Nonprofit & Fundraising · head to head
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge vs Salsa CRM
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
Nonprofit & Fundraising
Enterprise-grade donor management system
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Salsa CRM
Nonprofit & Fundraising
Integrated CRM and email marketing for nonprofits
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation; Salsa CRM no longer sold as Salsa. salsalabs.com redirects to Bonterra, which absorbed it alongside EveryAction
- They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Salsa CRM covers Contact management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and Salsa CRM actually diverge.
| Attribute | Blackbaud Raiser's Edge | Salsa CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile | Web, Mobile-responsive |
| Founded | 1981 | 2000 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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
- QuickBooks
- Desktop support
- Mobile support
Only in Salsa CRM
- Contact management
- Email marketing
- Fundraising tools
- Advocacy campaigns
- Analytics
- Google Analytics
- Mobile-responsive support
Both cover
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Salesforce
- 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 Salsa CRM
- Major gift portfolio management for fundraisersnot Salsa CRM
- Campaign and appeal trackingnot Salsa CRM
- Prospect research and wealth screeningnot Salsa CRM
- Fundraising reporting for boards and fundersnot Salsa CRM
Salsa CRM
- 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
Salsa CRM
- No longer sold as Salsa. salsalabs.com redirects to Bonterra, which absorbed it alongside EveryAction
- Pricing is not published
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
Salsa CRM
On request- Essential$85/month
- Contact management
- Email marketing
- Advanced$200/month
- Fundraising tools
- Advocacy campaigns
- Reporting
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 Salsa CRM if
- You need contact management.
- You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
- You also want email marketing.
Questions people ask
- Is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Salsa CRM better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Salsa CRM at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Salsa CRM?
- Blackbaud Raiser's Edge starts at On request and Salsa CRM at On request.
- Does Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or Salsa CRM run on more platforms?
- Blackbaud Raiser's Edge runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Salsa CRM runs on Web, Mobile-responsive.
- 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 Salsa CRM is typically brought in for.
- What can Blackbaud Raiser's Edge do that Salsa CRM cannot?
- Blackbaud Raiser's Edge covers Donor management, Gift tracking, Prospect research, Campaign management. Salsa CRM covers Contact management, Email marketing, Fundraising tools, Advocacy campaigns. Both handle Stripe, PayPal, Salesforce, Web support.