Beacon CRM reporting and dashboards: a charity guide
Useful CRM reporting starts with the decisions your charity needs to make. Define the question, agree what each measure means and check that the underlying data is reliable before building a report or dashboard.
Define the decision behind each report
Begin with the person who will use the information and the action it should support. A report for a fundraising review may need different detail from an operational dashboard or a finance reconciliation. Clear questions help keep reports relevant and reduce competing versions of the same measure.
- Name the audience and the decision they need to make
- Define the reporting period, filters and level of detail
- Agree what each measure includes and excludes
- Identify how often the information needs to be reviewed
Check the quality and meaning of the underlying data
A dashboard can only be as consistent as the information entered into the CRM. Review the fields, categories and processes that feed the report, and make sure the people recording information understand how it will be used. Test sample records and compare outputs with information your team already trusts.
- Check required fields and category values are used consistently
- Confirm records are linked to the right people and activities
- Review date ranges, exclusions and duplicate records
- Document any data gaps or known limitations
Make reports useful to the people who rely on them
Use Beacon’s current dashboards guide to understand available product options, then design views around the decisions and actions staff need. Keep definitions and ownership clear so users can interpret the results consistently and know who to contact when figures look unexpected.
- Choose measures that answer agreed questions
- Use clear names and descriptions for reports and views
- Confirm who can access and maintain the information
- Schedule a review when workflows or reporting needs change
Validate before sharing a report widely
Before a report becomes part of routine decision-making, review a sample of the underlying records and verify the result with a knowledgeable colleague. Record the report’s purpose, filters, definitions and owner so future users can understand what the figures mean.
Beacon CRM questions, answered
What should a charity decide before building a Beacon dashboard?
Agree who will use it, what decisions it should support, how each measure is defined, which time period and filters apply, and who will maintain it.
How can we tell whether CRM reporting is accurate?
Review representative underlying records, check field and category consistency, confirm filters and time periods, and compare the results with a trusted source or manual sample before relying on the report.
Where can I find instructions for Beacon dashboards?
Beacon publishes a dashboards guide in its help centre. Use the current guide for product-specific instructions and available options.