Adding Fiscal Year to Campaign and Appeal Names

Question

Hello!

My organization is reviewing how we manage our Campaigns and Appeals in RENXT. We currently add a fiscal year to each campaign and appeal. We're discussing only adding a fiscal year to a time-bound campaign, such as a capital campaign and removing fiscal year from campaigns that are in perpetuity (general unrestricted giving) but are discussing keeping the fiscal year for all appeals.

I'm curious to know how others at different organizations name and categorize their campaigns and appeals.

Thanks!

Carlene Johnson · Answer

As a consultant, I strongly advise my clients that Campaign and Fund should always be "evergreen" with no year attached so that it never has to change.  Appeals, on the other hand, frequently do have the year because we need to be able to analyze each separate appeal and track on each constituent's record when each appeal was sent.

You might find this video from @Prenger Solutions helpful.  Start at the 7 minute mark to see where they talk about Campaigns, Funds, Appeals, and Packages.

Joe Moretti · Answer

I am not a fan of putting the FY in front of campaigns and most appeals, just because you end up with too many campaigns and appeals. Now if you have a 10 year campaign, just name whatever the particular name of that campaign is. As far as appeals, you can always report on the FY of that appeal. But again it will depend on your organization and how it likes to report, etc. But I find putting the FY in front of each campaign and appeal is unnecessary, except in case of a gala you have every single year that has various packages which can change over time.