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We've been using Raiser's Edge for a while, and it seems that one important step has been neglected thus far... we have yet to create our own "house rules". This is a scary place to be, as more and more inconsistencies begin popping up (go figure...). We of course have a few basics in place, but not detailed enough. I am officially asking if any of you would share a document that would include your own set of house rules--so we have somewhere to begin. Thank you so much in advance for lending another helping hand...
April
__________________ April Archambault Donor Relations/Database Clerk Assiniboine Community College Foundation Manitoba, Canada
I'm sorry, I really did try. I couldn't find anything like this in the shared documents, and I'm really not sure how to access the archives. Where do I go? The other link you suggested takes me to the blackbaud main website. I have looked there previouisly, and haven't found any house rules over there either. I realize it is probably me just not knowing where to look.
Thanks,
__________________ April Archambault Donor Relations/Database Clerk Assiniboine Community College Foundation Manitoba, Canada
Along with checking the posted P & P manuals, it is best if you develop your own House Rules that would apply to your "house'.
There are so many various organizations here on the bus that have vastly different P & P's - not only because of the range of institutions, but because on the bus, we're international too!!
So, what may apply in the US as dictated by the IRS and incorporated into the bus riders from the states' policies may be completely different from what UK, Australian, Canadian (sorry if I missed someone) riders have to follow - either by law or custom.
As well, a college would have very different methods of maintaining their records than say a hospital, a symphony orchestra, zoo, museum, children's refuge, cancer centre and so on.
That being said, we're here to help, so is there a particular area that maybe we could offer suggestions to you. ie. gift entry, record keeping or something similar?
Just by checking the various posts here on gifts, records, mail and so on would help you, because over time, we've discussed almost everything here.
Pull from the responses, and make them your own house rules. It takes awhile to develop your own unique policies and get everyone to follow them, but in the end it is worth it.
Good luck
__________________ Anne Marie
I was born with nothing, and I still have most of it.
Thanks for your response Anne Marie. I completely agree and understand that our house rules will have to be our own. I guess I'm just kind of at a place where it is an overwhelming task, and wanted to get a feel for what other users (similar or different) were implementing. You're right in pointing out that my question was much too generic...lol. I appreciate the response and feedback and will come back with more specific questions as they arise. Take Care,
__________________ April Archambault Donor Relations/Database Clerk Assiniboine Community College Foundation Manitoba, Canada
It is an overwhelming task which is why I took the approach of writing simple 1-2 page policies rather than an entire manual. It is so good to have 10-15 policies written and implemented rather than 10-15 sections in a gigantic manual of 50-80 sections.
With a manual you need to decide at what point do you publish it - how often do you publish revisions - I am not a fan of a giant manual.
With individual policies you write one - get it approved and put it in place - end of story and move on to the next one. Each one stays in place until you need a revision.
The whole project is never really complete - last year when i started here I wrote 22 policies in my first 6-8 months. I then had to stop because we got busy with our campaign. I still have a list of the other policies I need to do next and actually plan to start the process again this month.
Hi Again! I just found a post you wrote about this very thing. Feeling slightly silly that I didn't find it before asking in the first place--but its very useful stuff!! THANK YOU! I so love the idea of breaking it up into small 1-2 page policies. Great idea. That'll get me through it.
__________________ April Archambault Donor Relations/Database Clerk Assiniboine Community College Foundation Manitoba, Canada
I originally wrote a big manual, which was definitely not the way to go. A mammoth task for me and my team almost never used it. By dividing it up into smaller sections, it is more user friendly and not such a daunting task for me to update! I also have organised team sessions on the different sections which I have found most effective in getting them to use it by themselves. Emailing them about it seems to do very little!
Your "House Rules" 
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