Data policy documents are a great first step but they're only good if they are read and followed. Such documents are often overlooked when new staff are hired or volunteers are used for data entry. Additionally, changes in policies and associated documents are often not distributed to—and not given appropriate priority by—the staff.

Solution: Just in time for the data entry push of the fall campaign, Helix is offering an optional Data Policy Manager module for Andar. This module will allow organizations to add data policy text to each window in Andar where a policy applies. For example, the "Add address" window could have a different policy text than the "Update address" window. These policies will be displayed at the top of the appropriate window. This module is easy to implement, easy to use, and impossible for users to miss. Compared with the high risk associated with bad data as well as the ongoing costs of finding and fixing bad data, this module is easy to justify.

Since the mailing list usage contains the actual mailing address used at the time of mailing, you will be able to determine the actual addresses used in each package mailed even if the donors change their address. In the case of e-newsletters, if you use Andar to e-mail them, you'll also be able to see that the e-mail was sent, read, or acted upon (by clicking on links) right from the mailing list usage (coming in August). Keeping mailing lists and usages clean is essential in finding the right data.

Dwight D. Eisenhower