Blackbaud vs. HubSpot: A Nonprofit's Guide in 2024

Choosing the right technology for your nonprofit can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, it's crucial to find a solution that meets your unique needs, especially when it comes to donor management, fundraising, and marketing automation. Two of the leading platforms—Blackbaud and HubSpot—each offer powerful tools, but how do they stack up when it comes to supporting your nonprofit’s mission? 

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between Blackbaud and HubSpot, highlight each platform’s strengths, and help you determine which one is the best fit for your organization.

Blackbaud vs HubSpot: A Comparison of Features

When you’re evaluating Blackbaud and HubSpot, it’s important to look at features specifically designed to serve nonprofits. Below is a comparison of each platform based on critical areas like donor management, fundraising, and marketing automation.

Both platforms have their strengths, but depending on your nonprofit’s size, focus, and resources, one may align better with your specific goals.

Where Blackbaud Shines—and Where It Might Not

Blackbaud is a well-established player in the nonprofit sector, known for its deep functionality in donor management and fundraising. However, it’s important to consider whether its complexity and cost fit your organization's capacity and budget.

Deep Donor Management Tools
For nonprofits managing a large number of donors and running complex fundraising campaigns, Blackbaud offers powerful tools that provide invaluable insights. If you have the team and the resources to navigate its robust platform, you can harness a lot of value.

Challenges to Keep in Mind
While Blackbaud’s depth is impressive, it comes with a few challenges that many smaller and mid-sized nonprofits struggle with:

• Learning Curve: The system is designed for complex donor operations, which means it can take significant time and training to master. For smaller teams, this may be a hurdle to fully utilizing its capabilities.
• Limited Flexibility: Customizing Blackbaud to meet your nonprofit’s specific needs often requires technical assistance, which could mean higher costs and reliance on external support.
• Cost: Blackbaud’s robust feature set comes with a price. For smaller organizations, high implementation fees and ongoing costs can make it difficult to sustain long-term.

If your nonprofit needs an all-in-one, intuitive platform with lower barriers to entry, it’s worth exploring alternatives like HubSpot.

Why HubSpot is Becoming a Nonprofit Favorite

Although HubSpot was originally designed for businesses, its versatility has made it increasingly popular among nonprofits—especially those looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform that supports both marketing automation and donor engagement.

Affordability That Scales
HubSpot offers a range of pricing plans, including a robust free version with essential CRM features. This makes it a great option for nonprofits looking to get started without making a large upfront investment. As your nonprofit grows, you can easily upgrade to more advanced features at a reasonable cost.

Flexibility to Fit Your Needs
Unlike Blackbaud, HubSpot allows you to tailor its CRM to your specific donor management needs. With customizable fields, integrations with donation platforms like Donorbox, and the ability to track donor activity within the CRM, HubSpot gives you the flexibility to design a system that works for you—without the need for technical expertise.

Powerful Marketing Automation
If your nonprofit focuses on building strong relationships through personalized communication, HubSpot’s marketing automation tools can help you scale that impact. Whether you’re automating thank-you emails after donations, segmenting donor lists for targeted outreach, or tracking campaign performance, HubSpot makes it easy to stay engaged with your supporters.

Which Platform is Right for Your Nonprofit?

The decision between Blackbaud and HubSpot ultimately comes down to your organization’s size, complexity, and primary goals.

• If you’re a large nonprofit managing complex donor relationships and need a system purpose-built for nonprofit fundraising, Blackbaud might be the better fit—especially if you have the resources to navigate its complexity.
• If you’re a smaller or mid-sized nonprofit looking for a more affordable, user-friendly solution that excels in marketing automation and donor engagement, HubSpot could be the ideal choice.

Both platforms offer valuable features, but the best choice depends on how you want to manage your operations and scale your impact.

Is Your Nonprofit's Tech Stack Optimized for Success?

Take our FREE Marketing Assessment to see how your nonprofit stacks up in today’s digital world, and follow it up with our Tech Assessment to ensure your tools are supporting your mission—not holding you back.

Need Help Navigating Your Tech Options?

Book a free consultation with Nonprofit Tech Shop to see how we can help you streamline your operations and make the most of your technology—so you can focus on what matters most: making an impact.