6 Reasons Nonprofits Implement New CRM Systems

As a leader at a nonprofit organization, you likely know that maintaining strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and members is essential to achieving your mission. But managing these relationships can be a daunting task, especially when you’re relying on outdated or limited technology. In our more than 26 years of experience working with nonprofits on selecting and implementing CRM systems, we have started to seem common threads to why leaders decide to take the leap and upgrade their CRMs.

Here are six reasons why your nonprofit might consider getting a new CRM system:

1. Outdated technology

If your current CRM system is outdated, it may no longer be able to meet your organization’s needs. Newer systems offer more advanced features, such as automation and analytics, that can help you better understand your stakeholders and improve communication.

2. Limited functionality

Your current CRM system may not have all the features and functionality that your organization requires. For example, it may not integrate with other systems and tools you’re using, such as marketing automation, fundraising, and accounting software. A new CRM system that integrates with these tools can help streamline your processes and improve efficiency.

3. Data silos

Are you using multiple systems to manage donor, volunteer, and member information? This can lead to data silos and make it difficult to gain a comprehensive view of your stakeholders. A new CRM system can help you bring all of your data together, making it easier to track and analyze trends.

4. Inefficiency

If your current CRM system is difficult to use or not user-friendly, it can lead to inefficiency and wasted time. A new system with a more intuitive interface can help you manage your data more efficiently.

5. Scalability

As your organization grows, so too will the volume of data and stakeholders you need to manage. A new CRM system that is scalable can help you keep up with this growth, allowing you to add new users, process more transactions, and store more data.

6. Better donor engagement and fundraising

A new CRM system can help you improve the way you engage with your donors, volunteers and members, by providing you with better insights, segmentation, and campaign management tools. This can help you increase donor retention and fundraising efforts.

Investing in a new CRM system can be a significant undertaking, but the benefits are well worth it. And once the new system is up and running, we have seen clients actually save money over time with better technology. With the right system in place, you can better manage and understand your stakeholders, improve efficiency and communication, and support growth.

And the CRM options keep growing for nonprofits of all sizes. There are several approaches to build out a tech stack that fits with your organization’s goals.

Learn more about CRM Strategies for nonprofits:

• 3 Things to Know if You’re Thinking About Moving from Raiser’s Edge to Salesforce
• 7 Lessons Learned about Implementing CRM Systems for Nonprofits
• 3 Benefits of a New CRM for Your Nonprofit
• 4 Tips for Fundraising and Accounting Reconciliation at Your Nonprofit
• What’s the right approach to technology selection for your nonprofit?
• 5 Steps to Evaluate the Cost of a New Nonprofit CRM System

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About the Author

Kaia Swift

Kaia first started working with nonprofits at an internship at an organization that served military families. Since then, she has worked for C-SPAN and with organizations focused on education and politics. She brings her knowledge of marketing and nonprofit operations... Read More