Which combination of software would you use for writing a letter, tracking donor names, and budgeting?

• A. Word Processor for a letter; Database for donor names; Spreadsheet for budget
• B. Word Processor for a letter; Spreadsheet for budget; Database for donor names
• C. Database for a letter; Word Processor for donor names; Spreadsheet for budget
• D. Spreadsheet for a letter; Database for donor names; Word Processor for budget

Answer: (A)

You’re matching each task to the kind of software that handles it most efficiently. For writing a letter, a word processor is best because it gives you proper formatting, margins, fonts, and easy printing or sending with a professional appearance. For tracking donor names, a database shines because it stores records in structured fields (like name, contact info, donation history), makes it easy to update records, and lets you search or sort through many entries quickly. For budgeting, a spreadsheet is the right choice since it handles numbers, formulas, sums, and charts, helping you compute totals and create clear, updatable budgets.

Trying to mix these roles would make one task harder: writing a letter in a spreadsheet would strip away formatting options, and budgeting in a database would complicate calculations. Using a database for letters or a spreadsheet for donor records would also be less efficient. So using a word processor for the letter, a database for donor names, and a spreadsheet for budgeting aligns each tool with its strengths.