Special Society

@Karen Bruce - I recommend tracking donor societies within attributes, it is much easier to export this data when in an attribute vs relationship. Additionally, if you utilize a tool like Power Automate, there is the potential that the initial classification and on-going work to maintain this can be automated. If you'd like to have the benefit of automation without building it yourself, check out AutomateGenius. We'd be happy to help your org implement an automation like this!

@Karen Bruce:

We have a special Society, the Devoted Dawg Society, where the members have given to the university for at least the last 2 consecutive years. Would it be better to categorize it as a "membership (we already have a paid athletic booster club option), as an attribute, or as a relationship? trying to create a good way to both identify and track this special group. I'd love to know your thoughts.

I agree with Dariel about tracking in membership, since you are already using that tab. The biggest mistake organizations make with the membership tab is NOT dropping memberships when they have completed. It is best to drop a membership for a year or two, and then mark it as “rejoined”, rather than creating a new membership. I've worked with a few organizations whose memberships are a complete mess because they didn't really understand how to manage them.

Also keep a close eye on changes that Blackbaud makes to Membership as they move everything to webview. The functionality may change in a way that changes your processes.

@Karen Bruce:

@Karen Diener, where are you? I feel like I should come take you to lunch! You always have such helpful insights and suggestions. Once again…thank you!

Ha! I've just been doing this for a long time, and with a lot of different organizations. I'm very pleased to know that what I'm suggesting is helpful though - that's my goal!