Conducting Change:

CHALLENGE

Unlocking Unused Potential

Managing a CRM at a charity can be quite a challenge, especially when the current team wasn't involved in the initial setup. This was the case for the fundraising team at ETO, who are all relatively new in their roles, and inherited a version of Donorfy that was migrated early on in the pandemic and not being used effectively. Recognising its powerful capabilities, they knew they needed to focus on organising and optimising their CRM to better fit their needs. 

We still have information in folders on shared drives and on paper, information that ultimately needs to be in Donorfy,” explains Olivia Collins, Development Manager. “We quickly realised that we needed to use Donorfy for what it’s designed for, and ensure that data is accurately reflected on constituent records.”

Instead of diving in headfirst, they’re taking a steady and strategic approach towards maximising its full potential for long-term success. Each team member is taking ownership of their specific needs based on their role, and they’re on a journey towards a fully centralised and effective CRM system.

THE SOLUTION

Go-To for Grants and Trusts

Olivia’s primary use of Donorfy revolves around managing their trust and grant fundraising activities. Their systematic approach ensures that ETO can track their progress and stay organised throughout the fundraising process. Olivia explains,

I’m using Donorfy for grant applications now. The opportunities feature is particularly useful for monitoring the different stages of our applications once they’re in the pipeline, from submission to outcome." 

(Illustration above shows example opportunity, using dummy data)

Another standout feature for Olivia is the ability to create custom activities within Donorfy.

We've composed a specific activity for trust and foundation applications," she says. "This allows us to input all necessary information, such as the amount applied for, the amount received and the success rate. It’s a great step forward.”

Additionally, Olivia has been enjoying the flexibility Donorfy has to offer, adding:

I really like the opportunities and campaign features, which I use a lot. We have various types of activities that need to be added to constituent timelines, given the diverse nature of our interactions. Some donors prefer to remain on the donor side, while others enjoy attending our shows. Being able to tailor these configurations to match our specific needs is really helpful.”

ETO has benefited from Donorfy’s support services, too.

Rich from Donorfy has been instrumental in helping us navigate through some of the complexities,” Olivia notes. “I’ve also spoken to team members at the Together Conferences and you can tell they’re very much based within the charity sector. I love the sound of the new support surgeries for personalised strategic advice, too.”

Elsewhere in the organisation, colleagues are also revitalising Donorfy to store and report on a diverse range of fundraising and supporter data. They’re starting to use integrations to save time and effort, too.

Our Head of Marketing and Communications recently integrated Eventbrite with Donorfy. This means that when people book pre-show talks and similar events, their bookings will automatically appear in their timelines, which is really helpful.” Olivia added.

THE FUTURE

Orchestrating Success

As part of their strategic efforts, they’re setting the stage for future enhancements and growth. They’re planning to continue their ongoing efforts to maximise their use of tags, especially for segmenting donor interests, while utilising more integrations to streamline their operations further.

We’re excited about using further integrations, like MailChimp and Xero,” Olivia shares. “We’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from other charities using Donorfy. Hearing their stories at the Donorfy Conference has given us some great ideas.”

English Touring Opera’s experience with Donorfy is a testament to the power of thoughtful planning and adaptability. By focusing on getting things right long-term, leveraging support resources and harnessing inspiration, ETO is hitting all the right notes. Olivia and her team are excited about their future with Donorfy -  and so are we!