Should I buy a fundraising software package or customize my own system?

Summary:

Some considerations on both sides of the question....and access to a 'tip sheet' by Jayne Cravens.

On August 18, 1995, Tim Mills-Groninger responded to Stephen Groulx on
the subject of "DOS/Windows Software for Nonprofits Data". Stephen
Groulx had written:
"Now, now, Bruce! Aren't you a little harsh in your pounding of
custom FR software? After all, in essence, spreadsheet programs,
word processors, databases (Access, Foxpro, etc.) are simply all
'custom' software themselves!"

Thanks Steve, I've been looking for a place to jump in here. I'd like to
advocate the middle ground; There is no right way to implement
information systems into a nonprofit. Some agencies do quite well with
vertical market (specialized packages for fundraising, client
management, etc.) while similar orgs fail horribly. Other can take
Access or Paradox and create their own system that are fast, efficient,
and easy to use. I've also seen do-it-yourself systems that are nothing
more than a thinly veiled job security initiative.

"Buying a software package that has done all the "programming" for
you leaves you and your organization with 1) training costs (which
you'll have on you home-built system anyway!), and 2) ease in use."

Training and support are the most overlooked factors in use of computer
systems--particularly in the database world. In a little bit I'm going
to teach a course on multi-table report writing and programming for
Paradox for Windows. There were three session leading up to this, and
all and all will involve 20 hours of hands-on training. At the end of
the training students will have a template that they can use for simple
donor tracking or client management tasks. Doing it yourself can result
in a good system, but it uses a lot of staff time in development.

"I build small applications using Word, Excel, db's, etc., but I'm
the only one that uses them. If I had to train someone how to use
my little programs, I would simply choose not to train....or send
the person to classes for programming (we do *not* have a large
organization)!"

That's a choice you have to make early in the planning phase. Rapid and
flexible implementation usually means that you're putting demands on the
users to be power users of the system. If this is true, there's nothing
you can't do with the system. If users don't know the software, you're
sunk!

"Self-made (we'll call them) programs and worksheets are great! But
just the training overhead on those alone are overwhelmingly
substantial and almost too cost prohibitive ..."

Almost true. Training is never cost prohibitive in my book. Investing in
your staff is always smart. For a list of nonprofit technical assistance
provides that can help with training and support needs check out the
Technology Resource Consortium at http://www.igc.apc.org/trc/

"Bottom line: if your organization is small, then it
*cannot* afford to spend its valuable assets > (human
resources and money) on programming, coding, debugging,
training, etc. ..."My bottom line: do-it-yourself = high
staff involment in design and planning, custom product, big
payoff if it works, big risk if it fails. vertical market
= controlled cost, staff involment as consumers, not
programmers, rapid implementation cycle, big risk of not
being the right fit (the developers view of the world is
not how you org works) consultant assisted = custom and
sophisticated product, chance for runaway costs. I'll try
to post lists of fundraising and client management software
here in the next couple of weeks.

In the Fall of 1995, Jayne Cravens wrote:
I've added a new tip sheet, per recent discussions about label-making
software, volunteer management software, nametag software, employee
management software, certificate creation software, project management
software, address book software, donor management software... :

Should Your Not-For-Profit Organization Purchase Specialized Software?
See http://www.coyotecom.com/database/software.html

Sections include

• Maybe You Already Have What You Need
  
• Sometimes, It's Unavoidable
  
• Indices of Software for Not-For-Profit Organizatons
  
• Consider Shareware
  
• How To Find Shareware
  
• Shopping for Database Software