In Use:
Small to mid-sized nonprofits and churches who primarily wish to keep track of their donations or utilize basic bookkeeping and fund accounting functionality benefit the most from Software4Nonprofits programs.
DONATION Program:
Software4Nonprofit’s DONATION program allows organizations to record donors and gifts while also issuing receipts to supporters. Users can access different types of reporting that makes it easier for charities to track one-time contributors, current donors, and all contributions by date, name and amount. When speaking to Software4Nonprofits founder Dan Cooperstock, he wanted to make it very clear that this software was not a full-featured fundraising software. If you are interested in a fundraising platform he recommends a “full-featured and customizable fundraising program.”
In terms of pricing, Software4Nonprofits offer a free LITE version, and free 60-day evaluations of other full-featured versions. Support for the LITE version is $20 a year after the first month, and support and upgrades are included for the first year with the purchase of the other versions. From there the purchase price is either $100 or $180 depending on the version chosen. The LITE version allows for up to 100 donors per year. With multiple versions available and a 60-day free trial, charities and churches can find the right version for them.
ACCOUNTS Program:
Like the DONATION program there are different versions of the software depending on what a charity is looking for. A nonprofit may start with a standard version and then upgrade over the years as their organization grows. “Initial pricing for ACCOUNTS is $130 to $220 depending on the version and again subsequent year support and upgrades costs are half of the initial price,” Cooperstock explained.
Unlike traditional commercial accounting programs like QuickBooks or Quicken, users can track income and expenses while also having a simple and completely automated fund accounting. Like the DONATION software, users can also take advantage of different reports such as income statements, balance sheets, and detailed transaction reports.
Technology Used:
Software4Nonprofits can only be installed on Windows desktop apart from the OnDemand version. Because this version is controlled by secure remote control, it can also be used on Macs.
While there are no direct integrations, users can export their data and upload it to their CRMs like Constant Contact or QuickBooks.
Ease of Use:
Nonprofits can access multiple introductory videos that teach users exactly how to use each software. There is also an expansive FAQ page and Help file that covers everything from problems using the program to installations. Users who are still having issues can email Software4Nonprofits or call them for support.
Recap:
Software4Nonprofits was created as an easy solution for churches, charities, and nonprofits to solve for basic donation and accounting needs. It was important to Cooperstock to create a software that was easily accessible to anybody including volunteers with minimal experience.
Advantages:
- DONATION program has a free LITE version that many charities and churches can utilize
- The programs are easy to use and there are a plethora of documents and videos to help an organization learn how to use each program
- Export documents and upload to your CRM
- Fairly priced
Disadvantages:
- The only cloud-based program is their OnDemand version
- The software is only available in English
- If you do not have accounting experience, the ACCOUNTS program may have a learning curve
My Opinion:
The biggest advantage of a software like Software4Nonprofits is that they know what they are. They are a simple solution for charities and churches to upload DONATION and track income and expenses. The program doesn’t promise to be the next QuickBooks or fundraising tool – in fact Dan Cooperstock makes it very clear that they’re not. If you need a way to keep track of your spending, donors, and DONATION – these programs can help. With different versions of each program – small-to-mid nonprofits can pick the best version for their organization to get the most benefit.
If you’re looking for a simple, intuitive way to track your donors and gifts – I would recommend trying out the 60-day trial to see how you like it.
