Just keeps getting better

We transitioned to Virtuous from Raiser's Edge several years ago, and it was probably the best decision we ever made in terms of being able to decentralize our CRM and make it accessible to our team at large. It took us a while to get everyone trained to use it but now that we are up to speed we don't know how we lived without it.

Pros

Virtuous was one of the newer CRM's when we started using it, but you can tell they are improving it all the time. As the years have gone by, its look and feel as well as features have continued to improve. It gives you the sense that you are working with a much bigger company that is dedicated to providing a quality product. It has helped our entire team have a central place to interact with donor data and we have been able to customize it to meet our needs.

Cons

There were a few hiccups initially as we got our data sorted out and imported to the platform and the fields customized for how we would use it. We probably still have some ways to go with our architecture, as we cannot continue to infinitely expand our data fields. We are at a point now where it is starting to get clunky with all the fields we have added. But it is not the fault of the platform, more the way we use it. The platform itself has continually improved.

Our Decision and Migration to Virtuous

We are thrilled to be with Virtuous and are very expectant that this software will enable us to grow in unmeasurable ways. With the marketing tools Virtuous offers, the possibilities are limitless.

Pros

Virtuous possesses one of the nicest interfaces out of the 10+ Donor Management systems/CRMs we looked at. The user-friendly interface and layout create an environment that is more enjoyable to work in and makes learning the software that much easier. We inevitably chose Virtuous because it offers so many automation tools that would allow us to streamline several tasks that had been managed manually. Virtuous came in clutch when Blackbaud dropped the ball. (I typically wouldn't use this opportunity to throw a competitor under the bus, however after our recent migration, it's only fair to others shopping to be warned). Virtuous was nothing short of amazing during migration period. They have always been very communicative and willing to assist. Even when our prior system was dropping the ball, they stepped in to do what they could do to ensure we were taken care of. I can honestly say that Virtuous seems to care about their customers and is on our side. Much more than most other vendors I have worked with.

Cons

Although Virtuous has several amazing automations, there are a few limitations. One key feature we were looking for, and still hoping for, is scheduled reports. Scheduled reporting and a more relaxed import tool would make this product and 10/10. By relaxed import tool, I mean an import tool that could be circumvented or allow for more data entry when a match was found. Other than that, the only other area that could be improved is customer service that could be reached by phone or live chat.

Hoping to see an improved experience over time- not yet convinced

We are not yet sure if it was the right choice for our organization to move to Virtuous. We still believe that the product will support our growth as an organization long term, but we are not currently satisfied and hope to be proven right. Based on our experience so far, we would not recommend Virtuous to another organization.

Pros

Virtuous has many intuitive features and is visually appealing for the user. Lists and queries are easy to run without having any background in querying language. I appreciate that Virtuous is frequently rolling out upgrades, bug fixes, and new features.

Cons

The software runs very slowly without explanation on some days, taking nearly a minute to load certain pages or widgets. Reporting has some limitations compared to our last software. Customer support is very hit or miss. Support is initially provided through a chat bot and then answered "usually" within 24 hours by a Virtuous representative. Some reps are knowledgeable and provide helpful links, screenshots, etc, while others don't seem to know how to work the platform themselves. There have been backlogs at times where requests are not answered for 2+ business days, and if you ask a follow up question, you may find yourself waiting again. There seems to be no option for an upgraded customer support package if you have unique or custom requests. The knowledge base is not comprehensive and is sometimes out of date. The migration process was also very rough. We started out with a professional and extremely helpful project manager, but when he transitioned off, it went downhill quickly. The Data Migration Specialist that worked with us did not seem to have experience and although she ultimately did what she could to be helpful, probably putting in many extra hours on our behalf, my sense is that her lack of initial training and lack of diligence in early conversations wasted many hours for both of us.

Incredible value for powerful industry-leading features

Virtuous is constantly evolving to meet the demands of a competitive marketplace. I've tried some of the other DRM services, and they were bloated and unwieldy. Something as simple as generating a year-end tax receipt was laborious and time-consuming. Virtuous removes that layer of complexity and puts you in control. It is flexible, extensible, and expandable with the click of a few buttons or keystrokes. I would highly recommend Virtuous to any non-profit organization looking for an affordable donor relationship management solution.

Pros

It is extremely easy to use. The Virtuous team has obviously invested vast amounts of time into determining the most intuitive way of doing things, such as creating projects or gifts, editing donor information, creating volunteer opportunities, or running queries or reports.

Cons

I'm having a difficult time coming up with any cons. I can honestly say there's nothing about Virtuous I don't like. Support staff is very accessible, so if there's ever been anything I was unable to accomplish, they were able to walk me through how to do it.

The Best People Make the Best CRM

Everything about Virtuous is easy and fast. Virtuous has made learning a new CRM simple. I can manage donors and gifts easily and quickly and when I need help, I can onboard staff in snap.

Pros

For me, Virtuous is about simplifying the typical CRM into a useful, efficient, and powerful tool. Add in Virtuous's automation features and, in my opinion, you get one the best CRMs at a great value. Now, add in some of the nicest people in the business, who really care about you, and you have the best CRM in the world.

Cons

While Virtuous is fantastic, it's also still growing. Some features are missing but they're getting added all the time. To make the automation even more powerful, I would love to see a Zapier integration.