Customer Relationship Software??  I have recently started doing
fundraising for an orchestra and we have to keep track of about 300 -
600 companies with whom we are in contact.  What is a good software
program to use with this?  We need to record contacts, contact
numbers, emails, status of negotiations, background, history of
giving, etc. Is Microsoft Access appropriate?  We are a non-profit so
money is an issue.  We have MS Office available in the office though.

Hello Charlie34,

You could certainly "roll your own" solution for fundraising, but
there do appear to be a number of different products, some with quite
reasonable pricing available.

For example:
  http://www.fundraisersoftware.com/
FundRaiser Software is a family owned business. Started as a computer
consulting / custom software company. One of their early products was
used to do fundraising (for a politician) but has evolved into a
family of three products for non profit organizations:
 o FundRaiser Basic ($89, plus a free evaluation CD) is an entry level
program. Relatively simple, single user, manages donor / prospects,
basic mailing and thank you processing, and a set of reports.
  http://www.fundraisersoftware.com/frb.html
 o FundRaiser Junior ($950 plus several options) is a mid level
program. Everything in FRB plus several additional capabilities built
in (more options, more reports, etc.). Also supports multiple users
(for a fee) or "plug in modules" such as pledges, memberships,
tributes, ticket sales, and so on. Can also purchase on an installment
plan.
  http://www.fundraisersoftware.com/fjr.html
 o FundRaiser Professional ($2800 plus several options) is the top of
the line. Basically it includes all the modules from FundRaiser Junior
as well as several added features (e.g., multiple addresses for
snowbirds).
This is a product line that can grow with your needs. Even with the
basic version, you can import /export data from other sources as well.

Another example:
  http://www.donorperfect.com/index-us.html
Softerware sells "Donor Perfect Software", a pair of products - one
for your local PC's, and another that uses a web interface. The
"Visual Edition" (PC version)
  http://www.donorperfect.com/vefeatures.html
and the web version Donor Perfect Online
  http://www.donorperfect.com/dpofeatures.html
are described briefly at these two addresses. They also indicate they
have a trial CD, but pricing is not available on line (must contact
them and request pricing).

There are a few referral services as well such as
  http://www.capterra.com/fund-raising-software
which list 20 different products, varying by size and complexity. They
offer a "RFI" service where you can request information from more than
one supplier and compare various products.

There seem to be a number of solutions that can meet your needs. You
can find more with searches such as:
  fundraising software non profit
  fund raising software non profit
  fundraising software non profit reviews
both the searches as well as sponsored links provide direct references
to software suppliers, referral services, books, and reviews. For
example, using the last search I found:
  http://www2.ctcnet.org/ctc/npower/AFreport0311.doc  (MS Word Document) 
which has a summary of product comparisons, factors to consider,
general pricing, and other information from NY Power.

Please let me know if you want me to dig into this in more detail with
a clarification request. I would be glad to find some additional
information for you if there is some factor I did not consider
sufficiently with this answer.

  --Maniac