The Holy Grail of Data Integrity
With most any industry, a company's database is its most valuable asset. In particular, for fundraisers that rely heavily on their databases to appeal to donors, data is the lifeblood of their organizations. Keeping databases clean, updated, and well organized is crucial, because the integrity of the data will effect the results of any campaign. But many companies don't place enough emphasis on data integrity, either because they don't think they have the resources to improve their systems, or perhaps they're not even aware that they are working with bad data.
What is Data Integrity?
To understand the basics of data integrity, you have to know what bad data entails. Incorrect name references and spellings, poor coding structure, missing codes, and duplicate records are just a few of the hallmarks of bad data. Such data is, in the best case, the result of a lack of proper training. In the worse case, it's the result of negligence on the part of the users over a period of time. » READ MORE
How to Achieve Data Integrity
The first step in achieving data integrity is identifying bad data. Duplicate accounts, for instance, are a common problem that can create havoc for account updating from editing addresses to entering in gifts. This all but guarantees the likelihood of inaccurate reporting and mailings. Worse yet, fundraisers may not be able to give proper credit to donors. If you have gift information spread over more than two accounts, you can't put donors into their correct giving level or properly recognize them for their full giving. » READ MORE
Maintaining Data Integrity
Perhaps the most difficult task involved with effective database management is maintaining data integrity. Preserving the integrity of your data requires you to be diligent and aggressive. For starters, you should run reports daily. In fact, whenever you add information to your database, run reports to verify that the information entered is accurate. It takes less time to run two simple reports every day than it does to track errors such as which gifts were entered this month with a wrong amount, a missing appeal or were not entered at all. » READ MORE
Case Study Snapshot: Large Mid-Atlantic Children's Hospital
Having found other fundraising software inadequate to meet the needs of a greatly expanded development office and program, a large Mid-Atlantic children's hospital chose Donor2's fundraising software solution. » READ MORE