To Capture Constituent Hearts, Capture Their Data

Michael Perkins

Do you ever find yourself at your desk or in a brainstorming meeting, thinking, “Gee, it sure would be awesome if I could ask our constituents how to energize them”? 


Well … why don’t you just ask them? 


In this new age of big data, organizations that leverage the information they have about their base are more successful at achieving their fundraising goals. If you’re still just crossing your fingers and hoping that your events, campaigns, appeals, and fundraisers will be successful, I’d like to share some NetCommunity tips and tricks to take your interactions with your constituents to the next level.


Let’s say that you have several new ideas for an upcoming event, or you’re torn between ideas for a new outreach project. Did you know that NetCommunity lets you post a quick Poll on your website, which could easily tip the scales for you? You might even decide to include a new poll with every newsletter you send. Polls help you gain valuable information about your users, and if done properly, can even be fun and engaging. A well-placed poll not only collects what your users are thinking, it also transmits what your organization is thinking. Polls can be a big win-win for you.


Does your organization hold events? You most certainly want to know what the participants think of them. Being there onsite or even asking people directly doesn’t always give you the most accurate picture. A confidential online Survey, however, provides you with a much clearer picture of what your participants liked, didn’t like, would like to see again, or were indifferent to. A NetCommunity survey can show you details and nuances in your participants’ opinions:

• "The event went well, but we didn’t like the venue."
• Maybe you thought the ticket options were crystal clear, but then read, "I was very confused about which ticket to buy."
• "The keynote speaker was sensational! You should invite them back next year!"

Lastly, did you know that you can create a NetCommunity Common Form and use it to capture any data you’d like to receive from your users? The Common Form can collect data as simple as someone’s name, email, and address, or you can build out an entire job, volunteer, camp, or school admissions form that allows users to upload an essay, photographs, a resume, or any other file you might need. The Common Form can be divided into steps and sections for a smooth flow. You can export the form data for analysis or import it into your database for safekeeping. Create drop-down options, checkboxes, radio buttons, essay text, short-answer test fields, and file uploads. When you create a Common Form, the sky’s the limit!


If you’d like to explore any of these options—or even if you just want to learn more about everything you can do with the NetCommunity platform—sign up for the Blackbaud University course Blackbaud NetCommunity: Capturing User Data with Forms. You’ll learn all you need to know to start using polls, surveys, and online forms to open new lines of communication with those who matter most—your constituents.