Campaign, Fund, and Appeal Management Chart

Victoria Mueller · September 9

Hi All,

My organization is currently looking to restructure and define CFA's within our database. Currently we are inconsistent with appeals, some events are classified as an appeal, and some are not. One current issue that we would like to fix with this is when doing financial reporting. We currently have to pull from around 15 of our active funds just to gather all the gifts that may have been made that month. It would be a lot more convenient if we could just pull from the overarching 3 campaigns and then have it broken down farther by funds in a report. Is it best practice to connect every fund to a campaign?

I have also decided that it would be useful for us to have some sort of template on excel for management to fill out. When they plan a new campaign, they can break it down by the funds they will have and add the planned appeals as well. This document can be constantly updated throughout the span of the campaign. I can then take this document and make the proper additions and connections in the database. Is this something anyone has done before and do they find it helpful?

Mai McClure · September 10

Hi Victoria, I just started a role as a database coordinator and my organization is going through the same thing. I would love to see what everyone suggests! Right now, we annualize our campaigns and General Fund, but are trying to see what other best practices are. We currently code monthly giving as an appeal, but are trying to move away from this, since we aren't running a specific appeal to be monthly donors.

Aldera Chisholm · September 11

Hi Victoria,

Setting up a solid CFA structure is so helpful. As you go through this, I would highly recommend taking advantage of Categories within Appeals and Funds. Then you may be able to pull "all funds within x Category, rather than picking each individual fund." For example, if you use the Fund Dashboard, and filter by Category, you'll see progress to goals per fund, and also Funds per Campaign.

I don't generally attach all funds to campaigns unless they are defaults. I find that useful in gift entry.

The idea of a document is good, if you think your leadership will fill it out. In my experience, they won't, but that may just be the folks I've worked with! :)

Dariel Dixon · September 13

I'll agree with @Aldera Chisholm here. Funds and default campaigns is a good idea. But let me back up and state that CFA structure needs to be created with a reporting and query structure in mind. How you want to get data out of the database will be one of the most important decision in how you structure your CFAs.

I don't know if you should have too many campaigns. I think at my current position, we might have 10, and 4 of those are inactive.

Madeleine Holdsworth · September 15

I would add that Funds should be evergreen and not annualized. Annualize your Campaigns and Appeals. This Blackbaud presentation deck has some great info to understand how Campaigns, Funds and Appeals should be structured.

Campaigns Funds and Appeals BB.pdf

Austen Brown · September 16

Agree with Dariel - Start with what you need for reporting. This webinar offers a good overview of how to utilize C/F/A, what your possibilities are, and what you need to consider: https://prengersolutions.com/webinar/the-best-way-to-set-up-campaigns-appeals-funds-and-package-codes-in-raisers-edge/

Dylan Medina · October 2

Hey Victoria

I recently did this with my organization which was the first since the start of the foundation so it was very overdue. We really focused on how to best report and understand where money is going. I spent time with our team figuring out how we wanted it then brought it to accounting to see how we could partner this change with them. It took a lot of drawing out maps and having people poke holes in the plans till we got there but it was very worth it!

Victoria Mueller · October 2

@Dylan Medina That's good to hear! Are you integrated with financial edge? We are starting that process soon and I'm curious to see how it will affect our structure and if I should wait until after to make these changes or try to get it done before.

Campaign, Fund, and Appeal Management Chart

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