PassKit is a capable, general-purpose wallet-pass generator. Social Good Software issues membership credentials tied to Blackbaud Altru. The difference is whether the card knows anything about the person holding it.
A pass generator vs a membership credential
PassKit can produce a wallet pass for almost anything, which is its strength in retail loyalty. For a cultural organization, that is also the limit: on its own it does not understand member tiers, household benefits, or guest restrictions, because it is not connected to your membership system. A pass without that context is just a barcode.
| PassKit | Social Good Software | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | General wallet passes and loyalty | Cultural membership on Altru |
| Knows member tier and benefits | Not on its own | Yes, from Altru |
| Gate validation against a record | You build it | Native |
| Household and guest admits | Not modeled | Yes |
| Data source | Whatever you feed it | The live Altru record |
When PassKit is the right call
For a retailer or a general loyalty program that needs flexible, well-built wallet passes and will handle the membership logic elsewhere, PassKit is a strong, developer-friendly tool.
Credentials that carry Altru context
Social Good Software issues digital cards that carry the member’s tier, benefits, and status from Altru and validate at the gate against the live record. The card is not just scannable; it is meaningful.
Why “just make a pass” is not enough
A museum card has to know the tier for pricing, the household for guest admits, and the expiry for gate validation. A generic generator leaves all of that for you to wire up and keep in sync. Tied to Altru, that context comes for free and stays current.
Frequently asked questions
Is Social Good Software a PassKit alternative?
For membership credentials on Altru, yes. For general-purpose wallet passes handled by your own team, PassKit is a fine tool.
Does the card validate at the gate?
Yes, against the live Altru record, so lapsed or downgraded memberships are caught.
Do we have to leave Altru?
No. Altru stays the system of record; the card is issued from it.
