Wild Apricot For Business And Professional Associations

Wild Apricot

for Professional and Business Associations

(Wild Apricot is also used by thousands of other non-profit organizations – charities, clubs, activists organizations, etc. See www.wildapricot.com ) February 2009

Table of contents

Overview

Trade-offs

Feedback from existing customers

Key Functionality

Client examples

Wild Apricot vs. other solutions

Links for more information

Overview

Overview

All-in-one

Economical pricing

Centralized records

On-demand software

Ease of use

Administration automation

Online member engagement and self service

Data safety and security

Tech support

About the vendor

All-in-one

Replaces 7 separate systems by combining:

Website hosting including content management tool

Centralized database for members, sponsors, other contacts

Member self-service portal

Event calendar and online registration

Online fundraising and online payments

Communication and community tools: discussion forums, blog, enewsletters

Secure private webpages for members, board, committees

Can also be integrated into an existing website

Economical pricing

Flat monthly fee from $25/month (max. $200/month)

No other surcharges (per-transaction, per-record, per-module, per-user)

10% discount for annual subscriptions

No long-term contracts, no cancellation fees

Free updates included (new features added every 7-10 weeks)

Free tech support

Full details online: www.wildapricot.com/pricing.aspx

Centralized records

Information flows automatically from website to member database to online member directory to event registration system

Centralized data storage shared between all components

Saves time spent on keeping records in sync between different functions

Up-to-date records are accessible online at any moment

Secure remote access by authorized board members, staff and volunteers

Can be used from home or office – only needs browser and Internet connection

On-demand software

Instant availability – runs in the web browser

No hardware purchase required

No software to install

Typical time to go live: from a few days to 2-3 weeks (customizing settings, importing database records, copying content)

All client accounts are automatically upgraded when new releases are published

Ease of Use

Designed for non-techies

Makes it easy to involve volunteers – if they can use Microsoft Word, they can use Wild Apricot

Saves money on training

Top scores in Idealware review of 8 packages: http://www.idealware.org/articles/low_cost_integrated.php

Administration automation

Replaces typical time-consuming manual administration tasks with automated routines , e.g.:

Online application process, including approval workflow and automatic invoices and receipts for membership applications

Sending renewal reminders

Processing lapsed memberships

Automatically emailing event announcements and reminders

Puts members in charge of updating their own data and processing renewals – via self-service web portal

Online member engagement and self-service

Website comes with built-in tools for online member community:

Member directory (public or member-only)

Discussion forum

Blog

Email newsletter tool

Saves staff and volunteer time & increases member satisfaction with online instant self-service for members:

New applications

Contact information and profile updates

Event registrations

Renewals

Online payments

Data safety and security

Automatic daily backups ensure data safety

Member list, event registration, etc. can be exported into Excel at any moment

Vendor security team monitors security bulletins and updates servers as necessary

Product tested and certified on Microsoft Platform http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/archive/2007/09/12/wa-certification.aspx

Tech support

Free tech support

Email support

Online support portal http://Support.wildapricot.com

Response time 1 business day

Toll-free telephone support

Extensive online help database http://Help.wildapricot.com

User community (discussion forums) http://www.wildapricot.com/forums/default.aspx?GroupID=10

About the vendor - Bonasource Inc.

Reliable vendor: est. 2001, references from Fortune 500 companies. See www.bonasource.com

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner (top designation)

Safe choice: Over 15,000 organizations signed up as of February 2009 (probably #1 by number of clients for small associations and non-profits market)

Regular and frequent product updates based on customer feedback (e.g. 10 releases in 2008) see http://help.wildapricot.com/display/DOC/0.+Release+history

Current clientele survey results positive (details in the following sections)

Trade-offs

Trade-offs (and counterpoints)

Ongoing monthly subscription fee

Good value for what it includes (hosting, free tech support, free updates)

Total cost of ownership is lower than other options

Account can be switched to a free ad-supported plan any time, all data stays intact

As a packaged solution, functionality can not be customized to meet 100% of individual needs

Designed for associations and non-profits, so out-of-the-box covers ~75-90% and new features are added every 6-8 weeks based on user feedback

Built-in design templates are nice but on the simpler side

Unique design / look and feel requires investment in web design (offered by third parties, typical cost $1,000-$5,000)

New features are in the works to enhance out of the box design options, scheduled for Q2 2009

Feedback from existing customers

Wild Apricot Client Survey

December 2008

See more:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10979980/Wild-Apricot-Client-Survey-December-2008

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11402991/What-Aspects-and-Functions-Do-You-Find-the-Most-Useful-and-Why-How-Did-It-Benefit-You

Survey results: Ease of use

Survey results: Technical support

Survey results: Quality and reliability

Survey results: Would you recommend Wild Apricot? 78.8% of Wild Apricot clients give it 8, 9 or 10

Key Functionality

Key Functionality Summary

Membership management

Customizable database fields

Automation of application workflow and renewals

Online payments

Member history, search and reports

Individual and corporate memberships

Member self-service portal

Online application for new members

Renewals

Update own profile

Event registration at special member price

Access member-only web pages

Online community tools

Blog

Discussion forum

Member directory

E-newsletters

Member Groups (e.g. board, committees)

Website

Selection of starting templates

Customization tools to personalize look and feel

Unlimited numbers of pages, pictures and documents

Able to integrate video, photo albums

Interactive pages (e.g. online member directory)

Event registration

Online event calendar

Customizable event registration form

Event registration report

Sends notices, reminders and confirmations automatically

Online fundraising

Donation form and online payment

Donor database, donations report

Customizable donation email receipt

Website Customization

Selection of starting templates

Range of customization capabilities (optional advanced design customization requires help from web designers)

Point and click interface to add interactive components like member directory, event calendar, membership application form, etc.

Website Content Management

Unlimited web pages, document and picture attachments

Easy to update web pages – no tech skills needed

Website Content Management – Page Editing Example

Website Security

Unlimited number of website administrators

Individual logins for each administrator and each member

Granular access control: full / website / membership / events / fundraising

Website Security – Member-only Content Example

Membership Management – Online Payment Options

Integrated into Wild Apricot website:

Authorize.Net

PayPal Pro (US)

Initiated on Wild Apricot and completed on the payment processor website

Paypal Standard

Google Checkout

Membership Management

Multiple membership levels

Unlimited custom membership database fields

Automated application workflow: from online sign-up to online payment to adding a record to your member database to sending a receipt and welcome email

Membership Management – Online Application Example

Member Self-Service

Saves staff and volunteer time by letting members use online self service:

Online application

Profile updates

Renewals

Accessing secure member-only content

Event registration

Online community participation – discussion forums and blog

Member Self-Service – Member Profile Example

Automate Membership Renewals

Automatically send reminders

Let members renew with online self-service and pay online

See up-to-date picture of membership at any time

Automate Membership Renewals – Member Summary Example

Online Member Directory

Point and click to add searchable member directory to your website

Directory is automatically updated with new member records and updates of existing records in the member database

Online Member Directory – Presenting members to the public

Engage Members Online

Point and click to add a blog page or a discussion forum

Send out email newsletters to all contacts – or a specific subset of records

Let members interact online to energize your community

Engage Members Online – Blog Example

Engage Members Online – Forum Example

Membership Administration and Reporting

See your member database summary instantly at any time

Access and update member records

Run payments reports

Custom reports to analyze membership data

Membership Administration and Reporting – View and Update Member Record Example

Membership Administration and Reporting – Payments Report Example

Event Management

Add unlimited events to event database

Events automatically appear on your online calendar page

Past events are automatically archived

Send event announcements automatically

Event Management – Database of Events Example

Event Management – Event Calendar Example

Event Management – Event Income Report Example

Event Registration

Customize each event registration form

Automatically send event confirmations

Instant online access to current list of registrations

Event Registration – Online Registration Form Example

Event Registration – Online Attendee List Example

Client Examples

Over 5,000 clients in association space

Professional associations

Chambers of commerce

Business associations

Business networks

Homeowners and condo associations

Wild Apricot Clients

Homepage Online membership application form Member profile page

Homepage Searchable member directory

Event calendar Event details Event list and registration

Wild Apricot vs. Other Solutions

Main Options and examples

On-demand all-in-one software , e.g.

Wild Apricot

MemberClicks

Avectra NetForum

Custom/customized systems , e.g.

IRM Software

Collection of disparate services , e.g.

Website content management: Regular web hosting + FrontPage/Dreamweaver

Event registration: EventBrite, Cvent

Email newsletters: Outlook, Constant Contact

Membership Database: Excel, Access, FileMaker

Blog: Typepad

Discussion Forums: Yahoo Groups

Private websites (for members/board/committees) : Intranets.com

Etc.

Wild Apricot vs. Other on-demand all-in-one software

Best way to compare – try out each system on your shortlist (As opposed to scripted demos)

In general, Wild Apricot key advantages vs. similar online systems are:

Easier to use

Lower cost and simpler pricing

Larger client base (which makes the vendor more reliable and also ensures ongoing development of the product)

Wild Apricot vs. Custom vs. Collection of services Category Wild Apricot Custom/customized systems Collection of disparate services Initial cost license/setup/training Lowest Expensive $$ Varies, usually not expensive but time consuming How well matches your specific needs Typically 75-90% Up to 90-95% Varies Ongoing annual cost (updates, maintenance, support) ~$600/year $2000-$5000/year and up Varies Technical support Free Expensive $$ Varies Ease of use Designed for non-techies Varies Varies, some services might be great, synchronizing them is challenging Ease of setup/customization capabilities Easy to customize, substantial capabilities - but still restricted Virtually unlimited but expensive $$ Varies Manual work to keep data synchronized and up to date None/low None/low Huge manual overhead Data safety and security Monitored and updated by vendor Varies. Good security costs $$$ As good as the weakest point (which usually means poor) Time to setup and launch Days to weeks Months Weeks to months