Help on Management Software or Service

HU_Secretary

Hi,
As a small charity we are looking for a system which will offer the following services:

Must Have:
> Hosting non-paid volunteers data
> Hosting customer membership data and public registration service
> Offer a payment collection service
> Provides a task manager
> Provides an expenses manager
> Allow mass or selected messaging to volunteers and members
> Is GDPR compliant

Nice to Have:
> Secure document storage
> Able to link in with external websites
> Website builder

We need something which is either free for NFP organisations or has a very low monthly fee so that it is affordable.

I have scoured the internet and there a many options but most are either too complex and complicated or don't offer the full features needed.

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated as I'm sure others will have gone through the same process and dilemma.

Thanks.

Savvy_Sue

Have you looked at CiviCRM?

I know that it has most of what you want, and suspect it has all but we don't use everything you mention. And because it's Open Source quite a few bells and whistles seem to be added at regular intervals. There are also several companies around the UK who specialise in hosting and customising it, but of course it depends what you mean by a 'very low' monthly fee.

Some bits of it are quite easy to tweak in-house.

HU_Secretary

Hi Savvy_Sue,
Thanks for replying with the suggestion.

I have had a look and got as far as getting access to CiviCRM.

Do you work for CiviCRM?

The amount of development needed to tailor it for our requirements is I suspect beyond our financial means so I didn't pursue it any further.

Ideally we need something that is mainly ready to use of the box with only minor tweaks or development needed.

I appreciate our wants might not be served by one platform provider so we may have to go with two but long-term I think that may be better for others who take over.

That being said if CiviCRM is easily developed then I may re-look at it again especially if it can be done with some help. If it was paid development then as a ballpark how much do you think it would cost for all those feathers?

Thanks again.

Savvy_Sue

I don't work for them, no! We use it at work: we have two separate databases, one for our clients and one for 'everyone else' - our clients are highly vulnerable so we wanted to keep them very separate.

I can't give any guidance as to costs, I'm afraid. We have ongoing costs for hosting, we paid a certain amount up front for training and help with customising. We still get some paid help for 'bells and whistles'.

It needs the right mindset to get into it, certainly, but it is promoted as something you can get 'off the shelf' and play with yourself. And there is a large and supportive civi community out there ...

HU_Secretary

Thanks Savvy_Sue.

I'll have another look at it over the weekend and report back.

Hopefully someone else will also be able to suggest an alternative so that we can make an informed decision.