Integrate Your Website with Your PledgeMaker Database
Raise more funds, increase operational efficiencies, and foster your online fundraising activities simply by integrating your organization's website with PledgeMaker.
Nonprofit organizations are increasingly offering donors additional ways to participate and interact through their websites. This serves to engage new donors and increase loyalty among current donors.
Linking your donor management software with your website is not only convenient for donors, but it also promotes the integrity of data coming into your organization. Accepting donor information through your website eliminates the need to manually enter data into your database, thereby eliminating potential errors. These benefits are fully realized when all of the information submitted through your website is properly, safely, and securely recorded in your database.
There are several web-based fundraising interfaces that interact in real-time with PledgeMaker. These fully-configurable, web-based fundraising interfaces are useful for conducting significant activities online, such as events and registrations.
Online fundraising interfaces have many features including but not limited to personal web pages, the ability to edit prospect information and the ability to track and manage your organization’s current fundraising goals. In addition, you can foster your online fundraising campaigns by extending invitations to donors, and receiving donations and event registrations directly through your website.
Real-time integration of your website with your PledgeMaker database allows all of the donor data submitted through your website to be recorded securely and accurately in your database. Plus, storing appropriate data on your website provides an alternate source for obtaining information about your donors and your online fundraising activities for which you’d otherwise have to go to PledgeMaker.
Whether your organization opts to use PledgeMaker’s internet--based application or integrate your on premise PledgeMaker system, both service options offer secure data transfer, ensuring the integrity and safety of your donors’ data.
To learn more about real-time integration of your organization’s website with your PledgeMaker database, contact SofTrek Sales at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or visit www.softrek.com to send an online request.
(Sources: SofTrek Corporation: The Seva Group)
Security Roles Added in PledgeMaker
In the version 4.5 release of PledgeMaker, Security Roles were added. With Roles, security can be defined for entire groups instead of for each individual user.
The procedure for creating roles is similar to the procedure for creating individual logins. Like a login, a role name is defined and privileges added. Role names must be unique; they cannot duplicate an existing role or an existing login. Since it is not an actual login, the role is not assigned a password.
Once it has been named, system and screen privileges can be assigned to the role. Note that Mailing Segmentation privileges are not granted to roles. If a login using a role needs Segmentation privileges, they are still granted using the Mailing option on the Security menu.
Once the role has been defined, individual users, whether new or existing, can be assigned to the role. The role is assigned simply by selecting it on the main security screen.
Once a role is assigned to a login, the login has all the privileges originally assigned to the role. When looking at the login, the privileges can be viewed but not changed. Privileges can only be changed by editing the role. If the privileges for a role are changed, then all users assigned to that role will inherit the change.
If you have questions about this PledgeMaker feature or if you would like to learn more about the 4.5 release, contact Client Services at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
IRS Releases 2008 Benefit Limitations
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released charitable benefit limitations for taxable years beginning in 2008. According to the IRS, the unrelated business income of certain exempt organizations does not include articles of $9.10 or less. In addition, the $5, $25, and $50 guidelines for disregarding the value of insubstantial benefits received by a donor in return for a fully deductible charitable contribution are $9.10, $45.50, and $91, respectively.
Exempt organizations can give donors substantial benefits without reducing their gift amount provided those benefits do not exceed 2% of the amount given or $91 - whichever amount is less. For token items like pins and coffee mugs, exempt organizations need not disclose provided the donor contributes at least $45.50 and the combined value of token items which bear the organization’s name and/or logo do not exceed $9.10.
To view the IRS release in its entirety, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-07-66.pdf.
(Sources: irs.gov; fundsvcs.org)
IRS Sets New Filing Thresholds for Form 990
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued an updated version of Form 990, which tax-exempt organizations are required to file annually.
The current Form 990 will be used for the 2007 tax year, filed during 2008. The newly released form will be used for the 2008 tax year, filed in 2009. The IRS anticipates releasing instructions for the new form in early 2008.
The IRS also provided transition relief to allow small tax-exempt organizations time to adjust to the new form. The new filing threshold will allow nonprofit organizations with gross receipts between $25,000 and $1 million, and total assets below $2.5 million, to file a revised Form 990 EZ in 2008.
By 2010, nonprofit organizations with gross receipts between $50,000 and $200,000 and total assets of less than $500,000 will be permitted to file a Form 990 EZ.
Until then, organizations with gross receipts of more than $100,000 or total assets of at least $250,000 must file the Form 990 for the 2007 tax year.
To view the IRS release in its entirety, visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=176722,00.html.
(Sources: irs.gov; nptimes.com)
Start Selling Your Cause to Donors
Individuals are increasingly supporting nonprofit organizations with time and funds. Capitalize on this trend by selling your cause to donors and prospects.
A nonprofit organization is a business and its primary business should be selling its cause to donors and prospects. With that in mind, there are several lessons that the nonprofit sector can take from for-profit businesses.
Individuals are bombarded with messages, news, information, and requests. Your nonprofit needs to stand out from others in order to get their attention. One way to differentiate your organization is to be proactive about communicating with your donors. Make sure donors know how you are using their gifts and report back to them often about your accomplishments.
Don’t underestimate the significance of a thank you. A thank you shouldn’t just be about thanking a donor for his gift; it should relate a success story that the gift has made possible.And, a thank you can come in one of many forms - a phone call, a hand-written note, even a newsletter that doesn’t request a contribution.
Remember why your donors support your cause. Be willing to take the time to talk to donors and find out why they are supporting you. You might be surprised to learn why they contribute to your organization.
Above all, treat your donors as the valued customers they are. Communicate with your donors regularly and often. The more you focus on your donors as valued customers, the more success your organization is likely to have in the future.
(Sources: fundraisingsuccessmag.com; practical-fundraising.com)
Make Your Message Stick with Donors
Some messages stick and stay in memory, while others are simply (if not immediately) forgotten. Messages that stick with people are more likely to inspire action. The biggest challenge is creating messages that persist. So how can you make your organization’s message and cause stick with your donors? The key is to tailor your message around several key characteristics.
Simplicity. Hone in on the essence of your subject.
Unexpectedness. Break routine with language, stories, and channels to get the attention of your donors. Or, create mystery with a teaser.
Concreteness. Explain your message in concrete terms to help donors understand and remember.
Credibility. Help donors believe by citing authorities, details and statistics.
Emotional. Make donors care by appealing to their self-interests by introducing others they can relate to and linking messages to what they already care about.
Story(telling). Stories bring ideas to life. They are frequently unexpected, concrete, credible, and emotional. And, the best stories are simple enough to be remembered and re-told.
Resources Online:
http://www.madetostick.com/blog
http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com
(Sources: donorpowerblog.com; gettingattention.org; nptimes.com)
News & Notes
2008 Users' Conference
Save the date! The 2008 PledgeMaker Users' Conference is slated for Sunday, July 27 through Wednesday, July 30. The 2008 Conference is being held in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Look for details about registration, sessions, and activities in the next issue of eInsights. We look forward to seeing you there.
2008 Training Schedule
In December, SofTrek Client Services mailed a training information packet reminding users about the benefits of attending regular PledgeMaker training. The packet included a calendar of scheduled training dates for 2008. If you would like to schedule a training session, or if you did not receive a training packet, please contact Client Services at 800.442.9211 or
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Visit Us Online
Visit www.softrek.com to find additional resources on fundraising issues, industry trends, and information about products and capabilities that can help your organization achieve its fundraising goals. While you're there, click on the "contact us" button to let us know what you think. Or, write to us anytime at
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Links and Resources
Leader to Leader Institute
The Institute strengthens the leadership of the social sector by providing leaders with essential wisdom, inspiration, and resources to lead for innovation and build vibrant social sector organizations. You can opt to become a member or make a contribution.
Philanthropy Journal
The online publication helps people understand, support, and work in the nonprofit and philanthropic world while helping them recognize and solve social problems. Check the website daily for nonprofit news, resources, announcements, and job listings. Or sign up for the free, weekly email bulletin.
Internet Prospector
A nonprofit service to the prospect research community, the organization provides tools for accessing corporate, foundation, biographical, international, and online news sources. Subscribe to the free monthly newsletter or search information from back issues.
National Center for Charitable Statistics
The organization develops and disseminates data on nonprofit organizations and their activities for use in research. Visitors can download microdata on nonprofits, view or download database documentation and data dictionaries, and download IRS forms and publications from which most of the data is collected.
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Sir Winston Churchill
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