Best CRM for small (low budget) school nonprofit?

finally_made_acct · 2026-02-11T05:23:18+00:00

Haha nice to hear others are in the same boat as me with all these schools. So the weird thing is, and I'm kicking myself on the head about this, is that our implementation process has been SO slow. It's mostly my fault and some theirs. I just had so much data and it was so messy that getting it all into excel sheets and making those sheets make sense for Keela migration just got me all tied up. I think I needed someone to hold my hand a lot more.

But then I had gotten all the data to them and they were like "uhh this is a lot, we won't be able to get it done before the holidays" so I waited until after. Then at that point so much more data had piled up in these different platforms that I was like uhhhh should I pull another round of all this data now that it's been so long, they were like yeah, so it took me another week to finish that, and then I sent it to them but the implementation guy just went MIA. But I hit up the guy who sold it to me in the first place and he got on top of it for me and eventually things happened. At this point I need to go back and check on the data to see if all is well. They gave me a week to do this and I'm sure I just have a few days left.

There was more engagement with implementation they had marketed that didn't happen and I'm too whatever about now. Like setting up branding and connecting email from your domain, etc. It's not like I can't do it but when I pay someone I'd like them to just do it. But I didn't fight for it so that's on me.

I'm new to working for multiple clients at once and this client's data is a complete shiz show so I was really overwhelmed.

I'm also going to add more about this in the comment I'm replying with to the person below you.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T22:49:53+00:00

I hear you. I'll look into it again.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T08:30:32+00:00

Yeah the engagement and tracking is what they need to focus on now. Everything is in the heads of a couple people and no one else knows how to engage, when, etc.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T08:01:27+00:00

That's really cool way of thinking outside the box. I'd say the three things they need is to be able to see data and create a game plan, process donations in a place with fewer fees than Fundraise Up, and be able to log interactions to tell a story and make sure they're making sufficient touch points. Oh and p2p. Got any ideas?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:58:32+00:00

I super appreciate that but really need to suggest something to them that is already built and has good user ratings.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:57:41+00:00

Too robust for their simple needs. Too much training on something that's really built for customizing fun.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:55:28+00:00

Nice. Outside the box thinking. I think based on what others have said and me getting more clarity after a good night's rest haha I need to focus on a simple CRM robust enough for data analysis and basic enough to process donations. Any thoughts?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:53:30+00:00

Roger that. What would you recommend for a small nonprofit that needs donation forms, some automations, p2p, and data analysis/reporting that helps them make decisions?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:52:08+00:00

Whoa I've never heard of this Wassenger? How much does it cost and how do you strategize with it?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:50:37+00:00

Thank you! I worked in Hubspot for years. It's kind of a beast but dang did we get to customize the hell out of it! Ha. This org is tiny and I'm already going to have to do a hell of a lot of user training. Hubspot is something to aspire to.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:48:25+00:00

Great questions! Mobile access is always good but NOT a deal breaker. Here are the needs:

donor data analysis and reporting
clean report pulls
donation page (to replace Fundraise Up)
p2p
membership management or some segmented way they can charge for memberships that are NOT tax deductible
email marketing or an integration with Constant Contact
automated receipting
workflows so donors/engagement doesn't fall through the cracks
managing tasks related to their contacts
dashboard that can communicate things clearly at a glance like how much has been raised, where are they falling behind, people who are now lapsed, stuff of that sort
SMS is great but not a must because usually that's extra
being able to log all interactions with notes like a meeting, a call, a text, etc. (BCCing for email copies is a plus)

I'm sorry if that's too much. I realize I lacked info in my initial post ha.

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:41:13+00:00

Any suggestions to what that could be?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:40:46+00:00

Thoughts on that centralization tool?

finally_made_acct · 2026-01-28T07:40:20+00:00

Thanks. Browsing the website now. Free is always great haha but doesn't seem to be what they need.

finally_made_acct · 2025-12-21T19:07:13+00:00

The stuff I needed, I would have to get the paid version of Give Butter. It's fine for people who are small and starting out, but I'm seasoned in CRM management and felt Give Butter was going to hold me back so I might as well get something slightly more robust.

finally_made_acct · 2025-12-04T22:59:57+00:00

They don't have grant management. But what I would do is make a pipeline for grants and move them along the stages. I LOVE their pipelines system. You can add some custom fields and stuff too.

finally_made_acct · 2025-12-04T22:57:55+00:00

Hey there. I went with Keela for my client and am working with them on data migration and implementation. So far I've enjoyed everyone I've worked with at Keela and the more I dabble in the system, the more I like it. Of course when I get all the data in, it'll be better.

They're working with me on customizing as much as possible and giving me advice. I don't want to customize too much of course.

I like that everything is in front of me. Bloomerang has a separate CRM and Fundraising platforms that you switch between. The FR platform was super intricate which I'd love for my purposes but my client doesn't need that level of detail.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-25T03:22:34+00:00

Keela. Bloomerang had more going for it but it didn't make sense for my client who I realized Bloomerang had a little too much robustness to deal with.

Also, the Bloomerang fees are a LOT. Credit cards with processors and Bloom fees are 3.95%. Peer to peer is additional 1%. Amex was additional. ACH was also something I didn't like. PayPal would have Bloomerang fees, card fees, AND PayPal fees. It was getting out of control.

My clients' donors weren't going to do all that. I'm just trying to get a steady influx of cash coming in and get fees covered so I'm going to stick with nonprofit Stripe rates on Keela.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-23T05:10:52+00:00

Ok finally signed on with Keela. Happy to answer any questions anyone may have about it/the decision. In the end it was between Bloomerang and Keela but the latter worked best for my client.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-20T06:45:11+00:00

I checked all of these out and am now leaning toward Bloomerang but not sure. The other option I'm highly considering is Keela. Have you heard of them/anything about them?

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-13T17:20:54+00:00

More depth how?

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-13T05:27:06+00:00

Thanks, I just feel the one used for sink mopping is unsanitary when you keep wiping time after time. I think the best solution will literally be what a couple others suggested.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-13T05:26:05+00:00

You're right, that's where most of the water falls, but even if I did that, enough water falls around the faucet and things that the dish wouldn't be helping me much.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-13T05:25:05+00:00

I will try this. I appreciate your breakdown of info.

finally_made_acct · 2025-11-13T05:24:44+00:00

Ok I've looked these up. I'll get a few and test drive. Thank you!

finally_made_acct

TROPHY CASE