If one of your employees asked for the contact information for a specific donor, how long would it take for you to find the current phone number or email address on file? Do you have a way of recording every interaction you have with a potential supporter? Can you easily process online donations?

CRM is the abbreviation of Customer (or constituent) Relationship Management. CRM systems are an essential tool for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of every size and shape. They help nonprofits organize and keep track of all kinds of interactions with current and potential donors, volunteers, and everyone else in your network.

Despite the dizzying number of CRM systems on the market, many organizations try to manage their CRM activities manually, which is usually inefficient, frustrating, and results in inaccurate records.

Unfortunately, it can be an overwhelming process to try to find the right CRM software for your organization. There are so many products on the market with countless features and options. Which one is right for your organization? Have no fear! We are here to help you understand exactly what to look for in a great CRM system for your nonprofit.

There are plenty of experts offering reliable advice, countless podcasts, blogs, and websites about nonprofit fundraising. Which sites do you spend your valuable time and energy reading? Which ones will keep you updated on the latest trends, data, and resources?

We curated a list of some of the best, most trustworthy blogs about fundraising for nonprofits. Each one is full of strategies, tactics, and tips that you can implement in your organization.

Which is better to have: one donor who gives $12,000 each year, or 10 donors who give $100 each month?

It’s a trick question! They both equal $12,000, but nonprofits that gather 10 monthly donors are in a far better financial position than the organization that relies on large annual gifts.

Monthly giving programs (sometimes called recurring donations or recurring giving programs) are the foundation of most nonprofits and charities.

How do monthly giving programs work? Your supporters sign up and enroll in an automatic draft program that bills them monthly for the amount they would like to contribute to your cause (just like most of us pay our bills). Many organizations also offer bimonthly and quarterly giving options. Their donations show up in your bank account like clockwork each month!

Monthly giving programs have a variety of benefits. It’s a fundraising strategy that creates a predictable cash flow with relatively low maintenance costs. Monthly giving programs may also open the door for you to attract major donors and help your current supporters give more.

When you think of university fundraising, most people immediately think of unsolicited phone calls where overly-caffeinated students recite talking points about your alma mater. The conversation almost always ends with an awkward--and sometimes wildly optimistic--request for a donation.

Cold calling alumni isn’t the only fundraising method universities use, but it seems to be the most ubiquitous. Many alumni are actually very willing and eager to support their alma mater but are turned off by fundraising methods that appear outdated and out of touch with reality. The result is too much donor funding is left on the table.

The good news: it doesn’t need to be this way! There are plenty of ways to bring university fundraising into the 21st century, improve overall giving, and build strong relationships with alumni. Here are four ways university fundraising can leverage an alumni network more effectively.

From bedtime stories told by exhausted parents to enchanting tales crafted by famous writers, stories capture our imagination, help us better understand ideas, and even shape our opinions about the world. Stories are the reason we stay up late to finish a book or watch a movie.

The best communicator you know is probably an excellent storyteller, able to help you imagine what something looks, sounds, and even smells like, using only words. They help you feel as though you’ve been somewhere, even if you never left home.

There’s an old Hopi Native American proverb that says, “Those who tell stories rule the world.” You might not be interested in ruling the world, but you’re likely very interested in changing the world through the work of your organization or nonprofit!

Your organization likely creates powerful potential stories through your work in areas of transformation, hope, recovery, kindness, and many other beautiful things. Unfortunately, you might not have the time or resources to learn how to use these impactful stories to build that virtuous circle between storytelling and fundraising.

While storytelling does require time and energy, it is certainly a worthwhile investment for any organization, especially those who have volunteers, donors, and other supporters.