Relatively new to the nonprofit CRM scene, Bonterra is an industry behemoth. Beginning in 2021, the company began acquiring popular nonprofit CRM companies, such as EveryAction, Network for Good, Salsa, and, most recently, DonorDrive.
Backed by private-equity investors, the company’s growth strategy is to expand functionality through acquisition. This is an effective way to grow fast and be a “do-it-all” company. Accessing different technologies will give nonprofits a full suite of fundraising tools.
In contrast, CharityEngine is one of the last privately owned nonprofit CRM vendors. We offer a fully unified fundraising platform with native tools, meaning all core fundraising can be done right from our platform. This keeps your data in one place, constantly synchronized and in real time. Nonprofits have a full suite of fundraising tools with CharityEngine, but you never need to switch technologies to add functionality.
Bonterra Pros
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Diverse Product Suite: You can do it all! Not only does the brand offer the functionality of nearly ten acquired companies, but they are actively finding new vendors to bring under their corporate wing. If they don’t have a feature you want, it’s likely upcoming.
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Powerful Mission: Bonterra brands itself as a social good software company. A key part of its vision is an ambitious goal to increase charitable giving in the U.S. from 2% to 3% of GDP by 2033.
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Continued Growth: Bonterra will continue to have a large presence in the industry and could become one of the biggest vendors. The platforms offered will also continue to expand, ensuring robust functionality.
Bonterra Cons
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Siloed Systems: Multiple platforms mean multiple databases, necessitating syncs and downloads to access data in one place. The data will not be in real time.
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Users Must Change Platforms: Because Bonterra is owned by banks, the focus is on corporate profit, not nonprofit success. When a platform is deemed unnecessary in the Bonterra family, the company will sunset the software and require users to switch to a different platform. Historically, this has meant a significant cost increase. Salsa is a recent example.
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Delayed Payout (30 Days): When donors contribute, their money is directed to the Bonterra community foundation rather than directly to the nonprofit organization. Some customers have experienced a 30-day processing period from donation to when funds are distributed.
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Political Bias: One of Bonterra’s primary offerings, EveryAction, has long been known as favoring (sometimes exclusively) liberal-leaning nonprofits. This has caused friction with conservative nonprofits.
Why CharityEngine?
Clients who choose CharityEngine over Bonterra are looking for a dependable partner that won’t sell out to big banks or private equity. We offer one platform with native tools, so nonprofits aren’t forced on to new technology. Our software evolves constantly based on client requests, and it can scale with growing nonprofits. Some of the largest charities in the world have been with CharityEngine since they were start-up nonprofits. It is critical to note that CharityEngine has no political bias and supports any nonprofit trying to do good and impact a mission.
Feature Highlights
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| Best For | Sophisticated fundraisers who want a comprehensive fundraising platform to help them scale. | Nonprofits that want constantly evolving functionality and aren’t risk averse. |
| Pricing | $$ to $$$$ | $$ to $$$ |
| Differentiators | A complete fundraising platform that puts all your data in one place. | Popular and evolving nonprofit technology under one umbrella. |
| CRM & Donor Management | ||
| Membership Management | Yes | Yes |
| Major Gift Management | Yes | Yes |
| Donor Pipelines | Yes | No |
| Sustainer Management | Yes | Yes |
| SustainerIQ - Subscription Billing Technology | Yes | No |
| Fundraising | ||
| Custom Donation Forms | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Processing | Yes | Third-party integration with Stripe |
| Multichannel Marketing | ||
| Advanced Email Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Text-to-Give | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Mail | Yes | Yes |
| Multichannel Attribution Tracking (including DRTV) | Yes | Attribution tracking but no DRTV capabilities |
| CMS | Yes | No |
| Events & Volunteers | ||
| Event Management | Yes | Yes |
| Volunteer Management | Yes | Yes |
| Auctions | Yes | Yes |
| Peer-to-Peer | Yes | Yes (Acquired GiveGab) |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Out-of-the-Box Reports | Yes (90+) | Yes |
| Custom Dashboards | Yes | Yes |
| Query Builder | Yes | Yes |
| Other | ||
| Multi-Organization & Chapter Management | Yes | No |
| Case Management | Yes | Requires purchase of Bonterra Impact Management |
| Shopping Cart | Yes | No |
| Grant Management | Yes | Requires purchase of Bonterra Grants Management |
| Advocacy | Yes | Yes |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Customers Say* | ||
| Pros | “CharityEngine is a comprehensive platform that has proven very valuable to us. We now have a 360-degree view of each of our supporters — from giving history to event attendance, to email views and much more.” | “The folks at Bonterra have developed a platform that syncs all the things necessary for good development and fundraising work, then crafted software that allows someone with modest tech skills to create content like an expert.” |
| Cons | "While they have extensive documentation in their help center, it’s a little cumbersome to navigate if you’re trying to find something very specific, and I’m sure it’s hard for them to keep it up-to-date due to new features.” | “We had to jump through multiple hoops to get our own money. Barely make it in time to save the event. 90 days from when the original should have arrived. Then, they delayed subsequent checks! WE COULD NOT GET THE MONEY WE RAISED!” |
*Customer quotes from G2
The Right Choice for Your Nonprofit
Both Bonterra and CharityEngine serve nonprofits, offering unique solutions to meet diverse needs. By evaluating the strengths of each CRM and considering your nonprofit's goals, team preferences, and budget, you can confidently choose the partner that aligns with your vision for growth. Both vendors have a proven track record of satisfied clients, making it easier for you to select the CRM that will best support your mission and amplify your impact.
