Review of Not for Profit Accounting Systems — 2006

The products reviewed here vary widely. Entry-level products are designed
for small organizations and offer quick installations, easy navigation and decent
reporting options. They are also affordably priced, even for those on a limited budget. While these products provide out-of-the-box capability, they
leave little room for customization or future growth.

Other nonprofits may be looking to upgrade to a more scalable product that
offers increased user capabilities and additional modules for purchase. These
products often fall between the entry-level products and the enterprise-level
products, and they can prove to be quite

sufficient for mid-level organizations. They are usually more expensive, (but
not always) and provide more scalability.

Enterprise-level products are top of the line and are ideal for nonprofits
with complex needs. These products offer all of the functions as the other products
but usually contain more management level capabilities and often include a fundraising
module that can track detailed information about donors, including historical
data.

Does this mean that you should skip over the entry-level products? No.

Do those products automatically receive lower ratings? No.

Entry-level products can be an excellent choice for those whose needs and
budget are minimal. They can’t really be compared to enterprise-level
products, and they don’t claim to compare. What they do claim is to help
the small nonprofit with their needs, and they do it well. If they do what they
claim to do, then they deserve a good rating. We can all agree that a software
product designed for up to five users will not have the same capabilities as
the software product designed for unlimited users. It doesn’t mean they
do not do their job well.

I hope you find the reviews helpful. And don’t forget to visit the software
vendor’s websites for additional information. 

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