Andy Burns

Bringing in an expert to get you on the right path can be worth it many times over. After all, you do believe in the value of specialization, right? “Expertise doesn’t come cheap, but the alternative is far more costly.” Or in other words, it doesn’t matter how much of a “bargain” something seems to

Software as a Service (SaaS) relieves the technical overhead to experts so you can focus squarely on your mission and just sign-in and use the system. Here’s how the CiviCRM SaaS approach stacks up against those 8 key factors I mentioned rated on a basis of very low to very high (1-5). Control – 2

Want to dip your toe into the waters of what CiviCRM is like? Spark is the starter kit and ultra low cost option for CiviCRM onlookers. Here’s how the DIY approach stacks up against those 8 key factors I mentioned rated on a basis of very low to very high (1-5). Control – 2 Spark

Thinking about going the Do It Yourself (DIY) route for your CiviCRM implementation? It’s a fantastic option for techies who love to get their hands dirty, have implemented other IT systems and want to truly understand the inner workings of their CRM. If you’ve got curiosity and a bit of patience, this could be a

It’s a bit like building a house: you can go full on DIY, hire a contractor, or choose a prefabricated model. Each choice comes with its own pros and cons, largely on some key factors that are unique to your situation. The reality is, you can only pick the right path with a reasonable level

You know where you want to end up but how about where to even start with your CRM implementation? Well, it’s really all about your end goals and working backwards. You generally have 2 ways of looking at launching a CRM: Take a guess which one is more risky and causes you to pull more

CiviCRM is not your average CRM you’ll find searching on Google. What do I mean? It isn’t like other proprietary CRM’s where you put down your credit card and start using in some fashion. It’s an open source CRM that allows flexibility and control over how it is deployed. You get to make decisions, yay!

Did you do the CiviCRM double step upgrade dance recently? Today a security version was released, which means you need to upgrade. No, this really cannot be ignored for responsible custodians of their CiviCRM install. If this isn’t part of your routine maintenance plan, start now to and work with your in-house CRM expert or

When you’re a nonprofit executive, you can choose to rent or own your CRM software. It’s a major decision that will have ripple effects for years to come, so how do you decide prudently? When you rent a house, you don’t need to think about the plumbing, house layout design or what furniture you’d like