Here's how you can maximize technology for successful fundraising as an executive.

Nowadays, technology and automation is an integral part of pretty much everything that we do, from growing vegetables all the way to producing spaceships Fundraising is no different. However, since fundraising requires trust and relationship development, you need to find the right balance of automation and manual work There is absolutely no harm in automating the first few messages with an outbound campaign, but the soonest you receive an answer, for AI aside and pay personal attention Don’t try to cut corners when time comes for personal involvement, doing things slow and carefully, and maybe putting a lot of manual repetitive work

Remember the KISS rule: Keep it simple stupid. Many CRM solutions offer you the sun, moon and stars, but these systems may be so complex that your small nonprofit or NGO is going to get overwhelmed and not finish implementing the CRM or not use it once it's live. This is a waste of your time and money. Instead, look for a solution that meets your organization where it is today, with possibilities for a bit of growth.

Your CRM is a gold mine. Spend time each day looking at donors and prospects. Be deliberate about database cleanup and updates. Your emails and fundraising letters are only as good as the data you have and if you send a letter with a wrong title or last name, you can lose a donor forever. Pay careful attention to salutations that are unique to your organization like academic titles or military rank. If someone has a title, it's important to get it right.

Las campañas digitales son muy rentables debido al hecho que la población en general pasa mucho tiempo detrás de pantallas. Esa es la oportunidad de poder entregar nuestro mensaje de apoyo y pedir la ayuda. El 50% del éxito de una campaña digital viene desde la creatividad, en este proceso debes incluir la misión de tu organización, que será el diferenciador que enamorará a tu potencial donante. El otro 50% es el manejo de medios, analiza constantemente las métricas de tus anuncios para solo quedarte con anuncios ganadores. Recuerda que este proceso es de constancia, ten paciencia y anda aprendiendo de los errores anteriores cometidos.

I would suggest identifying WHAT data you actually need to be effective as a fundraising executive. If you are an executive, your time is the most valuable commodity. Be crystal clear in you and your team's KPIs, then distill what data is needed to create the metrics that support your KPIs. DATA ->Metrics -> KPIs. Then, make sure whatever your CRM is, it is set up to consistently and accurately capture the data you need. Example: 50% of annual goal raised by July 1 (KPI) ->38% conversion rate, 79% close rate, 86% award rate (Metrics) -> Portfolio size, #/$ @ each stage, scheduled, pending & closed (Data). Any CRM can do this, but most are a kaleidoscope of data where it takes valuable time to organize to be able to analyze.

Automation tools are great but they are not a panacea to engagement. They still require regular maintenance and review. Dedicate time weekly/monthly/quarterly to review any automation that you have to make sure it is still serving you and your organization. For example: depending on your capacity/resources, the purpose of an email nurture sequence is to move leads into the appropriate funnel/pipeline. While every prospect or donor should be engaged by someone at your organization, as an executive, it does not need to be you. Make sure that nurture sequence is landing both w/the prospect and the right staff person. Evaluate and if possible, try some A/B testing to improve your metrics.

Maximize tech for fundraising by utilizing social media for wider reach and engagement. Personalize communications using data analytics. Implement AI for predictive insights and efficiency. Leverage blockchain for transparency, building trust. Automate email marketing for timely updates. Form partnerships with tech companies for resources and credibility. Ensure robust cybersecurity to protect donor data. Most importantly though incorporate Generative AI into your daily work flow and the work flows of your team. We have seen team invest 27 hours into Generative AI in a single month and generative over 350 hours of productive work.

Technology is a tool for fundraising success but it cannot be a replacement or distraction from cultivating and engaging personal relationships that sustain an organization. Example: you pull a report from your CRM and you spend HOURS cleaning it up to make it presentable for a report. Technology is also a very seductive, where you seek a quick fix and next thing you know you've been sucked into a rabbit hole of options and killed several hours of your day. To find balance: 1) Identify the top things you are being evaluated on, 2) Determine the KPIs ->Metrics ->Data for each of those things, 3) Ensure your current technology can accurately capture/manage that, and/or 4) Clarify exactly where new technology could improve your impact.