Hi folks,
We have one staff member who has been our development database coordinator prior to our transition to Tess. Her role has expanded into a lot of other duties and we're trying to find ways to move data entry and contribution processing off her desk.
Our Finance/Accounting department would like to take this over. However we're a little concerned since their focus is essentially on the $$, whereas our Patron Development department has a whole host of actions etc that arise out of how the contribution/membership/acknowledgment is coded etc.
So what I'm asking is - does anyone split out the entry and processing of contributions to lie outside your development department? How do you maintain checks/balances on what your data entry person is doing? How has it worked for you?
Any info would be great, thanks!
Eleanor
Perhaps you could split the duties between Finance and Development (you may already do some of this, not clear from you message). Finance receives the gifts and pledges, makes the bank deposit, then hands over check copies, any accompanying paper work from the donor, and a tape for the days deposit. Your Development staff then enters the days activity into Tessitura, reconciles to the tape, and accomplishes all the donor coding you're needing.
My experience says that Finance is probably wanting to have tighter control on the cash, not so much interested in your donor coding and other Development Operations 'stuff'. Dividing the tasks gives Finance and Development each what they need to function.
Good luck
Erik.