15. Relational Databases
One big table becomes
many smaller ones
Contact Table
Key fields define
relationships between data
in different tables
Very scalable
Donation Table
Andrea Berry
17. What are the core questions to consider?
How complicated are the
relationships in the data
you are collecting?
What are you trying to do
with the data?
What information do you
need to get out of it?
19. When Your Data is in Multiple Places…
Came to two adult
education classes
Opens every
eNewsletter Donated $20
last year
Child enrolled in Early
Childhood Center Volunteered four
hours last year
It is hard to get the whole picture of their engagement.
20. The Core Concept of a CRM…
Came to two adult
education classes
Opens every eNewsletter
Donated $20 last year
Volunteered four
hours last year
Child enrolled in Early
…is to track all of your
Childhood Center
interactions in
one place.
21. CRM is a Strategy as Much as a System
• Track important
contact dates
• Organize contact
information
• Facilitate
correspondence
• Track all contact
interactions
You’re in the RELATIONSHIP business…
managing relationships (not just information) is key!
22. Excel
is NOT a Constituent Database
Having unorganized data won’t get you anywhere!
23. Major Individual Volunteer Members Synagogue
Donors Donors s
Constituent Relationship Management
Example: CiviCRM
www.civicrm.org
24. Major Individual Volunteer Members Synagogue
Donors Donors s
Membe
r
MGT.
System
Example: MemberClicks
www.memberclicks.com
25. Major Individual Volunteer Members Synagogue
Donors Donors s
Synagog
ue MGT.
System
Example: ShulSuite
www.shulsuite.com
26. Build Your Own
Using Access or FileMaker you can
build your own, but remember:
• Your Design = Your Headaches
• You will spend lots of time
reinventing the wheel
• Often what seems difficult is
easy, what seems easy is difficult
• People will always ask for more
27. Key issues to consider
• How similar are
your needs to other
synagogues?
• How much are you
willing to
customize?
• How much do you
care if it reflects the
typical languages
and processes of a
synagogues?
33. Is your data secure?
Core questions:
How sensitive is your
data?
Is it a reliable
vendor?
Is there a possibility
you would need to
protect your data
from a subpoena?
34. Your data, other people’s machines
Cloud-based solutions
automatically back up your
data on an automated
schedule.
Why carry your backups offsite when you can beam them there?
35. Core questions to consider
Is remote access important?
What do you gain/loose?
Do cloud costs make sense in
your scenario?
Are you or your vendor more
likely to secure and backup
your data?
What are the cultural
implications for your staff?
37. Open Source Software
Source code
available
Free to acquire
No license fees
Free to modify
It’s like getting a box of cookies, along with the recipe.
38. Open Source Challenges
Not free to
maintain
Often complicated
to implement
Support channels
not always
clear, and rarely if
ever free
The cookie recipe is free, but not the pastry chef or cooking gas.
39. The reality of FREE!
It’s free to
acquire, but
almost certainly
not free to setup,
configure,
support and
update.
Open Source does not equal free
40. It’s not always black and white
In reality, there’s a big gray area between using a straight Open
Source application or a Vendor Supported system.
You purchase a
proprietary system from a
Vendor that is built on top
of an Open Source
application
Vendor Open
Supported Source
You’re using an
Open Source
application, but you
pay a Vendor for
support
41. Working as a community
If you use an open source tool
you benefit from the work of the
community:
• Improvements made by
anyone in the community are
often available
• No need to re-invent the
wheel
For example: Hebrew birthday format, custom cemetery application…
42. Core questions to consider
Who will support your
product (and how long
have they been around?)
Do you understand the
total cost of ownership
for your product?
Do you plan on making
your own modifications?
44. And there’s more…
November 15, 2-3pm eastern / 11am-12pm pacific:
How to get the most from a more sophisticated CRM: What to collect, What to
report
November 29, 2-3pm eastern / 11am-12pm pacific:
Transitioning to a New Data Management System: Evaluating, choosing and
migrating to a new system.
Visit http://synagoguedata.eventbrite.com to join Darim Online at
a 20% discount.
Upcoming Darim webinars include:
• The Skills & Mindset of a Successful Community Weaver: Nov 16, 1-2pm ET
• Staffing Beyond the Accidental Techie: Jan 12, 1-2pm ET
• Social Giving: Feb 8, 1-2pm ET
Plus QR Codes, Facebook Changes, and Open Office Hours.
