If you are unfamiliar with the charity and nonprofit sectors, you might assume these companies do not require investing in technological solutions. However, the functions performed by nonprofits are similar to for-profit businesses. It makes it crucial for these organizations to find the ideal solutions to streamline their operations and achieve their objectives.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) provides a logical and cost-effective approach for nonprofits to improve overall efficiency and customer experience. On the other hand, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) provides various business tools to help charities handle their unique customer environment. Here are ways you can grow your nonprofit using ERP and CRM.
Improve Your Nonprofit with help from ERP & CRM
Before investing in CRM and ERP software, it would help to know more about how they’ll benefit your nonprofit. CRM software like Salesforce is ideal for nonprofits for its affordability and efficiency in adding value. GoldFinch ERP keeps your firm functional by streamlining all operations using the latest tech and innovation.
Here are some of the benefits you get from integrating ERP and CRM in your nonprofit:
1. Develop a Centralized View
Many nonprofits still use spreadsheets to manage their sponsor and donor information. The biggest challenge with using Excel spreadsheets to store different client data is it becomes more complicated to track previous records. Most of the time, your data will appear incomplete or outdated, creating even more confusion when executing critical functions.
An ERP for nonprofits will help consolidate all company data in a centralized location. Shared storage provides a more realistic view of tracking previous records while guaranteeing real-time data updates. It also allows all concerned members to access and make changes remotely to organization data.
2. Analyze your Audience
Your target audience is a crucial element when running a nonprofit. The most considerable revenue for nonprofits comes from donations and sponsorships, making it vital to target the correct population.
You can track and record all activities of your audience by including clever ERP and CRM systems in your processes. The information collected will help you better understand donor behavior and interests and identify the perfect products to offer. Investing in the right platform will provide a comprehensive view with real-time insights on how to build fruitful relationships.
3. Manage Your Contact List
Contact list management is a crucial but tiresome function, especially when using traditional management techniques. It becomes even more challenging to manage the data when company data is inaccurate, wrongly placed, or outdated. ERP and CRM software facilitate the filtration of company data based on predetermined criteria.
4. Manage Donor Information
Donors are the heart of any nonprofit organization. They help accelerate charity operations by providing the necessary funds to achieve company goals. The donors’ contribution makes it essential to keep up with important information on previous contributors and prospects.
You need an automated information management system to help with data security, and ERPs for nonprofits can help. The ideal ERP and CRM integration assists managers and fundraisers in connecting with promising donors to drive contributions. It also becomes easier to track incoming funds. The analytical features visualize the information in graph or chart forms, allowing you to track how close you are to your target.
5. Expand Volunteer Management
Volunteers also help nonprofits move steps closer to their objectives. They contribute their time, effort, and money to support a charity cause. Nonprofits must store and manage this information at a safe and secure location.
ERPs help achieve a centralized database for all volunteer information while reducing data vulnerability effectively. You can store all the data in the cloud and access it remotely, anytime, and from any device. The information collected also helps understand volunteer behavior and deal with them accordingly.
6. Trim Costs
Nonprofits often operate on tight budgets to ensure maximum efficiency. Cloud-based ERP solutions provide a powerful yet affordable solution for nonprofits to cut down on costs. Ensure you confirm there are no infrastructure or hidden hardware costs to avoid paying more.
Finding the Right ERP for Your Nonprofit
The many ERP for nonprofit choices available make it challenging to settle on a specific software package. Here are some questions you should answer before identifying the right ERP for your operations:
What Is Your Mission?
Understanding your organization’s mission and objectives is crucial in identifying a suitable ERP. It would help to focus on aspects like the risks involved, your target audience, the services offered, and your area of operation.
You’ll reveal difference-making organizational insights by mapping your nonprofit processes in detail. For example, fundraising charities need an ERP built for accounting, while organizations building homes for the underprivileged will benefit most from project management-focused ERPs.
What Do You Expect from Software?
Every organization has a varying hierarchy of information and operations where specific figures and facts are more important than others. You’ll need a complete picture of your team and the processes to outline software requirements more accurately. The exercise focuses on achieving the required functionality while ensuring you only pay for the features you need.
Why Consider GoldFinch ERP and Salesforce CRM for Your Nonprofit?
Nonprofits have unique needs, and an ideal ERP and CRM integration helps develop the perfect configuration for improved efficiency. GoldFinch ERP helps nonprofits with functions like pledge management, while Salesforce CRM focuses on achieving productive relationships with all stakeholders.
Here is how GoldFinch can help your nonprofit:
- It helps meet strict reporting demands from donors, regulators, and the public
- It guarantees maximum efficiency despite working with the minimum overhead
- It adapts fundraising to modern channels like social media
- It secures organizational funding against threats
Conclusion
The intricate operational structures in nonprofit organizations make it challenging to track everything. If not careful, your charity may find itself stuck within several complex spreadsheets trying to retrieve donor information. Technologically advanced platforms like GoldFinch ERP and Salesforce CRM help improve efficiency by streamlining all functions.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to get started.
