Customer story: SongBird Survival
Powering conservation through connection
SongBird Survival is an independent charity that has been working since 2000 to solve the ecological crisis for songbirds. Its vision is to create rich, resilient and balanced songbird populations. It is the only national UK charity solely dedicated to changing the future for songbirds. It makes an impact by driving conservation through scientific research, protecting songbirds by raising awareness and inspiring action, and safeguarding the most at-risk songbird species
Georgina Bradley (known as George to many supporters), Operations and Finance Manager, tell us why Donorfy, has transformed how SongBird Survival connects, manages, and grows its supporter base.
Donorfy
Nature
Challenges
- Limited staff capacity and manual processes
- Fragmented data and legacy systems
- Difficulty managing donor journeys and communications
Solution
- Donorfy CRM integrated across the charity
- Automated forms, tags, and lists for supporter journeys
- Opportunities and tasks used for trust fundraising and team collaboration
Impact
- 96% member retention and 102% donor retention
- 23,000+ constituents managed with ease
- £11,000 raised in a single appeal using personalised donor insights
Donorfy is one of our most powerful tools. It saves us hours, helps us stay personal, and lets us do more for the birds we care about.
The full story
A mission rooted in science and action
SongBird Survival funds independent scientific research into the decline of songbirds and translates that research into practical tools for change. From educational campaigns like the Ruby Robin Award to inspiring behaviour change to benefit songbirds at a local and national level, their reach is wide, but their team is small
From spreadsheets to smart systems
Before Donorfy, SongBird Survival relied on spreadsheets and an old CRM which was cheap but clunky. “We needed something that worked with our direct debit provider and could grow with us,” Georgina recalls.
Donorfy ticked every box. Since going live in 2019, it has become the charity’s digital backbone, managing everything from donations and memberships to events, major donor outreach, and grant-making trust fundraising.
Saving time, Staying personal
With Donorfy’s automated forms, tags, and timelines, the team saves hours every week. “A single form can do 20 minutes of work in seconds,” Georgina explains. “It tags, updates timelines, and sends notifications. We just check and move on.”
This efficiency allows the team to maintain a deeply personal touch. “We can send an email newsletter to 13,000 people, and can often get replies saying ‘Hi George!’ They think I wrote it just for them, and that’s exactly what we want.”
Data-driven fundraising and engagement
Donorfy’s lists and tags are Georgina’s favourite features. With over 1,100 active lists, she can segment supporters by location, donation amount, and engagement type. “If I’m visiting an area, I check who’s nearby and maybe arrange a donor visit.”
The charity also uses Donorfy’s Opportunities and Tasks to manage trust fundraising and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. “It reminds us what to do and when. We never forget a thing.”
Favourite features and their impact
- Forms - Automatically tag and update supporter records, saving up to 20 minutes per interaction.
- Tags and Lists - Enable precise segmentation for appeals, events, and major donor outreach. Over 1,100 lists in active use.
- Opportunities and Tasks - Keep fundraising efforts on track and ensure timely follow-ups with trusts and donors.
- Supporter Journeys - Tailored communications that make every donor feel personally valued, contributing to 102% donor retention.
- Data Cleanliness Tools - Help maintain accurate records and streamline compliance and reporting.
- MailChimp Integration - Supports large-scale email campaigns while preserving a personal touch.
- Xero Integration - Automatically syncs financial data, allowing detailed income stream analysis and confident, accurate reporting on projects and campaigns.
It’s hard to articulate just how good Donorfy is in just a few sentences, it does so much!
Why SongBird Survival recommends Donorfy
“I’ve recommended Donorfy to dozens of charities. But I don’t just tell them what I love, I ask what they need, and show them how Donorfy can solve it.”
Donorfy isn’t just a CRM, it’s a catalyst for connection, efficiency, and growth. For SongBird Survival, it’s the tool that enables a small team make a big impact.
Want to learn more about Donorfy?
Donorfy is trusted by charities across the UK to simplify supporter care, supercharge fundraising, and build lasting relationships. Whether you’re a heritage organisation, a conservation charity, or a community hub, Donorfy helps you do more, with less.
Georgina’s advice to other charities is simple: have a go. Book a free trial of Donorfy and see how it works for your organisation, it might just be the solution you've been looking for.
See what Donorfy can do for you
Donorfy helps charities like SongBird Survival build stronger relationships, streamline operations, and make smarter decisions, all from one powerful platform.
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