How We Compare

Why CharityEngine is the Best Blackbaud Alternative for Nonprofits

Replace disconnected tools, complex integrations, and rising costs with one unified fundraising platform built to help you raise more and work smarter.

 Schedule a Meeting
Complex vs. Unified

Built for Simplicity and Scale

Blackbaud offers a wide range of tools, but many organizations end up managing multiple systems, add-ons, and integrations just to run everyday fundraising. As complexity grows, it becomes harder to maintain data and see the full picture of performance.

That’s where CharityEngine stands apart.

Instead of piecing together separate products, CharityEngine delivers a fully unified fundraising platform where your data, tools, and reporting work together seamlessly — giving your team clarity and room to grow.
G2 Badges - Momentum Leader, Users Love Us, High Performer
Real Talk

Blackbaud Pros

Blackbaud is one of the most established providers in the nonprofit technology space, with a long history of serving organizations of all sizes. Here are a few of the advantages many nonprofits recognize.

Industry Experience

Blackbaud has decades of experience working with nonprofits and offers a wide range of solutions designed for different organizational needs.

Brand Recognition

Blackbaud is one of the most widely known names in nonprofit technology, with strong visibility across the sector and a large customer base.

Extensive Ecosystem

Blackbaud offers many products and add-on solutions, giving organizations access to a broad set of capabilities across fundraising, finance, and operations.
Real Talk

Blackbaud Cons 

While Blackbaud offers a broad set of solutions, many organizations encounter challenges as their technology needs grow and systems become more complex. Here are a few common concerns nonprofits often share.

Multiple Systems to Manage

Organizations frequently rely on multiple Blackbaud products or add-ons, which can require integrations, ongoing maintenance, and extra time to manage data across systems.

Complex Reporting

With data spread across different products, generating a complete view of fundraising performance can require additional steps, tools, or manual consolidation.

Rising Costs Over Time

Many organizations report paying premium prices while seeing limited investment in product improvements, new functionality, or meaningful platform innovation.
See how CharityEngine stacks up

CharityEngine vs. Blackbaud

CharityEngine
Blackbaud
Differentiators

A complete fundraising platform that puts all your data in one place

The largest and longest-standing nonprofit and fundraising CRM

 Pricing

$$ to $$$

$$$ to $$$$

CRM & DONOR MANAGEMENT
Membership Management
Included
Included
Major Gift Management
Included
Included
Donor Pipelines
Included
Not Included
Requires Database Administrator

No

No

SustainerIQ: RECURRING GIVING
Monthly Billing Collection Rate

Up to 98.6%

70% – 90%

Sustainer Management
Included
Included
AI-Powered Payment Recovery
Included
Not Included
Automated Reactivation Communications
Included
Included
Credit Card Updater
Included
Included
Real-Time Sustainer Dashboard
Included
Not Included
FUNDRAISING
Custom Donation Forms
Included
Included
Payment Processing
Included
Included
MULTICHANNEL MARKETING
Advanced Email Automation
Included

Separate product (Blackbaud Luminate Online)

Text-to-Give
Included
Included
Direct Mail
Included
Included
Multichannel Attribution Tracking (including DRTV)
Included
Included
CMS
Included
Included
EVENTS & VOLUNTEERS
Event Management
Included
Included
Volunteer Management
Included

Separate product (Volunteer Network Fundraising)

Auctions
Included

Third-party integration (Auction Maestro)

Peer-to-Peer
Included

Separate product (JustGiving)

REPORTING & ANALYTICS
Out-of-the-Box Reports

Yes (200+)

Included
Custom Dashboards
Included
Included
Query Builder
Included
Included
ADDITIONAL BUILT-IN TOOLS & MODULES
Advocacy
Included

Separate product (Luminate Advocacy)

Case Management
Included
Included
Grant Management
Included

Separate product (Blackbaud Grantmaking)

Shopping Cart
Included
Included
Custom Surveys
Included

Requires purchase of Net Community

DONOR PORTAL
Giving History/Tax Receipts
Included
Included
Membership Account Management
Included
Not Included
Monthly Gift Management
Included
Included
Ability for Donors to Manage Event Tickets and Registrants
Included
Not Included
Volunteer Shift Sign-Up
Included

Not via the donor portal

Ability for Volunteers to Report Hours
Included

Not via the donor portal

Topic of Interest/List Sign-Up Preferences
Included
Not Included
OTHER
Multi-Organization & Chapter Management
Included
Included
Open API
Included
Included
Book a Demo
Real Feedback

Customer Voices

Short Learning Curve

Great dashboard interface for gift officers once a dashboard is set up. Easy to add in reports or simple charts to measure performance or show recent actions completed.

MGO, Nonprofit Organization 
Review by G2

Difficult Reporting

Working with Blackbaud is a very unpleasant experience. Trying to get answers to anything is impossible.

Marketing Manager, Nonprofit Organization
Review by G2
Next Step

See What’s Possible for Your Organization

Join the growing number of organizations achieving stronger results with a unified fundraising platform. Let’s explore what this could look like for you.
Book a Demo