As noted in Appendix A, Tech Impact has made some significant changes to the evaluation criteria in response to feedback from a variety of sources. The following criteria are categorized according to the frequency with which the functionality is found in systems of the type that are profiled in this report. Functionality in the “Standard” column can be found in most systems in today’s market. “Enhanced” functionality is not quite as universal, but is frequently seen. “Advanced” functionality is only occasionally available in these types of systems.
| Standard | Enhanced | Advanced | |
| Donation Management | |||
| Gift Records | · Quick/Bulk entry · Import gifts from spreadsheet · Fund/campaign/appeal tracking · Soft credits · Notes | · Attach Document to Gift Record | · Assign/Track Premiums · Seamless integration to matching services |
| Pledges | · Create Payment Schedule · Customize Payment Schedule | · Prompt if open pledge | · Add credit card to pledge · Auto-remind donor of upcoming pledge |
| Recurring Gifts | · Manually run report on expiring credit cards | · Auto-process recurring payments · Automatically run report on expiring credit cards | · Auto-update expiring credit cards |
| Online Donations | · Online donation forms | · Online donations are automatically added to database | · Allow donors to cover processing fees · Personalized giving arrays |
| Other Gift Types | · Honor/Tribute · In-Kind Gifts | · Stock Gifts | · Cryptocurrency gifts
|
| Constituent Management | |||
| Contact Records | · Track multiple addresses · Track communications preferences · Do Not Contact/Deceased · Track relationships · Track organizations separately from individuals · Attach documents to contact records · Import contacts from spreadsheet | · Use seasonal addresses for mailings · Automatic NCOA updates · Add social media profile links · Track donor source | · Engagement scoring · Track social media posts |
| Householding | · Create household records with giving roll-ups | · Use household information for mailings · Household totals show on individual record | · Track household salutations · Auto-soft credits other individuals in households based on relationship |
| Online Contact Forms | · Collect contact information online | · Online contact forms automatically update records | · Constituent portal for self-service |
| Interactions | · View some types of interactions · Log offline interactions | · View all interactions on constituent profile · Store system-generated letters and emails | · Filter interactions by type · Add emails sent outside the system to constituent records |
| Groups/Tagging | · Add tags to constituent records · Add constituents to static groups | · Add constituents to dynamic groups | · Automatically add tags to constituent records based on actions taken |
| Donor Research | · Integrate with wealth screening tool | · Prospect ratings | · Automatic donor profile searches and updates |
| Duplicate management | · Manually run duplicate record checks · Duplicate record deletion | · Automatic duplicate checking on import/record creation · Duplicate record merges | · Automatic system-wide duplicate record checks · Field-by-field merge option |
| Prospecting & Proposals | |||
| Workflow | · Assign status/priority to constituent · Assign staff contact | · Manually assign/track tasks
| · Automated task assignments · Universal workflow tool |
| Grant/proposal management | · No grant/proposal management functionality | · Track grant proposals using manual workflow | · Grant proposal management module with automatic workflow |
| Communication | |||
| Letters | · Generate individual letters · Generate letters in batches · Download file for labels and envelopes · Create letter templates in system · System includes pre-built letter templates | · Merge and print labels and envelopes · One-click logging to constituent profile · Integration with Word, Google Docs · Automatic batching of email and letter receipts | · Save personalized letters on constituent records · Automatic logging to constituent profile |
| · Send individual emails · Track unsubscribes · Create email templates within system · System includes pre-built email templates | · Send broadcast emails via one-way integration with a third-party system · View email performance metrics · Drag-and-drop email editing tool | · Send broadcast emails natively or via two-way integration with a third-party system · Log email performance metrics to contact records · Facilitate A/B testing · Upload externally-created email templates to system | |
| Content | · Merge fields | · Conditional content | · Calculated fields |
| Text Messaging | · No text messaging capability | · Text messaging via third-party integration | · Native text messaging |
| Marketing (Email) Automation | · Autoresponder emails | · Triggered emails | · Triggered email series with automated workflow |
| Other Interactions | |||
| Events | · Event tracking via third-party integration · Event registration tracking · Online event registration and/or ticket sales | · Event tracking native to system · Event attendance tracking · Track guests · Assign tables | · Onsite check-in · Onsite payments · Generate name tags and/or table tents · Assigned seating |
| Volunteer Management | · Track volunteer interests and skills · Track volunteer hours · Online volunteer information forms | · Volunteer scheduling via third-party integration · Online volunteer hour submission forms | · Native volunteer scheduling |
| Membership | · Accept membership payments · Accept renewal payments · Specify expiration dates | · Multiple membership levels/types | · Auto-renewals · Grace periods · Manage member benefits/credentials · Member portal with gated benefits |
| Peer-to-peer Fundraising | · Peer-to-peer fundraising via third-party integration | · Peer-to-peer fundraising native to system | · Manage teams |
| Payments & Accounting Integrations | |||
| Payment Processing | · Payment processing via native tool or integration | · Ability to choose from multiple payment processors | · Ability to set up multiple payment processors |
| Transaction Exports/Accounting Integration | · Export transactions | · Vendor will create a custom report to export transactions for Accounting · Pre-built integration with one accounting system | · Schedule recurring transaction report exports · Pre-built integrations with multiple accounting systems |
| Reconciliation | · Mark transaction records as passed to accounting | · Mark transaction records as reconciled with accounting and lock records | · Pass adjusted transactions on to accounting |
| Search, Queries & Reporting | |||
| Search | · Basic search | · Global search · Partial term matching | · Soundex/fuzzy search |
| Queries | · Basic query builder | · Advanced query builder | · Visual query builder or query builder wizard |
| Reports | · Pre-built standard reports · Export report data | · Custom report builder · Save reports · Add graphs and charts to reports | · Schedule reports · Mark reports as favorite |
| Dashboards | · Pre-built dashboard | · Add/remove widgets | · Advanced dashboard customization |
| Other Integrations | |||
| Integrations | · Pre-built integrations | · 5+ pre-built integrations | · Integration or app marketplace |
| APIs | · Read-only API | · Two-way API | · Multiple APIs |
| Security, Customization & Configuration | |||
| Security | · Password complexity requirements · Automatic logout after a period of inactivity · Data encryption in transit | · Two-step login verification or two-factor authentication · Data encrypted at rest | · Single Sign On |
| Permissions | · Limited number of pre-set role-based permission sets | · Customizable role-based permissions | · Granular role-based permissions |
| Customization | · Add a limited number of custom fields · Customize dropdown menu lists · Customize online form colors/header | · Add numerous custom fields · Customize online (UI) form layouts | · Customize standard field names |
| Mobile Access | · System is responsively designed | · Vendor provides mobile app with limited functionality | · Vendor provides mobile app with robust functionality |
| Training & Support | |||
| Training | · Initial training available during implementation · Online training videos · Occasional training webinars | · Role-specific training available · Online multi-stage training program · Regular training webinars | · Ongoing one-on-one training available |
| Support | · Email support · In-system contextual help and tool tips · Knowledge base | · Phone support | · Unlimited phone and email support at no extra cost · Web chat support · User community or forum |