Find Accounting Software has released the findings from its 2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study, and the results are clear. Technology matters, but making the most of it is a challenge that many fundraisers have yet to overcome.

“4 out of 5 fundraisers feel that better technology leads to fundraising success. But only 1 in 3 say they have the tools they need to be effective,” Find Accounting Software project specialist manager Adam Bluemner writes.

And what tools are organizations using to reach out to their online audiences? Seventy-four percent use their websites, and 61 percent use social media channels, but those usage rates quickly drop to just 19 percent on the mobile web and 16 percent for video content.

Along with technological hurdles, fundraisers are most concerned about finding likely contributors, deepening their relationships with sponsors, and standing out from their competition.

The survey results suggest that, for at least some organizations, putting more emphasis on digital outreach could relieve those concerns.

“The data shows a clear positive impact based on online donation acceptance,” Bluemner reports. “Non-profits who accept funds via the web reported higher rates of past revenue growth. They’re also more inclined to expect revenue growth this year.”

The study was conducted in partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Cougar Mountain, and Araize, based on responses from 142 fundraising organizations. For the full results, click here. (Also, look for more on this study in Thursday’s Money and Business blog.)

Tweet of the Day

The View from an Intern's Seat: What Working for an #AMC Taught Me #assnchat #association http://t.co/FhKQGDDRLb pic.twitter.com/39Z8tz43I1

— Association Headquarters (@association_hq) October 14, 2014

Jackie Nicolosi, who was a newcomer to the association world when she began her internship at an association management company, provides a “view from an intern’s seat” in this post for Association Headquarters.

Other Good Reads

Just because you’re looking for a new job doesn’t mean your resume is ready for prime time. Human resources pro Liz Ryan writes an in-depth piece for Forbes detailing how to judge whether your resume is ready and able to land you the job you desire.

Disappointed by the results of your communication-tool rollout? CMSWire editor Noreen Seebacher covers why so many collaboration solutions end up failing. “Here’s a clue: the technology itself isn’t the problem,” she writes.

We’re seven weeks away from Giving Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to prepare. The event, which follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encourages everyone to celebrate giving back to our communities and those in need. Jamie McDonald, chief giving officer at the Network for Good, has 11 tips for making a contribution on the Network for Good’s blog.

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