CharityEngine vs. Bonterra

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

• 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. 

• 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.  

• 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  

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

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