Anyone create/manage an online directory, esp for non-profit

[redheadbaker]

Curious what service you use, or if this is possible in something like Google Docs. The group I'm volunteering with usually creates a printed directory as part of a fundraiser, and they want to move it online, and still be able to keep the fundraising aspect. 

[minzy]

When I was on the PTA we used a site called Membership Toolkit. I had to take a training on it, but otherwise had nothing to do with it, and actually never used it, even as an officer (eek). Our techy former president thought it was important and worth us spending the money on, so we went with what she said. I am pretty sure one of the big selling points was the ability to do an online directory.

Another nonprofit I’m involved with just keeps membership in an Excel document, but we’ve only got maybe 120 members.

[af1212]

I use an online directories in three different capacities -

One is through my pto
One is through my pt job at a church
One is through my pt job at an athletic organization

In all three instances we use services that are designed specifically for that type of organization

[sonrisa]

Our school uses AtoZ connect. It's a fundraiser.

Our neighborhood association just uses google docs

[redheadbaker]

Feb 2, 2022 22:21:34 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I use an online directories in three different capacities -

One is through my pto
One is through my pt job at a church
One is through my pt job at an athletic organization

In all three instances we use services that are designed specifically for that type of organization

What program does the PTO use?

[af1212]

Feb 2, 2022 22:23:45 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Feb 2, 2022 22:21:34 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I use an online directories in three different capacities -

One is through my pto
One is through my pt job at a church
One is through my pt job at an athletic organization

In all three instances we use services that are designed specifically for that type of organization

What program does the PTO use?

AtoZ connect/membership toolkit

[af1212]

Feb 2, 2022 22:29:03 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Feb 2, 2022 22:23:45 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

What program does the PTO use?

AtoZ connect/membership toolkit

If it is a PTO you are working with - there is a way to require payment to be in the directory but I am strongly opposed to that.

I think access to student class lists, information for play dates, birthday parties , etc should be available equally to all families and not determined by someone’s ability or willingness to pay.

There are plenty of ways to raise money that don’t have the potential to negatively impact kids.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 2, 2022 22:31:03 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Feb 2, 2022 22:29:03 GMT -5 af1212 said:

AtoZ connect/membership toolkit

If it is a PTO you are working with - there is a way to require payment to be in the directory but I am strongly opposed to that.

I think access to student class lists, information for play dates, birthday parties , etc should be available equally to all families and not determined by someone’s ability or willingness to pay.

There are plenty of ways to raise money that don’t have the potential to negatively impact kids.

There's no cost to be listed. There's a nominal fee to purchase a copy, and there's a fund to help disadvantaged families get a copy if they want one. Plus they can always get a class list directly from the teacher. 

[Poppy]

One of our schools' PTAs uses membership toolkit and the other uses konstella. As a user, I vastly prefer konstella. Konstella also allows them to send emails to members, post documents such as meeting minutes and financials, create and export a directory (and have a searchable online version), set up message boards for interest groups, and serves as a platform to host fundraisers.

Membership toolkit does allow for collecting of dues and donations. It's possible that the PTA is underutilizing membership toolkit, but its interface is painful.

[glw]

I'm our neighborhood association secretary/webmistress and manage our directory as well as meeting minutes, historic documents, etc. and do it all through Google Docs and Sheets.

[redheadk]

Feb 3, 2022 11:55:01 GMT -5 Poppy said:

One of our schools' PTAs uses membership toolkit and the other uses konstella. As a user, I vastly prefer konstella. Konstella also allows them to send emails to members, post documents such as meeting minutes and financials, create and export a directory (and have a searchable online version), set up message boards for interest groups, and serves as a platform to host fundraisers.

Membership toolkit does allow for collecting of dues and donations. It's possible that the PTA is underutilizing membership toolkit, but its interface is painful.

I don’t love MT but is does all the things you listed. There are different levels an org can subscribe to, so it may be that they don’t pay for those functions or that they don’t know how to use them. There’s a learning curve but it’s not that hard.

[georgeglass]

If you had people complete info via Google Forms, I don't know why you couldn't mail merge/directory into a Google doc format.

[af1212]

Feb 3, 2022 11:50:19 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Feb 2, 2022 22:31:03 GMT -5 af1212 said:

If it is a PTO you are working with - there is a way to require payment to be in the directory but I am strongly opposed to that.

I think access to student class lists, information for play dates, birthday parties , etc should be available equally to all families and not determined by someone’s ability or willingness to pay.

There are plenty of ways to raise money that don’t have the potential to negatively impact kids.

There's no cost to be listed. There's a nominal fee to purchase a copy, and there's a fund to help disadvantaged families get a copy if they want one. Plus they can always get a class list directly from the teacher. 

I still think that the minimal amount of money you would make could be better raised in another way.

Anything that keeps information from families who are economically disadvantaged or makes them work harder to get that information, in my opinion, is not inclusive.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 3, 2022 21:54:43 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Feb 3, 2022 11:50:19 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

There's no cost to be listed. There's a nominal fee to purchase a copy, and there's a fund to help disadvantaged families get a copy if they want one. Plus they can always get a class list directly from the teacher. 

I still think that the minimal amount of money you would make could be better raised in another way.

Anything that keeps information from families who are economically disadvantaged or makes them work harder to get that information, in my opinion, is not inclusive.

Seeing as I'm not in charge, and have already unsuccessfully asked about discontinuing a much more harmful fundraiser (collecting clothing that is sold overseas, disrupting economies in countries in Africa), I don't think anyone is going to listen to me about this. 

So, I guess you're not going to actually answer my question about what app/software they use? 

[af1212]

Feb 4, 2022 9:48:13 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Feb 3, 2022 21:54:43 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I still think that the minimal amount of money you would make could be better raised in another way.

Anything that keeps information from families who are economically disadvantaged or makes them work harder to get that information, in my opinion, is not inclusive.

Seeing as I'm not in charge, and have already unsuccessfully asked about discontinuing a much more harmful fundraiser (collecting clothing that is sold overseas, disrupting economies in countries in Africa), I don't think anyone is going to listen to me about this. 

So, I guess you're not going to actually answer my question about what app/software they use? 

I answered your question yesterday morning. You “liked” it and quoted it so I assumed you saw it. We use A to Z/Membership toolkit.

Then I told you how there is a way to do all of the things you want in that program but that I am opposed to charging for the information - that’s how we got to where we are now.