Revolutionize Gift Processing with a Virtuous Sage Intacct Integration

The Dilemma: Disconnected systems hold you back

A nonprofit CRM, such as Virtuous, is a comprehensive solution designed to help organizations manage donor relationships, track fundraising activities, and ultimately maximize their efforts. Sage Intacct, on the other hand, has advanced accounting features for nonprofits, including revenue recognition, spend management, allocations, grant tracking, and more. 

Leveraging multiple best-of-breed systems positions your organization for growth. At a certain point, however, disconnected systems can hold you back. Manual data entry between your CRM and accounting system creates several challenges that your team may have grown accustomed to, but these inefficiencies shouldn't be overlooked. 

If you've encountered two or more issues from the list below, it's crucial to address the gaps between Virtuous and Sage Intacct:

• Data Duplication: Manual entries between Virtuous and Sage Intacct can lead to duplicate entries, increasing the risk of errors.
• Inconsistent Communication: If donor communication tools are tied to CRM data, inconsistencies in financial tracking can lead to miscommunication with supporters.
• Time Consumption: Teams may spend excessive time on data entry, reducing time available for strategic activities and mission-focused work.
• Inaccurate Reporting: Lack of integration can lead to discrepancies in financial reports, making it difficult to have a clear and accurate understanding of financial health.
• Compliance Concerns: Accurate record-keeping is crucial for audits and compliance. Discrepancies between systems can lead to compliance risks.
• Missed Insights: Integration allows for better data analysis and insights. Without it, nonprofits might miss opportunities for strategic planning and growth.
• Delayed Decision-Making: Without real-time data synchronization, decision-makers may lack timely information, delaying critical decisions.
• Scalability Issues: As your nonprofit grows, the complexity and volume of data increase, making manual processes unsustainable.

The Solution: Integrated systems free you to focus more on your mission

At scale, nonprofit software should enhance your team's efforts, not hinder them. Fortunately, most cloud applications these days have open APIs (Application Programming Interface). An application’s API provides clear instructions for developers to integrate third-party platforms. 

Here’s the good news: Virtuous and Sage Intacct both have well-documented APIs for public use. This means an integration specialist can map different fields between the two systems, synchronizing data from one system to the other in real-time.

In addition to the automation features in Virtuous and Sage Intacct, an integration unlocks even more efficiency for your organization:

Streamlined Data Entry and Improved Accuracy

Integrating Virtuous and Sage Intacct automatically synchronizes donors, pledges, gifts, and more, reducing the need for manual data entry. This not only saves your team significant time but also minimizes the risk of human errors to occur during data transfer. A real-time data exchange ensures both systems reflect the same accurate information. No more bouncing between windows checking for inconsistencies between donor activities and financial records.

Enhanced Reporting and Better Decision-Making

Automated workflows provide accurate financial data teams need to generate reports. Looking to analyze donor metrics for a specific period of time? A Virtuous Sage Intacct integration speeds up the process of generating comprehensive reports, enabling your leadership team with a more holistic view of the organization’s performance. Access to real-time data supports strategic planning and allows for faster responses to challenges and opportunities.

Efficient Donor Management and Resource Optimization

Integration enhances donor management by consolidating all contributions and interactions in one view, facilitating better relationship-building and stewardship strategies. Automating these processes frees up staff to focus on engaging with donors and executing mission-critical activities, rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks.

Compliance Assurance and Scalability

Consistent data across CRM and accounting systems aids in maintaining accurate records crucial for auditing and compliance purposes. As the organization grows, the volume and complexity of data also increase. Integrated systems are scalable and designed to handle this growth efficiently, providing seamless support without requiring additional manual intervention or system overhauls. Year-end giving statements? Automated.

Enhanced Collaboration and Overall Productivity

With a unified data system, cross-departmental collaboration runs smoother than before. Teams can access the information they need without delay, fostering a more coordinated approach to organizational objectives. By streamlining operations and reducing redundancies, overall productivity is enhanced, leading to more successful outcomes in achieving your nonprofit’s mission.

How does a Virtuous Sage Intacct integration work?

The features of a Virtuous Sage Intacct integration include:

• Pledge Sync: Virtuous Pledges sync to Sage Intacct by date and designation
• Gift Sync: Virtuous Gifts sync to Sage Intacct by date and designation
• Complex Logic Handling: Reverse or update systems based on changes to data
• Audit Fields: Track updates with real-time Sage Intacct audits
• GL Account Sync: Virtuous Pledges and Gifts sync to GL accounts
• Batch Processing: Group same-date pledges into one GL batch in Sage Intacct
• Automatic Data Sync: Automatically synchronizes data for accurate, real-time insights
• Error Handling: Notify users when an error occurs, sending a CSV file for manual fixes

For more information and takeaway resources, check out our listing on the Virtuous App Marketplace.

Note: This is one example of the way fields would sync between Virtuous and Sage Intacct. Customization options are available.

Integration Methods: Build, Buy, or Partner

With the right integration strategy, you can transform your financial operations from a set of disconnected systems into a unified, efficient engine that fuels organizational growth. Let's explore your options:

1. The Build Approach

Imagine deciding to be your own general contractor when building a new home. Sure, you could hire a team to help, invest in their training, and then have them handle the building codes and safety protocols. But, when things go sideways, all of the responsibilities fall to you.

In a similar vein, building an integration in-house means constructing and maintaining a complex technical infrastructure from scratch. While having an in-house IT team might seem cost-effective on paper, the support of a software integration requires ongoing resources, technical training, compliance and security checks, and continuous monitoring of app updates or changes to the API.

Every hour your IT department spends on maintaining integrations means less time spent on customer-facing innovations. Every financial reporting change requires internal development. When systems fail during month-end close, is your team prepped for possible operational downtime?

2. The Buy Approach

The buy approach is like buying a condo in a complex with a strict HOA. The cost for it is predictable and it’s move-in ready, but you really don’t have much flexibility in what you choose to change or renovate.

Pre-built integrations promise quick implementation and standardized functionality. The monthly subscription for it is clear, the error-handling is included, and the solution is easily deployable. At first glance, it’s an attractive option. However, since standard integrations often cover only common financial processes, the solution may not suit your unique requirements.

Purchasing a pre-built integration is where most organizations start. Over time, the limited functionality often leads teams searching for a more tailored solution that can scale with them.

3. The Partner Approach

The partner approach is your white-glove integration provider. This option is best if your organization doesn’t have in-house integration experts. If you have an IT team, they could likely figure out a solution themselves, but keep in mind, integrations are not a set-and-forget solution. 

It’s not uncommon for organizations to take a DIY approach with their technology. However, low-cost fixes and over-customization can lead to eventual strain. 

Instead, many nonprofits develop strategic partnerships with integration providers who provide consulting and support for their integrations. Outsourced integration work can provide your team with custom solutions tailored precisely to your requirements, eliminating the need to compromise with pre-built connectors.

Looking for help to support your team’s use of Virtuous and Sage Intacct?

Virtuous Sage Intacct integrations help nonprofits spend less time in Excel spreadsheets and more time excel-ing their mission. When best-of-breed systems work together, nonprofit teams can collaborate more efficiently with real-time donor and fundraising metrics.

If you’re looking to integrate Virtuous, Sage Intacct, and/or other applications with an API, Venn Technology can help. Our integration team has years of experience working with nonprofits using Sage Intacct and CRM tools. We don’t just bring technical expertise to the table—we strive to understand what makes your organization unique before deciding on a solution.

To get started, meet with a Venn team member for a free consultation: