How much does Blackbaud cost?

Blackbaud doesn't publish pricing publicly. Based on nonprofit reports, Raiser's Edge NXT typically costs $4,000-$15,000/year, Financial Edge NXT runs $5,000-$20,000/year, and Blackbaud CRM starts around $15,000-$50,000+/year. Add implementation fees of $5,000-$100,000+ and you're looking at a significant first-year investment.

Why doesn't Blackbaud publish pricing?

Blackbaud uses a quote-based pricing model where costs vary by organization size, database records, modules selected, and contract length. This makes it difficult to compare costs upfront. Most modern nonprofit software platforms publish transparent pricing on their websites.

Is Blackbaud worth it for small nonprofits?

For most small nonprofits (under $5M in revenue), Blackbaud's cost and complexity exceed what's needed. Between subscription fees, implementation, training, and add-ons, first-year costs often reach $15,000-$40,000. Modern platforms like Alignmint offer comparable features with a free Starter plan and Pro pricing starting at $499/month.

What is the cheapest Blackbaud product?

Blackbaud's most affordable product is typically eTapestry, their entry-level donor management tool, starting around $100-$150/month. However, it's limited in features and doesn't include accounting. For CRM and accounting together, you'd need Raiser's Edge NXT plus Financial Edge NXT — a combined cost of $10,000-$30,000+/year.

The Hidden Cost of Blackbaud: What Small Nonprofits Actually Pay

If you've ever tried to find out how much Blackbaud costs, you know the frustration. There's no pricing page. No monthly rate. Just a "request a demo" button and a sales call. For nonprofit directors watching every dollar, that lack of transparency is a red flag.

We've talked to hundreds of nonprofits who use (or used) Blackbaud products. This guide breaks down what organizations actually pay — not just the subscription, but the implementation fees, training costs, add-ons, and annual increases that turn a "reasonable" quote into a six-figure commitment.

Pricing as of February 2026. Check vendor websites for current pricing.

Why Blackbaud Doesn't Publish Pricing

Blackbaud uses a quote-based model. Your price depends on:

Database size — how many constituent records you have
Modules selected — each feature set is a separate line item
Number of users — some products charge per seat
Contract length — multi-year deals get discounts (but lock you in)
Organization size — larger nonprofits pay more

This means two nonprofits using the same product can pay vastly different amounts. It also means you can't comparison-shop without sitting through a sales process.

Product-by-Product Pricing Breakdown

Here's what nonprofits report paying for Blackbaud's core products. These are ranges based on real organizations — your quote may differ.

Raiser's Edge NXT (Donor CRM)

Cost Component	Typical Range
Annual subscription	$4,000 – $15,000/yr
Implementation	$5,000 – $25,000
Training	$2,000 – $5,000
Per-user fees	Varies by plan
Annual increase	5-15% per year

Raiser's Edge NXT is Blackbaud's flagship donor management platform. It's powerful for large development teams, but the cost adds up quickly — especially when you factor in per-user pricing and annual escalations.

Financial Edge NXT (Accounting)

Cost Component	Typical Range
Annual subscription	$5,000 – $20,000/yr
Implementation	$5,000 – $30,000
Training	$2,000 – $8,000
Annual increase	5-15% per year

Financial Edge NXT is Blackbaud's fund accounting product. It's sold separately from Raiser's Edge — so if you need both CRM and accounting, you're paying for two subscriptions, two implementations, and two training programs.

Blackbaud CRM (Enterprise)

Cost Component	Typical Range
Annual subscription	$15,000 – $50,000+/yr
Implementation	$25,000 – $100,000+
Training	$5,000 – $15,000
Consulting/customization	$10,000 – $50,000+
Annual increase	5-15% per year

Blackbaud CRM is the enterprise tier. It's designed for organizations with 50,000+ constituents and dedicated IT staff. If you're a small or mid-size nonprofit, this product isn't built for you.

eTapestry (Entry-Level)

Cost Component	Typical Range
Monthly subscription	$100 – $150/mo
Implementation	$1,000 – $3,000
Training	Included (basic)

eTapestry is Blackbaud's most affordable option, but it's limited. No accounting. No volunteer management. No event ticketing beyond basics. Many nonprofits outgrow it quickly and face a costly upgrade to Raiser's Edge.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

The subscription is just the starting point. Here's what catches most nonprofits off guard.

1. Implementation Fees

Blackbaud products require professional setup. Depending on the product and your data complexity, implementation runs $5,000 to $100,000+. This covers data migration, configuration, and initial training — and it's paid before you even start using the software.

2. Annual Price Increases

Most Blackbaud contracts include annual escalation clauses — typically 5-15% per year. A $10,000/year subscription becomes $12,750 by year three and $16,300 by year five. These increases are often buried in contract language.

3. Per-User Pricing

Several Blackbaud products charge per user. As your team grows, so does your bill. Adding a new development associate or volunteer coordinator means another seat fee.

4. Add-On Modules

Core subscriptions cover core features. Want online giving forms? Peer-to-peer fundraising? Advanced analytics? Each is an add-on with its own price tag. The "base" price you were quoted rarely reflects what you'll actually spend.

5. Consultant Dependency

Blackbaud's products are complex enough that many organizations hire outside consultants for customization, reporting, and ongoing optimization. Certified Blackbaud consultants typically charge $150-$300/hour.

6. Training Costs

Staff turnover means retraining. Blackbaud's learning curve is steep, and formal training courses cost $500-$2,000 per person. If your development team turns over every 2-3 years (common in nonprofits), training becomes a recurring expense.

7. Data Migration (If You Leave)

Getting your data out of Blackbaud can be challenging. Export tools exist, but complex data structures mean you may need consultant help to extract and clean your data for a new system.

Total Cost of Ownership: The Real Numbers

Here's what a typical small-to-mid-size nonprofit actually pays over time for a Blackbaud CRM + accounting stack.

Timeframe	Blackbaud (RE NXT + Financial Edge)	Alignmint Pro
Year 1	$9,000 (subs) + $15,000 (impl) + $4,000 (training) = $28,000	$5,988 ($499/mo)
Year 2	$10,000 (5-10% increase)	$5,988
Year 3	$11,000	$5,988
5-Year Total	$75,000 – $120,000+	$29,940
5-Year Total (annual billing)	Same	$41,940 ($699/mo)

And that's before add-ons, consultants, or additional user fees on the Blackbaud side.

For nonprofits under $100K in annual donations, Alignmint's Starter plan is free — making the comparison even more stark.

What You Get with Blackbaud vs. Alignmint

Feature	Blackbaud Stack	Alignmint
Donor CRM	RE NXT (separate sub)	Included
Fund Accounting	Financial Edge (separate sub)	Included
Online Giving Pages	Add-on	Included — drag-and-drop builder
Volunteer Management	Not available	Included — full CRM + portal
Event Ticketing	Limited (add-on)	Included — 7 event types
Email Campaigns	Via Luminate (separate sub)	Included
AI Assistant	Limited	Minty AI — queries your real data
Fiscal Sponsor Support	Not available	Included — manage all orgs from one account
Unlimited Users	No (per-user pricing)	Yes, every plan
Free Plan	No	Starter (up to $100K in donations)
Implementation Time	3-18 months	Same day
Published Pricing	No	Yes

When Blackbaud Pricing Makes Sense

To be fair, Blackbaud can be the right choice for certain organizations:

Large nonprofits ($10M+ revenue) with complex, multi-channel fundraising operations
Organizations with dedicated IT staff who can manage and customize the platform
Institutions already deep in the Blackbaud ecosystem where switching costs outweigh staying
Universities and hospitals with massive constituent databases and specialized needs

If you check all of those boxes, Blackbaud's pricing may be justified by the depth of functionality.

When to Look Elsewhere

For most small and mid-size nonprofits, Blackbaud's pricing doesn't match the value:

You're paying for enterprise complexity you don't use
You need CRM and accounting but can't afford two separate Blackbaud products
Your team doesn't have dedicated IT or CRM administrators
You want to be up and running in days, not months
You need transparent pricing you can budget for

The Bottom Line

Blackbaud's quote-only pricing model makes it hard to know what you'll pay until you're deep in the sales process. For large, complex organizations, the investment can make sense. But for the thousands of small and mid-size nonprofits paying $15,000-$40,000+ in their first year — often for features they don't fully use — there are better options.

Alignmint gives you donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event ticketing, email campaigns, and AI in one platform. No per-user fees. No implementation costs. No annual price surprises. Free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.

Ready to see transparent pricing in action? Schedule Your Free Setup | View Pricing

Related:

Blackbaud Alternative — Modern nonprofit software without the bloat
Blackbaud CRM — Is it right for your nonprofit?
Blackbaud Fundraising Software — Enterprise tools reviewed
Fund Accounting Software — A complete guide for nonprofits