Bonterra Development + Digital

Formerly EveryAction

We use it as a CRM, as it has the same interface as VAN, another system we use often. We also use it to send emails, host events, promote advocacy, and fundraise.

I don't put a lot of weight on the advocacy, but it helps some people feel connected to an issue. So EveryAction has stood up where it needed to.

Knowing it has the same interface as the VAN, I'd probably make the selection process even quicker.

I knew the VAN, so I understood the interface. I think training would be necessary for those without that skillset, and would be hugely beneficial for how often we use the VAN.

Know exactly what your goals are for the system before diving it.

no

I actually do not know, so I doubt it. But our current level of support shouldn't even be an option. The lowest level of support should be more than what we're currently getting.

I usually get my support from others who know the system, or those who work for NGP (but not directly with EveryAction).

It makes life a lot easier

none

no

We use it as our CRM and email service. We use it to track our supporters and volunteers and keep tabs on their volunteer activity. We also use it to pull lists of supporters for fundraising purposes. It's used by the entire organization, but mostly by our organizing team, who use it to add new supporters into the database, and then call them to volunteer and track their responses. The data director uses it to pull fundraising lists, send emails, and ensure that data is being properly entered. Other members of the team use it for reference to track overall progress as well as looking up specific people.

It's impacted all of our work. We've had great success tracking donors and customizing their donation pages to fit specific fundraising drives or events.

The advocacy tool is extremely good if your work involves having your supporters email local elected officials. I think there is room for improvement on this feature so I would just confirm that the officials you'd be advocating to are included before signing up.

Not sure if we would.

I think just knowing what source codes, survey questions, contribution history, and activists codes you want to start by using is a great first step. That will let you be able to track from day one the basic information you need to get started.

I don't believe we have; it just hasn't been something that we've required at this point.

It's hard to mention a specific, but on the extremely rare occasion where I'd put urgent in the subject field, I've gotten an incredibly quick response.

I think just connecting more with companies doing similar work to get easy API keys.

Really it was a pretty basic contract. There's not that many add on features that would cause someone to have a more detailed contract. The terms were also pretty basic, we paid annually and the price tiers are extremely straight forward. We never got the sense that there was any purpose or need to negotiate specific principle terms.

I think just ask theme what you need and just be clear if they do or do not offer those features. You may want to ask them if there are other organizations that have used the system before so you could learn some best practical practices as you get set up. But EveryAction is just a great organization and we found super easy to work with.