Virginia Commonwealth University Speeds Gift Processing, Improves Database Accuracy Using Sage Millennium With CorrectDATA

RICHMOND, VA--(Marketwire - Jun 29, 2011) - Sage North America, a provider of business management software and services to more than 32,000 unique not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada, today announced Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is using Sage Millennium with CorrectDATA to quickly and easily process 30 gifts an hour; update at least 1,000 addresses per month; and save more than $6,000 annually in postage.

Located in Richmond, Va., VCU is Virginia's most comprehensive urban university. Sage Millennium is Sage's highly customizable, web-based constituent relationship management (CRM) software for larger organizations with diverse and complex fundraising programs. CorrectDATA are data-correcting services that integrate with Sage Millennium.

Major Improvements
VCU's Development department has come a long way since the non-digital days, when it took days every month to keep their database current. Sage Millennium with CorrectDATA has helped get them there. For 42 years, Mary-Margaret Fosmark, a data integrity coordinator who recently retired, had a front row seat to the ongoing impact of technology at VCU.

"In 1986, the VCU Development and Alumni Relations office had 25,500 records, and if we processed 30 gifts in a day, we had accomplished a lot," said Fosmark. "We [currently] have more than 320,000 records, [but are able] to process 30 gifts an hour. That's how much of a difference Sage Millennium and CorrectDATA have made."

Updates While She Sleeps
Eliminating duplicate data entry has saved VCU time. "We update at least 1,000 addresses per month," said Fosmark. "Manually, [updating addresses] took forever."

With the push of a button, CorrectAddress initiates behind-the-scenes address updates. "I set the system to update when I leave the office at night, [and] when I return, it's done," explained Fosmark. ""I [save] at least 17 hours of manual input a month."

Having correct addresses cuts down on returned mail charges, too. "We used to pay the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for a 48-cent stamp, plus certified mail fees, on each address correction," said Fosmark. "Now, we pay no postage fees at all, saving at least $500 every month. Put together, all of the improvements [to our system] are amazing."

Modules with Moxie
CorrectDATA's database enhancement modules integrate seamlessly with Sage Millennium. VCU uses two of them, CorrectAddress and CorrectZIP, with its Sage Millennium system. CorrectAddress is an address cleansing, updating, and verification service based on USPS Change of Address records.

"When we update an address in our database, CorrectAddress archives the old one and creates a space for the new address, so we never lose data," said Fosmark. "It also does comparisons, double-checking to ensure we're not overriding something someone else has already changed. Postal data, spouse records, and spellings are cross-referenced, making the system virtually error-proof.

"CorrectZIP saves us a lot of time by verifying that we have a 'mailable' zip code in each address. When zip codes change, the system updates on its own."

Long-Term Loyalty
VCU's Development and Alumni Relations office has been using Sage Millennium since 1984. Their 27-year allegiance can be explained in part by Sage's support and software's adaptability.

"Over the years, Sage has provided great service," said Fosmark. "For example, the manager of the CorrectDATA Services Center at Sage always goes above and beyond the call of duty. I think the world of him. When he introduced us to CorrectAddress, he was very patient, walking me through exactly what the program could do. And, if we ever have a problem, he won't rest until it's resolved."

Lauren Shiver, assistant vice president for University Development and Alumni Relations, agrees. "One of the primary things keeping us using Millennium is the product's ability to adapt to change as the institution has grown more complex," she said.

Fosmark added, "Many competitors' products can't be customized. The best thing about Sage Millennium is its flexibility. [The software allows us to] expand exactly how and when we want. We can set our own rules, and customize the fields and search criteria to make it perform to our needs."

About Virginia Commonwealth University
In 1968, the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute merged to become Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) -- the state's most comprehensive urban university. Today, VCU enrolls more than 32,000 students on their two Richmond campuses, and is one of the nation's top research universities. VCU is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the country to learn and work by U.S. News &World Report, The Princeton Review, AARP, and the Carnegie Foundation. Visit http://www.vcu.edu/ for more information.

About Sage Millennium
Sage Millennium is highly customizable nonprofit constituent relationship management (CRM) software for larger nonprofit organizations, such as higher education institutions, foundations, and healthcare providers. The product's easy-to-use and unique web-based design can be set up as an Internet or intranet application. Sage Millennium helps nonprofit organizations analyze and manage high-end prospecting, relationship tracking, sophisticated campaigns, major gifts, and donor development. The product also provides detailed and custom reporting capabilities, and integrates with Sage Exchange from Sage Payment Solutions to provide nonprofits with a complete Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant payment processing solution. Other important features include the optional Visual Analyzer module; the optional Advanced Data Examiner module; a graphical tool called Prospect Tree; and an integration with Wealth Engine's FindWealth Online. For more information, visit http://www.sagenonprofit.com/SageFundRaising/Products/Sage-Millennium.

About Sage Nonprofit Solutions
Based in Austin, Texas, the Sage Nonprofit Solutions business unit has been serving nonprofit and governmental organizations for more than 30 years. Sage helps more than 32,000 unique not-for-profit organizations increase efficiency and more easily manage their operations through the use of technology. From fund accounting, donor and fundraising management, and fixed asset management, to online donation processing, human resources (HR), payroll, and health care, Sage offers a software product or service to meet the organization's need. For more information, call 800-811-0961 or visit www.sagenonprofit.com. Follow Sage Nonprofit Solutions on Twitter, www.twitter.com/SageNonprofit, and Facebook, www.facebook.com/sagenonprofitsolutions.

About Sage North America
Sage North America is part of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized businesses. Sage North America employs 3,900 people and supports more than 3 million small and midsized business customers. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has more than 6 million customers and 13,600 employees worldwide. We operate in over 24 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For more information, please visit the website at www.sagenorthamerica.com. Follow Sage North America on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/SageNorthAmerica, and Twitter, http://twitter.com/#!/sagenamerica.

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