Security and Open Source CRM Fundraising Software

While many commercial corporations place a high value on system and network security in all their technological endeavors, the same cannot always be said for non-profits whose primary goals are typically more altruistic and far less self-interested. Thus, when a nonprofit organization implements a new constituent relationship management (CRM) fundraising strategy, security is not always one of the top concerns.

It should be.

The issue at hand is not “Who would want to attack the security of a nonprofit?” Whether or not a nonprofit organization is a ripe or attractive target for malicious computer attacks is a complicated discussion in and of itself – but it is not the primary reason why nonprofits should be concerned about the security of the CRM initiative.

The reason, in short, is trust. The entire aim and primary goal of CRM fundraising software is to promote and streamline organization-constituent relationships in order to create targeted, effective fundraising strategies. This is accomplished through collecting and analyzing information about the constituent base – information which is often sensitive, personal, and private.

If nothing else, the security of CRM software should be a top concern because of the nature of the information being collected .Whether or not a nonprofit may be targeted by data thieves, constituents who are asked to supply personal information are more likely to do so – and do so honestly – if they are assured of the privacy of that information and the integrity of the system in which it will be stored and analyzed.

Open source CRM software brings a flexible, responsive approach to nonprofit fundraising. The security benefits associated with using an open source CRM solution can also help boost your nonprofit’s image and reliability. To learn more about open source CRM and fundraising software, contact MPower at 800-800-0293.