# Fundraising databases and the alternatives to Raiser's Edge

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/03/16/fundraising-databases-and-alternatives-raiser039s-edge/
- Published: 2004-03-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Institute of Fundraising’s IT special interest group discussed fundraising databases
and alternatives to Raiser’s Edge at its last meeting. The group has permitted UK
Fundraising to reproduce their report on the event.
In February 2004, at the Chase
conference in London, the IT Special Interest Group (“IT SIG”) held its largest 
ever event on the subject of “Fundraising Databases – The Alternatives to Raiser’s
Edge”. Over 180 people came to listen to six users from different charities discuss
why they did or did not use The Raiser’s Edge.

Each user explained the benefits they got from their database, any downsides and
why they had chosen to buy the system in the first place. Reasons for buying the
systems varied from price and ease-of-use through to the adaptability and helpfulness
of the database suppler. Interestingly, several users placed great emphasis on the
pre-sales customer service they received from the different suppliers – both the
one they finally bought and the ones they didn’t buy.

The Raiser’s Edge itself was praised for its flexibility and ability to help the
charity do their fundraising and how the Blackbaud customer support had been good
for them; other users said their packages gave them all they needed and at a cheaper
cost than The Raiser’s Edge and/or with a less complex system; issues of data conversion,
training and support were discussed. Some users also commented how they found their
particular supplier more adaptable than Blackbaud on occasions. All of the users
were keen to emphasise the need for a structured and thought-through implementation
and most said it took them between three and six months to do it.

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The event ended with a Q&A session which, having such a high degree of interest 
from the audience, easily could have lasted much longer.

The following speakers spoke in a voluntary capacity: David Jenkerson from British
Red Cross (Visual Alms), Roland Sadler from Everychild (who use iMis), Roma Sharma
from Mental Health Foundation (Raiser’s Edge), Yan Fitterer from Royal Academy of
Music (Advantage Fundraiser), Debbie Harland from Royal Opera House (Progress), 
and Andrew Stockbridge from Scripture Union Trust (ThankQ).

The SIG’s next event will cover be held on 12 May 2004 in London and its topic will
be “Everything you never knew Excel could do!”

 * **[Sayer Vincent surveys successful information systems](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/03/18/sayer-vincent-surveys-successful-information-systems/)**(
   18 March 2004)
 * **[The Guardian Charity Awards 2004 open](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/03/24/guardian-charity-awards-2004-open/)**(
   24 March 2004)
 * **[Michael Gilbert publishes '21st Century Fundraising Resources'](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/04/17/michael-gilbert-publishes-03921st-century-fundraising-resources039/)**(
   17 April 2004)