Quick Overview
- 1#1: Raiser's Edge NXT - Comprehensive CRM platform for university advancement teams, managing donor relationships, campaigns, pledges, and alumni engagement.
- 2#2: Ellucian Advance - Integrated cloud-based advancement CRM tailored for higher education, supporting fundraising, prospecting, and constituent management.
- 3#3: Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud - Highly customizable CRM solution for university fundraising, donor tracking, and personalized engagement at scale.
- 4#4: EverTrue - Modern mobile-first fundraising platform designed for higher education to boost alumni giving and pipeline management.
- 5#5: AlumniJourney - Digital engagement and fundraising software for universities, featuring alumni portals, events, and career networking.
- 6#6: Gravyty - AI-powered fundraising optimization tool that personalizes donor outreach and accelerates university gift pipelines.
- 7#7: DonorPerfect - Robust fundraising CRM with online giving, reporting, and automation suitable for university development offices.
- 8#8: Bloomerang - Intuitive donor management software emphasizing relationships, retention, and efficient fundraising for educational nonprofits.
- 9#9: NeonCRM - All-in-one fundraising, membership, and event management platform used by universities for donor stewardship.
- 10#10: Classy - Online fundraising platform specializing in events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and corporate giving for universities.
Ranked based on performance across key metrics: robust CRM integration, user-centric design, personalization capabilities, and long-term value, ensuring alignment with the complex demands of university fundraising.
Comparison Table
University fundraising software is essential for streamlining efforts, and with options like Raiser's Edge NXT, Ellucian Advance, and Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, identifying the right fit requires clear comparison. This table examines key platforms—including EverTrue, AlumniJourney, and others—to highlight features, integration strengths, and usability, guiding readers toward the best tool for their institution.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raiser's Edge NXT Comprehensive CRM platform for university advancement teams, managing donor relationships, campaigns, pledges, and alumni engagement. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.8/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 2 | Ellucian Advance Integrated cloud-based advancement CRM tailored for higher education, supporting fundraising, prospecting, and constituent management. | enterprise | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Highly customizable CRM solution for university fundraising, donor tracking, and personalized engagement at scale. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | EverTrue Modern mobile-first fundraising platform designed for higher education to boost alumni giving and pipeline management. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 5 | AlumniJourney Digital engagement and fundraising software for universities, featuring alumni portals, events, and career networking. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 6 | Gravyty AI-powered fundraising optimization tool that personalizes donor outreach and accelerates university gift pipelines. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 7 | DonorPerfect Robust fundraising CRM with online giving, reporting, and automation suitable for university development offices. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | Bloomerang Intuitive donor management software emphasizing relationships, retention, and efficient fundraising for educational nonprofits. | other | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 9 | NeonCRM All-in-one fundraising, membership, and event management platform used by universities for donor stewardship. | other | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | Classy Online fundraising platform specializing in events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and corporate giving for universities. | other | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.0/10 |
Comprehensive CRM platform for university advancement teams, managing donor relationships, campaigns, pledges, and alumni engagement.
Integrated cloud-based advancement CRM tailored for higher education, supporting fundraising, prospecting, and constituent management.
Highly customizable CRM solution for university fundraising, donor tracking, and personalized engagement at scale.
Modern mobile-first fundraising platform designed for higher education to boost alumni giving and pipeline management.
Digital engagement and fundraising software for universities, featuring alumni portals, events, and career networking.
AI-powered fundraising optimization tool that personalizes donor outreach and accelerates university gift pipelines.
Robust fundraising CRM with online giving, reporting, and automation suitable for university development offices.
Intuitive donor management software emphasizing relationships, retention, and efficient fundraising for educational nonprofits.
All-in-one fundraising, membership, and event management platform used by universities for donor stewardship.
Online fundraising platform specializing in events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and corporate giving for universities.
Raiser's Edge NXT
enterpriseComprehensive CRM platform for university advancement teams, managing donor relationships, campaigns, pledges, and alumni engagement.
Constituent360 unified profile with AI-powered relationship mapping and predictive giving analytics
Raiser's Edge NXT is Blackbaud's flagship cloud-based CRM platform tailored for nonprofit fundraising, with deep capabilities for universities managing complex donor relationships, alumni engagement, and multi-million-dollar campaigns. It centralizes constituent data, automates gift processing, and provides advanced prospecting tools like wealth screening and predictive modeling. Widely adopted by top universities, it excels in scalability, compliance, and integration with events, websites, and payment systems.
Pros
- Comprehensive donor management with unlimited relationships and householding
- Powerful reporting, analytics, and AI-driven insights for prospecting
- Seamless integrations with Blackbaud ecosystem and third-party tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-experts due to depth of features
- High implementation and ongoing costs
- Customization requires technical expertise or consultants
Best For
Large universities and higher education institutions with sophisticated fundraising operations and large donor bases needing enterprise-grade scalability.
Pricing
Quote-based pricing; typically $20,000–$100,000+ annually depending on modules, users, and organization size, plus setup fees.
Ellucian Advance
enterpriseIntegrated cloud-based advancement CRM tailored for higher education, supporting fundraising, prospecting, and constituent management.
AI-driven Advance Intelligence for predictive donor scoring and personalized engagement recommendations
Ellucian Advance is a cloud-based advancement platform tailored for higher education institutions, providing comprehensive tools for fundraising, donor management, alumni engagement, and prospecting. It integrates seamlessly with Ellucian’s ERP systems like Banner, enabling efficient gift processing, campaign management, and personalized donor communications. Leveraging AI-driven analytics, it helps universities identify high-potential donors and optimize fundraising strategies for maximum impact.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Ellucian ERP systems for streamlined data flow
- AI-powered insights and predictive analytics for donor prospecting
- Robust campaign management and reporting capabilities
Cons
- High implementation costs and complexity for smaller institutions
- Steep learning curve for non-Ellucian users
- Limited flexibility for non-higher education environments
Best For
Large universities already using Ellucian ERP systems that need an integrated, scalable fundraising solution.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; typically subscription-based starting at $150,000+ annually depending on institution size and modules.
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
enterpriseHighly customizable CRM solution for university fundraising, donor tracking, and personalized engagement at scale.
Einstein AI for predictive donor scoring and personalized fundraising recommendations
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is a robust CRM platform tailored for nonprofits, including university fundraising teams, offering comprehensive donor management, campaign tracking, and pledge processing. It integrates seamlessly with the broader Salesforce ecosystem to enable personalized constituent engagement, event management, and wealth screening. Advanced automation and reporting tools help universities nurture relationships and optimize fundraising strategies at scale.
Pros
- Highly scalable and customizable for enterprise needs
- Powerful AI-driven analytics and donor insights
- Extensive integrations with third-party tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup
- High implementation and ongoing costs
- Requires skilled administrators for full utilization
Best For
Large universities with complex fundraising operations and dedicated IT resources needing enterprise-grade CRM capabilities.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing; typically starts at $50,000+ annually plus per-user fees, depending on scale and modules.
EverTrue
specializedModern mobile-first fundraising platform designed for higher education to boost alumni giving and pipeline management.
Interactive Data Walls that provide real-time, visual fundraising metrics and constituent insights on large displays
EverTrue is a cloud-based CRM platform tailored for higher education fundraising and alumni engagement. It provides advanced data visualization, constituent journey mapping, and personalized outreach tools to help advancement teams identify prospects, track interactions, and drive donations. The software integrates with legacy systems like Banner or PeopleSoft, offering a unified view of donor data and real-time analytics dashboards.
Pros
- Superior data visualization and interactive dashboards for quick insights
- Robust engagement tools including journey mapping and mobile access
- Seamless integrations with higher ed systems and strong prospecting capabilities
Cons
- Custom pricing can be expensive for smaller institutions
- Steep learning curve for advanced analytics features
- Limited customization options compared to enterprise CRMs like Salesforce
Best For
Mid-to-large universities with dedicated advancement teams looking for intuitive, data-centric fundraising tools.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically $50,000–$200,000+ annually based on institution size and users; no public tiers.
AlumniJourney
specializedDigital engagement and fundraising software for universities, featuring alumni portals, events, and career networking.
AI-powered journey mapping that personalizes alumni touchpoints for higher donation rates
AlumniJourney is a specialized platform for universities focused on mapping and optimizing alumni engagement journeys to drive fundraising success. It provides tools for tracking interactions, personalizing communications, and executing targeted campaigns that convert engagement into donations. The software emphasizes data-driven insights to nurture long-term relationships and increase giving rates among alumni networks.
Pros
- Personalized journey mapping boosts engagement-to-donation conversion
- User-friendly interface with intuitive dashboards for non-technical staff
- Strong analytics for tracking alumni interactions and campaign ROI
Cons
- Limited native integrations with major enterprise CRMs like Salesforce
- Pricing can be steep for smaller institutions without high alumni volume
- Advanced reporting customization requires additional setup
Best For
Mid-sized universities seeking to enhance alumni engagement as a pathway to efficient fundraising.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $5,000/month based on alumni database size and features.
Gravyty
specializedAI-powered fundraising optimization tool that personalizes donor outreach and accelerates university gift pipelines.
Journey Builder for creating hyper-personalized donor experiences across email, events, and microsites
Gravyty is a Salesforce-native fundraising CRM platform tailored for higher education institutions, enabling universities to manage donor relationships, execute personalized campaigns, and drive alumni engagement. It offers tools for prospecting, event management, digital communications, and analytics to boost fundraising outcomes. Built on a modern, intuitive interface, it helps advancement teams streamline operations and increase donations through data-driven insights.
Pros
- Seamless Salesforce integration for robust CRM functionality
- Intuitive, modern user interface that reduces training time
- Powerful digital engagement tools like personalized microsites and journey automation
Cons
- High cost, with custom pricing that may strain smaller budgets
- Steep learning curve for teams unfamiliar with Salesforce ecosystem
- Limited advanced analytics compared to some enterprise competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large universities with existing Salesforce infrastructure seeking an intuitive platform to enhance donor engagement and campaign management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $10,000+ annually based on institution size, users, and modules.
DonorPerfect
enterpriseRobust fundraising CRM with online giving, reporting, and automation suitable for university development offices.
Advanced affinity and biographical tracking for mapping donor networks and prospects
DonorPerfect is a comprehensive donor management and fundraising CRM platform tailored for nonprofits, including universities, offering tools to track donor relationships, gifts, pledges, and campaigns. It supports online giving forms, event management, auctions, and advanced reporting for fundraising analytics and compliance. The software emphasizes customization, integrations with payment processors and email tools, making it suitable for advancement offices handling alumni engagement.
Pros
- Robust donor database with relationship mapping and segmentation
- Powerful reporting and analytics for fundraising insights
- Flexible integrations with payment gateways and marketing tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Outdated interface compared to modern CRMs
- Pricing scales quickly for large contact databases
Best For
Mid-sized universities seeking customizable donor management without enterprise-scale complexity.
Pricing
Quote-based subscription starting at ~$100/month, scaling with contacts, users, and modules (e.g., $89-$500+/month).
Bloomerang
otherIntuitive donor management software emphasizing relationships, retention, and efficient fundraising for educational nonprofits.
Engagement Meter, which provides real-time scoring of donor relationships to prioritize stewardship and increase retention
Bloomerang is a cloud-based donor management CRM designed for nonprofits, including universities, to streamline fundraising by centralizing donor data, tracking gifts, and managing relationships. It offers tools for online donation forms, event registration, reporting, and donor engagement scoring to boost retention. While versatile for smaller-scale university fundraising like annual campaigns and alumni engagement, it may lack the robust enterprise features needed for large-scale major gift programs.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Excellent donor engagement and retention tools like scoring
- Affordable pricing with strong value for smaller organizations
Cons
- Limited advanced prospecting and wealth screening depth
- Scalability challenges for very large university donor bases
- Fewer native integrations with university-specific systems
Best For
Small to mid-sized universities or alumni associations prioritizing ease of use and donor retention over complex enterprise fundraising workflows.
Pricing
Starts at $119/month (billed annually) for up to 500 contacts; pricing scales with contact volume up to enterprise plans.
NeonCRM
otherAll-in-one fundraising, membership, and event management platform used by universities for donor stewardship.
Integrated Online Express module for unlimited, customizable donation forms and peer-to-peer fundraising tied directly to CRM data
NeonCRM, from Neon One, is a cloud-based CRM platform designed primarily for nonprofits, offering universities tools for donor management, online fundraising, event registration, and alumni engagement. It excels in handling campaigns, recurring gifts, pledges, and reporting, with seamless integration for payments and email marketing. While scalable for mid-sized institutions, it provides a user-friendly alternative to enterprise solutions for streamlined fundraising operations.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop form builders for quick campaign setup
- Robust donor tracking and segmentation for targeted university fundraising
- Strong reporting dashboards and automation workflows to save time
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with contact volume, challenging for large universities
- Limited advanced prospecting and wealth screening compared to enterprise tools
- Customization for complex alumni journeys often needs developer support
Best For
Mid-sized universities and alumni offices needing an affordable, all-in-one CRM for donor management and online giving without heavy IT involvement.
Pricing
Starts at $115/month for up to 1,000 contacts, with tiers up to $10,000+/month for enterprise; custom quotes based on volume and add-ons.
Classy
otherOnline fundraising platform specializing in events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and corporate giving for universities.
Visual campaign builder for creating high-converting, branded fundraising pages without coding
Classy is a robust online fundraising platform tailored for nonprofits, including universities, enabling the creation of customizable donation pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, and virtual events to drive alumni giving and annual fund goals. It integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and offers advanced reporting for tracking donor engagement and campaign performance. While powerful for digital fundraising, it focuses more on online tools than comprehensive university-specific advancement modules.
Pros
- Highly customizable campaign pages that boost donor conversion rates
- Strong peer-to-peer and crowdfunding capabilities ideal for giving days
- Excellent analytics and CRM integrations for donor insights
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Custom pricing can be expensive for smaller universities
- Lacks deep specialization in university advancement workflows like prospecting
Best For
Mid-sized universities with dedicated fundraising teams aiming to scale digital and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically 3-6% platform fee on donations plus payment processing fees, starting at several thousand dollars annually.
Conclusion
The top 10 tools reviewed highlight diverse solutions for university fundraising, with Raiser's Edge NXT leading as the standout choice for its robust, end-to-end CRM designed to manage donor relationships, campaigns, and engagement. Ellucian Advance and Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud excel as strong alternatives—each offering unique strengths in integration and customization to meet varied institutional needs. Together, they demonstrate the breadth of tools available to enable universities to strengthen connections and drive effective fundraising.
Take the first step toward transforming your university's fundraising efforts by exploring Raiser's Edge NXT, the top-ranked solution to nurture donor relationships and maximize giving impact.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison