As a non-profit, you are tasked with doing more for less, and technology can definitely play a role in helping you attain this goal. Salesforce, an all-encompassing platform, is not to be confused with task-specific tools such as Razor’s Edge or DonorPerfect. While the options are seemingly endless when it comes to what Salesforce can do for you, there are a few things every non-profit should consider when looking to streamline their operations with Salesforce.com
What Edition Should You Use?
The most standard edition of Salesforce is the Sales Cloud and is free for non-profits (up to 10 qualified users). The version is rich with features primarily designed for more complicated businesses with a heavy sales organization. An alternative to the more business-centric Sales Cloud is The Nonprofit Starter Pack (NPSP), which is also free up to 10 user licenses.
Full details on pricing can be found here
The Salesforce.com Foundation has designed a multitude of items specifically for non-profits such as:
- Contacts & Organizations
- Households
- Affiliations
- Nonprofit Relationship Management
- Volunteer Management
- Gift, Pledge & Soft Credit Management
- Recurring Donations
- Basic Membership
- Donor Reports
- Gift and Pledge Tracking Reports
This out-of-the-box package for non-profits may not provide every single option you need, but its emphasis on fundraising tasks and non-profit management makes it a great starting point.
Explore AppExchange
Salesforce.com has prided itself on the extensive 3rd party ecosystem it has fostered. Head over to the Salesforce AppExchange and explore all the apps available to you. You’ll be able to find solutions to fit your particular organizational needs or perhaps be surprised to find some solutions you never even thought existed.
Didn’t find exactly what you were looking for? Consulting firms, Big Bang ERP included, often offer customization and integration solutions to ensure Salesforce is able to work with your specific needs.
Determine what you want to track and how you’ll measure success
For those new to the world of CRM tools, there are a vast number of already built-in reports that can give you insight into the health of your organization. You will be able to quickly and easily query your data for specific needs – such as event management, fundraising pipelines or monitoring volunteer journeys.
Learn From Others
If you are in the evaluation phase you can take a look at all the amazing success stories on the Salesforce Foundation YouTube channel
Salesforce has done a tremendous job building an online community specifically for non-profit users. Once you have a login and password for Salesforce, head over to The Power of Us hub, which gives users, just like yourself, a place to ask questions, get insight into how others are using Salesforce, and to stay up to date.
According to Salesforce, more than 23,000 nonprofit and higher ed institutions are using Salesforce to power their missions, and 84% have seen an improvement in their ability to meet their organization’s goals.
If you are interested in being one of these Non-Profits, contact us, and we can help guide you through the process of selection, implementation, and customization.
