SofTrek Launches New Corporate Website
If you've visited our website lately, you've likely noticed a significant change. We've consolidated the SofTrek websites, changed the look and feel, and added new content. If you haven't seen us recently, please stop by www.softrek.com to check out our new look. While you're there, feel free to give us feedback on the changes we've made so far and on any additional features or topics you'd still like to see on our site. Our goal is to make our website a valuable source not only for information about SofTrek's products, services, capabilities, and events, but also for nonprofit industry resources as well. Visit us often; we'll continue to add content and new features as they become available.
Dave Spacone, CEO
Fundamentals of a Planned Giving Program
PledgeMaker lets you manage all kinds of planned gifts, track market values, and record and organize detailed information to foster the success of your organization’s planned giving program.
Individuals have long relied on planned gifts as a means to fulfill philanthropic goals. Planned, or deferred, gifts are charitable gifts that are distributed at some point in the future to a designated organization. Planned gifts include bequests by wills or revocable trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and beneficiary designations of a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or financial account.
The National Committee on Planned Giving reports that planned gifts of all kinds continue to increase in popularity. Planned gifts can provide donors valuable tax benefits or income for life. It is also a viable option for donors of all income levels.
Regardless of your organization’s size, mission, budget, expertise, or giving history, planned giving should be part of your development efforts. Your organization first has to determine the appropriate level of planned giving activity. Once a level has been established, your planned giving program can grow over time. To be successful, your planned giving program must be designed with the needs of your organization in mind.
Keep in mind the significance of your organization’s mission to your donors. Establish a team of dedicated gift planners who know the gift planning process. Then, take the time to make personal contacts and build meaningful relationships with your top prospects to understand their motivations and philanthropic objectives. Help donors understand all of their giving opportunities and how to make gifts in the manner most advantageous to them.
PledgeMaker offers all the tools you need to manage your planned giving activities. Efficiently track the stages of all planned gifts from initial contact to receipt; get individual donor profiles with detailed gift history information; review complete financial records of each planned gift; track market value histories to show growth of planned gifts; and record and organize detailed contact information for beneficiaries, attorneys, and related parties.
To learn more about using PledgeMaker to manage your planned giving program, contact SofTrek Sales at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For additional planned giving resources, visit our website, www.softrek.com.
(Sources: SofTrek Corporation; ncpg.org; philanthropy.iupui.edu)
SofTrek Introduces Online Client Support Site
New support tool allows clients to access and track their support issues quickly and easily via the Internet.
SofTrek recently introduced a new service for PledgeMaker clients - online access to client support. This convenient support tool lets clients report and monitor all issues for their organization via the Internet.
What is online support?
Online support is a new tool that PledgeMaker users access via the Internet. The tool allows increased flexibility for users to check the status of issues they’ve reported as well as to provide additional information at their convenience. It also enables SofTrek’s Client Services team to continually monitor and update the status of client issues.
How do I use online support?
Access the site to report new issues, provide updates on or check the status of existing issues, and include notes about each issue. Automatic email confirmations alert you and the Client Services team as issues and notes are added or updated on the site.
How can I access online support?
The new online support tool is accessible via the “login” button in the upper-right corner of SofTrek’s website, www.softrek.com. Since online support is a benefit of an organization’s support contract, access is restricted to current clients and requires a unique username and password.
How can I get a login?
Online registrants for the 2007 Users’ Conference received a username and password which can be used to access online support. To obtain your username or password or to set up a new login, contact Client Services at 800.442.9211 or
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How can I learn more?
Documentation is available to help guide you through using the online support tool. For more information or to schedule a demonstration, contact your Account Manager or Client Services at 800.442.9211 or
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PledgeMaker Version 4.5 Released
SofTrek has released PledgeMaker version 4.5, which includes several important security enhancements as well as numerous improvements requested by clients. Highlights include sending calendar appointment requests to anyone with an email address, searching by email address, designation of additional security administrators, field-level help for reports and utilities, and additions to Lockbox and Query Builder. In addition, version 4.5 is the first to officially support Internet Explorer 7.0.
For more information about the PledgeMaker version 4.5 release and all related enhancements, contact Client Services at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Recap: 2007 PledgeMaker Users' Group Conference
SofTrek recently hosted the annual PledgeMaker Users’ Group Conference. More than 85 PledgeMaker users gathered in Niagara Falls, N.Y. for the three-day event.
Attendees had an opportunity to participate in various educational sessions on topics including: recent PledgeMaker enhancements; standard reports and fundraising strategies; multi-channel marketing; online training tools; fundamentals of planned giving; and report writing techniques.
Several guest speakers were in attendance to present on industry topics. Principals from Think First Serve, Inc. presented to attendees research from the for-profit industry and translated findings for nonprofits. The Seva Group offered an in-depth look at maximizing web-based fundraising with interfaces that interact real-time with PledgeMaker. A representative from Grizzard was on hand to discuss current trends in the nonprofit industry. Attendees also had an opportunity to learn from Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc. how to use PledgeMaker to set goals, define optimum performance, and hold fundraising staff accountable to a quantifiable set of measurements.
We’re already looking ahead and starting to plan for next year’s event. If you have suggestions for session topics or ways we can improve, please let us know.
How Blogs Are Changing Fundraising
Blogs have become an increasingly effective way to stay connected with current donors and engage prospective donors.
Fundraisings efforts largely focus on finding and keeping donors that are as passionate about your organization’s mission as you are. A blog is a simple tool that can help you do just that.
A blog (short for weblog) is an online journal that comments on one or more topics. The narrative style and direct language of blogs make them reader-friendly, easy to understand, and a great vehicle for communicating with donors in a very personal way. Blogs are part of social, interactive media, so posts are like conversations with current and potential donors. Blogs are a powerful and effective method for: consistently providing timely information and resources to donors; giving donors an outlet to voice opinions; involving volunteers and documenting their work; and reaching potential donors.
The blog process is simpler than website creation or print design and production; your organization can easily publish constantly updated and linked content. While a blog is easy to create and maintain, it won’t replace your publications, newsletters, and mailings. A blog will, however, provide an additional and powerful way to reach certain audiences.
(Sources: donorpowerblog.com; fundraisingsuccessmag.com; netsquared.org)
Starting a Blog for Your Organization
Millions of blogs already exist and several thousand new blogs are launched every day. Is your organization ready to blog? Below are some tips to get you started.
1. Set up a newsreader with blog, news, and search feeds related to your organization’s issues. To get started, try a service like Bloglines (bloglines.com) or Google Reader (google.com/reader). Research what is already being written about your organization’s issues, gauge different styles of writing, and collect ideas for your initial posts.
2. Select a blogger. Blogging is work; it involves building relationships with other bloggers by reading, linking to, and commenting on their blogs and then inviting them to comment on your blog. The best blogger is the person most excited about and committed to writing it.
3. Being consistent is the most important thing. Whether you post once a day or once a week, it’s quality not quantity that counts. Blogs are meant to be an interactive medium made by regular people for regular people. Have a mix of stories about your organization’s work and constituents, links to posts and news stories about related issues, and editorials on news as it relates to your organization and mission.
4. Have an RSS feed and comments. A blog should allow interaction through comments and an RSS feed. Allow readers to subscribe to your blog via email; try a service like Feedblitz (feedblitz.com).
Blogging Resources
http://nonprofitblogexchange.blogspot.com
www.globalprblogweek.com/archives/blogs_for_nonprofit_.php
www.netsquared.org/blog/britt-bravo/10-ways-nonprofits-can-use-blogs
(Sources: fundraisingsuccessmag.com; havefundogood.blogspot.com; nonprofitblogexchange.blogspot.com)
News & Notes
The New SofTrek.com
If you’ve been surfing our website lately, you’ve likely noticed a significant change. We’ve consolidated the SofTrek websites, changed the look and feel, and even added new content. If you haven’t seen us recently, stop by www.softrek.com to check out our brand new look. While you’re there, feel free to give us feedback on the changes and on any additional features or topics you’d still like to see on our new site.
If I knew then...
There’s still time to submit your fundraising lessons learned, and we encourage you to share yours. Let us know about the “if I knew then what I know now” moments you’ve had during your fundraising career. We’ll share them with our Insights readers. Send your lessons via email to
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What's On Your Mind?
Is there a fundraising topic about which you would like to know more? Are you wondering how to most efficiently use a particular PledgeMaker feature? Do you have feedback about Insights? Let us know what’s on your mind. Email your comments, suggestions and questions to
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Links and Resources
National Committee on Planned Giving
As the voice and professional resource for the planned giving community, the organization aims to increase the quality and quantity of charitable planned gifts. Browse articles and guides, find educational and training opportunities, and read up on ethical practices and standards.
Idealist
The website provides information about nonprofit organizations for nonprofit leaders and managers. Browse the extensive FAQ section on a range of topics and interests, and search the library for essays, bibliographies, and analysis on the nonprofit sector. You can read current nonprofit news and sign up for the weekly email news publication.
HandsNet
Created as a project of Hands Across America, the website provides a variety of current information on human services and community development. Read articles, connect with individuals and organizations, and learn approaches to handling community issues.
Network for Good
The charitable website aggregates online content and technology resources to help nonprofits increase capacity, reach new audiences, and build Internet strategies. Learn about fundraising online, recruiting volunteers online, and online advocacy.
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas Alva Edison
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Contact Us:
800.442.9211
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