flexibility,
averaging 9.2 out of a possible ten points. This was
true for smaller organizations as well as the largest
organizations, though larger organizations tended to
appreciate system flexibility as well. Users were most
satisfied with system scalability (the ability to grow
with the organization), system reliability and ease
of data entry – which averaged 6.7 out of a possible
ten points.
The study also revealed that nonprofits usually review
their software every two years or so, though a surprising
one out of five organizations re-evaluate their software
choice every year. The average organization has had
their software for about four and a half years. The
data show that smaller organizations are likely to
replace or upgrade their software more often than larger
organizations.
|
|
Want
Product, Will Give?
A recent
Campbell Rinker study suggests that organizations
that consider promoting products tied to their mission
could receive a boost in giving. The study, among
655 American consumers who purchased Christian-themed
products within the last 12 months or who intend
to in the next 12 months, revealed that one third
of the respondents had given a donation in order
to obtain a product from the recipient organization.
This finding
suggests that there are benefits to offering mission-relevant
products – such as books, clothing, jewelry,
recordings, etc. – to an organization’s
donors and the public. Aside from the obvious income
source they represent, such products may also be
seen as a way to build affinity between donors and
the organization, encourage word of mouth endorsements
from donors to prospects, identify new prospects,
and promote the organization’s image.
|
|
|
