Furman University

Furman University Saves Time, Streamlines Processes, and Enhances Engagement with Blackbaud Products

Furman University is the oldest, largest and most selective private institution in South Carolina. Founded in 1826, Furman moved three times in its early years before being charted as Furman University and settling in Greenville in 1850. The most recent move was in 1961, when Furman relocated to its current 800-acre location on the outskirts of Greenville. The stunning, new campus served as a catalyst for Furman’s ongoing transformation from a primarily regional college to one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the United States. Today Furman offers majors and programs in 42 subjects and is one of the select group of colleges that qualify for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honorary society. Undergraduates come from 46 states and 31 countries.

The Challenge

• Furman University needed to upgrade its database and wanted an application that would easily link to its website.
• The organization’s alumni website was separate from the University’s other applications including its database and University website creating extra work to maintain alumni data.
• The organization also wanted to enable online donations and online event registrations while streamlining processes.
• Furman also wanted a website that was easy for staff to update and modify.

The Solution

• Furman University selected a suite of Blackbaud products including The Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud NetCommunity, and The Researcher's Edge.
• Blackbaud NetCommunity enables Furman University to direct potential donors to its website to give instead of having to hire staff to manually enter donations received over the phone. It also enables an easier and more convenient way for constituents to give and interact with each other and the University.
• Because The Raiser’s Edge and NetCommunity seamlessly share data, the University is able to provide a more personal website site experience and further build an online network.

The Results

• The gift of time: Furman University has been able to save time updating, maintaining, and tracking constituent information by having its website and database on a single platform with the same vendor.
• Increase in online giving: The ability to accept online donations has created an additional revenue stream for the University. Since June 2007, 2,976 gifts have come in through their website, totaling more than $597,000 in contributions.
• Power to the constituency: With its database, financial application, and website information, Furman has empowered constituents to manage their own information and interact with each other and the university to create an overall better user experience.