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Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Microsoft Nonprofit Program

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Software

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Nonprofit Program logo

Microsoft Nonprofit Program

Software

Free Microsoft tools for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Nonprofit Program 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; Microsoft Nonprofit Program schools, universities, government agencies, banks, insurers, professional associations, sports bodies and political and labour groups are all ineligible
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Microsoft Nonprofit Program covers Office Suite.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Microsoft Nonprofit Program actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Microsoft Nonprofit Program differ
AttributeBlackbaud Raiser's EdgeMicrosoft Nonprofit Program
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, IOS, Android, Desktop
Founded19811975

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Microsoft Nonprofit Program

  • Office Suite
  • Cloud storage
  • Email and collaboration
  • Analytics
  • CRM
  • Data analytics
  • Teams
  • SharePoint

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Desktop 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 Microsoft Nonprofit Program
  • Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot Microsoft Nonprofit Program
  • Campaign and appeal trackingnot Microsoft Nonprofit Program
  • Prospect research and wealth screeningnot Microsoft Nonprofit Program
  • Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot Microsoft Nonprofit Program

Microsoft Nonprofit Program

  • Microsoft 365 licences for a registered nonprofit's staffnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Discounted cloud services for volunteers and temporary employeesnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Azure credits for nonprofit workloadsnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Public libraries and museums qualifying outside the usual charity definitionnot 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

Microsoft Nonprofit Program

  • Schools, universities, government agencies, banks, insurers, professional associations, sports bodies and political and labour groups are all ineligible
  • Free granted licences cover paid employees and unpaid executive staff only; volunteers and temporary staff get discounts rather than grants
  • Organisations must keep at least 85 percent of granted licences actively used
  • Licence counts vary by country and a group of organisations can hold only one grant account

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

Microsoft Nonprofit Program

Free
  • Nonprofit ProgramFree
    • Office 365
    • Azure
    • Dynamics 365

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.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge review

Choose Microsoft Nonprofit Program if

  • You need office suite.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Microsoft Nonprofit Program review

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Microsoft Nonprofit Program better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Microsoft Nonprofit Program 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 Microsoft Nonprofit Program?
Microsoft Nonprofit Program has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Free for Microsoft Nonprofit Program.
Does Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Microsoft Nonprofit Program run on more platforms?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Microsoft Nonprofit Program runs on Web, IOS, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Microsoft Nonprofit Program for free?
Yes. Microsoft Nonprofit Program 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 Microsoft Nonprofit Program is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Raiser's Edge do that Microsoft Nonprofit Program cannot?
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Microsoft Nonprofit Program covers Office Suite, Cloud storage, Email and collaboration, Analytics. Both handle Web support, Desktop support.
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