Product Update: Integration is Key in ClearView for PledgeMaker
According to Tim O’Reilley, President and CEO of O’Reilly Media, Inc., in What is Web 2.0: “The central principle behind the success of the giants born in the Web 1.0 era who have survived to lead the Web 2.0 era appears to be this, that they have embraced the power of the web to harness collective intelligence.”
Collective, collaborative, smart, easy to use, tailored to your needs, and integratedwith your workflow – these are the hallmarksof Web 2.0and the principles behind the design of ClearView for PledgeMaker. The full-featured web application sits atop the robust and proven PledgeMaker fundraising database and integrates with a number of other applications, giving you the power to interact with the information that is important to you from a single jumping off point.
The SofTrek team began development of ClearView by first reaching out to its user community to determine what the requirements for the next generation of fundraising software might be. The collective response was – give us something that is easy to use, flexible, and provides us with the information and tools we need to do our jobs.
ClearView takes full advantage of new web technologies, giving you access to information well-beyond the limits of what is contained in your database. Simple integrations with native mail and calendar applications, Google gadgets, and Microsoft Excel and Word make familiar tools accessible and drastically decrease learning curves. Use of established open source products, like ICEFaces and JasperReports, extend collaboration and serve as building blocks for well-thought out interfaces. More complex partnerships with companies, like WealthEngine, who are best of breed in their area of expertise, provide access to information that is becoming increasingly crucial to giving organizations an advantage in
the competition for fundraising dollars.
Integration with WealthEngine’s
ProspectLinkTM and WebConnectTM services bring wealth screening data to the forefront of
the donor overview. Prospect researchers and major gift officers can update the information they are seeing with one-click, or navigate to WealthEngine’s site to view more in-depth profile information. Ad hoc reporting capabilities make this information available for use in a myriad of ways – from list making to detailed analysis – without ever having to leave ClearView.
Perhaps the most important feature of ClearView, above and beyond the details, is that you have the flexibility to design your workspace to meet your needs. Both the main, or home page, and the donor-level main page are fully user-definable. You can choose the data you want to see from a library of dashboard-like data panels that can be organized by task, by importance of information, or to facilitate navigation. You can build panels that contain the fields you want to see, design table views that let you find the transactions you want to access, or pull together all those pieces of information that you need to plan your next trip on one page.
ClearView is generally available starting July 24, 2009 and will be highlighted at SofTrek’s 2009 Users Conference. Contact your account manager to find out how you can begin using ClearView and improve the way you work with your donors.
The ClearView Knowledgebase: A Community Project
A wiki, from the Hawaiian word for “quickly,” is software that allows many people to easily and efficiently collaborate in the production of articles – most commonly devoted to a specific subject or field of interest.
The ClearView knowledgebase is a community project lead by the SofTrek team that harnesses the power of wiki tools to document application features and provide an interactive means for users to more efficiently and effectively use ClearView for PledgeMaker.
Clicking on a “help” icon anywhere in ClearView navigates you to an article in the knowledgebase that is specific to the item you clicked. Once in the knowledgebase, you can:
Anything that has to do with day-to-day use of ClearView is potential material to add to the ClearView knowledgebase. From information about ways to use features or step-by-step procedures, to organization and business-specific information you need to function in your position every day - almost anything goes.
The ClearView knowledgebase can accommodate information in a variety of forms including attached files and links to help users communicate their ideas and share information.
Learn More About ClearView
A review of ClearView for PledgeMaker was recently featured on NonProfit Technology News. After seeing SofTrek’s ClearView technology, writer Karen Corey noted that “ClearView for PledgeMaker is amazing high-tech software that allows the user to do a multitude of tasks in one application.” Corey concluded that “SofTrek spent a lot of time and energy to make this system user friendly and the options are endless. ClearView was designed to be easy to use, customizable, and have integrated features for searching and accessing donor information. I can’t say enough about this product, I was amazed at all it could do.” Read the entire review on www.nptechnews.com/reviews.
ClearView 1.0 is generally available starting July 24, 2009. To learn more, visit www.softrek.com where you can download the complete feature list or register for a complimentary informational webinar and demo. Contact your Client Services account manager to find out how you can get on board with ClearView for PledgeMaker - the fundraising tools you need, the friendly technology you want.
SofTrek and WealthEngine Enter Partnership
SofTrek Corporation, the premier donor management solution provider for nonprofit organizations, has historically partnered with a number of strategic businesses to provide best of breed technology solutions to enhance the donor management capabilities for nonprofit organizations.
In June 2009, SofTrek Corporation formalized a partnership with WealthEngine, the leading prospect research company for nonprofits. SofTrek and WealthEngine have jointly developed an integrated donor management wealth screening solution to improve workflow and communications within the development functions of nonprofit organizations. Users are able to access screening information on donors and prospects from within SofTrek’s donor management solution in real-time, thereby allowing development staff to retrieve up-to-date asset profiles when they need them.
“This capability will provide nonprofit organizations with the most current prospect wealth screening data to enhance their development strategies and decision making,” stated Bob Girardi, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for SofTrek.
Jeff Moore, Director of Partner Development for WealthEngine, will be on hand at SofTrek’s 2009 Users Conference to discuss the benefits of wealth screening to nonprofits, the integration of WealthEngine’s offerings into SofTrek’s donor management solutions, and the value this brings to all types of nonprofit organizations. SofTrek staff will also be available to demonstrate this exciting new integrated capability in ClearView.
As part of the partnership agreement, SofTrek clients are eligible to participate in monthly educational workshops sponsored by WealthEngine. Held the third Thursday of each month, workshops either cover specialized training topics to help prospect researchers put data to work or take an in-depth look at how prospect research can be used as part of an overall development strategy. Learn more at
www.wealthengine.com/pub/workshops.jsp.
Communicate with Your Donors
Donors give to your organization because they believe you are making a difference in a cause they care about. They value your work and want to support your mission so their gifts are investments in the work they expect you to accomplish. Attract continued support for your initiatives and activities by communicating with your donors.
1. Tell donors what their gift enabled you to accomplish. This is how they will know their donation was put to the best use in your programs and services. Provide specific facts, examples, and stories of how they affected the lives of real people. Share as much detail as you can about the progress you have made and the effectiveness of your work.
2. Thank donors promptly after receiving their gifts. Find personal ways to thank and connect them to your mission. Whether it’s with a note, a newsletter, an email, a phone call, or a gift, find something that lets each donor know how much you appreciate his or her gift.
3. Make opportunities to communicate personally with each donor – strive for two times per year. For major donors, schedule in-person meetings or personal telephone calls. Resist the temptation to do all the talking by asking lots of questions and listening to what they need and want.
4. Ask donors for advice and listen to it. Don’t get defensive or react with “that isn’t my job or responsibility.” Instead, look for ways to follow through on what they suggest.
5. Find compelling ways to recognize donors. By honoring donors and the work their gifts make possible, you will make lasting friends. This deeper recognition of the difference they make is the thanks they really want. It causes them to remain loyal to your organization and to keep asking, “How else can I help?”
(Sources: Grizzard; nonprofit.about.com; The NonProfit Times)
News & Notes
2009 Users Conference
SofTrek’s 2009 Users Conference is being held August 3 through 5 in Niagara Falls, New York. Visit www.regonline.com/2009softrekconference for the latest information about registration, travel, lodging, sessions, and events. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Conference.
Client Survey
The SofTrek team would like to thank everyone who participated in our 2009 client satisfaction survey. Your input and feedback help us improve our products and services in order to meet your expectations. Congratulations to Denise Ayala of the American Center for Law and Justice who won a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. Thanks again for participating!
Send Your Product Ideas
Do you have ideas for enhancing our PledgeMaker donor management software? Please don’t keep them to yourself - share your ideas with us! Send all of your product-related suggestions to
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. Our team reviews all incoming ideas and evaluates them for potential use in future releases of our product. Keep your product ideas coming.
Links and Resources
Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
The site serves as a guide to resources and information about nonprofit organizations, foundations, fundraising, technology, educational opportunities, jobs, and more. Search feature archives, participate in chats, post a resume, or register for email newsletters.
Yahoo! Finance
Browse the site to find the latest financial news and top feature stories, stock market summaries for the US, Europe, and Asia, quotes and related information, average rates across the US, expert opinions, and much more.
Council on Foundations
The Council is a membership association that provides opportunity, leadership, and tools to expand, enhance, and sustain the ability of philanthropic organizations to advance the common good. Browse current news, read supplemental legislative papers, locate resources for professional advancement, and connect with members.
Planned Giving Today
The site offers resources for gift-planning professionals, including excerpts from its monthly print newsletter, insights and practical suggestions, and a guide to products and services. Find a comprehensive listing of training events, seminars, and planned giving conferences scheduled throughout the US and Canada.
"You must be willing to do the things today others don't do in order to have the things tomorrow others won't have." - Les Brown
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