Which CRM for an association?
Choosing a CRM is always a difficult question. For an association too!
The non-profit sector is subject to its own constraints. Budgets are often limited, teams are paradoxically very involved but not always very available, and the external community is often very imposing. What's more, the variety of tasks to be accomplished is often staggering. Between fundraising, event organization, community animation and advocacy, the days are packed. More than anywhere else, the challenge of a CRM project is to reclaim time.
Who are the vendors to consider?
There are, of course, the two big players on the market, Microsoft and Salesforce, both of whom offer their powerful machinery at very low prices (almost free). The deployment effort is commensurate with the power of these tools. It should therefore be reserved for large associations, or those planning to develop a digital tool themselves, taking advantage of the rapid development capabilities(RAD) offered by these two major publishers.
Then there are a score of more specialized players(full list). These include: AssoConnect, Concursive, Eudonet, Hivebrite, iRaiser, Ohme, Pep's Up, Uningo and Virtuous. Their functional scope is quite broad (they do a lot). In many cases, they are fairly quick to implement, as their administration options have been simplified to make them easier to learn. Pricing models are quite disparate: per user, per organization, per simultaneous connection, or based on the number of contacts in the database. There's something for everyone.
There are also a few general publishers who offer significant discounts to associations. These include Close, Efficy and OnePageCRM.
Open-source: a good idea?
It's also tempting to consider open-source tools (although we'd be remiss if we didn't take the rather quick shortcut of making them free). In the same vein, this also leads us into the realm of CRMs running on Drupal or Wordpress (a scenario not necessarily devoid of meaning for small associations, where the external community is more important than internal processes). There are a number of interesting possibilities.
CiviCRM is fairly well known, albeit rather crude. If your IT today boils down to your website, this is certainly an option to consider. Odoo is a well-known player on the market, but the publisher doesn't offer anything specific for non-merchants, limiting itself to referring you to its Community version, which is certainly open-source, but also less powerful and less flexible.
Don't lose sight of the fact that you're not alone. By getting mentored on this project, which by definition is both structured and strategic, you'll avoid getting lost along the way, and ensure a certain "momentum".
Related tools
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From 0.00 € to 474.00 € /month /organisation | website | trial accountAssoConnect is an all-in-one nonprofit management software providing tools for fundraising, accounting, member management, emailing, and website building, simplifying daily organizational tasks.
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From 125.00 € to 775.00 € /month /organisation | website | private demoBloomerang, based in the United States, is a software provider specializing in donor management solutions for nonprofits, focusing on retention and engagement.
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From 49.00 € to 749.00 € /month /organisation | website | trial accountClose (formerly Close.io) is a sales engagement CRM designed for startups and SMBs, focusing on communication, lead management, and productivity with an intuitive interface.
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Prices upon request | website | trial accountMicrosoft Dynamics 365 for Nonprofits offers tailored features like discounted pricing, fundraising and engagement modules, volunteer and grant management, constituent management, impact tracking, and integration with the Nonprofit Common Data Model. These cater specifically to the unique needs of nonprofit organizations, differing from the commercial edition's business-focused tools.
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From 250.00 € to 400.00 € /month /organisation | website | request trialEudonet is a CRM and business software provider, offering solutions for sales, marketing, and customer service, aiming to improve efficiency and customer relationships across industries.
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From 18.00 € to 80.00 € /month /user | website | private demoEfficy is a customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps businesses manage their interactions with current and potential customers to improve relationships.
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Prices upon request | website |Odoo Community is an open-source ERP platform offering basic business management functions, while the Enterprise version offers advanced features and professional support.
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From 0.00 € to 180.00 € /month /organisation | website | trial accountOhme CRM is a customer relationship management software designed for businesses. It focuses on improving client interactions, managing sales, and streamlining communication and organizational tasks.
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From 0.00 € to 30.00 € /month /user | website | trial accountSalesforce.org is the social impact center of Salesforce, focused on providing non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and philanthropic entities with technology, resources, and support to drive positive change.
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From 0.00 € to 250.00 € /month /organisation | website | private demoThe platform tailored to your association's needs, the only all-in-one tool that enables associations to manage and distribute their day-to-day activities and requirements centrally and efficiently.
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Prices upon request | website | private demoVirtuous is a nonprofit-focused software, designed to enhance donor relations, automate communication, and provide insightful analytics for personalized engagement and increased fundraising efficiency.
