What Gets Tracked in a Database?

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash‍ ‍

Whether you’re starting from the beginning – or your database needs a refresh - what fields are you tracking? Most people start with a field for name, the original unique identifier. Address logically follows, along with common contact information like cell number and email.

Beyond those basics, what should we track? This is where a little expertise and experience go a long way.

As you build (or update) your donor management/ Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database, it’s good practice to think through what fields you have or eventually want to capture.

It’s much easier to populate the fields as you make new connections, rather than try to bulk add multiple pieces of information for hundreds of people – all at once! So, from the moment you begin collecting contact names, think through what other fields you’ll eventually want to capture.

In this series, we’ll touch on several common – and maybe not so common – areas you might want to have settled into your database. This strategic thinking at the start will set you up for success in the long run (plus, your database manager - and your fundraising team - will thank you!)

Remember, clear data leads to confident fundraising.

Next up: What do I call you?