Microsoft rolls out CRM for nonprofits
Microsoft made available on April 7 a new, vertical-specific version of its Dynamics CRM product, known as Microsoft Dynamics CRM for nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Features include customizable donation and pledge management, basic membership management, basic volunteer tracking, campaign management, dashboard reports and online payment support.
The product seems to be available in two flavors: An on-premises and is only available as a cloud-hosted service. The cloud version requires Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, according to the press release. Microsoft is dropping the price of Dynamics CRM Online for nonprofits and NGO's is $9.99 per user, per month, with customizations available for free. The Donations and Membership Management customizations "require Dynamics CRM Online and are installed on top of it," officials said.
Microsoft is offering a free trial of the Dynamics CRM for nonprofits and NGOs via its Web site.
Microsoft and its partners have been building "relationship management" offerings for a variety of vertical markets on top of the company's xRM platform. It's not clear whether The new NGO offering is one of these products, company officials said. (I've asked the company for comment.) Microsoft's description of xRM is "as a business application framework that accelerates the development and delivery of enterprise-class, relational business applications," for what it's worth....
Microsoft CRM rival Salesforce.com has been making a concerted play to attract NGOs and nonprofits with its cloud-based CRM offering.
Microsoft is working on the next version of its CRM product, known by the codename CRM 5, which is due out later this year.