Key Nonprofit Highlights
First Tee – Greater Akron in Ohio exists to shape the next generation, using golf to teach life skills, character, and confidence. But behind the scenes, their technology wasn’t keeping pace with their purpose. First Tee transformed its fundraising operations after moving from an outdated CRM to Bloomerang. With actionable donor insights, automation, and mobile access, the team saved time, strengthened relationships, and made more strategic, confident fundraising decisions. The results were powerful: a 78% increase in unique donors in year one and a 72% increase in fundraising revenue over four years—representing more than $290,000 to support their mission. Ultimately, Bloomerang helped First Tee work smarter, deepen donor connections, and unlock greater impact for the young people they serve.
Challenge
Outdated nonprofit CRM slowed donor management, reporting, and relationship-building
Before switching to Bloomerang, First Tee’s donor management system created friction at every turn. As CEO Jeff O’Brien explained, “our old CRM felt like more of an obstacle than a tool.” Their old platform lacked usability, mobility, and automation, which forced the team into time-consuming manual work.
“It wasn’t user friendly, and without a mobile app, I was constantly tethered to a desk just to pull up basic information,” said O’Brien. “On top of that, our old system had no way to populate thank-you letters to donors, so every single acknowledgment had to be created manually. Honestly, it created more frustration than it solved.”
Even basic tasks came at a cost. “A simple task of pulling total donations for the year took almost a full day of both my time as well as our operations manager,” O’Brien shared. “That’s what prompted us to look into other avenues that would be a more cost-effective and efficient use of our time.”
Solution
An intuitive, nonprofit CRM with donor insights, automation, and built-in intelligence
Bloomerang gave First Tee something their old system never could: freedom to focus on the mission. With a platform built for purpose, their team gained a clear, connected view of every supporter to unlock smarter outreach and stronger relationships. As O’Brien put it: “Donor management is at the core of everything we do from a fundraising standpoint, and Bloomerang continues to make that work so much easier. Having a clear, real-time view of our donor history, giving patterns, and communication touchpoints all in one place means nothing falls through the cracks.”
The Bloomerang mobile app has surpassed expectations. “The app allows me to pull up a donor record before walking into a meeting or picking up the phone, which makes every conversation feel more personal and prepared,” he shared. And with tools like Email Builder and automated acknowledgments, communication became faster, easier, and more consistent. According to O’Brien, “We’re communicating better, more consistently, and with a lot less time and effort than before.”
Powerful wealth insights have been a game changer, allowing the team to approach fundraising with confidence and clarity. “Being able to pull up a quick snapshot of a donor or prospect’s giving history is incredibly valuable, especially when you’re preparing for a major ask,” said O’Brien. “It takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process and gives us the confidence to make a more informed, more detailed ask based on what someone has actually demonstrated they’re capable of giving.”
Even reporting transformed from an all-day task to taking a matter of minutes. “The ability to pull meaningful data in just a few minutes is something we simply did not have before,” he shared. “That kind of quick, reliable insight allows us to make smarter, more educated decisions and be much more strategic about where we focus our energy.” For a small team, the impact was immediate and meaningful. In O’Brien’s words, “Bloomerang essentially functions as an extra set of hands on the team.”
Bloomerang Support has directly contributed to being an extra set of hands for First Tee as well. “Every interaction I’ve had with the Bloomerang support team has been timely and genuinely helpful. Whenever we’ve had a question or needed guidance, they’ve come through,” shared O’Brien, also calling AI support “a really pleasant surprise.” He followed up: “Bloomerang Chat is intuitive, responsive, and has been able to walk me through just about anything I’ve needed on the spot. For a busy CEO who doesn’t always have time to sit on hold or wait for a call back, having that kind of immediate, reliable support makes a real difference in how confidently we use the platform day-to-day.”
Results
Increased donors, stronger fundraising performance, and measurable nonprofit growth
With the right tools in place, First Tee didn’t just get more efficient, they grew their supporters and fundraising as well. In their first year using Bloomerang, the organization saw a 78% increase in unique donors, which have continued to grow year-over-year. And the momentum didn’t stop there. At the same time, their fundraising results climbed dramatically. Since implementing Bloomerang, First Tee – Greater Akron increased fundraising revenue by 72% over four years, representing more than $290,000 in additional support for their mission.
What changed wasn’t just the numbers, it was how the team worked. Tasks that once took hours now took minutes. Donor stewardship became consistent and scalable. And every interaction felt more informed, more personal, and more impactful. “Bloomerang has absolutely surpassed our expectations. When we made the switch, we were hoping for something more user friendly and efficient than what we had. What we got was so much more than that,” said O’Brien. “The platform has genuinely transformed how we manage donor relationships, communicate with our base, analyze our data, and steward the people who invest in our mission. Every feature we use has delivered real, tangible value for our team.”
And for other nonprofits considering the leap? O’Brien said, “Do not wait. Whether you are a large organization or a small shop like ours, Bloomerang gives you the tools to work smarter, communicate better, and build stronger relationships with your donors. And at the end of the day, stronger donor relationships mean more resources to serve the people who depend on you. That is exactly what it has done for us at First Tee – Greater Akron.”
