Wethersfield Institute

Case Study

Accessible database leads to efficient
and effective management of constituents

The Wethersfield Institute is dedicated to promoting a clear understanding of Catholic teaching and practice, as well as exploring the cultural and intellectual dimensions of the Catholic faith. Nestled in the idyllic hinterland of upstate New York, the Institute—together with its sister nonprofits—boasts an impressive property, trail network, and historic pedigree while hosting scores of visitors each year. Understanding that continued growth necessitates funding and participants, the Institute concluded that a proper database was the only way to track and engage their donors, contributors, and visitors.

The Institute needed a simple, scalable system on which to house their donors, prospects, and participants that wouldn’t be a financial drain and would be easily accessible. AmPhil worked with Wethersfield to pinpoint a database solution that would meet their needs without needlessly saddling them with a complex or convoluted system. American Philanthropic worked with the Institute first to build a Salesforce database unique to their needs and vision, and then to train and support the Institute’s leadership and staff on this new system.

Today the Institute keeps data across three connected nonprofits in one database optimized for efficiency with records siloed effectively, in order to maintain the integrity of each house-file. Their database houses donors, prospects, and program participants. As their records grow, so too can the complexity and customization of their database. When it comes to brand new databases, we help nonprofits to build a nimble system that will grow with, not against you.

AmPhil is registered as fundraising counsel or as a fundraising consultancy in all states that require such registration. This means that we are not “fundraisers”: we do not ask people for money on our clients’ behalf, make personal introductions, make phone calls, or otherwise have direct personal contact with your donors or donor prospects. We tee you up to do those things, and to do them more effectively, by advising you, coaching you, and providing the services outlined in this proposal. Our goal is to help you build your development program so that it becomes stronger and more sustainable, and to put you in position to build your own strong, personal relationships with funders.