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Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Salesforce for Nonprofits

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge logo

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Nonprofits

Enterprise-grade donor management system

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce for Nonprofits logo

Salesforce for Nonprofits

Nonprofits

Enterprise CRM for nonprofit organizations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Salesforce for Nonprofits has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge no published pricing on website - requires custom quote based on organization size and solutions; Salesforce for Nonprofits the Power of Us free grant covers only 10 Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud or Sales/Service Cloud licences; every licence beyond that is paid
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Gift tracking, Salesforce for Nonprofits covers Campaign tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Salesforce for Nonprofits actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Salesforce for Nonprofits differ
AttributeBlackbaud Raiser's EdgeSalesforce for Nonprofits
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19811999

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

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

  • Gift tracking
  • Prospect research
  • Campaign management
  • PayPal
  • Salesforce
  • QuickBooks
  • Desktop support
  • Mobile support

Only in Salesforce for Nonprofits

  • Campaign tracking
  • Volunteer management
  • Program tracking
  • Google Analytics
  • Slack
  • Tableau
  • IOS support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Donor management
  • Advanced reporting
  • Stripe
  • 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 Salesforce for Nonprofits
  • Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot Salesforce for Nonprofits
  • Campaign and appeal trackingnot Salesforce for Nonprofits
  • Prospect research and wealth screeningnot Salesforce for Nonprofits
  • Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot Salesforce for Nonprofits

Salesforce for Nonprofits

  • Nonprofit constituent CRM covering fundraising, programs, outcomes and volunteersnot Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
  • Consolidating donor, grant and program data on the Salesforce platformnot 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

  • No published pricing on website - requires custom quote based on organization size and solutions
  • Pricing varies significantly by product and organizational complexity

Salesforce for Nonprofits

  • The Power of Us free grant covers only 10 Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud or Sales/Service Cloud licences; every licence beyond that is paid
  • Nonprofit Cloud Enterprise is $60 per user per month billed annually and Nonprofit Cloud Unlimited is $100 per user per month billed annually
  • The free licences require passing Salesforce eligibility criteria for the Power of Us program
  • Most Salesforce products are sold on annual contracts
  • Some products must scale together when you add or upgrade, which requires going through an Account Executive

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

Salesforce for Nonprofits

Free
  • Nonprofit CloudFree
    • Donor management
    • Campaign tracking
    • Volunteer management
  • Professional$150/month
    • Advanced reporting
    • API integrations
    • Customization

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Raiser's Edge if

  • You need gift tracking.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want prospect research.
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge review

Choose Salesforce for Nonprofits if

  • You need campaign tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want volunteer management.
Salesforce for Nonprofits review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: How much does Raiser's Edge NXT cost?

Blackbaud does not publish pricing for Raiser's Edge NXT or other products on their website. Pricing is customized based on your organization's size, goals, and the solutions you need. You must submit a form to request a personalized quote.

Source
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: How is Blackbaud pricing calculated?

Blackbaud pricing is based on several factors including organization size, number of users, selected solutions or modules, and the level of support and services desired. Pricing is designed to scale with organizational needs.

Source
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge: Does Blackbaud charge hidden fees?

No, Blackbaud pricing is structured to be transparent with no hidden fees. Their representative walks through all costs during consultation before you move forward.

Source
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