What is Luminate CRM?

Robin Evans 3

My new boss just forwarded to me an email he received from Blackbaud about Luminate CRM certification. The hitch is we don’t use Luminate CRM. However, the email did make me ask “What is Luminate CRM and how is different from Raiser’s Edge”

A quick google search told me that “Luminate CRM is the complete, multi-channel, Salesforce-based, nonprofit CRM build by the experts in nonprofit technology, Blackbaud”. Sounds great, but didn’t really answer my questions, neither did the demo video on webpage. So my questions to anyone using Luminate CRM are:

1. What is it?
2. Do you use it the Raiser’s Edge or along with Raiser’s Edge?
3. If someone is considering upgrading to Raiser’s Edge NXT should they consider Luminate CRM instead?

Robin Evans

Annual Catholic Appeal Operations Manager

​Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson

Anju Willard

Robin Evans:

My new boss just forwarded to me an email he received from Blackbaud about Luminate CRM certification. The hitch is we don’t use Luminate CRM. However, the email did make me ask “What is Luminate CRM and how is different from Raiser’s Edge”

A quick google search told me that “Luminate CRM is the complete, multi-channel, Salesforce-based, nonprofit CRM build by the experts in nonprofit technology, Blackbaud”. Sounds great, but didn’t really answer my questions, neither did the demo video on webpage. So my questions to anyone using Luminate CRM are:

1. What is it?
2. Do you use it the Raiser’s Edge or along with Raiser’s Edge?
3. If someone is considering upgrading to Raiser’s Edge NXT should they consider Luminate CRM instead?

Robin Evans

Annual Catholic Appeal Operations Manager

​Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson

Hi Robin, Thanks for posting this. I'm happy to provide clarification. I'm the Product Marketing Manager supporting Luminate CRM.


Luminate CRM is an alternate solution to Raiser's Edge, and Blackbaud CRM (aka Enterprise CRM). Like Raiser's Edge NXT, Luminate CRM (LCRM) is a cloud-based non-profit fundraising solution. One large distinction is that LCRM is built on the Salesforce platform. It brings together the strength of the Salesforce platform and Blackbaud's non-profit expertise. As part of the Luminate portfolio, it also has strong integration with Luminate Online Marketing, TeamRaiser, & Advocacy. We've been serving non-profits for over 8 years.


Here are 2 sites to learn more about the product:

1. http://www.blackbaud.com/luminatecrm
2. Why Luminate CRM? (https://community.blackbaud.com/blogs/4/181)

Happy to answer your questions and get your feedback on whether this information is helpful. It's a topic I love talking about!


Warm Regards ​

Anju.Willard@blackbaud.com