Customer Love: Shari Nilsson

This month’s customer love winner was nominated by Jamy Squillace Product Manager, Sage Nonprofit Solutions.

Who? Shari Nilsson

Where? Campaign for Equal Justice, Portland Oregon

Why the love:  I am nominating Shari because she is a multi-skilled, multi-tasking, multi-awesome Office Manager for the Campaign for Equal Justice.  Their mission of making equal access to justice a reality for all Oregonians is a great cause, and they held one of the best integrated fundraising campaigns I have seen.  Last year they hosted a Laf-Off where they hosted a lawyer comedy night. They used Sage Fundraising Online to sell tickets to the event and to enable peer-to-peer fundraising.  Each comedian raised money individually and there was a friendly competition to help drive donations.

Shari really understands the need to have all her fundraising tools work together as seamlessly as possible.  Even though she is a skilled user, she always participates in our webcasts and takes advantage of available training.  Her thirst for more knowledge and how she can fine-tune CEJ’s online fundraising, is a great example of a customer who strives to maximize her fundraising efforts by understanding how the tools work.   I’ve spoken with Shari multiple times in the last few years regarding Sage Fundraising Online and Sage Fundraising 50. I can count on Shari to give us great information and suggestions to improve our products.  I really appreciate her. She is an example of a customer who is a true partner: continually learning how to use our products and helping us to make the products better.

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Sweating It Out For Charity

The opportunities to participate in a charitable race  in Austin, Texas are limitless. I am a huge fan of our local Turkey Trot. It’s a wonderful annual event for my whole family and I like the extra exercise to make up for the pumpkin pie.  I am also a regular triathlon supporter, cheering my daughter on or donating on her behalf. I am proud of her she recently came in third for her age division and she just started competing three years ago.

As a participant and supporter of numerous race days, I am surprised by how few of the local races incorporate a peer-to-peer fundraising element into their event. I guess the organizers think it’s too complicated costs too much or will raise very little?

However, a peer-to-peer fundraising tool can transform a runner, cyclist, swimmer or walker into an individual fundraiser multiplying their $30 race day fee into $120 and so on. Since participants appeal to their friends for funds through Facebook or Twitter, your organization can easily grow awareness of the event, increase registrants and potentially appeal to a completely new set of donors or participants who will sweat it out for your charity.

Don’t take my word for it.  Check out the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council website at www.runwalkride.com there are a number of case studies and articles about peer-to-peer a.k.a. individual a.k.a. participant fundraising.

Even better, register for their upcoming conference taking place March 6th and 7th in Atlanta.   The presentations are terrific and you get to see and meet all the world-class athletes on hand.  I will be attending this year and would love to tell you more about Sage Fundraising Online; it’s our tool for powering peer-to-peer fundraising.

The early bird deadline is January 17^th  for the Run Walk Ride conference, so sign up today!  Be sure and save $100 on registration by using the promotional code S100 when registering here.

Let me know if you’re attending below or come by and see me at our Sage booth.

Heidi Kelley
Solution Consultant, Sage Nonprofit Solutions
Sage Business Solutions

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