The Top Blackbaud Alternatives: The Best Nonprofit CRM and Donor Management Systems for 2024

Blackbaud is a leading provider of nonprofit CRM and donor management software, but it’s not the right solution for every organization. If you’re looking for a more affordable, easier-to-use, or more feature-rich alternative, there are a number of great Blackbaud alternatives available.

In this Guide, we’ll take a look at the best Blackbaud alternatives for nonprofits for 2024. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each solution, so you can choose the one that’s right for your organization.

Why Nonprofits Are Leaving Blackbaud

There are a number of reasons why nonprofits are leaving Blackbaud for other CRM and donor management solutions. Some of the most common reasons include:

• High cost: Blackbaud’s software is known for being expensive, especially for smaller nonprofits.
• Long-term contracts: Blackbaud has lengthy contracts that prevent nonprofits from exploring Blackbaud alternatives
• Lack of innovation: Blackbaud’s products can be clunky and outdated, and it can take a long time for new features to be released.
• Poor customer support: Nonprofits often have to wait a long time to hear back from customer support representatives, and when they do, the representatives are not always able to resolve their issues.
• Difficult to use: Blackbaud’s products have a reputation for being difficult to use. The user interface can be confusing and unintuitive, and it can take a lot of time and training for users to learn how to use the system effectively.
• Not meeting the needs of nonprofits: Some nonprofits have found that Blackbaud’s products do not meet their specific needs. For example, some nonprofits need a CRM system that is integrated with their other software systems, such as their accounting or marketing software. Blackbaud’s products do not always integrate well with other systems, which can create silos of data and make it difficult to get a complete view of the organization’s operations.

The Best Blackbaud Alternatives for Nonprofits

There are a number of great Blackbaud alternatives available, each with its own unique set of features and benefits. Here are some of the most popular options:

• Virtuous CRM: Virtuous CRM is a cloud-based CRM and donor management solution that helps nonprofits of all sizes grow and thrive. With Virtuous, you can easily track donor information, manage fundraising campaigns, and generate reports to measure your impact.
• Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP): Salesforce NPSP is a free and open-source CRM platform that is specifically designed for nonprofits. It is easy to use and offers a wide range of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, and reporting capabilities.
• Bloomerang: Bloomerang is a cloud-based CRM and donor management solution that is designed for small and mid-sized nonprofits. It is easy to use and offers a variety of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, and event management capabilities.
• Neon One CRM: Neon CRM is another cloud-based CRM and donor management solution that is designed for small and mid-sized nonprofits. It is easy to use and offers a variety of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, and marketing automation capabilities.
• Kindful: Kindful is a cloud-based CRM and donor management solution that is designed for small and mid-sized nonprofits. It is easy to use and offers a variety of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, and reporting capabilities

What Should Nonprofits Expect From Their CRM? Why Spend The Time To Look for A Blackbaud Alternative?

• Your donor CRM should save you time.
• Your CRM should make you money.
• Your CRM should make you and your team more productive.
• Your team should enjoy using the software.

Virtuous: Our Recommended Solution For Nonprofits

At Social Impact Solutions, we’ve worked with many donor management software on behalf of our clients. The reality is that Blackbaud is a good fit for some nonprofits but many nonprofit leaders are actively looking for Blacbaud alternatives to help their organization grow.

Virtuous is a cloud-based CRM and donor management solution that is specifically designed for nonprofits. It is easy to use and offers a wide range of features, including:

• Donor management: Virtuous makes it easy to track donor information, including contact details, donation history, and communication preferences. You can also use Virtuous to create and manage donor segments so you can send targeted communications and fundraising appeals.
• Fundraising tools: Virtuous offers a variety of fundraising tools, such as online donation forms, email marketing, and event management. You can also use Virtuous to track your fundraising progress and generate reports.
• Reporting and analytics: Virtuous offers a variety of reports and analytics tools, so you can track your progress and make informed decisions about your nonprofit.
• Virtuous is the go-to CRM for nonprofits because it is easy to use, affordable, and offers a wide range of features. Virtuous is also backed by a team of experienced nonprofit professionals who can help you get the most out of the software.

Here are some of the reasons why nonprofits are choosing Virtuous an alternative to BlackBaud:

• Virtuous is easy to use. Virtuous has a clean and intuitive user interface, so you and your team can start using it right away.
• Virtuous is affordable. Virtuous offers a variety of pricing plans to fit the needs of nonprofits of all sizes.
• Virtuous offers a wide range of features. Virtuous has everything you need to manage your donors, fundraising, and reporting.
• Virtuous is backed by a team of experienced nonprofit professionals. Virtuous’ support team is available to help you get the most out of the software and achieve your nonprofit’s goals.

If you are looking for a powerful and easy-to-use CRM solution for your nonprofit, Virtuous is the best option available.

How to Choose the Right Blackbaud Alternative for Your Nonprofit

When choosing a nonprofit CRM and donor management system, there are a few key factors to consider:

• Budget: How much money can you afford to spend on a CRM system?
• Features: What features are most important to you? For example, do you need a CRM system that is integrated with your other software systems? Do you need a CRM system with fundraising tools or event management capabilities?
• Ease of use: How easy is the CRM system to use? Will your staff be able to learn how to use the system quickly and easily?
• Customer support: Does the CRM vendor offer good customer support? Will you be able to get help quickly if you have problems with the system?

Switching from Blackbaud to a New Nonprofit CRM

If you’re considering switching from Blackbaud to a new nonprofit CRM, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Take our Nonprofit Fundraising Quiz: Find out where your nonprofit is thriving and areas for improvement. Benchmarking your nonprofit may illuminate which next steps you should take to help you grow your organization. You can start the Fundraising Quiz here!
• Do your research. Take the time to compare different nonprofit CRM options and choose the Blackbaud alternative that is right for your organization’s needs and budget.
• Get buy-in from your staff. It is important to get buy-in from your staff before switching to a new CRM system. Make sure that everyone understands the benefits of the new system and is willing to learn how to use it.
• Plan your migration carefully. Moving to a new CRM system can be a complex process, so it is important to plan carefully

Changing CRMs Is No Minor Feat

Remember, the best CRM is the one you actually use. Regardless of which Blackbaud alternative you use, it is important that you and your team understand that donor management software is meant to do one thing…Make your organization more productive by saving you time and helping you raise more money.