Raiser’s Edge NXT and Social Good Software both live in the Blackbaud world, but they sit on opposite sides of the building. RE NXT is a back-office fundraising CRM. Social Good Software runs the public, member-facing front door on top of Altru. Here is when each is the right tool.
Back office vs front door
Raiser’s Edge NXT is purpose-built for advancement teams: gift tracking, prospect research, donor relationships, and reporting. It does that job at a high level. What it is not is a public-facing membership portal or a ticketing engine. Members cannot renew, update their benefits, or buy member-only tickets inside RE NXT, because that was never the job it was designed for.
When Raiser’s Edge NXT is the right call
If your primary need is a serious fundraising and donor-relationship database, especially for a major-gifts program, RE NXT deserves a close look. For an advancement team whose success is measured in pipeline and stewardship, it is a capable, purpose-fit system.
What Social Good Software adds on Altru
Social Good Software keeps Altru as your system of record and gives members the front door they expect. A self-service portal to renew and manage benefits, member-only ticketing, and a digital card on their phone, all writing back to Altru in real time. It is the layer between your database and the guest, not a replacement for either.
| Decision factor | Raiser’s Edge NXT | Social Good Software |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Fundraising and donor relationships | Altru member and guest operations |
| Public member portal | Not its job | Modern self-service portal |
| Member-only ticketing | No | Yes, on top of Altru |
| Digital membership cards | No | Apple and Google Wallet |
| Relationship to Altru | Separate Blackbaud CRM | Extends Altru as system of record |
Where the two meet
Picture a member who wants to renew and grab two member tickets for Saturday. In a donor CRM, that is a staff task handled after the fact. On Social Good Software the member does it themselves online, and the record updates in Altru before your team ever touches it. Different tools, different moment.
Frequently asked questions
Is Social Good Software a Raiser’s Edge NXT alternative?
Not really. RE NXT is a fundraising CRM; Social Good Software is an Altru operations and revenue suite. Many teams run a Blackbaud CRM for development and Social Good Software for the member-facing front door.
Does Social Good Software replace Altru?
No. Altru remains the system of record; we extend the experiences around it.
Can we use RE NXT and Social Good Software together?
Yes. They address different layers: keep RE NXT for advancement, use Social Good Software for member self-service, ticketing, and cards on Altru.
