Customer relationship management (CRM) is valuable for any organization, including nonprofits. A CRM system streamlines how you connect with your donors, volunteers, and other key stakeholders. By providing a centralized location for donor information, communication tools, and fundraising data, a CRM allows nonprofits to cultivate stronger relationships, manage fundraising efforts more effectively, and ultimately achieve their missions.
However, selecting the best CRM for nonprofits can be challenging, given the comprehensive range of options. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top CRM solutions developed to meet the needs of nonprofits of all sizes and factors to consider when choosing.
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What is the Best CRM for Nonprofits?
Unfortunately, there’s no single “best” CRM for all nonprofits. The ideal solution depends on your organization’s specific needs and resources. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating CRM systems:
- Budget: CRM solutions can vary in price from free to thousands of dollars annually. Consider how much your organization is comfortable spending on software.
- Size and Needs of Your Nonprofit: Larger nonprofits with complex fundraising needs may require a more robust CRM with advanced features, while smaller nonprofits may do well with a more basic system.
- Ease of Use: If your staff could be more tech-savvy, you’ll want a CRM that is easy to learn and use.
- Features: Consider the specific features important to your organization, such as donor management, fundraising tools, volunteer management, email marketing, and reporting capabilities.
- Scalability: If you anticipate your organization growing, you’ll need a CRM that can scale with you.
- Security: Since a CRM will likely store a lot of sensitive donor data, make sure the system has robust security features.
Best CRM for Small Nonprofit Organizations
Smaller nonprofits typically have limited budgets and staff resources. Here are some CRM options that are well-suited for smaller organizations:
Bloomerang: Bloomerang is a popular CRM designed specifically for nonprofits. It offers a user-friendly interface, essential donor management features (including tracking donations, communication history, and interests), and essential reporting tools at an affordable price point. While Bloomerang may not be ideal for larger nonprofits with complex needs, it’s a robust CRM solution for smaller organizations starting with CRM software.
Salsa CRM: Salsa CRM is another CRM built for nonprofits. It offers a free plan for tiny nonprofits and paid plans with more features for larger organizations. Salsa CRM includes donor management, fundraising tools, volunteer management, and marketing automation features.
Little Green Light: Little Green Light is a newcomer to the CRM scene but has quickly gained popularity among small nonprofits. It offers a free plan with essential features and a paid plan with more advanced functionality, including donor management, fundraising tools, grant management, and peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities.
Best CRM for Large Nonprofit Organizations
Large nonprofits with complex fundraising needs typically require a more robust CRM system with advanced features. Here are some popular options:
- Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud: Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is a powerful CRM specifically designed for nonprofits. It offers a complete suite of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, volunteer management, marketing automation, and advanced reporting and analytics. However, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud can be expensive, so it’s best suited for larger nonprofits with a large budget.
- Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT: Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT is another industry-leading CRM for nonprofits. It offers a robust feature for managing donors, fundraising campaigns, grants, and volunteers. Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT is highly scalable and can accommodate the needs of very large nonprofits. However, similar to Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, it can be a costly solution.
- Neon CRM: Neon CRM is a powerful solution designed specifically for nonprofits. It offers a complete suite of features, including donor management, fundraising tools, volunteer management, grant management, and marketing automation. Neon CRM is known for its ease of use and scalability, making it a good option for nonprofits of all sizes.
Additional Considerations for Selecting a Nonprofit CRM
Here are some additional factors to keep in mind when choosing a CRM for your nonprofit:
- Integrations: Does the CRM integrate with your organization’s other tools, such as your analysis software or email marketing platform?
- Customer Support: Does the CRM vendor offer good customer support? This is important in case you need help.