Nonprofit organizations that run the Blackbaud software Raiser’s Edge may consider migrating to Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud. An inviting interface and lower licensing costs make Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack appealing, as does its open-ended design. Data stored in Blackbaud systems can be difficult to use in external applications without guidance from RE software integration experts. Here are a few important nonprofit data management considerations for RE to Salesforce NPSP migration.
Questions to Ask Before You Migrate to Salesforce
The main question that should be answered before migrating from RE to Salesforce for Nonprofits is which fundraising platform to use. One of the strongest arguments in favor of RE is that this software performs all of the functions of processing donations and constituent relationship management. Salesforce is a CRM constituent relationship management system developed to work with a number of third-party applications.
Another important question to ask is which useful features of RE might prove difficult to replicate through a combination of Salesforce NPSP and external applications. In some cases, organizations benefit from running RE and Salesforce NPSP simultaneously and relying on integration software to allow for smooth imports and exports between these systems and any third-party apps.
Why Working With Both RE & SF Can Be Beneficial to Your Nonprofit
Salesforce NPSP and RE have unique strengths and weaknesses. RE can provide all of the basic functions most nonprofits need to operate, while Salesforce NPSP works with more apps that have recently gained traction in the not-for-profit community. Combining these platforms opens the door to the potential of Salesforce while retaining the core functions of RE.
Organizations that already run RE likely rely on this system for most aspects of operations. It may be more disruptive to completely shift fundraising over to a third-party application and external donation processor than it is to continue to use this legacy software alongside Salesforce for functions such as communication, engagement and volunteer management.
Choosing Between Nonprofit CRMs
The justification for migration tends to be that one CRM offers services that are lacking in another software suite. For example, an organization that wants to manage a volunteer program might see the advantage of using Salesforce NPSP in addition to or instead of RE. On the other hand, an organization using Salesforce might want to rely on an all-in-one service for raising funds and managing constituents.
The best migration advice is to weigh the benefits and shortcomings of all of the systems under consideration. If the cost is not prohibitive, it may be preferable to continue to run RE and integrate this and other Blackbaud databases with Salesforce for Nonprofits. Integration software can also clear the way to use RE data in other applications that are connected to Salesforce.
An RE to Salesforce NPSP migration can benefit from integration software designed for nonprofits. A platform that enables data to flow between these and other systems can enable an organization to use the best CRM software and third-party applications that are available to cultivate constituents and contacts, track engagement, manage volunteers, process donations and keep financial records.
