We will show you how to use the FundraisingBox Salesforce Connector with the example of the organization CBM and the benefits it offers.
The FundraisingBox Salesforce Connector
The Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM) decided to use Salesforce as their CRM in 2020. The goal was to unite online and offline fundraising in one system, simplifying and automating processes. However, without an additional donation platform, Salesforce users cannot collect donation data. Therefore, the organization chose the FundraisingBox Salesforce Connector. This connector facilitates communication between Salesforce and FundraisingBox. All fundraising data, including both online and offline donations, are collected in FundraisingBox and communicated to Salesforce. This integration allows the organization to fully utilize Salesforce’s automation capabilities.
Interview with CBM on the Salesforce Connector
Please tell us a little about CBM and the mission that drives you.
Since when have you been using Salesforce and why? What is important to you in working with Salesforce as a CRM? Why did you choose Salesforce?
Monika Stewing: We went live with Salesforce as our CRM system in September 2020. The introduction of Salesforce was a strategic decision aimed at operating a cloud-based system capable of meeting future challenges. A major goal was to integrate offline and online fundraising and to simplify and automate processes.
What are the advantages of using FundraisingBox together with Salesforce?
Monika Stewing: By using FundraisingBox and Salesforce together, we can see all the data of our supporters at a glance, regardless of the channels through which contact was made and donations were given. The integration runs in real-time and is bidirectional, ensuring that our data is always consistent and up-to-date.
You have been using our products for a while and recently undertook a larger project to connect FundraisingBox with Salesforce CRM. How did the project go?
Monika Stewing: The project was a particularly good experience. Notably, there was excellent communication with reliable deadlines and very quick responses. This allowed us to go live with the new integration in a short time.
What challenges were you able to solve with our product?
Monika Stewing: Previously, we had an integration that ran only once a day and often generated errors that had to be manually corrected. We used another tool for importing data into Salesforce, and scripts had to be executed afterward. This process was very error-prone, required daily manual rework, and demanded technical know-how.
What features do you particularly like about the new integration?
Monika Stewing: The integration runs in real-time and supports our existing rules in Salesforce, so we don’t have to create our own rules within the integration but can rely on our proven standards. For example, the connector adheres to Salesforce’s duplicate rules, ensuring that no duplicate contacts are created by the connector. It also allows us to handle corporate donations differently. The assignment of payment profiles and mandates works much better, significantly reducing the workload for donor services and IT.
Which processes are running better now?
Monika Stewing: Online donations are available in Salesforce in real-time. The system recognizes existing supporters, allowing us to assign a donation directly without manual intervention. Recurring donations are automatically terminated by the connector upon the donor’s request. Synchronization between Salesforce and FundraisingBox works bidirectionally, eliminating the need for team coordination.
Has the data quality improved with the connector?
Monika Stewing: Yes. Since both the existing Salesforce duplicate rules and the field mapping are tailored to Salesforce, the data quality is significantly better.
Can you estimate how much time this saves you now?
Monika Stewing: It saves us 1-2 hours daily.
