How to choose a fundraising CRM solution

Choosing a new CRM takes time and dedication. Before you even get started researching vendors or software to invest in, you need to determine the reasons behind this investment – whether that is to bridge current pain points or harness new opportunities.

Once you have a solid understanding of your requirements and what you want to achieve by choosing a CRM solution, you are ready to start evaluating vendors to find the best partner and software to invest in. This, however, is no easy task with hundreds of CRMs and vendors out there in the nonprofit space, and there are various areas to think about when approaching vendors.

To help you get started, we share 20 key questions to ask potential technology providers as a part of your technology project. By comparing responses from different vendors against your list of requirements, you are in a great position to demo the most suitable solutions.

The CRM

While the vendor plays an important role, you also need to ensure the CRM has the features and capabilities to meet your needs. Ask questions around specific fundraising functionalities or ask for a detailed list of different features they offer. Similarly, make sure the CRM can support your needs now and, in the future, – choosing an outdated or stagnant system is only going to hinder your growth and impact.

• What fundraising functionalities are available?
• Is the CRM cloud-based?
• Is the software scalable?
• Can the CRM be easily configured depending on your needs?
• Does the CRM harness artificial intelligence?

The Project

Each vendor has their unique way of approaching technology projects with their clients, which will impact the implementation process. Asking key questions about the process will help you compare timelines and processes and set your expectations.

• What is your typical implementation timeline?
• What does the implementation team look like?
• Do you have experience supporting data migrations?
• What documentation exists around APIs?
• What post-implementation service is available?
• What is included in the costs?
• What kind of ROI can I expect, and where will the project make a measurable impact?

The Vendor

Lastly, you should ask questions about the CRM vendor itself to ensure they have the expertise and experience in the areas that you need. This is especially important if you are interested in commercial CRMs that are not purpose-built for fundraising as you want to make sure the vendor understands the nonprofit space.

• What kind of data security measures do you offer?
• Do you provide dedicated customer support and live training?
• How do you work within the social good sector?
• Can you share case studies or track record of success with nonprofits?
• Do you own the intellectual property for the CRM?
• How do you determine your product roadmap?
• Does your organisation have ESG goals in place?
• What else can you help with?

These questions are a great starting point, but there is much more to determining your requirements and choosing a vendor who becomes your long-term partner that can support various needs or aspects of your operations.

To make the process easier, download Blackbaud’s newly updated and expanded How to Choose a Fundraising CRM Solution eBook today .