Last weekend we sat on our porch and watched our neighbor mow his 80 acres and the scant few acres we have. It took him several days to mow, rake and bale the hay. He had a process and the right equipment. By the end of the weekend we were looking out on rolling acres of freshly mown hay. But, what’s this got to do with databases? There are lessons we can learn … The right tractor – The SKC staff is often asked for our recommendations for donor databases to support fundraising and communications activities. You may do well with a push mower during the start-up phase by utilizing excel spreadsheets or an Access database. At some point, you’ll want to step up into a database software that helps you not only manage names, addresses and donor acknowledgement letters, but also is a tool that tracks and analyzes fundraising efforts and links to your fund development plan. When considering what product to step up to, whether it’s the t...
I stood a few yards away at the long check out table, setting up our auction software station, and watched the beginning of the event chaos unfold. Hundreds of guests tittered and complained to each other, decked out in their festive attire, anxious to check in, find their friends and begin their evenings. But the line had stopped. Volunteers with panicked, confused looks on their faces were frustrated and moving very slowly. Too many committee members shouted out directions to the volunteers and the line continued to slowly trickle through the doors as check lists and sign in forms were combed over and drink tickets, auction booklets, and table assignments were scrambled for and passed out to the continually growing line. What had gone wrong here? How had this wonderful event turned into a standstill of irritated guests, frustrated volunteers, harried committee members and confused staff? Isn’t this your nightmare? As the Client Administrator with Support Kansas City, I’ve had t...