{"id":30259,"date":"2023-05-18T11:56:02","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T15:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/?p=30259"},"modified":"2023-07-31T14:28:29","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T18:28:29","slug":"writing-nonprofit-crm-rfps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/featured\/writing-nonprofit-crm-rfps\/","title":{"rendered":"Nonprofit RFPs Made Easy: How to Find the Right Fundraising Software"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Like any smart business decision, purchasing donor management software (often called a fundraising CRM or constituent relationship management system) for your nonprofit involves a good deal of forethought and coordination. There are a wide variety of platforms to choose from and a number of people who will be affected by your choice. Writing a request for proposal (RFP)<\/strong> allows you to effectively navigate this process by ironing out details of the decision, like your budget, pain points with your current solution, and must-haves in your new software.<\/p>\n

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What is an RFP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve never heard of a request for proposal before, it is a written document outlining your nonprofit\u2019s service or software needs. You then distribute your nonprofit RFP to companies that can potentially fulfill your requirements. The RFP will clearly outline the steps the service or software provider needs to complete in order to submit a proposal to your nonprofit. Let\u2019s review what your RFP might look like to uncover its potential benefits.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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4 Essential Components of a Smooth RFP Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Below you will find the essential components of a nonprofit request for proposal, but remember this is your document and should be flexible to meet your organization\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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1) Introduction to your organization<\/h3>\n

Start by introducing your organization. Take this opportunity to discuss the services you offer to your community and outline the types of fundraising you conduct, as this will be pertinent to your software needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is also a great place to outline your current pain points with your existing solution. With this information, those submitting proposals will be better able to evaluate if they are a good fit and can highlight how they will meet the needs of your nonprofit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Benefits: <\/strong>Uncover the pain points that hinder your operations. This will help you rank what features will be most important to you when evaluating possible solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"DonorPerfect<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Looking to connect with other nonprofits that struggle with similar pain points to swap tips? Visit the DonorPerfect conference hub to register and watch archived sessions!<\/p>\n

Register Now \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2) Project budget and requirements<\/h3>\n

It is helpful to include your budget so that those submitting a proposal know the parameters they can work within to meet your software needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Divulging your spending limit may feel uncomfortable, but organizations need to know what services and features you can afford when they\u2019re writing their proposal to you. The very nature of submitting an RFP should help keep competitors and their prices fair, as each knows they are vying for your business.<\/p>\n

In the project requirements, you want to be very specific about what you need from the CRM software provider. This could include things like how many users will need logins and training, data tracking requirements, and timelines you need to work within. Below are some ideas of the types of items you may want to include in this section.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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  1. Concurrent users \u2013<\/strong> How many people at your organization will need a login to use the software? How many people may need to be trained on how to use it?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Data needs \u2013<\/strong> What sort of data points do you track? Who do you keep track of? Volunteers, board members, donors, etc.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n