The Best Donor Management Software of 2025 (According to a Pastor)
10 The Best Donor Management Software List
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 17 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
The RIGHT donor management software is a game-changer. Say goodbye to the frustrations of juggling spreadsheets, sorting through paper records, and scrambling to pull reports before a board meeting. It’s exhausting, and it takes time away from actual ministry. That’s why donor management software is so key! It can help you...
- Track giving with ease – No more guessing who gave what. The software automatically records donations, so you always have up-to-date giving records.
- Keep donor information organized – Names, contact details, and giving history are all in one place, not scattered across different files or notebooks.
- Simplify reporting for leadership – Generate clear, detailed reports in minutes instead of spending hours piecing together numbers.
- Engage donors more effectively – Automate thank-yous and updates so people feel appreciated—without adding more to your plate.
- Free up time for ministry – Less admin work means more time focusing on discipleship, preaching, and caring for people.
In this article, we’ll cover the best donor management software options, key features to look for, and how to find the right fit for your church. Let’s dive in!
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
As pastors and church leaders ourselves, we get it—choosing the right donor management software can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there, each with unique quirks, and the pressure to make the right choice for your church is real. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to help.
Since launching The Lead Pastor in 2019, we’ve been testing and reviewing church tools with one goal in mind: making your decisions easier. With over 2,000 tools tested and 1,000+ honest, no-fluff reviews written, we’re here to provide you with practical advice from people who’ve been in your shoes.
Our reviews are built on deep research and firsthand experience, always from a church leader’s perspective. We understand how critical this decision is for your ministry—and we’re here to guide you through it. (Learn how we stay transparent and our software review methodology.)
The 10 Best Donor Management Software Summary
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for diverse donation methods | Free plan available | From $69.99/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for all-in-one church management | Free version available | From $12/month | Website | |
| 3 | Best software for donor retention | Free demo available | From $40/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best donor management software for donor relationship building | Free demo available | From $100/month | Website | |
| 5 | Best software for simplifying processes | 30-day free trial available | From $45/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for integrated church management | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 7 | Best donor management software for non-profits | Not available | Website | ||
| 8 | Best for donor segmentation and communication | Not available | From $99/month for up to 1,000 records | Website | |
| 9 | Best volunteer and donor management software | Not available | From $39/month | Website | |
| 10 | Best software for advocacy and event management | Not available | Website |
The Best Donor Management Software Reviews
Here’s a brief description of each of the donor management software on my list, showing what it does best, plus screenshots to showcase some of the features.
SteepleMate serves as an effective donor management software tailored for churches, incorporating features that facilitate financial and donation management. It supports various donation methods such as online donations, QR code giving, and text giving, providing convenience for both donors and administrators. The software includes pledge management and fundraising campaign tracking, allowing churches to efficiently monitor donations and interact with their congregation. Additionally, secure donor data encryption ensures the safety of sensitive information. Features like recurring donations, offering management, and detailed contribution reporting further assist in simplifying financial tasks, while integration with QuickBooks ensures accurate and transparent accounting.
ChMeetings is a cloud-based Church Management Software (ChMS) that helps churches of all sizes simplify administration and donor management. Used by over 7,000 churches worldwide, it offers member and group management, attendance tracking, and secure online donations, making it easy to organize congregational records and track contributions. With built-in financial tools for budgeting and reporting, plus a multilingual interface supporting 22 languages, ChMeetings ensures smoother church operations. It also provides a standard mobile app for convenient access, with an option to upgrade to a branded version. A free plan for up to 50 members makes it an accessible choice for smaller congregations.
Bloomerang focuses on retention and engagement solutions. It allows fund transactions and management to be carried out efficiently and on time.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- It is affordable for all sizes of startups and non-profits
- Great customer support
- Great user interface
Cons:
- QuickBooks integration isn't smooth
- Report customization is limited
- Difficult to use when tracking grants from foundations
Kindful
Best donor management software for donor relationship building
Kindful is donor management software that focuses on building relationships with donors. It offers fundraising, donor management, and communication tools. The software also comes with tracking and reporting tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports unlimited donation pages per account with numerous page designs and customization
- Scalable and focuses on helping non-profits grow
- Excellent and timely customer service
Cons:
- Report design options are limited and lack customization
- Pricey for small non-profits with inconsistent income
- Takes a while to learn and get around
Little Green Light describes itself as “your natural next step to simplify your donor management.” It promises, “With our intuitive fundraising platform, you can consolidate your spreadsheets, letting you see and analyze your data more clearly than ever before.”
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Mail and online support
- Seamless integration with third-party software
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Cons:
- Advanced analytics are complicated
- Difficult to manage families
- Mobile support is lacking
Realm by ACS Technologies is a cloud-based church management software platform that offers integrated tools and services for ministries, administration, and pastoral care.
I chose Realm as the donor management software after evaluating its comprehensive features tailored for churches and religious organizations. It provides a suite of tools for communication, stewardship, and pastoral care, all accessible through a user-friendly interface and convenient mobile apps, which are essential for modern church management.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Streamlines communication with members.
- Customizable forms and pages.
- Organizes member database efficiently.
Cons:
- Limited integration with other CRM systems.
- May require training to fully utilize all features.
Salesforce’s Non-Profit Cloud unites constituents and organizations. The software promises to help “build and maintain trusted and lasting relationships with supporters and beneficiaries by delivering the experiences they need in changing times.”
Salesforce for Non-Profit is designed mainly to cater to the needs of non-profits, educational institutions, and foundations that provide grants.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable reports that help filter out unwanted data
- Great customer service
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Poor integration with mobile platforms
- Report generation can take a while
- Too many functionalities make it challenging to get around in the beginning
Donorperfect is a suitable fundraising solution for non-profits. It provides insight into the drivers of donations, donor segmentation, and communications via personalized emails. Event managers can use its auction management tools to manage silent, live, mobile, and online charity auctions.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Great for tracking donors
- Allows for customization
- Easy to use and intuitive
Cons:
- Too many upgrades
- Lackluster report generation
Donor Tools offers solutions for donation tracking, massive spreadsheets, data entry, and high volunteer turnover.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy-to-use
- Affordable for small non-profits
- Provides donor history as far back as several years
Cons:
- Email automation is limited
- Social integration is not fully supported
- Reports are standard and limited
Salsa Labs provides solutions for donor management, fundraising, advocacy, events, and marketing automation. Its primary focus is on providing intelligent insights and reports.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Relatively easy to learn and use
- Great customer support
- Unlimited capabilities
Cons:
- Easy to lose some contact names when importing contacts
- Scheduling in email setup needs improvement
Other Donor Management Software Options
- Aplos
Software for church accounting
- Servant Keeper
Church donor management system
- Church Community Builder
Software for building the donor community
- Blackbaud
Donor management software for data and analytics
- ChurchTrac
For comprehensive donation tracking
- MinistryPlatform
For large churches
- Subsplash
For setting up recurring gifts from donors
case study: How One church drastically reduced Its administrative load During a crisis
When Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, Alabama, faced a major crisis, their ability to manage critical financial operations was brought to a halt. A sudden technological failure left the church unable to write checks or pay vendors, with a looming audit adding to the urgency.
Church Administrator Michal Langston shares how switching to Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT not only solved their immediate challenges but also transformed their efficiency for the better.
“Our previous vendor threatened to turn off our software even though we had an upcoming audit, which created an urgency to be live in six weeks. We partnered with Blackbaud (and several third-party tools) and were live on Financial Edge NXT in three weeks. The entire process was a drastically better experience compared to what we had with other software vendors.”
The new system didn’t just meet their needs—it far exceeded them.
- Streamlined Invoice Management: “Today, we have 40 to 50 people submitting invoice requests to our church. Our new processes make managing that volume easy,” says Langston.
- Time-Saving Reporting: Blackbaud’s view-only reporting capabilities have dramatically reduced the administrative burden. “The view-only reporting capabilities save me an entire day’s work each month. Users can securely access the reports directly, and because of how we have it set up, even nonfinancial staff can self-serve.”
This shift not only helped Hunter Street Baptist weather its crisis but also enabled it to operate more efficiently, empowering staff and saving valuable time for ministry work.
Selection Criteria for Donor Management Software
Choosing the right donor management software is all about finding a tool that solves real problems for pastors and ministry leaders. The goal? Supporting your ministry’s needs while reducing the time spent on admin tasks. After personally testing and researching countless tools, I’ve identified the best options tailored to the unique challenges pastors face. Here’s how I evaluate them:
Core Donor Management Functionality (25% of Total Score)
At its core, donor management software should handle the essentials. To qualify for this list, tools must support these key use cases:
- Tracking both one-time and recurring donations
- Storing and updating donor contact information
- Segmenting donors for targeted communications
- Generating detailed reports on donation trends
- Integrating with accounting systems seamlessly
Other features that enhance usability include mobile access, customizable dashboards, automation for email communication, event management, and real-time syncing with other tools.
Additional Standout Features (25% of Total Score)
Beyond the basics, standout features can make a huge difference in streamlining workflows:
- Automated donor tracking to minimize manual effort
- Real-time syncing with tools like email marketing platforms
- Mobile-friendly design for managing donations on the go
- Customizable dashboards to visualize data clearly
- Event management features that connect registration, donations, and communication
Usability (10% of Total Score)
A user-friendly interface is critical. I look for:
- Intuitive navigation with minimal learning curves
- Drag-and-drop functionality for managing reports or donor segments
- Responsive design for easy use across all devices
- Clear dashboards for quick insights
Onboarding (10% of Total Score)
Good onboarding makes all the difference when adopting a new tool. I prioritize software that offers:
- Quick-start guides, templates, or interactive tutorials
- Webinars and in-depth training options for team onboarding
- Tools to migrate donor data with minimal hassle
- Helpful customer service during setup
Customer Support (10% of Total Score)
Reliable support is essential when challenges arise. Top-rated tools provide:
- 24/7 chat support with quick response times
- Robust FAQs and knowledge bases for self-service help
- Accessible phone and email support for more complex issues
- In-app live chat for immediate assistance
Value for Money (10% of Total Score)
Budget matters, so I assess:
- Competitive pricing for churches of all sizes
- Scalable pricing tiers to ensure affordability as your church grows
- Transparent pricing without hidden fees
- Nonprofit and church discounts to maximize value
Customer Reviews (10% of Total Score)
What do other pastors and church leaders say? I look for:
- Strong satisfaction ratings in usability and reliability
- Consistent praise for ease of setup and everyday use
- Positive feedback on customer support and responsiveness
- Testimonials highlighting time saved through automation
By focusing on these criteria, I ensure the recommended tools help pastors and church leaders spend less time on admin tasks and more time doing what matters most: ministering to their people.
How to Choose Donor Management Software
Choosing the right donor management software is a big decision. The right tool can streamline donations and donor relationships, while the wrong one can create headaches for your team. As you evaluate your options, keep these key factors in mind:
Using the Software
- Simplicity – If the software is hard to use, your team won’t stick with it. Look for an intuitive system that saves time, reduces frustration, and makes tracking donations straightforward.
- Integration with Other Tools – Your donor management software should work seamlessly with your accounting system, email platform, and other tools. If it doesn’t, you’ll waste time manually moving data between systems.
Managing the Software
- Scalability – As your church grows, your software should keep up. Choose a system that can handle an expanding donor base without slowing down or stretching your budget.
- Reporting & Analytics – Clear, actionable reports help you track giving trends and donor engagement. Good software should provide the data you need at a glance—without making you dig through complicated spreadsheets.
- Support & Training – Even simple software comes with a learning curve. Make sure the provider offers solid customer support and training resources so your team can get help when they need it.
By keeping these points in mind, you’ll be better equipped to choose a donor management tool that serves your church well—both today and as it grows.
Trends in Donor Management SoftwareIn 2025, donor management software continues to evolve, meeting the growing demand for efficiency, automation, and ease of use.
Recent updates and industry shifts show how these tools are helping pastors and ministry leaders do more with less effort. Here are the top trends shaping the future of donor management software:
1. Automation & AI Integration
- Automated Donor Engagement – More tools now offer workflows that trigger personalized emails or follow-up tasks based on donor behavior. For example, an automatic thank-you after a first-time gift or a reminder to reconnect with a lapsed donor. This saves time while strengthening donor relationships.
- AI-Powered Analytics – Artificial intelligence is analyzing giving patterns and recommending the best times and methods to engage donors. This means smarter decisions, faster, without hours of manual work.
2. Mobile-First Design
- Enhanced Mobile Access – More platforms are now built with mobile-friendly dashboards. Pastors and church leaders can track donations, update donor records, and send messages straight from their phones—perfect for ministry on the go.
3. Data Security & Compliance
- Stronger Data Protection – With privacy concerns on the rise, top donor management tools now include encrypted donor data, secure login options, and compliance with GDPR and other regulations. This ensures donor information stays protected.
4. Customization & Flexibility
- Tailored Reporting Tools – Churches need reports that highlight what matters most to them. More software providers are offering customizable reporting, making it easier to share insights with leadership teams and congregations.
These trends reflect the growing demand for donor management software that saves time, enhances security, and provides real-time insights. As churches navigate an increasingly digital world, mobile-first, AI-driven solutions are becoming essential for effective donor engagement and financial management.
What is Donor Management Software?
Donor management software helps churches and nonprofits track donations and manage donor relationships. Think of it as your digital assistant—keeping names, addresses, and giving history organized in one secure place.
With this software, you can:
- See who gave what at a glance
- Send personalized thank-you emails with ease
- Generate reports for leadership or year-end tax statements
No more juggling spreadsheets or digging through paper files. This tool keeps your giving records in order, saving you time so you can focus on ministry.
Features of Donor Management Software
Choosing the right donor management software can cut down your administrative workload, giving you more time to focus on ministry. The best tools streamline tasks, automate processes, and keep everything organized so you’re not stuck handling operations when you should be shepherding people.
Key Features to Look For:
1. Automated Donor Profiles – Keep donor records updated without the hassle of manual entry. Accurate, organized data means less time fixing errors and more time building relationships.
2. Customizable Reporting – Generate reports in seconds to keep leadership informed and free up your time for more important work.
3. Recurring Donation Management – Make giving easy for donors by automating recurring donations. This ensures steady support and fewer follow-up emails.
4. Email Automation – Send personalized thank-yous, updates, and campaign messages automatically. Keeps donors engaged without adding to your to-do list.
5. Mobile Access – Manage donor information from anywhere. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you’ll always have what you need.
6. Accounting Integrations – Connect with accounting software to keep financial records accurate and eliminate double entry. Fewer errors, less stress.
7. Donor Segmentation – Group donors by giving levels, interests, or past involvement. This makes targeted communication easy and more effective.
8. Customizable Dashboards – Get a quick, clear view of donor activity and giving trends without sorting through complicated reports.
9. Event Management – Track fundraising events, handle registrations, and link donations—all in one place. Less juggling, more efficiency.
10. Strong Customer Support – Reliable support ensures any issues get resolved fast, so you’re not stuck troubleshooting when you should be leading.
Each of these features is designed to lighten your load, keep things organized, and free up more time for ministry. Choose the ones that fit your church’s needs, and you’ll be better equipped to serve your congregation and build stronger donor relationships.
Benefits of Donor Management Software
Investing in donor management software makes it easier to track donations and manage donor relationships. These tools simplify processes, improve communication, and help your church or nonprofit operate more efficiently.
Five Key Benefits:
1. Automated Donor Tracking – No more spreadsheets or manual updates. The software keeps donor records organized and up to date, saving hours of work and reducing errors. That means more time to focus on building real relationships with your supporters.
2. Centralized Data – All donor information—giving history, communication records, engagement details—stored in one place. No more jumping between systems or digging through files.
3. Better Reporting – Quickly generate reports on giving trends and donor engagement. This makes it easier to make informed decisions and provide clear updates to your board and leadership team.
4. Streamlined Communication – Built-in email and messaging tools let you send personalized thank-yous, updates, and giving reminders with ease. Stronger donor relationships with less manual work.
5. Recurring Donation Management – Automate recurring gifts, ensuring consistent giving without needing constant follow-up. This improves donor retention and reduces administrative headaches.
By simplifying these key areas, donor management software frees you to focus more on ministry while keeping your donor relationships strong and your operations running smoothly.y that’s better equipped to serve your congregation and community.
Costs & Pricing for Donor Management Software
Donor management software comes with different pricing options to fit various church budgets and needs. If you’re new to this, know that each plan includes different levels of features—the more advanced the tools, the higher the cost. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common plan types, what they cost, and the features you can expect at each level.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0/month | Basic donor tracking, limited reporting, email support | Small organizations or startups |
| Basic Plan | $30/month | Donor profiles, automated emails, simple reporting | Growing churches, basic needs |
| Standard Plan | $70/month | Custom reports, event management, recurring donation tracking | Medium-sized churches, more advanced needs |
| Premium Plan | $150/month | Advanced integrations, detailed analytics, priority support | Large organizations, full features |
| Enterprise Plan | $300+/month | Fully customizable features, dedicated account manager, unlimited users | Large nonprofits or organizations with complex needs |
When choosing a plan, think about your church’s size, budget, and the tools you need to manage donor relationships well. If you're just starting out, a free or basic plan can help you get set up. As your needs grow, you can upgrade to access more advanced features.
Donor Management Software Frequently Asked Questions
How can donor management software help me stay compliant with tax regulations for church donations?
Good donor management software takes the headache out of tax compliance. It automatically generates tax-compliant donation receipts and year-end giving statements, ensuring your records are accurate and meet legal requirements. No more manual calculations or scrambling to get things in order—just clear, organized reports ready when you need them.
Can This Software Handle Donations from Multiple Campuses or Church Locations?
Yes. Many donor management systems support multi-campus churches, letting you track donations from multiple locations under a single account. This keeps donor records organized, accessible, and easy to manage, no matter how many sites your church operates.
How do I transfer all my existing donor information into the software without losing any data?
Most platforms make data migration simple. They offer tools to import spreadsheets or integrate with your current system, ensuring all donor information moves over securely. Some even provide hands-on support to make sure nothing gets lost in the process.
Can this software help me track volunteer involvement alongside donations?
Yes, some systems go beyond financial giving and track volunteer engagement as well. This lets you see a full picture of how your congregation contributes—not just through donations but also through their time and service. It’s a great way to recognize and appreciate your most engaged members.
How can I use this software to better engage major donors and increase larger gifts?
Most donor management tools include donor segmentation, allowing you to focus on major givers. You can track giving history, create targeted campaigns, and automate personalized follow-ups. Stronger relationships mean more meaningful contributions, and this software helps you stay intentional in engaging your biggest supporters.
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