How much does Raiser's Edge NXT cost?

Raiser's Edge NXT uses custom pricing. Annual subscriptions typically range from $5,000-$50,000+ depending on database size and features. Implementation adds $5,000-$25,000+, and training is an additional fee. It's one of the most expensive nonprofit CRM options on the market.

Does Raiser's Edge NXT include accounting?

No. Raiser's Edge NXT is CRM-only. For accounting, Blackbaud sells Financial Edge NXT as a separate product with a separate subscription. This means donations entered in RE NXT must be synced or re-entered in Financial Edge — creating the double-entry problem that integrated platforms like Alignmint eliminate.

Is Raiser's Edge NXT cloud-based?

Partially. RE NXT has a cloud-based web interface, but many advanced features still require the desktop database view. It's a hybrid approach — not a fully modern cloud application. Some users find the dual-interface confusing.

What's the best alternative to Raiser's Edge NXT?

For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform without enterprise complexity, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It includes donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing — all in one system with a free Starter plan.

Raiser's Edge NXT: A Modern CRM for Nonprofits?

Raiser's Edge NXT is Blackbaud's flagship cloud-based fundraising CRM, used by thousands of nonprofits worldwide. But is it the right fit for your organization? In this comprehensive review, we'll explore its features, pricing, pros and cons, and alternatives.

What Is Raiser's Edge NXT?

Raiser's Edge NXT is the cloud-enabled version of Blackbaud's classic Raiser's Edge software. It combines a modern web interface with the powerful database capabilities that made the original product an industry standard. The platform is designed for mid-sized to large nonprofits with complex fundraising operations.

Key Features of Raiser's Edge NXT

1. Donor Management

Comprehensive constituent profiles with giving history, relationships, engagement tracking, and custom fields. Track every interaction from first touch to major gift.

2. Online Fundraising

Create donation pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, and crowdfunding initiatives. Integrate with Blackbaud's payment processing for easy gift capture.

3. Event Management

Plan and execute fundraising events with registration, ticketing, seating charts, and post-event reporting.

4. Reporting and Analytics

Comprehensive reporting tools with pre-built and custom reports. Dashboards provide real-time insights into fundraising performance, donor retention, and campaign ROI.

5. Email Marketing

Built-in email tools for appeals, newsletters, and automated stewardship communications.

6. Prospect Research

Identify major gift prospects with wealth screening and research tools (available as add-ons).

Raiser's Edge NXT Pricing

Raiser's Edge NXT uses custom pricing based on organization size and feature requirements. Typical costs include:

Annual subscription: $5,000 – $50,000+ depending on database size
Implementation: $5,000 – $25,000+
Training: Additional fees for setup training and certification

This makes it one of the more expensive options in the nonprofit CRM market.

Pros & Cons of Raiser's Edge NXT

Pros

Industry standard: Trusted by thousands of nonprofits for decades
Powerful database: Handles complex donor relationships and large datasets
Strong fundraising tools: Purpose-built for nonprofit fundraising
Blackbaud ecosystem: Integrates with Financial Edge, Luminate, and other Blackbaud products
Cloud access: Modern web interface with mobile capabilities

Cons

Expensive: High upfront and ongoing costs
Steep learning curve: Requires significant training and dedicated staff
Complex implementation: Can take months to fully deploy
No built-in accounting: Must integrate with separate accounting software (see CRM with accounting integration)
Support concerns: Some users report slow support response times

Who Is Raiser's Edge NXT Best For?

Raiser's Edge NXT is ideal for:

Mid-sized to large nonprofits ($5M+ budget)
Organizations with complex fundraising operations
Teams with dedicated development staff
Existing Blackbaud customers

Raiser's Edge NXT vs. Alternatives

Feature	Raiser's Edge NXT	Salesforce NPSP	Alignmint
Donor management	Advanced	Advanced	Advanced
Fund accounting	No	No	Yes
Ease of use	Complex	Complex	Simple
Pricing	High	Mid-High	Affordable
Built-in accounting	No	No	Yes

When to Consider an Alternative

You may want to look beyond Raiser's Edge NXT if you:

Have a limited budget
Need integrated accounting and CRM
Want a simpler, faster implementation
Don't have dedicated IT or CRM staff
Are a smaller organization

If you're paying enterprise prices for a CRM that still requires separate accounting software, ask yourself: what are you actually getting for that money? The answer, for most small and mid-sized nonprofits, is complexity you don't need.

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Related:

Blackbaud CRM — Enterprise Blackbaud CRM reviewed
Blackbaud Fundraising Software — Full suite overview
Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative — Simpler, smarter solutions
Nonprofit CRM Software — Complete guide to choosing a CRM
Donor Management — See how Alignmint compares