What is Blackbaud luminate online?
Pros from reviewers
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Real-time analytics feature: The software offers real-time analytics, providing up-to-date and accurate numbers. This feature is particularly valuable for tracking and improving performance
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Power and customizability: Luminate Online is powerful and highly customizable. It can handle nuance and automation, and provides API access for developers. This makes it a crucial tool in the world of internet marketing, communications, and donation processing
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Ability to manage donations and emails together: Luminate Online has the capability to manage donations and emails together. This feature is especially beneficial for creating donor-focused web spaces and managing donation forms
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Integration with Raiser's Edge: Luminate Online integrates well with Raiser's Edge, streamlining data entry. This integration is particularly useful for generating targeted ask strings for constituents in emails and donation forms.
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Excellent system for scheduling, uploading lists, and analytics: Luminate Online provides a comprehensive system for managing various tasks such as scheduling, uploading lists, and analyzing data. This makes it a versatile tool for managing a broad spectrum of tasks
Cons from reviewers
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Poor integration with other Blackbaud products: Users have reported that Luminate does not integrate well with other Blackbaud products, sometimes necessitating the purchase of additional third-party software to facilitate information transfer
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Steep learning curve: Despite its power and versatility, Luminate has a steep learning curve and can feel overwhelming to new users. Even long-term users have reported feeling like they've barely scratched the surface of its capabilities
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Email builder is not user-friendly: Users have reported difficulties with the email builder, particularly when transferring templates, as Luminate tends to alter spaces, fonts, and font sizes
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Outdated interface and lack of updates: Some users feel that Luminate's interface seems a bit outdated, with no major updates or changes in recent years. This can make the software feel less current and user-friendly
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Customization often requires a developer: While Luminate offers a range of features and tools, a lot of customization requires a developer. This can make record management and other tasks particularly difficult for users without a developer background.
Main features
Starting Price
Free Plan
Comprehensive Cloud-Based Solution
User-Friendly Interface and Customizable Features
Suite of Tools
CRM Integration
Robust Analytics and Reporting
Starting Price
N/A
Free Plan
No
Comprehensive Cloud-Based Solution
User-Friendly Interface and Customizable Features
Suite of Tools
CRM Integration
Robust Analytics and Reporting
How Blackbaud luminate online compare to similar software?
Product
Price
N/A
Free plan
No
Main features
Pros
Cons
Alternatives
Deal
No available deal at the moment
Who is Blackbaud luminate online best for according to our reviewers?
Event and Volunteer Coordinators: These users find Luminate's TeamRaiser feature useful for managing events, volunteers, and crowdfunding. However, they may find the process of creating crowdfunding pages time-consuming and not very user-friendly
Fundraising Managers: These users value Luminate's ability to automate recurring giving and its robustness in managing donations and emails together. They also appreciate the software's ability to create donor-focused web spaces, but may struggle with the software's user-friendliness and integration with other Blackbaud products
Database Administrators: These users appreciate Luminate's integration with Raiser's Edge and the communication between their database software components. However, they may find navigating to some reports less intuitive and may struggle with record management.
Nonprofit Administrators: These users appreciate Luminate's all-in-one functionality and its ability to manage a broad spectrum of tasks such as emails, newsletters, donation forms, and donation management. However, they may find the software's steep learning curve and lack of seamless integration with other tools challenging
Marketing and Communications Professionals: These users appreciate Luminate's real-time analytics feature and its power and customizability, including API access for developers. However, they may find the email builder less user-friendly and the software a bit outdated
Blackbaud luminate online Reviews
4.2
Blackbaud luminate online rating
3.0
Ease of use
4.0
Customer service
3.6
Value for money
3.6
Likelihood to recommend
3.6
Features
19 Blackbaud luminate online Reviews
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William R
Platform Acquisition Nine Months Ago: A Journey with Blackbaud Luminate Online
I appreciate how Blackbaud Luminate Online integrates with Raiser's Edge, streamlining data entry. I'm particularly impressed with the Go! program, which guides me through three different email campaigns and provides specific feedback to help grow my email lists. Setting up new action forms and sending emails is easy, especially with a template from the Go! Program. Blackbaud has been responsive to any issues arising from the integration with Raisers Edge. However, navigating to some reports is less intuitive than I'd like, but it's manageable once I understood the structure.
August 12, 2024
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Debra M
Efficient Donor and Volunteer Management Software
it allows us to track and manage all interactions with our donors, volunteers, and supporters. The software's ability to automate routine tasks has freed up valuable time for our team
August 4, 2024
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Karen
Simplified Donation Process and Robust Constituent Relationship Management
they have greatly simplified the donation process for our supporters. The constituent relationship management feature is incredibly robust
July 29, 2024
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Ashley
Streamlining Operations and Exceptional Customer Support at Blackbaud
we can now focus more on strategic planning and less on administrative work. Lastly, the customer support team at Blackbaud is excellent
July 23, 2024
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Patrick S
Lacks User-Friendly Interface
I've used the TeamRaiser feature in Luminate to create fundraising pages for children in need and shared donation links through our website and social media. However, our campaign wasn't as successful as I hoped, and I believe the platform could benefit from some design and template updates. Despite this, I find it to be a great tool for managing events, volunteers, and crowdfunding. The TeamRaiser feature allows me to create various fundraisers and share links through our website to encourage donations. However, I found it to be not very user-friendly and quite tedious. Creating crowdfunding pages is time-consuming and requires multiple steps to create a profile for another donor. I once spent an hour trying to create one before I gave up. It's easy to create fundraising pages and share them through our website, but it gets complicated if you want your donors to create their own pages and share them. This is because it requires one person to manage all accounts, meaning I have to create their profiles for them.
July 14, 2024
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Sean J
Empowering Data-Driven Decisions: Streamlined Online Donation Forms
they provide valuable insights that help us make data-driven decisions. The online donation forms are easy to set up and customize
July 7, 2024
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Stephen Davis
Empowering Supporters: Top-Notch Reporting and Analytics Tools
it has empowered our supporters to become active participants in our fundraising efforts. The reporting and analytics tools are top-notch
June 29, 2024
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Andrea A
Effortless Fundraising with Peer-to-Peer Feature
it has made planning and executing fundraising events a breeze. The peer-to-peer fundraising feature has been instrumental in expanding our donor base
June 22, 2024
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Gary Garcia
Outdated Walled Garden Struggling to Adapt to Modern Changes
As a small nonprofit, I appreciate Luminate's all-in-one functionality for simple tasks, but I question its affordability for similar organizations. Any nonprofit that can afford it may find it too basic without resorting to makeshift solutions. I've noticed that Blackbaud, Luminate's parent company, seems to grow by buying out competitors and allowing the product to deteriorate. I remember Luminate's predecessor, Convio, being a decent early online nonprofit platform, but it lost its innovative edge and most of its original staff after Blackbaud's acquisition. Luminate does provide some easy personalizations and a universal login as an all-in-one tool. However, I find it challenging to transfer information to and from other tools. The query tool is limited - it doesn't support nested parentheticals and is slow. The reports are also limited and slow, sometimes freezing and never completing. I often find myself exporting reports, manually adjusting them in Excel, and re-uploading them.
June 17, 2024
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Beverly D
High-Potential, Flexible Software with Seamless Integration
I appreciate the flexibility and integration of Blackbaud Luminate Online. However, because of Blackbaud's acquisition of many products over the years, the integration process can be slow depending on my specific needs.
June 8, 2024
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David W
Lacks Intuitiveness
I use Blackbaud Luminate Online for transactional and reminder emails for our registered programs, and for marketing emails. Currently, I can't find any positives. The software is not user-friendly and doesn't integrate well with other Blackbaud products. We've even had to purchase additional third-party software to facilitate information transfer between Altru and Luminate.
June 2, 2024
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Jonathan Miller
Exploring Luminate Online: A Powerful, Yet Complex, Donor Management Tool
I value the robustness of Blackbaud Luminate Online software, especially its capability to manage donations and emails together, and its ability to create donor-focused web spaces. However, I find it challenging to use because of its steep learning curve. It appears that implementation necessitates either an external consultant or additional services from Blackbaud.
May 25, 2024
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Isabella
Luminate Online: Improving Donor Communication and Event Management
it offers a range of customizable templates that have significantly improved our communication with donors. I have also been impressed by the event management capabilities of Luminate Online
May 18, 2024
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Teresa N
Decade-Long Experience with Blackbaud Luminate Online
I value Luminate for its power and versatility, as it manages a broad spectrum of tasks such as emails, newsletters, donation forms, and donation management. I can access it from anywhere and it's highly customizable if you have the right skills. However, it has a steep learning curve and even after 14 years of use, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. It seems a bit outdated and although it recently began accepting organization gifts, this feature is not fully developed and feels clunky. The integration with RE is not great and I wish it were more seamless. It doesn't feel particularly current, with no major updates or changes in years.
May 11, 2024
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James Williams
Efficient Donor Management with Impressive Email Marketing
it has allowed us to consolidate our donor information and manage our campaigns more effectively. The email marketing feature is particularly impressive
May 5, 2024
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Steven Davis
Luminate Online: Powerful Yet Flawed
Overall, I have a high regard for Blackbaud and consider myself an expert user/administrator of several of their products, including Luminate Online. In my view, Blackbaud sets the industry standard. I use Luminate in conjunction with Raiser's Edge through a Blackbaud-provided integration plugin, and I appreciate the communication between my two database software components and the ability to use formulas to generate targeted ask strings for constituents in emails and donation forms. What I particularly love about Luminate Online is its power and customizability. It's capable of nuance and automation, and provides API access for developers. These features are crucial in the world of internet marketing, communications, and donation processing. I'm also thrilled with its ability to automate recurring giving, allowing recurring donors to self-manage some of their giving information.
April 28, 2024
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Jeffrey E
Exceptional Fundraising Management with Blackbaud Luminate Online
I have found Blackbaud Luminate Online to be an exceptional tool for managing our non-profit's fundraising efforts
April 22, 2024
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Amabel G
Streamlined Processes and Increased Efficiency with Integrated Software
its comprehensive suite of tools has streamlined our processes and increased our efficiency. The software's ability to integrate with our existing CRM has been a game-changer
April 15, 2024
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Zoe R
Decent Features, Tough Learning Curve
Luminate Online offers a variety of excellent features and tools, but I found the initial setup and adoption phase quite challenging. I appreciate the automatically-generated groups and the reporting is decent. My favorite feature is the E-commerce tool, which is also the easiest to handle. However, I'm disappointed that a lot of customization requires a developer. Record management is particularly difficult in Luminate. I'm also frustrated that organization gifts don't flow through the RELO plugin, forcing us to find workarounds. Overall, it's not an easy platform to use. We switched to Blackbaud Luminate Online because we needed mobile-friendly donation forms and a new peer-to-peer product after Sphere was discontinued.
April 13, 2024
