There is hardly a Member Based organization that could not benefit from a member management database (or CMS). Non Profit Organizations and Civic Organizations of all kinds have been building their own applications for doing just this for years with varying degrees of success. In addition, there have been several very viable solutions made available that offer real solutions to this need but at a price in the tens of thousands of dollars. While larger Organizations might be able to part with this kind of outlay of cash for many the solution still remains out of reach.

Not anymore. Berry Web Designs offers a product as an add-on to our basic content management system which , unlike most CRMs, is oriented specifically toward the needs of non-profits, advocacy and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is for this reason that we avoid using the word "Customer", and use "Constituent" as it better illustrates the interdependent relationships of advocacy and non-profit organizations. Other terms such as "client" and "contact" are also used for the 'C' of 'CRM'. Whatever the 'C' stands for, the main principle of a CRM stays the same - it helps your group or organization track and organize contacts. However our solutions functionality has been designed to support the needs of fund-raising or event organizing activities rather than the process of sales of individual items, although the latter is also supported.

Just to give you an example of the wide variety of constituents that are you might need to address, let's try to answer the question: "Who does your organization interact with?" A quick and undoubtedly incomplete list would involve:

• Donors and Funders,
• Organization Members, Advisory Groups, Board Members,
• Volunteers,
• Supporters,
• Legislators,
• Partner organizations,
• Grantees,
• Media,
• Your Organization's Beneficiaries,
• Suppliers, Contractors, Consultants,
• Website Visitors,
• Event Attendees,
• Petition Signers,
• Trainees/Alumni,
• ...and more!

At any one time, your organization will interact with at least a few of these different groups: you'll want to engage with donors in a different way to volunteers, you'll need to exchange information with grantees in a completely different way than event attendees. Over time, the amount and variety of information becomes overwhelming.

That's where a CRM comes to the rescue. It will not only allow you to automate different tasks but it will also enable your organization to accumulate the knowledge about different groups of contacts, and communicate with each group in a way most suitable to them.

Contact Berry Web Designs today to find out how we can make the most of your contact with your membership.