Nonprofits FAQs - Nonprofit Management Software, Association Membership Software

Nonprofits FAQs

1. How does Affnetz help my Nonprofit stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and core Beneficiaries feel more engaged?

In a survey of Nonprofit organizations* respondents reported: Only 43% of donors made repeat gifts in the following year. Also, in our experience, less than 30% of volunteers return to serve year over year. Fundraising effectiveness and volunteer operations success over the long term depends on nurturing relationships with these and other Stakeholders to keep them coming back year after year. Nonprofits are under pressure to improve their Stakeholders’ experiences in several critical areas including:

Stakeholder Connectedness
Websites lacking fresh information
Information about other Stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and Beneficiaries
Event Management
Feedback mechanisms
Collaboration tools
Engagement of Sponsors and Advertisers

However, many Nonprofits rely on an array of standalone technical Solutions that do not allow them to provide the best experience for Stakeholders. Affnetz provides an affordable, integrated SaaS (Software as a Service) Platform that handles all your critical processes. Nonprofits can save time and money while delivering a superior experience for Stakeholders. * 2019 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report, The Fundraising Effectiveness Project – 2019 FUNDRAISING EFFECTIVENESS SURVEY REPORT

2. How does Affnetz support collaboration within my Nonprofit?

Affnetz supports collaboration in multiple ways. For example, the Affnetz Intranet and Project Management module provides a collaboration Platform that your Stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, Core Beneficiaries, and staff can use as a knowledge base, share files, and coordinate activities. Another example is the Affnetz social media dashboard. It enables your Stakeholders to build and leverage close professional relationships with other Stakeholders and event attendees. Stakeholders can create a post, share an update or comment on an existing update/post.

3. My Nonprofit wants to collaborate with other organizations to raise awareness of our Mission. How can Affnetz support collaboration between our Nonprofit, other local, national, or international chapters of our Nonprofit or other organizations on joint initiatives or projects?

Research shows Nonprofit chapters often collaborate for two reasons:

First, it is an opportunity to reduce costs on things such as real estate, IT, Software, CMS, CRM, programs, and fees.

Second, some Nonprofits are exploring options for down-sizing or collaborating with other local, national, or international chapters of your Nonprofit or any other organization.

Also, Nonprofits collaborate with other organizations such as Chambers and Businesses to promote the Nonprofit’s Mission.

Your Nonprofit and other organizations that are using Affnetz have automatic compatibility for Inter-organizational sharing of data, projects, committees, and events.

The Affnetz Platform helps in cost savings, efficiency, better sponsor relationships, and new revenue generation from stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and in some cases from the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries, event sponsors, and advertisers.

All modules can be securely integrated with a signed agreement between your Nonprofit and any other chapters, organizations using the Affnetz Solution.

4. Due to cost-cutting reasons, we need to share IT, Member, Volunteer, Sponsor, and resources with other chapters. How does Affnetz help?

All Affnetz modules can be securely integrated with a signed agreement between your organization and any other organizations using the Affnetz solution.

5. How can affnetz help in Donation renewals and Volunteer commitments?

For Donors: affnetz can support increased engagement with your organization. Frequent communication with donors can reduce attrition and reinforce their commitment to the organization’s Mission.

For Volunteers: enhanced collaboration and communication features of affnetz help clarify expectations for their volunteer duties and improve coordination to make optimal use of their time and talent.

Affnetz provides these important stakeholders with tools to increase the value of their contributions. It increases the “stickiness,” thus enhancing their commitments, service, and volunteer efforts. Stakeholders are reluctant to leave because it means giving up valuable benefits the Platform offers, including losing interaction opportunities and accumulated data.

6. How can affnetz help current or potential Stakeholders (Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, Beneficiaries) prove ROI for renewing their commitment to my Nonprofit?

The affnetz SaaS Solution provides multiple benefits. Stakeholders can cite as proof of a positive ROI and increased opportunity to promote the Nonprofit’s Mission. Stakeholders sharing social media updates about their specialized area of work, and community engagement help them become brand ambassadors for your Nonprofit.

7. How can affnetz help my Nonprofit solve problems in generating new Donation and Sponsor revenue?

affnetz modules ensures efficient handling of Nonprofit financial flows. Affnetz does away with these manual tasks, which means you can redeploy precious resources to help with other critical tasks. This results in improved ROI and eliminates human error. Integrations to Intuit QuickBooks® include:

Integration with the affnetz
Database/CRM system which allows smooth dues processing and timely issuance of dues reminders. This avoids missed revenue opportunities.
Integration with the affnetz Event Management System provides fast and easy payment processing for events.
Advertising revenue is enhanced because all the emails and web/mobile content display the logo, name, and hyperlink to the advertiser’s website in various sizes of your choice based on the sponsor-level.
Revenue from sponsors is optimized with increased communication and payment processing to more closely collaborate with these critical stakeholders.
Stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s Core Beneficiaries can post/react to content in the app. By providing them with tools to create content, it empowers them to be your brand ambassadors.

8. Does affnetz have a centralized Stakeholders (Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, Beneficiaries) database?

Affnetz has a comprehensive Stakeholders database functionality that allows your Nonprofit to capture a robust set of Stakeholders data. The database includes a complete Customer Relation Management (CRM) system to help you keep detailed tabs on the health of your stakeholders. The affnetz CRM function allows the organization to have a complete view of actions that build and sustain the health of the member base. FEATURES

Comprehensive Stakeholders /donor/volunteer database
Log all interactions with stakeholders– emails, phone calls, marketing campaigns
Track stakeholders commitments, donations, and renewals
Marketing automation – manage marketing programs including email campaigns with tracking
Interfaces with Intuit QuickBooks® to log all payments and refunds including promo or sponsor code integration
Tags on Stakeholder entries (e.g., identify Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, to serve on committees)
Allows Stakeholders and non-Stakeholders (guest) listings Event attendees are added to the database when they register, which allows this information to be used for recruiting new Stakeholders.

9. How does affnetz support outbound mail campaigns to Stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries?

The affnetz Customer Relation Management (CRM) system supports a full-featured native e-mail campaign capability.

E-mail campaigns can be tailored to Stakeholder segments and sub-segments

10. How does the affnetz CRM work?

affnetz member/donor/volunteer database. Data can be input and referenced from a computer or smartphone. Second, permissions to the database can be tailored by the administrator, depending on the requirements of the user. Staff would have full access to the database. Members would be able to access the data to support their ongoing networking and communication activities. Third, the staff would be able to handle master data management to ensure the integrity of the data. They make sure the data is clean and up to date. Fourth, the CRM module provides email campaign management, which enables workflow from the initial campaign concept through build, test, deployment, and post-campaign analysis. It also allows control of multiple lists for segmentation. Fifth, the affnetz CRM provides analytics tools to make sense of the database contents for decision making in such efforts as

Campaign evaluation
Managing and segmenting lists for targeted marketing
Measure results across channels

Sixth, lead generation and follow-up tracking for prospective members and current members. This allows assessment of member behavior in the quest to provide innovative engagement opportunities.

11. How can affnetz help my nonprofit better understand our Stakeholders (Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core Beneficiaries?

All Stakeholders information captured in one database

Can create groups in the database

Can send blast emails Can control which groups receive the email

Track opening of emails to assess the effectiveness

Track attendance at Nonprofit events

Allows analysis of dues payment history

12.How can affnetz improve the effectiveness of virtual meetings?

You can create/manage Zoom/or WebEx Integration inside each Event.

This will allow automatic creating and embedding of the event information on the Event page itself, resulting in fewer calls to the Chamber staff asking for the Meeting URL or the call-in info.

13. How does affnetz create and manage events?

Event Forms – Easy-to-build Event Form to create each event. Automatically generates a calendar invite for outbound email.

Workflow and Process Management -Built-in workflows to keep event planning and execution on track.

Reporting – Reports for tabulating results.

Calendar – Help manage the event project with built-in calendars.

Single Sign-On (SSO) – The user’s affnetz™ login credentials will apply to event registration and the event mobile app.

Onsite Tools

Check-In and Badging -Check-in and badging are integrated with the affnetz
member database.
Attendee/Lead Capture – Allows scan and capture of badges or manual entry for attendee networking or lead capture.
Attendee Tracking – Integration with the affnetz
Member Database and CRM system allows visibility to attendee session attendance and CEU credits.
Social Amplification – Attendees can share/create/post/comment to over 50 popular social media sites. Also, Administrators can deploy content broadcasts, ads, social media posts, and photos.
Metrics & Analytics – Analytics allow your organization to understand attendee preferences and opinions to gauge event success and support future event planning.
Mobile Event Apps – All event attendee-facing functions exist in the mobile app.

Event Promotion

Event Website – Create a separate website for your event using the affnetz
Content Management System.
Email Campaigns – Using the affnetz
Stakeholder database and CRM system, promote and communicate about events via blast emails.

Event Feedback

Surveys and Feedback – Use the full functionality of the affnetz
Survey and Feedback module to capture and analyze attendee preferences and opinions.

Security & Support

Data Security – All data is protected by affnetz patented encryption. Data is encrypted both in movement and at rest.
Support & Training – The affnetz support team is available 7 days a week.

14. How does the Affnetz Event Management System (EMS) work with the Affnetz Stakeholder database?

The Affnetz Event Management System (EMS) is integrated with the Stakeholder database to provide such time-saving tasks as:

Pre-populate registration forms
Provides email blast capability to event attendees
Event attendance is tracked in the database
Event attendees are added to the database whether or not they are stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries

15. How does the Affnetz Event Management System (EMS) integrate with Intuit QuickBooks®?

The registration function in the Affnetz Event Management System (EMS) allows event payments to seamlessly flow through to your Intuit QuickBooks®. This functionality is 100% automated.

16. How does Affnetz interact with social media tools like LinkedIn and Facebook for marketing and communication of my Nonprofit?

Affnetz was built with social media in mind. Stakeholders can share/create/post/comment to over 50 popular social media sites directly from their Affnetz Dashboard on the web or via their mobile device. Event attendees can share/create/post/comment in a similar way once they are registered.

17. How does Affnetz make use of artificial intelligence and machine learning?

Based on your volume of usage, Affnetz will learn and help Stakeholders see which events or posts or topics they would be most interested in, and at the same time, the system will help the Admin with Real-Time Analytics.
The AI/ML capabilities will suggest to the Admin when to promote events or email stakeholders, etc.

18. How does Affnetz support capturing and analyzing feedback from Stakeholders and event attendees?

The Affnetz Member, Database/CRM system, offers a survey and feedback feature that makes it easy to create and deploy surveys and other feedback processes. Whether it is existing stakeholders or other event attendees, the Affnetz feedback process easily captures valuable data for ongoing decision making. The Affnetz Surveys and Feedback module allows data capture and analysis with these features:

Unlimited surveys
Up to 999 questions
Ability to embed surveys into emails and web pages (via hyperlink)
Mobile-enabledData export functionality (Word and Excel)
Create your own custom templates
Ability to use custom logo and branding

19. How do the Affnetz Surveys and Feedback process integrate with the Affnetz Stakeholder database?

The Affnetz Surveys and feedback process integrates with the Affnetz Stakeholder database to:
- compile mailing lists
- record survey participation by member

20. How do I to analyze feedback once it is captured in Affnetz Surveys and Feedback module?

Export to Word, CSV or Excel, and from there custom analysis can be performed by the tools of your choice.

21. How does the Affnetz Content Management System work to keep my Nonprofit's web and mobile assets updated?

Affnetz provides a robust, easy-to-use Content Management System (CMS) to keep your website updated with the most current information.Internal staff can learn to use the CMS, so your cost for outside resources is reduced or eliminated. Ad impressions and metrics can be tracked within the application.

22. How does our Nonprofit’s staff learn how to use the Affnetz Content Management System?

Our success depends on your success. During the implementation process, comprehensive training will occur, including on the CMS. Video tutorials will be available for users to access at any time.

23. How can Affnetz support my Nonprofit in managing sponsors?

The Affnetz Stakeholders, Database/CRM system, provides the ability to track all information about your sponsors so you can deliver the best ROI for them.The Affnetz Survey and Feedback function allows you to reach out to measure sponsor satisfaction consistently to improve sponsor relationships.The Affnetz CMS system allows you great flexibility in posting sponsor ads on your website, inside the Stakeholders database, events, event pages, etc.

24. With what other software does Affnetz integrate?

The Affnetz Administrative Foundation supports a built-in connection with Intuit QuickBooks®. This allows for seamless financial data flows.
Zoom and WebEx integration. Coming soon: Google Meet and GoToMeeting

25. How does the Affnetz mobile app work?

The Affnetz Mobile App can help Stakeholders to engage, make notes, collaborate, and serve your Mission. This helps them to show the ROI to renew and commit to your Nonprofit.Stakeholders can download, serve, engage, and be productive on the go, thus assisting you in achieving your Nonprofit’s mission and goals.The mobile app allows:

Event registration
Stakeholders posts feed (share posts/updates)
Connect/chat in real-time with other stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries
Your teams can collaborate on internal projects

26. How does Affnetz help improve Stakeholders, including sponsors’, engagement and commitment to the Nonprofit to reduce attrition?

These FOUR things would help the Nonprofit earn Stakeholders’ commitment to renew year after year.

The more Stakeholders are engaged and use the Platform, the more invested they are. This Platform takes Stakeholders’ engagement to the next level.
Affnetz will be a primary digital diary for your Stakeholders, in their pocket, at their disposal whenever they need it.
Stakeholders can make Private Digital Clip Notes® on the events they attend and about other Stakeholders and other attendees they meet face to face or during virtual events.
Recordings of the Events they cannot attend: Stakeholders can watch at their own pace and on their own schedule.

27. What is the onboarding process for new Affnetz customers?

For each customer, we will present a customized plan which will be signed off by all parties before the implementation begins. We will also supplement onboarding with “how-to” videos and 7 days a week tech support.

28. What are Private Digital Clip Notes® in Affnetz?

People they meet on the Platform or during face to face or virtual events

If they cannot attend the event, they can still make Private Digital Clip Notes® for each event on the Platform or other stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries of the Platform.

The Nonprofit staff can use Private Digital Clip Notes® to log private notes about individual stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries, events, sponsors,

You can use the product to keep tabs on your stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, beneficiaries, and sponsors by making Private Digital Clip Notes® so nothing is lost in emails or anything else that might slip through the cracks.

29. How does Affnetz support committees in my Nonprofit?

Support your Committees/Groups/Ambassadors. Twenty percent of your Stakeholders (Donors, Volunteers and Board of Directors) are active, and you want to provide the tools to enable them to be productive and make their lives easier.

They can form Committees.
They can request to serve on a committee.
You can request a selected few to serve on the board or help with Annual or ongoing events.
They can post, share updates, contact each Stakeholder of the group or message all at once.
They can create Virtual meetings.
They can share and store files.
All the communication, collaboration, Project management can happen on the Platform.

Overall, you can provide collaboration and communication tools to enable them to become your brand ambassadors.

30. How does Affnetz protect data?

All data is secured by the Affnetz patent-pending protection technology.

31. How can Affnetz be customized to fit my specific requirements better?

Affnetz can meet your critical requirements. Features can be turned on and turned off at your choice. Affnetz can be further customized to meet your unique needs. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll provide a plan for adding that new functionality. We charge a flat rate of $75 per hour for discovery and development. The average time for discovery is four hours. If the customization is possible, then we will provide a fixed-price estimate. We believe this straightforward, transparent approach gives you peace of mind. It is how we work at affnetz™. Please check out our Service Ethic page for more information.

32. How can Affnetz help our Nonprofit staff be more efficient?

We know your staff is multi-tasking. As a result, we have made the administration of the tool very easy and quick. Any staff member can oversee the process. Affnetz helps your Nonprofit gain efficiency by:

The Affnetz Intranet and Project Management module provides a collaboration Platform that your stakeholders such as Donors, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and the Nonprofit’s core beneficiaries or employees can use as a knowledge base, share files and coordinate activities.
All Affnetz modules can be securely integrated with a signed agreement between your organization and any other organizations using the Affnetz solution.
Integration with the Affnetz Stakeholder database/CRM system allows donation processing and timely issuance of donation reminders.
Integration with the Affnetz Event Management System provides fast and easy Event creation, onsite management, and payment processing, which is 100% automated.
Revenue from sponsors is optimized with increased communication and payment processing to more closely collaborate with these critical stakeholders.
Marketing automation – easily manage marketing programs including email campaigns with tracking Interfaces with Intuit QuickBooks® to log all payments and refunds including promo or sponsor code integration.
Event attendees are added to the database when they register, which allows for their names to be used for new Donor, Volunteer or Sponsor recruiting campaigns.
The affnetz Stakeholder Database/CRM system offers a survey and feedback feature that makes it easy to create and deploy surveys and other feedback processes.
Affnetz provides a robust, easy-to-use Content Management System (CMS) to keep your website updated with the most current information. Internal staff can learn to use the CMS, so your cost for outside resources is reduced or eliminated.

33. How could our Nonprofit afford the Affnetz solution with our tight budget?

The Affnetz team has spent decades in the industry, and we understand budget issues. Consider these points:

Affnetz replaces multiple, standalone software applications you are already paying for.
The integrated Affnetz SaaS platform delivers countless efficiencies for your operations.
Affnetz can enhance revenue in multiple ways, which, combined with process efficiencies, could turn some cost centers into profit centers. (We will show you at least 11 different ways how you can generate new revenue from using the Solution.)
QuickBooks® Integration, Badge Printing, Surveys & Feedback, Committee Management that is done manually or via email and/or spreadsheet. All these tasks are automated and flow seamlessly, thus saving hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars.
We also have a Mobile App that could also help you generate new revenue in addition to the Web platform.

In the first six-months itself, you will have made money from the product to pay for itself and still leftover for you to invest in your Nonprofit’s projects.