First Priority of Alabama had an ongoing problem: Two databases and two different database systems.

The Birmingham-based nonprofit with a mission to serve the spiritual well-being of secondary school students in Alabama had worked diligently over the years storing donor data in a Windows-based system and volunteer data in a Mac-based system.

This caused employees to skip back and forth to work spaces equipped with computers that were loaded with the specific software systems. It also often created dual database entries in both systems.

As employees became frustrated with the continual upgrades required for its fundraising software, they were searching for a new system that could handle both databases when eTapestry, a Web-based fundraising software, caught their attention.

"eTapestry is incredible at what it does on the donor side, and we could do those same things with our volunteer database," said Greg Davis, executive director.

First Priority has been using eTapestry since May 2002. The nonprofit used eTapestry to coordinate more than 300 volunteers for Birmingham 2003, a monthly prayer effort that kicked off in January with a youth conference of 2,000 participants. First Priority sent separate e-mails to volunteers through eTapestry, targeting them through their geographic volunteer areas, to help prepare the monthly prayers.

First Priority has taken target marketing to its donor side, sending smaller, separate mailings through eTapestry to lapsed donors, and those who gave more or less than last year, said John Harrison, director of public relations and development officer.

"If I have a mailing of 200 people, we can hand sign it and place a first-class stamp on it and write a personal note," Harrison said. "That personal touch is so vital in fundraising. eTapestry has helped take us to the next level with that personal touch."

One of the nonprofit's employees also accesses eTapestry from home where she pulls reports on the largest donors and then makes appointments for Davis to meet them personally.

Davis said he's been happy with the customer service offered by eTapestry.

"The first year we paid for phone support but the e-mail support was so great that we began to use that most of the time," he said.

In spite of 2002 being a tough fundraising year for many nonprofits, First Priority of Alabama reported record numbers. Davis said that eTapestry was definitely a factor because it allowed the staff to become more efficient and focused on fundraising.

About eTapestry
eTapestry is the leading provider of web-based fundraising and donor management software for nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. As a web-based application, eTapestry provides access from any Internet connection and handles all maintenance, backup and security. For more information, contact eTapestry at www.etapestry.com, 888-739-3827, or info@eTapestry.com.