Blackbaud CRM provides value for better fundraising, relationship management, and prospect engagement
June 01, 2023

Blackbaud CRM provides value for better fundraising, relationship management, and prospect engagement

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Blackbaud CRM

We use CRM to manage all alumni, parent, and student data. It is largely focused on fundraising activity, relationship building through engagement, and moves management for prospects. It addresses many things at once - it is a one-stop place to find information. I use it daily and regularly as a fundraiser. It keeps track of my prospects, managing those relationships, and fundraising activity. Thankfully, our in-house team of Information Services routinely makes improvements and listens to feedback from fundraisers who use it nearly everyday.
  • Makes it easy for fundraisers to keep track of the activity they need or want to accomplish
  • Allows fundraisers to easily enter email correspondence through their email add-on
  • Listens to customer feedback and makes quality enhancements
  • The sticky function of data filtering.
  • It can be overwhelming because there is so much information.
  • The way revenue/gifts are can be confusing. There are also too many tabs to find information.
  • There are a lot of little frustrations and tedious little steps to complete.
  • Time savings and more efficiency by helping me keep track of information better
It is highly customizable in some respects and not so much in others. Overall, it is great to pilot, review, and continually review the functionality of it.
Blackbaud CRM is more robust and has better functionality. It is necessary for a bigger fundraising shop. Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and NXT worked well in smaller organizations with fewer users and fewer donors/prospects. RE was more affordable than CRM was for the smaller organization.

Do you think Blackbaud CRM delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Blackbaud CRM's feature set?

Yes

Did Blackbaud CRM live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Blackbaud CRM go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Blackbaud CRM again?

Yes

It is advanced and relatively easy to use. It keeps track of information well and makes it easy for fundraisers to manage their relationships. It may work well for organizations with a lot of alumni (maybe 20-30,000?). Not sure. It may not be best for smaller nonprofits because it is a significant financial investment.

Using Blackbaud CRM

90 - This is all within the Advancement Division: fundraising, career development, deans/academic leaders, information services, marketing and communications, prospect research and management.
10 - Data analytics, prospect research, skills related to working with fundraisers and understanding their usage and needs
  • Fundraising
  • Prospect engagement
  • Data Management
  • Dashboard to keep fundraisers focused
We have a contract with them and transition from Ellucian's Banner system pre-pandemic. I don't think we'll change anytime soon and will therefore renew when the contract ends.