Industry
Fundrasing/advocacy
Location
San Francisco, CA
Employees
14
Basecamp plan
Premium (100 projects for $99/month)
Active project count
Around 50
Basecamp color scheme
An interview with Marie Thacker
Marie is the Design & Production Manager for Donordigital. Donordigital helps nonprofit organizations, candidates, and socially responsible companies use the Internet for fundraising, advocacy, and marketing. They can help you build your e-mail lists and raise money on your site and through Our first impresson was: Wow. Our second impression was: Oh my god, WOW. And now? We call it 'BaseCrack' — it's that addictive."aggressive e-mail messaging.They also help you negotiate alliances with major Internet properties, publications, and the other players who can help you get your message out. Donordigital primarily uses Basecamp to manage their internal projects.
So, let's get started. How did you first hear about Basecamp?
Two different colleagues who work in web development recommended Basecamp to me.
What were your first impressions of the product when you signed up? What keeps you using Basecamp?
We are on the Premium plan. Our first impresson was: Wow. Our second impression was: Oh my god, WOW. And now? We call it "BaseCrack."
In other words, the product has dramatically changed the way our firm gets the work done. It has introduced more efficiency and organization into our project process. We continue to use Basecamp today because, after using it for six months, we would be lost without it! Other reasons include: The software continually improves in ways we like. We keep "Basecamp has dramatically changed the way our firm gets the work done. It has introduced more efficiency and organization into our project process. We continue to use Basecamp today because, after using it for six months, we would be lost without it!"adding to the ways in which we use it (internal projects, communicating vacations, etc.). The interface is completely intuitive (and getting more so). The list goes on...
Were you using another product before or were you managing your projects manually (or with a combination of emails, post-it notes, notepads, etc.)? Was the transition difficult?
Prior to using Basecamp, we managed projects via e-mail, verbal communication, sticky notes, and a shared server. Disaster! No shared knowledge of deadlines, no way to gather feedback efficiently, and no way to ensure that all stakeholders had a chance to weigh in on projects. There was a definite need for a structured tool such as this.
Implementing Basecamp into our project management process was the very first thing I did upon my hiring, on day one! The transition was surprisingly very smooth. I was expecting employees to have a period of adjustment, however everyone instantly adopted Basecamp and began using it with much enthusiasm from the day we signed up (we think it's because we desperately needed a tool AND because the software is that good).
How are you using Basecamp? What are you using it for? What parts do you use most (messages, to-dos, milestones, files)? Have you used Basecamp in ways you hadn't anticipated?
We are currently using Basecamp for every "Communication with co-workers is 150% better since Basecamp was introduced. Not only does it make our daily workflow more efficient, but it also helps in training new employees and introducing them to our projects, clients, and processes. We used to be a firm that was good at what we did - but new employees just couldn't figure it out. Now, we have this structure that makes sense of the magic."single project we work on — both external and internal projects. Our client projects are typically on an accelerated timeline, so it's necessary to have all the information and milestones in one place for easy access by all.
We utilize nearly every aspect of Basecamp repeatedly throughout the day. In fact, many employees keep Basecamp displayed in their browser all day long! Messages, Milestones and File uploads are the most important to our project management process. We also have a D.C. office (our main office is in San Francisco), and employees occasionally work from home, so the ability to access all information, documents, timeline and files from one place is extremely valuable to our workflow.
(We also use Basecamp in jokes. Like, "One time, at Basecamp...")
How has Basecamp improved your communication with co-workers and clients?
Communication with co-workers is 150% better since Basecamp was introduced. Not only does it make our daily workflow more efficient, but it also helps in training new employees and introducing them to our projects, clients, and processes. We used to be a firm that was good at what we did - but new employees just couldn't figure it out. Now, we have this structure that makes sense of the magic.
How many projects do you usually manage at once?
At any given time there could be as many as 50 projects in Basecamp. I manage the design and production of every project, "We adore Basecamp! It has drastically improved our efficiency and organization. It also help Account Executives to better plan and prepare for their future projects, which in turn improved the entire project process. Thank you for sharing your wonderful product with us!"so it greatly helps the production schedule, to have a clear view of each project, milestones, and launch dates. We have made it part of the process to set up a project in Basecamp the moment we know about it. This way our production department can best plan the schedule for the upcoming months.
How many other people from your office are using Basecamp?
Our entire company uses Basecamp! That's a grand total of 14 people, including our CEO.
How has Basecamp affected your emailing habits? Are you emailing less than before?
We are definitely emailing less than before. I would estimate 95% of internal written communication for a project is done through Basecamp, instead of emailing (as was the case before). It is so valuable to have easy access to the history of a project. No more digging through sent emails, deleted emails, piles of papers, etc!
Thanks for participating. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
We adore Basecamp! It has drastically improved our efficiency and organization. It also help Account Executives to better plan and prepare for their future projects, which in turn improved the entire project process. Thank you for sharing your wonderful product with us!