If you’re using Salesforce to run your nonprofit, you know how powerful the platform is for data management, but it is also important to have powerful and secure forms to collect this data. Understanding what you want from a forms tool, as well as what kind of data you require, can help you obtain the exact information you need.
Here are our top five tips for nonprofits wanting to ensure their forms are set up for success.
1. Understand the Data You’re Collecting
Collecting data is helpful for nonprofits to be able to gauge how they have helped, or see how they can improve. But there are so many ways to collect this invaluable data, and needs will differ from one organization to another.
Some might base their research on skills and interests or by qualifying their constituents. Some may collect donations online, others only collect pledges. An organization might use one type of form to manage its operations, while others might need a sequence of interconnected workflows to manage just one program.
These differences need to be reflected in your forms and in Salesforce. Personalization means that the data you need is the data you are getting.
With great data in Salesforce, your nonprofit organization can:
- Lean into digital solutions for mission-critical activities.
- Eliminate subpar engagement and operational headaches caused by paper-based, PDF, or spreadsheet workflows.
- Leverage it into action points to create a better donor experience and boost volunteer engagement.
2. Choose a Data-Collecting Tool that Adapts to Your Needs
From automating processes in every function, to having real-time data about your community, engagement, or revenue, having Salesforce in your corner is crucial to the modern nonprofit organization. To ensure that you are maximizing your investment, it makes sense to also use a web form builder that is integrated with Salesforce.
Form builders, such as 123FormBuilder, can be the multipurpose tool needed to speed up processes by reducing manual work, increasing technology adoption, and improving user experience.
Form builders can also solve a lot of potential use cases of a nonprofit: consolidate all volunteer forms, easily survey all constituents after an event to ask for feedback, create intuitive touch points for donors, create multiple tailored experiences based on answers, and more. All in one accessible location: Salesforce.
3. Add Experts into the Mix
We’ve seen it time and time again with nonprofits: bringing on board a Salesforce expert is a game changer. Their superpower is understanding the nonprofits’ requirements and expectations, and translating them into solutions that match their tailored needs – because let’s face it, no two nonprofits are alike.
4. Know When to Ask for the Appropriate Information
Every time you want to add a question, ask yourself if this will give you insights to help achieve the goals you have set for the organization. If the answer is no, then leave it out.
Forms that have too many questions will result in contact information being accidentally left out – or worse, people not filling out the form at all. The “less is more” principle works great here. And that brings us to the next point on our list…
5. Don’t Miss Out on Autofill and Conditional Logic
Autofill will help users complete the form without having to type in all the information you have already collected from them. You can pick a Salesforce object, such as the email address, to prefill the constituent’s known personal details, leaving them to only add new data and enrich their profile.
Conditional logic allows for more personalized responses and the collection of highly specific information. It can be used to streamline workflows and can be summed up in a mix of the “IF/THEN” rule with multiple branches.
For example, if you’re on the lookout for volunteers, you can set up a recruitment form with conditional logic applied to the “What department of the organization you’d be interested in?”. Based on their choice, you can have form branches assess the requested skills and send the submission to the department coordinator for interviewing.
Bonus: Use Call-To-Actions (CTAs) That Communicate Value
We recommend using “go”, “click here”, or “download for more” instead of the cold “submit”. These feel a little more interesting and are more descriptive.
Summary
Good deeds deserve good data, and well constructed forms ensure that your nonprofit is obtaining exactly what information it requires to grow and evolve. Hopefully, these tips will help you find success in forms.
To discover how 123FormBuilder can be helpful in all the functions of a nonprofit team download The Ultimate Guide to NPO forms in Salesforce.
