Blackbaud’s entry in the non-profit software market is called eTapestry. This is a cloud-based fundraising solution geared towards smaller but growing organizations with limited resources. Because such organizations have staff who need to wear many different hats, the point is to streamline and automate through integrated donor apps that will save you time. It includes dashboard reports, a data health scorecard, and a host of other online tools, all available through a subscription model with no up-front costs or hidden charges for upgrades or backups. The service includes mobile access for donor management when you’re on the go. The longer that organizations remain members of eTapestry, the more their return on the investment grows over time. The software’s mission is to have organizations spend less time fretting over technology and instead use that time to deliver the group’s mission and increase donations, all without spending a small fortune on it.

Pros

In short, users call eTapestry affordable, powerful, easy to use, and well-supported. They also like that it is cloud-based. Several users highlighted the reporting and analytics capabilities. More than one user noted that finding the information you need is easier than many other systems, and that the search function in eTapestry is robust. Other users like how different levels of permissions can be set up to define access for various users. There appear to be lots of opportunities for receiving training, and having support available through instant messaging/chat is a very good thing. Several users also note that the dashboard is very effective, and can be changed to suit your needs. In general, a number of users noted satisfaction with product’s customizability.

Cons

A few users noted that eTapestry might not be compatible with older computer equipment, so you want to be sure what you have can handle it. Several other users noted that the query and reporting functions take a good deal of time to figure out if you’re not used to doing that or don’t have previous experience in it. There were also complaints about support, but they were dated. A few users noted that frequent upgrades sometimes make the system unavailable more often than they would like, although they note the company always gives a heads up when it will happen.

This is one case where it’s worth noting that prior to 2015, there quite a few complaints from users about poor technical support – long waits on hold, failure to resolve problems, and so on. However, there have been no such complaints in 2015, indicating that the company has beefed up its customer support functions, which is good news. In fact, all recent user reviews give high praise to support from the vendor, from initial installation/transition to the follow-up support environment. As with similar non-profit software solutions, eTapestry probably has more features and functionality than most organizations are adept at using, so it’s worth taking the time to learn what it can really do for you.

Find non profit software reviews at WhataSoftware.com