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Donor Management Software Vendor Research
 Before selecting a Donor Management Software vendor, it is vital
to research and explore the many software options available on
today's non-profit technology market. Take advantage of our Donor
Management Product Evaluation Checklist to help you sort
out the many fundraising
features available in today's donor management software systems.
This page will help you determine which solution provider is
right for your organizations needs.
Non-Profit Focused
Just because a software vendor a computer "expert", doesn't mean
they unique needs of non-profit organizations. Although shrink-wrapped
products, such as Microsoft Access, do provide some of the functionality
you need, they will require much more customization and ultimately
will be more limited than typical donor software products. Vendors
who specialize in working with nonprofits will have a much better
understanding of your needs and be able to leverage their experience
in working with organizations like yours.
Ask For a Demo and Trial
Good donor software and good software vendors consider your input
essential to helping you get the most from your investment.
Don't be intimidated into purchasing something that doesn't
work the way you want it to work. See the product demonstrated.
Make sure that the vendor's claims are confirmed by actual
performance. Many companies offer demonstration disks that
are not the working donor management software; without viewing
the actual software, you cannot ascertain ease-of-use, flexibility,
and performance. Note: You need to look not only at what the products do, but how they do it. Small differences can mean big time savings.
Technology Innovations and Product Enhancements
Technology continues to change, and
your donor software needs to be able to keep up. A donor management
software company should offer periodic software improvements.
You should know the frequency with which these updates are released,
what types of improvements were incorporated into the latest version,
and where the ideas for the enhancements originate.
Fully Support You and Your Organization
To get most beneficial use from your software investment, you WILL need support from the vendor. This includes their
ability to provide training, periodic newsletters, website
resources, and, of course, phone and e-mail support. Ask questions
about hours of availability and number of staff involved in
providing support. You should expect to pay for quality support,
and many vendors include free product updates and enhancements
with their support plans, which help you avoid donor software obsolescence.
If you are on a limited budget, look for companies that use
technology such as web-based seminars to provide an alternative
to training that requires expensive travel.
Financial Stability and Company History
You should feel confident
that the vendor you select will be there when you need them. Companies come
and go in the software business. Look for a vendor that is well
established and can demonstrate financial stability and a commitment
to serving the nonprofit industry. It is not unreasonable to
ask for some form of financial statement to confirm this.
A good vendor will assist you in getting the most from your
software investment. Use the suggestions above as a starting
point in evaluating a potential provider, or even your current
one.
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