Democracy in Action is integrating with Salesforce.

Yes, it’s true. And it’s big news.

For DIA users, this integration will open up the world of Salesforce – a super-robust CRM tool that I’ve blogged about before. For Salesforce users, this will finally mean that there’s an affordable, full-fledged advocacy / email blast / online donation toolsuite in the AppExchange. For those who already use both DIA and Salesforce, this will increase the power and effectiveness of both tools.

The integration will be released in versions, with limited functionality at first, becoming more robust with time. Planned for version 1:

- A contact entered into one tool will flow seamlessly into the other tool
- Editing a contact in one tool will edit that contact in the other tool
- Donations and actions taken in DIA will flow to Salesforce

The integration is happening as we speak. Alpha testing will continue through the end of 2007. Beta testing will begin in January, with a public launch scheduled for late winter.

I’m really excited about this DIA+SF integration, because I’ve needed something like it for YEARS. In fact, I’ve been working on it for years.

Back in 2006, Leda Dederich and I (under the name dotOrganize) launched a big study of social change organizers’ tech needs. The #1 lesson? Organizers need integration. They need their tools to work together. So I launched the Integration Proclamation and started working with vendors to build bridges between tools. Our data suggested that of all the possible integrations, Democracy In Action + Salesforce would do the most good for the most organizers. So we started working with Chris & April & Jason at DIA, Steve Wright at the Salesforce Foundation and Steve Anderson at ONE/Northwest, and now I’m heavily involved in getting the job done right.

Note that despite my heavy involvement, I’ve got zero financial stake in this integration. There are no kickbacks from DIA or from Salesforce. I just get better tools for social change organizers. That’s reward enough. My paycheck comes from the Surdna foundation, which generously (and wisely) supports nonprofit infrastructure initiatives like this.

If you have any questions, or want to participate in the beta testing, let me know.