As outlined in my previous post, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software for Nonprofits can help optimize your nonprofit's operations. However, CRM Software can be somewhat complicated to implement so it is prudent for many organizations to contemplate if it is worth the investment.
In this article about CRM for nonprofits, I extend my thoughts to underscore the sweet rewards and payoffs a nonprofit may enjoy which justifies the dollars spent and the effort involved to implement at your nonprofit.
Five Sweet ROI Payoffs in CRM Software for Nonprofits
Below please find five important reasons why an investment in CRM software may prove to be "Sweet" for your nonprofit:
1. Streamlined Donor Relationship Building:
Relationships are crucial to nonprofits. For-profit firms use CRM to have one "home" for all of their customer data. Nonprofits can do the same, to keep track of donors, potential donors, and members. The sweetest return comes when you know enough about them to use the data to provide a stronger experience for your donors or members. You can appeal to what matters most to them.
2. Donor Engagement Becomes Easier:
Improving relationships is a prerequisite to effective engagement. You know how to create customized communications for different types of donors or constituents. CRM makes it easier to determine who gets what messages and on what schedule. This return coincides with relationship building in many ways. But, if you use the data to "serve" up an experience which is unique, your donors will want to give more. And, if you are a membership organization, your members will participate more often. In short, engagement will bring more revenue long-term.
3. Major Donor Planning Efficiency:
Creating plans to communicate with major donors, current members, lapsed members, and potential supporters over the year is all doable without CRM, but faster and more reliable with it. Manage development time and money by keeping track of grant application deadlines. Plan ahead for fundraising and membership efforts throughout the fiscal year. Activity Management is a basic tenet of CRM, but the ROI is about keeping the promises you make with each other on the staff and with your constituents. If you don't, your planning will impact your integrity with everyone.
4. Donor Monitoring Is Easier:
You can learn about donor relationships, membership management and fundraising effectiveness through a variety of sources, but a CRM software tool puts much of the relevant information in one place, where someone can program canned reports that deliver key information. We can manage want is measured. When your staff and board get accurate data via CRM, you are able to improve your ability to do more in the areas which are important. And, know what to cut when it is not. Monitoring is critical to sustaining ROI.
5. Yes, You Have Nonprofit Competition:
Why are all of these things important return on investment scenarios for investing in CRM software, which isn't free?
The bottom-line answer is about the same for nonprofits as for businesses: competition. Your donors and potential members haven't got the time nor money to participate in every trade association, professional association, advocacy organization, and education program that might be relevant to their needs. There is only so much training money to go around. CRM software can improve your ability to be more competitive by improving the mind share you can capture from your audience.
While you certainly can obtain an optimized organization via CRM Software, your Return on Investment goes even further than just improving efficiencies. CRM can provide tasty strategic advantage which translates into serious ROI.
To talk more about your nonprofit CRM software needs, or anything else, please contact us. Until next time, keep SmartThoughts in mind.
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