Customer story: Caring in Bristol

Like many charities, the team had outgrown spreadsheets and needed a CRM that was both centralised and easy to use.   

Having come from other organisations using more complex systems, they knew they needed something intuitive - that didn’t need a degree in data wizardry to get things done.   

“We're experienced in our roles. We knew what we wanted from a CRM going forward, and what we didn’t!”   

They also needed to streamline and modernise their website - something more aligned with fundraising goals, while also being mobile-friendly and flexible enough for their growing needs. While their previous website looked the part, it couldn’t handle online donations well and needed expensive developer input for even the simplest changes.   

With a clear need for simplicity and scalability, and a focus on fundraising, the team settled on a powerful combination: Donorfy, the CRM designed by fundraisers, and Access Raise, the all-in-one web platform for digital fundraising, awareness and impact.  

Doing more with Donorfy 

From day one, Donorfy proved to be exactly what the team needed: intuitive, flexible, and ready to support their busy fundraising programme. Whether it’s reporting, managing Gift Aid, or tracking donor history, the system makes everyday tasks easier - helping the team stay focused on impact, not admin. 

From building segmented donor lists to preparing data for print appeals, Donorfy simplifies what used to be time-consuming and error-prone. For Helen, the usability was the real point of difference: 

“I've used a few CRMs over the years, but Donorfy is by far the easiest I've used.” 

A website that raises more 

Alongside Donorfy, the team chose to upgrade their website with Access Raise. This gave them a site that not only looks great but works as a key fundraising tool. 

Now, Helen and her team have full control - creating campaign landing pages, building custom donation journeys, and even allowing supporters to set up their own fundraising pages directly on the site. 

They recently put these features to good use for their Bristol Cares Walk event, where participants could easily set up sponsored pages, receive automatic thank-yous, and track their progress using visual totalisers. Helen explains: 

“It's just so much more professional now. The new website has really helped us improve our supporter journey.” 

Connecting the dots 

The real magic happened when they connected the two. They integrated both systems as part of their website launch, getting an automated data transfer setup that syncs donations from their website, directly into Donorfy. 

With just weeks to go before launching their biggest appeal of the year – and before Donorfy joined The Access Group - they needed a fast solution, utilising the integration created by Charity Toolkit. 

From trusted-third party integrations to native Access connections, charities can choose the tools that work for their setup, timings and scale. It’s about creating flexibility - not forcing a one-size-fits-all solution. 

 "We reached out close to our go-live date and the integration was set up so quickly - it just worked. A few steps and the donations just started appearing in Donorfy like magic. One less thing to stress about!" 

They now use the integration primarily for one-off donations. This means thousands of donations go straight into Donorfy without the team having to lift a finger, complete with supporter information and communication preferences. When you’re juggling cheque fulfilment, and everything else that comes with busy campaigns, it's the kind of automation that’s a serious time-saver.   

With Donorfy fully embedded in their fundraising workflow, they now have a setup that saves time, reduces stress, and helps them focus on what matters most – supporting people at risk of homelessness. 

Combined with their Access Raise website and connected donation setup, they’ve created a streamlined fundraising ecosystem that just works. 

“It’s taken away a layer of stress. The integration means we don’t have to manually upload every donation. And with Donorfy lists, we can pull data quickly and easily for mailings. It’s just intuitive. We’re not technical experts — and we don’t need to be.” 

Having a website that integrates directly with Donorfy means the team can launch campaigns faster, make changes without relying on developers, and give supporters a smoother, more engaging donation experience. It’s helped them become more responsive, more professional and, ultimately, more impactful. 

The team also use Assemble, Access’s volunteer management platform, and while Helen’s not hands-on with Assemble day-to-day, the transition went smoothly and the wider team have found it a huge improvement. And with Donorfy now part of The Access Group, Helen is feeling optimistic about what’s next.   

“Donorfy joining Access didn't worry us, it's a good thing. We're already seeing the benefits of using these products, and we're looking forward to what's next - especially the Donorfy and Assemble integration!" 

Caring in Bristol are a great example of what’s possible when the right tools work together – they're reducing admin and freeing up time to focus on their mission. 

If you’re wondering what setup might work best for your charity, take a look at our new guide: Choosing between Grow, Nurture and Thrive. It breaks down our charity suite bundles to help you find the tools that fit your stage of growth - whether you’re building digital foundations, deepening supporter relationships, or scaling your impact.