Contact Types

The “Contact Types” feature in the ‘Settings’ area of Retention CRM allows Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Nonprofit organizations to define different categories for storing information about their contacts. Retention CRM comes with two pre-built types: Individual (for single people) and Organization (for companies or groups). Here, you can create additional custom types to better organize your contacts based on their specific roles or affiliations.

General Functionality of “Contact Types” feature

Let’s break down the available fields/options:

• Contact Type: This is the name you give to your new category (e.g., Student, Staff, Volunteer).
• Based On: This defines which existing type (Individual, Household, or Organization) your custom type will inherit its core functionalities from.
• Description: Here you can provide a brief explanation of what this custom type represents.
• Add Contact Type: Clicking this button creates your new custom contact type.

Using “Contact Types” feature in Association Management

A nursing association can leverage “Contact Types” to effectively manage different member groups:

• Contact Types:
  • Registered Nurse (RN) (Based on Individual)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (Based on Individual)
  • Nursing School (Based on Organization)
  • Hospital (Based on Organization)
• Explanation:
  • RN and LPN types capture individual nurses’ information, allowing you to track licenses, certifications, and continuing education.
  • Nursing School and Hospital types categorize institutions relevant to the association’s activities.

Scenario:

The association is hosting a conference specifically for LPNs. They can use the “Contact Type” filter when searching for members to send targeted email invitations or online registration announcements only to LPNs. This streamlines communication and ensures relevant information reaches the right audience.

Add Contact Type Options:

• Name: Registered Nurse (RN)
• Basic Contact Type: Individual (since it stores information about a single nurse)
• Icon: You can upload an icon representing a nurse (optional)
• Description: This contact type stores information about Registered Nurses in the association.
• Enabled?: Check this box to activate the new “RN” contact type.

By creating and utilizing custom contact types, Nonprofits, Associations and Chambers of Commerce can efficiently organize and manage their member database for better communication and service delivery.

More Use Cases for Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Nonprofits

Track Membership Levels and Dues (Associations)

An association can create custom contact types for different membership levels (e.g., Basic Member, Premium Member, Lifetime Member). This allows them to easily track member information, manage dues payments, and offer targeted benefits based on membership level.

Organize Businesses by Industry (Chamber of Commerce)

A chamber of commerce can create custom contact types to categorize businesses by industry (e.g., Retail, Technology, Healthcare). This allows them to segment their communication, provide industry-specific resources, and facilitate networking opportunities between businesses.

Manage Volunteer Programs (Nonprofit)

A nonprofit can create custom contact types for different volunteer roles (e.g., Soup Kitchen Volunteer, Fundraising Volunteer, Administrative Volunteer). This allows them to track volunteer qualifications, interests, and availability, and match them with appropriate volunteer opportunities.