Customer story: Disability Snowsport UK

About Disability Snowsport UK and Sharryn McKelvie

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK) exists to make snowsport accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. From Hemel Hempstead to the Cairngorms, the charity provides adaptive ski and snowboard lessons so disabled people can enjoy the freedom, confidence, and community that snow brings.

Head of Fundraising Sharryn McKelvie leads a passionate but part-time team of four. When she joined, she saw that the key to growth wasn’t just working harder, it was working smarter. Donorfy became the tool that is making that possible.

“We’re a small team spread across the UK,” says Sharryn. “Donorfy gives us the structure to share, record, and automate, so everyone can focus on what they do best.”

Transforming teamwork and fundraising efficiency

Before Donorfy, DSUK’s team often worked in silos, relying on emails, spreadsheets, and memory to manage relationships. Sharryn reorganised how the team operated, aligning portfolios and ensuring every donor interaction was logged in Donorfy.

“We had brilliant people doing great work, but we needed to join that up” she explains. “Donorfy gave us a system to collaborate properly, to see who was doing what and where each relationship stood.”

With all donor and grant data in one place, Sharryn could instantly see which funds were pending, what applications were live, and where opportunities lay. The team could finally make confident decisions, backed by data, not guesswork.

Best practice in Action: Ian’s story

Ian, DSUK’s Philanthropy Development Manager, is proof that the effort pays off. Around eighteen months ago, he made the decision to fully embrace Donorfy, not just to store data, but to turn it into an active fundraising engine.

He built comprehensive lists and pipelines, added detailed notes for every grant and donor, and created automated reminders that ensured no opportunity slipped through the cracks. He categorised every grant by purpose and region, from unrestricted funds to localised projects, creating a clear picture of where support was coming from and what gaps to target next.

“He took the time to build it right,” says Sharryn. “He created a full pipeline of grant applications, added notes and due dates, and automated reminders for follow-ups. It means that now when he logs in, Donorfy tell him exactly what is needed to be done.”

That upfront investment transformed Ian’s results. In just the first five months of this year, he met his entire annual fundraising target, the direct outcome of structured data, automation, and disciplined use of Donorfy’s tools.

So, what does best practice look like for other charities? According to Sharryn, it’s about consistency and commitment.

Every piece of data goes into Donorfy. Every task and reminder is logged. Every team member uses the same shared system.

It’s not just about technology, it’s about process and mindset. When charities take the time to embed Donorfy into how they work, it doesn’t just improve efficiency, it drives growth.

“Donorfy is there to work for you,” says Sharryn. “If you put in the effort to set it up properly, the system pays you back again and again.”

From data to stewardship: Turning insight into impact

Donorfy has elevated DSUK’s supporter relationships from transactional to personal. With every note, email, and donation recorded, the charity can respond to donors with warmth and precision.

“One supporter called, and I could instantly see her whole giving history, every donation, every raffle prize, every note from my colleagues,” Sharryn recalls. “When I replied, she said she’d never felt so valued by a charity.”

That visibility also strengthens DSUK’s storytelling. They can show donors the real-world impact of their generosity, from photos of lessons to stories from the slopes, deepening emotional connection and long-term loyalty.

Working smarter, Not harder

One of Donorfy’s most powerful advantages is its automation. With reminders, follow-up tasks, and workflows in place, the system becomes a digital assistant,  always one step ahead.

“If you use Donorfy properly, you don’t have to think about what’s next,” says Sharryn. “You come into work and your to-do list is already there, generated by the system.”

This approach is transforming how DSUK’s fundraisers work. Instead of spending time chasing details, they start each day focused and ready, confident that Donorfy has already prioritised their next move. For small charities, that’s a game-changer.

Why Donorfy works better than other systems

Having used other CRMs, including Beacon and Microsoft Dynamics, Sharryn immediately recognised Donorfy’s advantages. It wasn’t just functional, it was built for fundraisers.

Why Donorfy stands out:

• Built around a clear stewardship process, making the user journey logical and intuitive.
• Easy navigation: constituents → opportunities → campaigns → forms.
• No unnecessary admin restrictions for creating forms or templates.
• Clear drill-down structure (e.g., pledges, acknowledgements) that fits seamlessly with fundraising workflows.

“You can tell Donorfy has been designed by people who understand fundraising,” says Sharryn. “It’s built for how charities actually work, intuitive, logical, and made for real stewardship journeys.”