Because Excel will Mind Me! The State of Constituent Data Management in Small Nonprofit Organizations

The value of constituent data to the non-profit sector is higher than ever (Hagen, 2006). Yet for small nonprofit organizations in particular, collecting, maintaining, accessing, and summarizing constituent data remains a daunting and frustrating task. This research examines why this is so. Using case studies of two small nonprofit organizations, we identify challenges faced by these organizations in managing their constituent data. Analyzing these challenges and working with the nonprofits to address the challenges have resulted in a set of recommendations we offer for MIS researchers to become more engaged in serving this sector.

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