Top 5 CRM for Nonprofits You Must Know 

Searching for nonprofit CRMs is one of the most painful tasks you can ever think of. No one really has the patience to go and interview 20 odd CRM providers and remember the capabilities of every single one of them. How will you know which one is best for your requirements and that they will live up to the promises? 

To ease out your research process, we will focus on the top 5 CRM for nonprofits in this blog. We also look at the top considerations that will help you make the right choice. However, before proceeding forward, make sure that you are familiar with all CRM fundamentals like what is CRM, features of CRM, applications of CRM, etc.

What Is CRM for Nonprofits? 

A nonprofit CRM is relevant software for nonprofits to store, update, and analyze donor data. In the industry, the tool is also referred to as a nonprofit database or donor management platform. The tool basically organizes data of the donors, recognizes essential trends, and provides relevant suggestions for improving the chances of future donations.  

CRMs are primarily utilized in the corporate industries to centralize and manage customer information. Leveraging real-time data, previous interactions, analytics, and AI-driven insights, organizations can then improve their relationships with the customers and further personalize their communication. However, non-profit organizations can also utilize the tool, but a dedicated system is essential.  

In CRM for nonprofits, you get tools and features relevant to non-profit organizations like donor engagement metrics and online giving functionalities.  

What Do I Need to Know Before Searching for Nonprofit CRMs?  

Researching what you already have and what you need is the best way to proceed forward. It is advisable to deeply analyze your organization and create a list of CRM characteristics that will solve your immediate and long-term concerns. Here are a few questions you need to ponder before going ahead with your research:  

What Are My Longterm Goals? – Begin with your mission statement and analyze your particular priorities. This will let you have a precise list of what you really want.  

What Is My Reach? – Assessing your overall reach is an important aspect to consider in your CRM research. Figure out how many contacts you have, the number of emails you are sending daily, and the overall revenue you are getting.  

What Are the Most Important Future Initiatives? – This will help you figure out the number of initiatives you need such as peer-to-peer fundraising tools, email automation, or advocacy software.  

What Are the Exact Sources That Will be Involved in Data Migration? – Understand the data siloes you have. Higher data siloes lead to higher migration cost.  

Determining answers to these questions will enable you to frame your priorities list. Using this list, you can carry out your CRM research and shortlist the CRMs that tick all the boxes.  

Top 5 CRM for Nonprofits You Need to Know  

In this section, you will find a compiled list of top solutions you can explore in your quest to find the suitable CRM platform: 

Bloomerang:  

Many experts suggest that Bloomerang is the right choice for nonprofit organizations. It differentiates itself in the market because of its valuable integrations, robust features, professional support, and streamlined reporting. Bloomerang’s CRM for nonprofit provides an interactive dashboard, data integration, constituent timeline, etc. Such features allow the users to customize donor interactions and interact with your supporters on a deeper level.  

CharityEngine:  

For some users, CharityEngine is an unquestionable choice for non-profit CRM requirements. It provides all the native capabilities that a fundraiser requires to streamline its processes. Non-profits often find CRM solutions that are a sort of compilation of various third-party tools. However, CharityEngine is not like that as it was developed with built-in tools. Essentially, you will get a solution where all your tools will be in one place and there will be no need for uploads and synchronization.   

The platform offers advanced analytics and reporting tools to spot trends. Moreover, you have the option of displaying data in standard or personalized dashboard as per your convenience. To accommodate your monthly donations program, the platform also offers a proprietary billing solution known as SustainerIQ. CharityEngine promises to substantially improve your collection rates and monthly revenue rates.

Salesforce:  

When it comes to CRM solutions, Salesforce is often referred to as king. Especially in the world of corporate, numerous worldwide businesses utilize Salesforce to solve their CRM requirements. However, Salesforce also provides a non-profit version of its solution known as Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP). Just like its for-profit counterpart, it provides a unified solution for all CRM functionalities. A wide range of powerful features allow non-profits to seamlessly manage a large donor list. Its other salient features are mentioned as follows:  

• 70+ dashboards and reports personalized to non-profit sector.  

• Scalable features to manage donations.  

• A supporter database that evaluates volunteer and donor data from a single platform.  

The only disadvantage is that it is quite a large and complex system. This makes the configuration process quite tricky and mostly requires the services of a specialist. This can involve considerable initial costs, which will not be suitable for small non-profits operating on a restricted budget.

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT: 

It is a reliable and widely trusted donor management and fundraiser tool. Being a reputed CRM for nonprofits, it focuses on aiding non-profits in improving their donors lists and gifts. The platforms ensure that nonprofits have the right platform to enhance their fundraising revenue. Its list of features includes AI-based recommendations on donation amounts you can include in your online giving form. Prospective insights on donors based on propensity to give and capacity. There are also automated tools to track internal data and keep it organized, accurate, and updated. It enforces its powerful functionalities through modules and ensures robust reporting capabilities.  

Classy:  

Being a reliable CRM for non-profit, it empowers non-profit organizations to raise funds via a powerful digital fundraising tool. It also includes a centralized supporter management platform. The main set of features are listed as follows:  

• Segmentation, search, and filter features to segment supporters and create more customized outreach.  

• Automated email functionality to cultivate relationships with the donors and make them understand their real-world impact.  

• SSL Security and Level 1 PCI compliance to safeguard your donor data.  

• Simple process to launch campaigns via webinars and templates.  

Final Decision- Are Non-profit CRMs Worth It?  

Selecting the right CRM for nonprofits comes down to comprehending the unique requirements and goals of the organization. Irrespective of whether you choose Bloomerang for its innovative interface, CharityEngine for its native tools, Salesforce for its powerful and wide range of features, Edge NXT for fundraising, or Classy for its segmentation, your decision should complement your needs and mission. You can take advantage of trials and demonstrations before committing yourself. With the right platform for donor management, you will boost your supporter relationships, simplify operations, and ultimately enhance your impact.  

Choose a platform and begin your CRM journey today and see the impact it makes on your non-profit organization. 

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