Maintaining 47% donor retention with Bloomerang's Giving Platform
Key Nonprofit Highlights
New View Alliance serves as the parent affiliate of two long-standing human service organizations, Gateway Longview and New Directions, which together support youth and families across Western New York through foster care, adoption, education, and behavioral health services. After switching from Blackbaud to Bloomerang, the team found it easier to engage donors, manage virtual and in-person events, and track fundraising outcomes. They successfully merged two databases under Bloomerang, improving communications and operational efficiencies. They maintain a 47% donor retention rate using Bloomerang newsletters and plan to expand peer-to-peer fundraising and other integrated campaigns.
Challenge
Switching from Blackbaud to a more functional nonprofit CRM
After a leadership transition in 2020, New View Alliance needed a donor management system that could streamline fundraising, improve donor engagement, and unite their development operations under one platform. Before the switch, the team used Blackbaud but found it wasn’t meeting their needs. “Before switching to Bloomerang, we used Blackbaud, but it wasn’t serving our needs,” said Mario Hicks, Vice President of Development and Mission Advancement. “When we moved many development efforts online, it made sense to make the switch. Our team identified an opportunity in Bloomerang that made sense for the size of our constituent group.”
Solution
Merging donor databases with Bloomerang’s Giving Platform
The Bloomerang Giving Platform provided an intuitive, unified giving platform that fit the organization’s size, structure, and goals. “Bloomerang was really well received and easy for our volunteers, donors, and staff to use. The simplified service and functionality made the most sense for us,” Hicks said. When New View Alliance brought Gateway Longview and New Directions under one umbrella, both organizations were already using Bloomerang, which made merging data simple. “The process went well, and in our calls with Bloomerang, we had our questions answered quickly and got it across the finish line,” Hicks explained.
The team also discovered that Bloomerang’s reporting tools made their work more efficient and transparent. “Bloomerang is very user-friendly. We have one full-time database specialist, but we all have access to the CRM, and the reports are easy to read and pull for all our data needs,” Hicks shared. “It’s been really great for us, and the outputs are very good for our leadership and board as well.”
Even as events shifted virtual during the pandemic, Bloomerang helped keep donors engaged. “Our large annual event, the BBQ and Blues Bash, transitioned quickly to virtual in 2020,” said Hicks. “It was a huge moment for the organization at a critical time when we still needed to raise funds for our mission, but we couldn’t spend time face-to-face. It was very successful, and we raised more funds using Bloomerang than the previous year despite that quick shift to virtual.”
Results
Using Bloomerang events and emails to improve donor engagement
Since moving to Bloomerang, New View Alliance has improved operations, enhanced communication, and maintained an exceptional 47% donor retention rate. “I think we’ve maintained a high donor retention rate because we’ve been able to leverage all the tools available,” Hicks said. “Our team is genuinely excited to use Bloomerang, and it really fits where we are right now.”
Using Bloomerang’s Email Builder, New View Alliance donor newsletters highlight “mission moments” and “high-fives” to celebrate staff and youth achievements—stories that keep donors connected to their impact. “Sending our e-communications through Bloomerang has really worked well for us,” said Hicks. “I believe our communication is integrated to really celebrate the work we do. It’s a great way to keep donors updated and engaged.”
With Bloomerang as a trusted partner, New View Alliance continues to strengthen relationships, sustain donor engagement, and deliver meaningful support to youth and families across Western New York.
