PBS Foundation

Microsoft Fundraising and Engagement Implementation Case Study

The mission of the PBS Foundation is to be a leader for philanthropic support of public broadcasting, and to ensure that PBS continues to be an excellent provider of outstanding programs and services. Acting collaboratively and cooperatively with PBS member stations, the Foundation works to secure the extraordinary funding necessary to maintain and enhance PBS’s commitment to serving the American public.

Challenge: Leveraging fundraising data and overcoming CRM limitations

The PBS Foundation faced a significant challenge in effectively leveraging its fundraising data. Despite using Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and Luminate Online, the Foundation found Raiser’s Edge lacking in comprehensive support for their intricate moves management, relationships management, and features management needs—features crucial for a successful capital campaign. This deficiency resulted in the Foundation resorting to manual processes using spreadsheets and shared drives, making it difficult to meet reporting requests from leaders and the board.

The manual efforts not only consumed valuable time but also introduced the risk of errors in tracking and reporting on crucial fundraising details. Recognizing the need for a more modern and robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, the Foundation set a goal to streamline the collection of donation information and enhance the storage and utilization of fundraising data to enable more strategic engagement.

Solution: Microsoft Fundraising and Engagement (F&E) implementation

The PBS Foundation turned to Heller Consulting for a solution. Heller worked closely with Foundation stakeholders to assess various CRM options suitable for nonprofits. Through a meticulous evaluation process, Microsoft Fundraising and Engagement (F&E) emerged as a strong contender, aligning well with PBS's significant investment in the Microsoft Platform.

Heller Consulting, now serving as the Foundation's implementation partner for F&E, undertook the task of installing and configuring the CRM to meet the Foundation's Minimum Viable Product (MVP) requirements. The team also facilitated the mapping and migration of existing Raiser’s Edge data to F&E, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system.

Beyond the technical implementation, Heller Consulting is actively involved in defining processes for the new solution. The team is assisting the Foundation in outlining a forward-looking campaign and designation structure tailored to the requirements of their long-term capital campaign. Notably, Heller is addressing the specific needs of planned giving and principal and institutional giving—key components of the Foundation's fundraising efforts.

Result: Streamlined processes and enhanced fundraising

The implementation of Microsoft Fundraising and Engagement by Heller Consulting promises transformative results for the PBS Foundation. The shift from paper-based processes to a comprehensive CRM system allows for real-time access to all fundraising information.

Gift officers no longer need to rely on manual data entry; instead, they can input information directly into the system, reducing the risk of errors and streamlining the entire process.

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