The Raisers Edge Review - why 4.1 stars?

Shlomi Lavi / updated: Aug 25, 2022

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What is The Raisers Edge?

The Raiser Edge is a complete fundraising software solution with retention, efficiency, acquisition and upgrading features. Using this fundraising tool, users can run annual fund giving, major giving, planned giving and online giving via one system. The mobile app of The Raiser Edge also offers entering notes and action and viewing constituent information on the go.

Blackbaud, the company behind The Raiser Edge, was founded back in 1981 to help nonprofits with various software and services. The company is also known for their Luminate Online marketing, TeamRaiser, eTapestry and Luminate CRM solution. The company is currently providing services to more than 28,000 customers in over 60 countries.

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Who is it best for?

The Raiser Edge is specifically designed for medium-sized organizations and nonprofits to help them achieve their goal using their existing strategy for fundraising. The nonprofit solution is used by organizations involved with animal welfare, arts and culture, faith-based, foundations, healthcare, higher education, human services, K-12 and independent schools and public broadcasting. American Red Cross, YMCA of Greater Charlotte and Collectors Foundation are some of the clients of The Raiser Edge.

Main features and functionalities

Starting from relationship management features to diversified fundraising features, the fundraising and CRM solution offers everything to help organizations engage with raise money, constituents and to achieve their mission. Users can cultivate lifelong relationships with donors and streamline various processes using the fundraising solution. The solution offers strong web content management, interactive online community and powerful fundraising event features.

Some notable features of The Raiser Edge are list management tools, Blackbaud built-in PCI-compliant software, data enrichment services to help users keep clean and accurate data, easy gift entry, help users raising money through major gifts, recurring gifts, annual fund and planned giving and templates for acknowledgements and fundraising appeals. The solution also offers marketing, reporting and fundraising database features.

What is the actual cost?

The cost of license starts at $499 per month. ITQlick pricing score is 6.6 out of 10 (10 is most expensive). Access ITQlick pricing guide for The Raisers Edge. You can also find here pricing information from The Raisers Edge's website.

Pros

• The Raiser Edge NXT provides every kind of basic report needed
• Users have many tools that keep them organized and remind them to thank their donors
• Users can easily organize the information and pull it back out in queries
• The solution offers integrated email marketing, wealth screenings and direct mail unlike other similar tools
• The fundraising software is specifically designed for medium nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their missions

Cons

• Users say that it takes way too many steps to add donations
• The Raiser’s Edge open API support is only available for the Enterprise plan users
• The functions of The Raiser’s Edge are not highly customizable according to some users
• NetCommunity Grow and Friends Asking Friends are only available for the Enterprise plan users
• The integrated data enrichment services and advanced models for prospect research features are optional for The Raiser’s Edge and The Raiser’s Edge (i) plans

How it stacks up?

Access a head to head analysis of The Raisers Edge vs alternative software solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is The Raisers Edge right for you or your business?

Blackbaud Raiser Edge NXT is a fundraising and donor management software system designed primarily for the non-profit sector and the broader social good community. The software has been used for corporations like Akron Zoo, UNC-Chapel Hill, High Museum of Art, etc.