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Nonprofit & Fundraising · head to head

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Facebook Fundraisers

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Nonprofit & Fundraising

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Facebook Fundraisers logo

Facebook Fundraisers

Nonprofit & Fundraising

Integrated fundraising on Facebook

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation; Facebook Fundraisers no donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Facebook Fundraisers actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Facebook Fundraisers differ
AttributeBlackbaud Raiser's EdgeFacebook Fundraisers
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19812004

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofit & Fundraising).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Donor management
  • Gift tracking
  • Prospect research
  • Campaign management
  • Advanced reporting
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Salesforce

Only in Facebook Fundraisers

  • Campaign creation
  • Donation collection
  • Social sharing
  • Donation tracking
  • Team fundraising
  • Facebook Pages
  • Instagram
  • Messenger

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Donor management and gift processing for nonprofitsnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • Campaign and appeal trackingnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • Prospect research and wealth screeningnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot Facebook Fundraisers

Facebook Fundraisers

  • Business operationsnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Productivitynot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Automationnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

  • Pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
  • Aimed at mid-sized and large nonprofits with dedicated development teams rather than small charities

Facebook Fundraisers

  • No donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
  • Slow payouts of 15-45 days for enrolled nonprofits, up to 90 days for unenrolled organizations
  • No recurring giving option after discontinuation in 2023, limiting lifetime donor value
  • Limited customization and branding control compared to dedicated fundraising platforms
  • Not available in European Economic Area countries as of July 1, 2024

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

On request
  • Standard$200/month
    • Donor database
    • Gift tracking
    • Reports
  • Premium$500/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Prospect research
    • Custom reporting

Facebook Fundraisers

Free
  • Standard$undefined/mo
    • Donation collection
    • Birthday fundraisers
    • Matching donations on Instagram

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

  • You need donor management.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want gift tracking.

Choose Facebook Fundraisers if

  • You need campaign creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want donation collection.

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Facebook Fundraisers better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Facebook Fundraisers at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Facebook Fundraisers?
Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Free for Facebook Fundraisers.
Does Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Facebook Fundraisers run on more platforms?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Facebook Fundraisers runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Facebook Fundraisers for free?
Yes. Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request.
What is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge best used for?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge is most often used for donor management and gift processing for nonprofits, major gift portfolio management for fundraisers, campaign and appeal tracking, prospect research and wealth screening. Of those, donor management and gift processing for nonprofits and major gift portfolio management for fundraisers are not what Facebook Fundraisers is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Raiser's Edge do that Facebook Fundraisers cannot?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation, Donation collection, Social sharing, Donation tracking. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Facebook Fundraisers: Are there any fees for Facebook Fundraisers for nonprofits?

Meta covers payment processing fees for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, PayPal Giving Fund, which processes all donations, applies 1.99% + $0.49 per donation in the US. For eligible nonprofits, Meta covers these fees, so the nonprofit keeps 100% of donations.

Source
Facebook Fundraisers: When will I receive my donations?

Enrolled nonprofits receive donations within 15-45 days. Unenrolled organizations wait up to 90 days. Payouts go through PayPal Giving Fund.

Source
Facebook Fundraisers: Can I collect donor email addresses?

No. Facebook only provides the donor's name and donation amount unless the donor explicitly opts in to share their email during the donation process.

Source
Facebook Fundraisers: Does Facebook Fundraisers support recurring monthly donations?

No. Native recurring giving was discontinued in October 2023. Donors can only make one-time contributions.

Source
Facebook Fundraisers: What platforms can I use to fundraise on?

Facebook Fundraisers are available on Facebook Pages, Instagram, and WhatsApp for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Donors can contribute via donation buttons on posts, stories, live streams, and matching donation features on Instagram.

Source

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