System Selection

• You know you can't afford to pick the wrong system, but are you confident you will know how to pick the right one?
• Do you have the time and expertise to do a thorough system evaluation?
• Do you want the guidance of someone who knows industry best practices but understands your unique needs?

JCA can help. Selecting the right software consists of much more than talking to a few vendors and picking a product that seems to work for your peers down the street. Functional needs, technical requirements, and organizational culture all contribute to the ultimate success or failure of every selection.

JCA can help you with all stages of your system selection

• Identify your software needs: complete a needs analysis
• Develop a suggested budget and identify potential vendors
• Write and distribute the RFP (request for proposal)
• Assist with vendor/product evaluations
• Perform due diligence
• Help with contract negotiations
• Project manage your implementation

When it comes time to evaluate different software options, our decades of experience with the software vendors in the nonprofit market allow us to objectively evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses of each one. We recognize that software will only take you part of the way; there are often organizational changes needed in order to effectively implement any new system.

Decisions as significant as software selection require consensus and compromise, and our seasoned consulting staff can help guide your organization to an end result with which all parties are comfortable. At JCA we know when to listen and when to lead. Our consultants understand that technical expertise is only part of the equation; from the first day we work with your organization we listen to and garner the trust, respect, and buy-in of all stakeholders so that all parties are ready to work collaboratively when it comes time to implement your new software.

Some of the systems we’ve helped our clients select include: The Raiser’s Edge®, Benefactor, SunGard HE Advance, Gateway, Siriusware, Artifax, Tessitura, DonorPerfect, PledgeMaker and more.

A complete list of systems we know »

If you would like tips on selecting a ticketing system and the RFP process, read our system selection white paper »

Can JCA help us implement our new software? »