[NERDug-list] Benefactor Workshop in Massachusetts

[Jeffrey Butera]

By Karli Grant, Product Manager, Institutional Advancement Solutions
kag at datatel.com

Datatel's Professional Services Team is holding two hands-on Benefactor
Regional Training Workshops at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, on January
25 - 26 and January 27 - 28, 2005.  The low-cost workshops are designed to
address the educational needs for refresher training and advanced
education for Benefactor users â all in a hands-on learning environment.

The Benefactor Refresher Training Workshop on January 25 - 26 provides a
hands-on review of the forms and functionality of Benefactor.  This
fast-paced course is ideal for users who have been working on the system
for approximately six months, but who may not necessarily have had formal
training on Benefactor.  The course is also appropriate for the
experienced Benefactor user who may wish to revisit the breadth of the
system.

Topics covered in the two days include:

 * Navigating Benefactor using User Interface
 * Adding, maintaining and modifying person and corporate demographic
information
 * Creating person and corporate relationships and affiliations
 * Creating saved lists and using basic QueryBuilder functionality
 * Creating matching gift profiles
 * Effectively managing gifts, pledges and matching gifts
 * Setting up donor giving relationships
 * Creating solicitation letters and labels
 * Reviewing Datatel delivered reports


Benefactor for Power Users, on January 27 - 28, focuses on advanced topics
and more complex functionality and processes in Benefactor.  The hands-on,
intense training was created for the Advancement Services professional,
the IT professional supporting Benefactor, and the power end-user who
wears many hats.

Topics for the first day of Benefactor for Power Users include:

    * Advanced correspondence control functionality including email and
WINTEG.WORD
    * Using volunteer networks
    * Automating recognition level programs
    * Best practices for address maintenance and integrity
    * Using planned giving


The second day focuses on advanced reporting subjects:

    * Creating complex queries and non-standard reports
    * Creating paragraphs and managing the VOC File
    * Using the summary files
    * Setting up security and managing your accounts

Those interested should contact Datatel at 1-800-DATATEL, option 4.