Date Formats

The “Date Formats” feature in the Localization ‘Settings’ area of Retention CRM allows Nonprofits, Associations and Chambers of Commerce to customize how dates are displayed and entered throughout the CRM system. It uses standard codes to define the format, with US formats pre-set by default. You can also set allowed date ranges for specific fields.

How to Use “Date Formats” feature in Association Management

Here’s a breakdown of each available field.

• Date Display: These define how dates appear on screen.
  • Complete Date and Time: Useful for event registrations showing exact date and time (e.g., “Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 2:00 PM”).
  • Complete Date: Good for reports or membership listings (e.g., “July 18th, 2024”).
  • Month and Year: For birthdates or reports where just month and year are needed (e.g., “July 2024”).
  • Year Only: For tracking membership years (e.g., “2024”).
  • Financial Batch: Specific format for financial data (e.g., “2407” for July 2024).
  • Short date Month Day Year: Another option for reports or listings (e.g., “07/18/2024”).
• Date Input Fields: These define how users enter dates.
  • Date Input Format: Matches the format users should use when entering dates (e.g., “MM/DD/YYYY” for US style “07/18/2024”).
  • Time Input Format: Sets the format for entering time (e.g., “HH:MM” for 24-hour clock or “hh:mm AM/PM” for 12-hour clock).
• Calendar:
  • Week begins on: Choose which day starts the week (Sunday or Monday) for the calendar used for date selection.
  • Fiscal Year Start: Set the beginning month of your association’s fiscal year, which can differ from the calendar year. This can be useful for reports or membership renewals tied to the fiscal year.

By customizing these formats, the nursing association can ensure dates are displayed and entered consistently, making data easier to understand and use for both staff and members.

More Use Cases for Chambers of Commerce, Associations and Nonprofits

Membership Renewals for a Nonprofit

A non-profit can use Retention CRM’s “Date Formats” to improve the membership renewal process. They can set the “Complete Date” format for membership listings to clearly show members their expiration date (e.g., “July 18th, 2024”). This allows members to easily see when their membership needs renewal. Additionally, they can set the “Date Input Format” to match the format used on the renewal form (e.g., “MM/DD/YYYY”). This ensures members can easily enter their expiration date when renewing online, reducing errors and streamlining the process.

Event Registration for a Chamber of Commerce

A chamber of commerce can leverage Retention CRM’s date formats for event registrations. They can set the “Complete Date and Time” format for event listings (e.g., “Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 2:00 PM”). This clearly communicates the date and time of the event to potential attendees. Additionally, they can set the “Week begins on” to Sunday if that aligns with their work week. This ensures the calendar used for registration reflects their scheduling preferences.

Financial Reporting for an Association

An association can utilize Retention CRM’s date formats for financial reports. They can set the “Financial Batch” format (e.g., “2407” for July 2024) for internal financial reports. This concise format allows for quicker data entry and analysis by staff familiar with the code. Additionally, they can set the “Fiscal Year Start” to reflect their association’s fiscal year (e.g., July 1st). This ensures reports accurately track income and expenses based on their specific fiscal calendar, not just the calendar year.