WealthEngine Best Practices in Higher Education for Prospect ...

Best Practices
There will always be a need to validate a portion of the
data (common names, etc.) from a screening or other data
enhancement projects. However, there are ways to
prioritize the data that is validated. For example, part of
your implementation plan can be to import the ratings
and scores of high Quality of Match (QOM) donors. Much
of the data for these individuals will not require validation.
Therefore, data on these individuals can be quickly fed
into your DMS so that you can begin your analysis of
prospect segments.
QOM Defined
The Quality of Match Score (QOM) is calculated to
provide a “confidence” gauge that each piece of data
is accurately matched to the right prospect. QOM
also serves as a simple tool for segmenting and
evaluating screening results.
Some considerations to ensure a successful data importation
into your DMS include:
Resource Constraints:
Who will be assisting with the import
What is their availability
What format do they need the data in to perform the
import most easily
Your plan should include tasks along with the names of
persons responsible for implementing those tasks. Especially
when working with scarce IT resources, it is wise
to advise them as early as possible about the upcoming
import, and to talk with them about the preferred format
of the data. This allows you to work with the vendor to
determine the best format(s) for your data delivery.
Fear the Data will be Misunderstood:
Who will have access to the data
Do they need training or documentation
When you integrate the data into your DMS, it is important
for all those having access to the DMS records to have some
training or reference documentation available to help interpret
the information. Your plan should include a method for
introducing the results of your project to leadership and the
front line fundraising staff, and possibly additional training
for the front-line staff. In our survey, 53% of respondents
presented their results to leadership. Fifty-nine percent
provided training to development officers and others on the
front-line fundraising team.
Confusion Around the Process for Your Data Import:
Does my DMS have a built-in integration with my
screening vendor
What automation tools can I easily implement between
my DMS and screening vendor
What resources are available to me between these two
system providers to assist with my data import
How have my peer organizations using my DMS
accomplished this integration
Confusion regarding the process for importing the data
should be addressed during the vendor sales process.
Most data mining vendors that integrate into your DMS
will have clearly defined processes, some of which are
automated, that will reduce the confusion regarding the
process and significantly improve the efficiency in importing
your data.
Partnerships exist, and are expanding, between screening
vendors and DMS providers. Many now offer built-in
integration to allow individual and/or batch screening
from within the DMS application. This service provides ondemand
refreshing of constituent profiles, and eliminates
the need to export or import data from your DMS. It also
provides the capability to set up workflows to enable your
moves management processes to function more fluidly.
Bottom Line: Integration of data into one
system makes it more useful, actionable and
accessible.
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