{"id":9360,"date":"2022-02-14T17:47:53","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T17:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/?p=9360"},"modified":"2023-01-09T21:20:44","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T21:20:44","slug":"leaving-luminate-online-4-tips-to-get-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/resources\/blog\/leaving-luminate-online-4-tips-to-get-started","title":{"rendered":"Leaving Luminate Online: 4 Tips to Get Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time to leave Luminate Online<\/a>, you\u2019ve probably weighed several factors.<\/p>\n

You might have heard that that Blackbaud will be ending support for and shutting down Luminate CRM<\/a> in June 2022. You might be concerned that Blackbaud is not investing in Luminate Online product development, signally that the company might eventually sunset the product. You might find that Luminate Online no longer offers the modern functionality your organization needs.<\/p>\n

These are all valid concerns.<\/p>\n

But what are your options? How will you go about replacing Luminate Online for your organization?<\/p>\n

Here are four tips to consider as you prepare to move away from Luminate Online:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1.\u00a0 Forget about what \u201ctool\u201d will replace Luminate Online. <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Luminate Online is a collection of modules, including tools for building and managing web pages, online donation forms\/surveys, email marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising events, and advocacy. At one time, this approach made sense for many nonprofits. But today, it\u2019s an outdated way of thinking about the systems you use to support your digital strategy.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s best-in-class point solutions deliver better, more modern functionality in each area of digital marketing than all-in-one solutions like Luminate Online. They also work well together.<\/p>\n

So, the question to ask isn\u2019t about what one tool you should choose to replace Luminate Online. Instead, start by identifying your biggest pain points with Luminate Online. Ask yourself what your organization needs to accomplish that is cumbersome (or even impossible) with Luminate Online.<\/p>\n

2. Determine the highest areas for return on investment (ROI).
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prioritize the Luminate Online pain points you\u2019ve identified. Then, plan to start with the first one or two to demonstrate ROI.<\/p>\n

For example, email marketing is often a key aspect of a nonprofit\u2019s daily and weekly activity. Dealing with challenges in your email marketing tool can be a big obstacle to staff productivity.<\/p>\n

Moving to a modern email marketing tool with greater functionality can help you demonstrate a quick and clear ROI seen in time savings and email marketing effectiveness. This demonstration of ROI can make it easier for your organization to get on board with making the move to other point tools as you move away from Luminate Online.<\/p>\n

3. Identify what tools will meet your needs.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Today\u2019s technology market offers a wealth of options for each of your organization\u2019s needs. Here are examples of just a few of the commonly used, yet effective, tools that can give you the functionality you need for each area of your digital strategy (Note that some tools are highly specialized by category, while others have combinations of functionality. The key is to find the solution with the functionality that best meets your organization\u2019s specific needs.):<\/p>\n