Software · head to head
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Salesforce for Nonprofits
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
Software
Enterprise-grade donor management system
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Salesforce for Nonprofits
Software
Enterprise CRM for nonprofit organizations
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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 pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation; 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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Salesforce for Nonprofits actually diverge.
| Attribute | Blackbaud Raiser's Edge | Salesforce for Nonprofits |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 1981 | 1999 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
- 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
- Pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
- Aimed at mid-sized and large nonprofits with dedicated development teams rather than small charities
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.
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.
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.