Solicitors vs. opportunities vs. actions - what is best practice for the donor pipeline in raisers edge?

Fran Ashby

I've just migrated to the new system and I like the way actions are tracked and viewed in the NXT side.  I've just now located 'opportunities' in the prospect management tab and I'm wondering, is that something I should explore more?  How are others using this feature?


Fran

Carrie Aranda

We are still working on fully implementing this within our development team but the goal is to get all of our fundraisers to use opportunities and actions for every donor or prospect they have contact with.  If they are approaching someone with an ask (even if we don't know what that looks like), the fundraiser puts in an opportunity (even if there are very few details fleshed out - they can add detail later or edit the opportunity as needed).  Then, when they put in actions or notes related, they are tied to the opportunity.  This way, we have record of all of the steps that were necessary to get to that ask.  Then, if the ask is funded, we have record of how that gift was landed.  If the ask is a no-go or the answer is no, we have record of why.  In addition, all opportunities are tied to a fundraiser (as well as the actions).  Many times, one team member has relationship with a donor because of a corporate sponsorship, promotion or event while our grants person is applying to their foundation for a grant.  Two totally separate functions and points of contact, but they can each "see" what the other is doing based on the open opportunities and actions tied to each.  In addition, the opportunity is visible to gift entry person (called proposals in database view).  Within the opportunity lies all of the information that they need in order to properly record that gift (i.e. campaign, appeal, fundraiser to credit, etc.).  It helps cut down on the questions and data entry issues because it is all in the database.  


This is still a new implementation for our team (less than a year) and we are still working out kinks.  It takes a ton of my time helping our fundraisers learn to input the opportunities and actions, but now that they are starting to see the benefits, it is getting easier to convince them to stay on top of it.

Rachel Kave

Hi Fran,


We are using the NXT similarly to Carrie in we are trying to center all of our fundraising tracking in opportunities and actions.  We too are still working out the best way to manage our pipeline.  It is common I think to not want to junk up your database but we have found that by entering constituents and opportunities/actions for everyone it gives us a history and a big picture of who we have contacted or considered contacting. For example we are in the middle of a Capital Campaign for a new hospital build-by using opportunities and actions we have good handle on all of our prospects/donors even if they do not give a gift we know that we approached them or considered approaching them and it gives a good history for the next campaign as well.  We have gone back and forth about the size of portfolios as well-they tend to get to big to manage at our organization more often than not.  We manage some new prospects with actions and opportunities instead of assigned fundraiser.  This way if someone is just assisting with a donor during a campaign but maybe won't be their main contact going forward we don't make their portfolio too large.  We decided that portfolios will be top donors with strong relationships.  


Hope that helps-would be glad to answer an other questions.


Rachel

Fran Ashby:

I've just migrated to the new system and I like the way actions are tracked and viewed in the NXT side.  I've just now located 'opportunities' in the prospect management tab and I'm wondering, is that something I should explore more?  How are others using this feature?


Fran

 

Fran Ashby

Fran Ashby:

I've just migrated to the new system and I like the way actions are tracked and viewed in the NXT side.  I've just now located 'opportunities' in the prospect management tab and I'm wondering, is that something I should explore more?  How are others using this feature?


Fran

Thank you for these good responses so far.  We have been using the actions area for some time to track activity.  But I'm struggling with how to prioritize - and thought the opportuniies might help us there - any other ideas to help prioritize?  How do you keep on top of your A prospects for example?

Carrie Aranda

Fran Ashby:

Fran Ashby:

I've just migrated to the new system and I like the way actions are tracked and viewed in the NXT side.  I've just now located 'opportunities' in the prospect management tab and I'm wondering, is that something I should explore more?  How are others using this feature?


Fran

Thank you for these good responses so far.  We have been using the actions area for some time to track activity.  But I'm struggling with how to prioritize - and thought the opportuniies might help us there - any other ideas to help prioritize?  How do you keep on top of your A prospects for example?

 

We customized the prospect classification drop by putting in the tiers of Major Gifts A, Major Gifts B, etc. so that our fundraisers can filter and sort within the tiers.  You can customize that table in Database View under Config.

Fran Ashby

I see.  Sounds right.  We had done a few other things before this new version.  I'm trying to streamline as much as possible so that we don't have to update tons of different areas.


Fran


Carrie Aranda:

Fran Ashby:

Fran Ashby:

I've just migrated to the new system and I like the way actions are tracked and viewed in the NXT side.  I've just now located 'opportunities' in the prospect management tab and I'm wondering, is that something I should explore more?  How are others using this feature?


Fran

Thank you for these good responses so far.  We have been using the actions area for some time to track activity.  But I'm struggling with how to prioritize - and thought the opportuniies might help us there - any other ideas to help prioritize?  How do you keep on top of your A prospects for example?

 

We customized the prospect classification drop by putting in the tiers of Major Gifts A, Major Gifts B, etc. so that our fundraisers can filter and sort within the tiers.  You can customize that table in Database View under Config.

 

 

Mergen Peries

You also have a ratings tile.  You could setup various different ratings there, to help prioritise.  We haven't implemented it yet.


We are just starting to map out the workflow, roughly see this path.

Assignment to Fundraiser

Prospect review - classifiy (Prospect Managment Tile)

Opportunity developed/presented (Opportunities Tile)

Actions to track reminders/workflow throughout