Nonprofit CRM FAQ

Have questions about nonprofit CRM software? You’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about the Databank, from how it works and what it costs, to data security, setup time, and training. If you don’t see your question here, our team is always happy to help.

Q. Is it “thedatabank” or “The Databank”?

A. thedatabank is the name of our company, and The Databank is the name of our CRM software.

Q. What makes thedatabank different?

A. thedatabank is a company with a mission to provide technology and expertise to make the world safe, sustainable and just. We’re in it for the long haul, both as a company and as a partner to the organizations we work with. We’ve been creating social change through technology since 1998, and we only work with clients whose missions we believe in.

Q. What is the best CRM for nonprofits?

A. The best nonprofit CRM depends on your organization’s size and needs. thedatabank offers custom-configured nonprofit CRM software built specifically for mission-driven organizations, with options starting at $99/month.

Q. How is The Databank different from Salesforce for nonprofits?

A. Unlike large general-purpose platforms, The Databank is purpose-built exclusively for nonprofits and government organizations. Every system is custom-configured to your workflows, and our support team specializes in nonprofit technology. We also offer custom-developed software for your organization’s specific needs.

Q. I’m not very tech-savvy. Will The Databank be difficult for me to learn how to use?

A. You’ve come to the right place. Not only is our software intuitive to use, we also offer free ongoing webinar-based training or more customized private sessions. Our Support Center is devoted to articles and videos to help answer your questions. And our support, included with your Databank, has a client satisfaction rating of 99.5%.

Q. Is The Databank secure?

A. Your data is safer with The Databank than it is at your office. All data transmitted over the internet is encrypted using the latest encryption technology. Your data is stored in a state-of-the-art data center, never leaves the United States, and is backed up every day. You retain ownership of the data – we will never sell or exchange it.

Q. Does The Databank handle online payments?

A. Yes, we can help clients set up an e-commerce, internet fundraising, online event registration, and other credit card transactions. We work with a third party, called a Payment Gateway, to facilitate the credit card processing. thedatabank does not charge a fee for online credit card transactions, but your Payment Gateway and/or merchant account is likely to charge a fee.

• The Payment Gateway authorizes the credit card charges in a matter of seconds, and transmits the funds directly to the client’s bank account.
• A confirmation number and transaction information (such as donor name, contact info, donation amount) are automatically added to your Databank.
• You have the opportunity to review all new transactions before they are posted into the Databank.
• Potential duplicates are flagged for merge.

For more information, see our Payment Gateway Comparison chart.

Q. What is thedatabank’s policy on spam?

A. At thedatabank, we take our reputation as an email service provider very seriously. We regularly scan over 100 different blocklists to be sure our servers are not listed as senders of spam. We aggressively follow up on any spam complaints with clients and ISPs. Most importantly, we prevent spam from being sent through our systems, both by having a no-tolerance spam policy for clients and by providing tools to keep our clients in compliance with the CAN-SPAM law. Read the policy

Q. Will The Databank work on my computer?

A. The Databank is a web-based relationship management database that works on any computer, browser, or operating system – Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera, you name it. Access your Databank from anywhere over the internet with your email address and password.

Q. Can I import my data?

A. When you convert to The Databank, we move your existing data into your Databank. You don’t need to be a technical expert, just send us your file(s). Batch entry, file import, and duplicate processing will save you time and effort.

Q. How do I choose a payment gateway provider?

A. The Databank integrates with Deluxe and Authorize.net as payment gateway providers.

Whichever service you choose to work with may depend on the volume of transactions, and whether your organization already has its own merchant account. An account representative can help you by discussing the differences between the various services with you. Learn more about our payment gateway partners.

Q. Will The Databank interface with our other software?

A. The Databank is a nearly comprehensive system designed to eliminate isolated islands of data. If you do need to share data, you can import and export data files in formats compatible with most other software.

Q. Is training available?

A. We provide personalized initial training for clients. Monthly live group webinar training is available throughout the month to all clients at no additional charge. Unlimited technical support is available by phone and email, and user guides are built into the software. We also have a series of online tutorials, which can be played on demand and were designed to supplement our live training.