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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Donor Management Software and why do I need it?

2. Does my organization have to buy a license for every computer in the office that will be using Patron Software?

3. How many people can connect to Patron Software at the same time?

4. Is it possible for our employees or volunteers to connect to Patron Software even if they're not in the office?

5. Is there a training program for Patron Software?

6. Can our existing records be converted into Patron Software?

7. Can donor database and fundraising records from other programs be imported directly into Patron Software?

8. Why do we need MS Office Professional to run Patron Software?

9. Do we have to use MS Outlook with the email functions in Patron Software?

10. Does Patron Software run on a MAC?

11. Will Patron Software replace our current financial record-keeping system?

12. Does Patron Software interface with QuickBooks?

13. Our organization uses volunteers to help with donor management data entry. Is there a way to protect our sensitive information?

14. Does Patron Software charge a fee for updates?

15. What is a donor management database?

16. Isn't a spreadsheet a database?

17. Is it possible to see a demo of Patron Software?

18. How much does it cost?

19. What are the benefits of Patron Software for our donor database management?
 

1. What is Donor Management Software and why do I need it?

Donor Management Software is a computer program designed specifically for nonprofit organizations that streamlines your record-keeping and reporting capabilities.  Patron Software is intuitive, easy-to-use and allows you to consolidate important information about your donors, members, volunteers, programs, and class participants all in one program.  Staff or volunteers involved in maintaining your administrative records can access the information in the program and update it for others to use and access.  Your sensitive information is protected and only authorized users at varying levels of security are able to access and modify your records.

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2. Does my organization have to buy a license for every computer in the office that will be using Patron Software?

No.  With Patron Software there is a single price regardless of how many people will be using it.

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3. How many people can connect to Patron Software at the same time?

Although there is no actual limit to the number of users who can connect to your donor database using Patron Software, if more than five people are connected at the same time, it may take longer to retrieve your records.

It really depends on the type of hardware you have and also how much memory each desktop or laptop has.

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4. Is it possible for our employees or volunteers to connect to Patron Software even if they're not in the office?

This can be accomplished through the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Visit the How Stuff Works web site to read more about VPN's. Or, you may decide to use a satellite modem to connect directly to your server and Patron Software. The technical staff at Patron Software works with your IT professional to ensure that Patron Software operates correctly in your situation.

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5. Is there a training program for Patron Software?

Three hours of training is included in the purchase of Patron Software and with any of our subscription services.  

Training is done via the Internet. Your Patron Software trainer emails you an Internet address which you can either click on or type into your browser. When the web page comes up, you and Patron Software are ready for an interactive training session using your data. Your trainer is on the phone with you explaining what you are seeing and guiding you as you start your work.

Whether you purchase Patron Software, or subscribe to a month-to-month service, you and your trainer work with your records making it easier for you to understand how Patron Software works best with your organization.

Additional classes can be scheduled. A fee is charged depending on the length of the class and the number of attendees.

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6. Can our existing records be converted into Patron Software?

Patron Software offers a donor management data conversion service. The price depends on the number of records you have and the condition of the records. Contact Patron Software for more information.

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7. Can  donor database and fundraising records from other programs be imported directly into Patron Software?

Yes.  Patron Software allows users to import names and addresses from a MS Excel spreadsheet directly into Patron Software.

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8. Why do we need MS Office Professional to run Patron Software?

Patron Software made the decision to build its platform on Microsoft Office Professional because of the seamless integration with Excel, Word and Outlook. For example, with just a couple of mouse clicks, your selected information can be exported into an Excel spreadsheet or published in Word and then emailed as an attachment.

If you already have MS Office, but are missing MS Access, Patron Software can purchase it for you and ship it with your Patron Software program.

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9. Do we have to use MS Outlook with the email functions in Patron Software?

No. Most email service providers allow programs such as Patron Software to interact with them. However, there are some exceptions. If you aren't sure about your email service provider, send us an email and we'll find out for you.

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10. Does Patron Software run on a MAC?

No. There are no immediate plans to develop a MAC version of Patron Software.

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11. Will Patron Software replace our current financial record-keeping system?

Although Patron Software complements your financial record-keeping system, it is not a replacement for it. With Patron Software, you can record
both cash and non-cash transactions such as the fair market value of an in-kind contribution, giving your organization a complete view of income.

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12. Does Patron Software interface with QuickBooks?

Not at this time. But, Patron Software plans to interface with QuickBooks in the next version release.

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13. Our organization uses volunteers to help with donor management data entry. Is there a way to protect our sensitive information?

Each user of Patron Software is assigned a unique user ID and password. You (as the Administrator) choose the functions each user is allowed to perform. For example, a volunteer doing data entry is authorized to add or modify company records, but not to delete them.

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14. Does Patron Software charge a fee for updates?

There is a small fee for updates (never more than 30% of the current retail price). You are informed when the update is available, and you have the option to purchase it or not.

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15. What is a donor management database?

A donor management database (like Patron Software) is a collection of records organized in such a way that they are easy to search and retrieve. Records that contain the same type of information (e.g., name, address, phone number) are stored in tables. As each record is entered, the data is validated for content and format. For example, a zip code requires either 5 or 9 digits. You would not be allowed to enter a 4 digit zip code.

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16. Isn't a spreadsheet a database?

Yes, technically speaking. However, spreadsheets are two-dimensional and records are difficult to retrieve. If all you are doing is keeping a name and address list, a spreadsheet can handle the job. But, if you want to track how many hours each person volunteered, or all of the cash and non-cash donations each person made, then a spreadsheet quickly becomes difficult to maintain.

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17. Is it possible to see a demo of Patron Software?

Yes. If you would like to schedule a private tour of Patron Software, please call us toll free at (877) 898-3981 or email us to make arrangements.

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18. How much does it cost?

Your organization can purchase our Donor Management & Fundraising Software package for under $2500. But, depending on your organization's requirements, the cost may be higher or lower. Patron Software works with you and your budget.

Or, you can subscribe to one of our monthly subscription services for as little as $49 a month.

Pricing Information

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19. What are the benefits of Patron Software for our donor database management?

There are numerous benefits to using Patron Software's Donor Management Program.  Whether you purchase the software outright or subscribe to our month-to-month fundraising software subscription service package, you will quickly realize all the benefits of getting your records organized using such an easy program.

Even self-proclaimed non-technical people find our Donor Management Software easy to use.  And with our personalized training program that comes with each package, you'll find that all aspects of your organization, including your donor database records, volunteer management, and class and program management, are so much easier to maintain using Patron Software.

If your organization does any of the following administrative tasks, then you can benefit from using Patron Software:

• track donor and fundraising sources
• prepare mailing lists for newsletters, event invitations, or thank-you letters
• register participants for programs or classes
• use the help of volunteers
• run a capital campaign
• provide case management for social services
• offer an after-school program, youth group, or camp
• manage a membership base
• keep unlimited notes about your donors
• and so much more...

Another benefit of using Patron Software's Donor Management Program is that we've priced our software to make sure it is affordable and a worthy investment for any size organization.  You can easily track your administrative records, donor mailing lists, and volunteer resources all while saving valuable time for as little as $49 a month through our monthly Donor Management subscription service.

To learn more about the benefits of using Patron Software for nonprofit fundraising management, please refer to the following articles:

• Solving the Record-Keeping Dilemma
• Managing a Fundraiser
• Programs
• A Study in Case Management
• Capital Campaigns
• Complete Functionality List

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