FACT CHECK: BLACKBAUD CRM VS. SALESFORCE NPSP

I recently read this article written by BrightVine Solutions COO & VP Stacey Segal on the differences between Salesforce NPSP and Blackbaud CRM. While I appreciated this blog and found many of its points interesting, I wanted to take a moment to perform a fact check on some misleading and misrepresented information.  Cloud for Good has performed countless migrations for nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions from Blackbaud to Salesforce products, so let’s clear the air on a few of the statements within this post and set the record straight. 

Statement: Salesforce costs for data storage and API calls are restricting clients.

False: This might have been an issue in the past. Two years ago, Salesforce increased storage limits that are included with licenses by a multiple of 10. Additionally, Salesforce always shows flexibility around storage and API calls and we have seen them increasing these when needed at very reasonable rates.

Statement: You need apps to make NPSP work for you. The more apps you choose, the higher the costs, and the more vendors needed to work with.

False: This has been Blackbaud’s approach for years and I am surprised to see that it is still being used, especially since Blackbaud recently announced their app store. Salesforce.org has invested substantially in NPSP over the last few years making the most of the functionality fundraisers will need available out of the box.   While Salesforce’s AppExchange features numerous applications that can further heighten the impact on the NPSP on your technology, the statement of apps being a requirement to transform your technology is simply not true. Out of the box, the NPSP sets up organizations with configurable and intuitive management solutions that will drive innovation and streamline business processes without the need for supplemental apps.

Statement: Field audit is out of the box with BBCRM. NPSP requires an app from the AppExchange.

False: Field Audit Trail is a functionality that is included out of the box with Salesforce. Field Audit Trail lets you define a policy to retain archived field history data up to 10 years from the time the data was archived. This feature helps you comply with industry regulations related to audit capability and data retention.

Statement: Duplicate management is not out of the box with NPSP/Salesforce and requires apps like Cloudingo.

False: Salesforce offers out-of-the-box, customizable duplicate management with the ability to create duplicate rules and matching rules. For example, you can block users from creating duplicates instead of just warning them or run different duplicate rules for different user profiles. While this functionality works for the vast majority of our clients, some choose to use other applications to enhance their duplicate management.

Statement: Database backup with NPSP requires Data Loader and doesn’t export all data.

False: You do not need to use the Data Loader or a third-party application (though you can, and options are good to have) to back up all your data. Salesforce offers a free data export service for either manual or scheduled export of your data. You can read more about all your options here.

Statement: Direct marketing requires a third-party vendor with NPSP.

Partially Correct: Direct marketing is not where Salesforce shines. Most institutions will need to engage a third party to support complex segmentation needs. With that being said, that is also correct for many BBCRM clients who choose to work with third-party vendors to streamline the direct marketing process. Cloud for Good is working on an offering to address these needs, combined with some exciting new functionality that Salesforce recently released. Stay tuned for more info soon.

Statement: Most organizations using Salesforce require 30-100 apps.

False: I have been in the Salesforce ecosystem for almost two decades now and I don’t know of any organization using 100 apps from the AppExchange. Furthermore, the blog mentions applications that we have not seen implemented for a long time.

Statement: Product vs. Platform - NPSP has all your wants, BBCRM has your needs. 

Answer: Both Salesforce and BBCRM offer flexibility. NPSP was designed to address the fundraising needs on the Salesforce platform, reducing the need for customization and including more of the “needs” out of the box.

 Just like BBCRM, implementation of the technology is needed. To reduce the need for customization within the higher education advancement, Cloud for Good created an Advancement Accelerator. Our accelerators include all the "needs" out of the box while offering the flexibility to build your "wants."

Statement: Blackbaud has fewer partners implementing BBCRM, making it easier to understand the options.

Partially Correct: Salesforce does have a lot of implementation partners and they are constantly growing the partner program. At the same time, the partner team has improved their approval process for new partners and created partner tiers based on the partner experience and certifications. I strongly disagree that more options to choose from is a disadvantage.

Finally, I was disappointed to not see any actual customer names in the post. Why is that? Over the last year, we have published many success stories highlighting customers who have migrated from Blackbaud to Salesforce and experienced great results. Here are some resources that will help you make the best decisions if you are also considering taking the next step on your technology journey:

·     Human Rights Watch Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP

·     CDC Foundation Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP

·     Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP

·     California State Parks Foundation Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP

·     Hispanic Scholarship Fund Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP

·     The Center Migrates from Blackbaud to NPSP