A couple months ago I asked this email list for suggestions on databases to consider fo Cycles for Change in St. Paul and MInneapolis.  I promised to provide a summary of the results.  

We ended up looking at almost 20 databases.  In some cases this was just a review of the information available on-line.  In some cases it included a call to the developer or talking with a current user (or both). We narrowed the large list down to four who we sent a Request for Information to. This was pretty detailed -- about 5 pages long.  We then had formal demonstrations and discussions with two finalists. 

Keep in mind that the information in the list below is only our opinion.  This opinion may be totally wrong. If anything looks interesting to you, PLEASE contact the company or organization directly.  

Also keep in mind that there are a variety of other databases out there designed for small community organizations. This is NOT a comprehensive list. 

Finally, keep in mind that the needs of one community bike center will likely be very different from every other community bike center. Cycles for Change has about 15 staff and includes Open Shop, Volunteer Night, Women Transgender, Femm Open Shop, Earn-a-Bike, Community Rides, Youth Apprentice Program, Youth Earn-a-Bike, Community Partners Bike Library,  a Equity Council and a variety of one-evening to four-week classes.  Also, Cycles for Change has no staff or volunteer technology manager/director/coordinator/help.

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Databases considered for Cycles for Change

 

Requirements summary: An integrated database to: Track and report on volunteers, participants and donors;  Manage single-day and multi-day classes; Manage the Community Partners Bike Library; Manage individual fundraising. Cycles for Change has no computer/network/database technical staff. 

 

Considered:

·      CitySoft: Seems to concentrate on donor management and fundraising activities.  Appears more difficult to set-up

·      Civic CRM: Requires an internal techie who is comfortable coding  (see also PowerBase below)                                 

·      ClientTrack (via MACC CommonWealth): High-end Human Service organization client management system.  Not communications management. Not Donor Management. Limited Volunteer Management.

·      Community Bike Shop DB: Volunteers and members only; community built/open source.  Good at what it is designed to do. May need a person (on staff or volunteer or consultant) with basic database design skills to manage.  

·      EveryAction: Similar to PowerBuilder (below) but with less functionality and more expensive.

·      FreeHub: Volunteers and members only; community built/open source.  Good at what it is designed to do. May need a person (on staff or volunteer or consultant) with basic database design skills to manage.

·      Frontstream (was Giftworks): Online version is more expensive than other options.  Mainly donor management. 

·      Little Green Light. Reporting function seems quite limited. Aimed at very small organizations. Very basic system. No extras.

·      MemberClicks: Member and event only. Price equal to systems that do more. 

·      Raisers' Edge: Way too expensive. Mainly fundraising. More complex FR than we need.         

·      NationBuilder (used by Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition): Low cost. Designed originally as a political campaign database, expanded to the advocacy market. Very good donor and member management. Activity and event functions very limited.  Social media integration is good. Volunteer management not included.

·      Results Plus: A comprehensive donor management database.  Does not seem to have other functionality that C4C needs. Considered more research on this one.

·      Trailblaizer: Nonprofit product built on their political campaign base system.  Seems to concentrate on political campaigns. Does not seem to include anything other than membership and donations.

·      Wild Apricot: Member and event only-- plus website. Price equal to others that do more.

Four “semi-finalists":

·      PowerBase (Progressive Technology Project): Implantation of CivicCRM for community organizing.  Ability to track and manage events and volunteers. Comprehensive CRM system. Hosting and tech support provided (for a fee) by Progressive Technology Project. Good and reasonable cost tech support.  Allows tracking relationships of individuals to other organizations (needed for CPBL). This was one of the two finalists considered.

·      SalesForce: Very expensive set-up (realistically, set-up consulting starts at $8,000 to $10,000), needs internal tech staff or continuing consulting relationship.  However, found a consultant who has implemented SalesForce for a community bike center.  Consultant was sent a Request for Information.         

·      Salsa: Integrated system with strong Donor Management and Client Relationship Management capabilities. Was sent a Request for Information.

·      theDataBank: Integrated system with strong Donor Management and Client Relationship Management capabilities. Appears to do almost everything C4C needs (volunteer management, event management, connecting individuals to organizational partners).  This was one of two finalists.

sheldon

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Sheldon Mains

Consultant for random stuff for Cycles for Change

www.SpokesConnect.org  www.fb.com/SpokesConnect

Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149

Three ways to donate to SPOKES:

1. Volunteer.  2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.

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