Sponsorship Tracking Tools?

[ehochstein]

I am beta testing parts of a Fundraising Toolkit before it is released out to teams later this fall. I believe this document is something you would be looking for. Feel free to make a copy of it and put it on your own drive!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ag5RJFDe6C2adERYM09HYXVUb0Vna253RWFGXzVmM Hc&usp=sharing

[Jessica Boucher]

You're looking moreso for an Opportunities tracking tool with pipelines. This way you can see your fundraising in its stages and build pipeline reports on it.

Salesforce offers 10 free licenses if you're a registered 501(c)3 - NE FIRST uses it as their backend for their heavy-duty pipeline tracking. Check it out at http://www.salesforcefoundation.org/

I also use Smartsheet at work for Gantt charting but they also have templates around Pipelines - https://www.smartsheet.com/sales-pipeline. That service has unlimited sharing as long as you purchase one license and is ridiculously easy to use.

Doing a quick search brought up Zoho CRM - which is free for 3 users and does opps. I've played with it and it's not bad, but can have a steep learning curve.
I would also dig around the google apps marketplace and see what you like from there. Good luck!

[Michael Sperber]

I am fully behind the decision that we at NE FIRST made to implement Salesforce.com, it is an extremely powerful tool that will enable you to do pretty much anything you desire in the fundraising space (and beyond).
As Jessica indicated, Salesforce.com is the foundation for our operation and management - if it isn't in Salesforce, it didn't happen.

However, if you are just starting out... I would highly recommend that you start simple with a spreadsheet or simple database (if you are comfortable with databases). As you grow (and even in your first year), you will realize the type of information you want to track, and you will essentially begin to develop your "requirements" for a more advanced or sophisticated system or toolset.

Much like designing robots - start simple, master the core techniques, and then begin to grow and experiment.

Good luck!
And please share your experiences, selection and process...

-mike

[protoserge]

Thanks for the salesforce.com information! The non-profit group I am part of needed software that did just this!

[KPJ]

Thanks Jess! Actually Salesforce was my first stop as we use it at FIRST HQ and I love it, but our team isn't its own 501c3 so doesn't qualify. But it's a great tool for those teams that do qualify!!

Thank you everyone for your tips. I'll let you know what we end up using!