Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast

Serving 12 counties in the Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast region, Goodwill Easterseals provides programs and services to help individuals and families overcome challenges due to disabilities and other barriers that impact economic well-being, self-sufficiency, and quality of life.

The purpose of the below case study is to feature an organization that found its way to Bloomerang through Benevon and who saw the benefit of using Bloomerang for Benevon—a world-class donor database that complements a world-class sustainable fundraising model.

Your Donor Database is Only as Good as Its Ability to Integrate with Your Fundraising Model

That’s why Bloomerang has partnered with Benevon to provide Bloomerang for Benevon—a customized, easy-to-use, cloud-based donor management solution that integrates with the Benevon Model.

Challenge

How Is The Benevon Model Being Used?
Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast has followed the Benevon Model by inviting individuals to see and experience their mission first-hand. Benevon does a great job of helping Bill Dillman and his team interact and engage with these individuals. Benevon’s first “Point of Entry” step entails using your organization’s Ambassadors to inspire their friends and colleagues with an introductory event about the organization that focuses on facts and an emotional appeal. Bill and his team have successfully adapted that first step with their organization’s mission and overarching areas of impact—and done away with some pain points in the process!

Benevon has helped Bill alleviate the pain point of how to get potential donors to visit Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast, and how to shape what they see and take away from the experience. Taking it one step further, Benevon has also assisted with dictating what stories they should tell and follow-up questions they should ask to generate continued engagement with these individuals. Individuals engaged with your mission empower your nonprofit.

What Originally Drew You To Bloomerang?
After Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast successfully implemented Benevon, a proven sustainable fundraising model, Bill Dillman, Vice President of Marketing and Development, realized the importance and appeal of finding a donor database solution that could incorporate and complement the Benevon Model. After attending a Benevon 101 training, and getting a recommendation from Benevon’s Founder and CEO, Terry Axelrod, Bill and his team decided that Bloomerang donor management software would best fit their fundraising and development needs.

Solution

How is Bloomerang being used by your nonprofit? What challenges did you want a Donor Database to solve?

Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast had finally found a system to empower their development team. Bloomerang’s integration with DonorSearch’s wealth screening tool, AND seamless website integration for online donation forms, have been great assets for their development team.

On top of that, Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast has been really happy with Bloomerang’s capabilities and service. Bill says they’ve benefited from “great support from the Bloomerang team.” From the sales process to implementation and onboarding to customer support, the team at Bloomerang always strives to give great support and service. They’re truly “wonderful folks.”

What was the appeal of Bloomerang for Benevon and what has Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast come to appreciate since implementing it?
Having a system that seamlessly integrates the Benevon processes and vocabularies has been beneficial to the development team at Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast. The online donation website integration has been the most helpful in driving donations and integrating the data back into the Bloomerang system.

Bill and his team now have the information they need for their gift development process right at their fingertips. It’s simple and intuitive for Bill to prepare the CEO before he meets with major gift donors or prospects.

Results

Has Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast Seen Changes In Your Fundraising Results Since Using Bloomerang For Benevon?
Since implementing Bloomerang for Benevon, Bill has seen an increase in revenue raised from their fundraising efforts.

“The Benevon Model increased our annual fundraiser from $130,000 to $400,000 in one year with less staff and more engagement from the board.” That’s a 207.7% increase in just one year!

On top of that, Bloomerang for Benevon has helped Bill and his team benefit from positive changes to key metrics since implementation. They have seen a lower cost for events and “true community engagement,” all while raising more revenue.

It’s amazing what a user-friendly, uncomplicated tool can do for the growth of an organization such as Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast.

“Bloomerang for Benevon is a great tool, easy to work and really fun to use.”