Using Raiser's Edge to track newspaper subscriptions

Lynette Sowells

Our Diocese uses the Raiser's Edge to track parish memberships and donations to its various campaigns.  The Diocese has a catholic newspaper that is put out by its own entity with the help of a local area newspaper, which uses it own database.  The catholic newspaper ideally should have a database that contains nearly all the same names as the diocesan database, however over the years there has been quite a difference in numbers of households between the two.  Some of this is understandable as subscribers to the newspaper live in other states and are no longer parishioners here, those who cannot read English are parishioners, but do not subscribe to the paper, etc.  In order to cut down on the data entry updates to the databases and to increase donations to the diocese it has been suggested to utilize one database between the Diocese and the newspaper.  Has anyone else used the Raiser's Edge to track newspaper subscriptions, billings and advertising information?  If so, what tabs do you use to store this information?

Beth Romano

Lynette Sowells:

Our Diocese uses the Raiser's Edge to track parish memberships and donations to its various campaigns.  The Diocese has a catholic newspaper that is put out by its own entity with the help of a local area newspaper, which uses it own database.  The catholic newspaper ideally should have a database that contains nearly all the same names as the diocesan database, however over the years there has been quite a difference in numbers of households between the two.  Some of this is understandable as subscribers to the newspaper live in other states and are no longer parishioners here, those who cannot read English are parishioners, but do not subscribe to the paper, etc.  In order to cut down on the data entry updates to the databases and to increase donations to the diocese it has been suggested to utilize one database between the Diocese and the newspaper.  Has anyone else used the Raiser's Edge to track newspaper subscriptions, billings and advertising information?  If so, what tabs do you use to store this information?

We address attributes to keep track of those who receive our newspaper. You can query on them, export and do labels based on the address attribute.

Donna Mainord

Lynette Sowells:

Our Diocese uses the Raiser's Edge to track parish memberships and donations to its various campaigns.  The Diocese has a catholic newspaper that is put out by its own entity with the help of a local area newspaper, which uses it own database.  The catholic newspaper ideally should have a database that contains nearly all the same names as the diocesan database, however over the years there has been quite a difference in numbers of households between the two.  Some of this is understandable as subscribers to the newspaper live in other states and are no longer parishioners here, those who cannot read English are parishioners, but do not subscribe to the paper, etc.  In order to cut down on the data entry updates to the databases and to increase donations to the diocese it has been suggested to utilize one database between the Diocese and the newspaper.  Has anyone else used the Raiser's Edge to track newspaper subscriptions, billings and advertising information?  If so, what tabs do you use to store this information?

You might try entering Appeals and/or Campaigns for the subscribers/donors.  In Appeals you have the option to use Fund, Packages, Actions and Attributes/Expenses.  In Campaigns you have the option to use Fund, Appeals, Attributes.  I use Appeal and Package when we do direct mail, email and phone solicitations to alum and donors.  I globally add the Campaign, Appeal and Package information after I've created my query for those we are sending the solicitation to.  Data out, then update data back in.  


Otherwise, you may need to speak with RE about the Membership module.  We don't have the Membership module at the Foundation I work at, so I don't know all the features available in the module, but I believe it allows you to enter paid subscriptions.  


All the best,

Donna

Heather MacKenzie

Lynette Sowells:

Our Diocese uses the Raiser's Edge to track parish memberships and donations to its various campaigns.  The Diocese has a catholic newspaper that is put out by its own entity with the help of a local area newspaper, which uses it own database.  The catholic newspaper ideally should have a database that contains nearly all the same names as the diocesan database, however over the years there has been quite a difference in numbers of households between the two.  Some of this is understandable as subscribers to the newspaper live in other states and are no longer parishioners here, those who cannot read English are parishioners, but do not subscribe to the paper, etc.  In order to cut down on the data entry updates to the databases and to increase donations to the diocese it has been suggested to utilize one database between the Diocese and the newspaper.  Has anyone else used the Raiser's Edge to track newspaper subscriptions, billings and advertising information?  If so, what tabs do you use to store this information?

Consider using the Solicit Code field as an Opt-IN option rather than opting out.  You could have one Solicit Code for Mail Newspaper, another for Mail Newsletter, and so on.  If there's any need to track it historically, I'd use an Attribute.