Time7-minute read
DifficultyFor nonprofit leaders
EditionsNPSP and Nonprofit Cloud
You needA list of key processes
What each option is
- NPSP (Nonprofit Success Pack) is a long-standing managed package installed on top of Sales Cloud. It adds households, donations, recurring donations and related features, and many nonprofits still run on it.
- Nonprofit Cloud is Salesforce’s newer, purpose-built nonprofit product. It is built natively on the Salesforce platform, with a data model designed for fundraising, programs and outcomes, and it is where Salesforce is investing in new nonprofit features.
Tip: Product availability and licensing can change. Confirm the current options and the Power of Us program (Salesforce’s donated licences for eligible nonprofits) directly with Salesforce.
Side-by-side comparison
| NPSP | Nonprofit Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Managed package on Sales Cloud | Native, purpose-built nonprofit platform |
| Constituents | Household account model | Person accounts and relationship model |
| Fundraising | Donations as opportunities, recurring donations | Dedicated gift and commitment objects |
| Programs | Program Management Module add-on | Program and outcome management built in |
| New features | Maintained | Where new innovation lands |
| Effort to adopt | Low if you already use it | New setup or a planned migration |
When staying on NPSP makes sense
- Your current setup works well and your team is productive.
- You have heavy customization that would be costly to rebuild right now.
- You have no pressing need for the newer fundraising and program features.
When Nonprofit Cloud makes sense
- You are new to Salesforce and starting fresh.
- Your NPSP org has become hard to maintain or report on.
- You want stronger program, outcome and fundraising capabilities without many add-ons.
- You are planning a broader CRM refresh anyway.
Planning a migration
Moving from NPSP to Nonprofit Cloud is a re-implementation, not an upgrade button. Plan for:
- Mapping households, donations and recurring donations to the new data model.
- Rebuilding automation, reports and integrations (payments, email, events).
- A test migration in a sandbox and careful validation of gift history totals.
- Training staff and volunteers on the new screens.
How to decide
- List the processes that matter most: donor management, grants, programs, events.
- Score how well your current setup handles each one.
- Prototype your weakest process in Nonprofit Cloud before committing.
We help nonprofits with both options. See Salesforce consulting for nonprofits.
Free template
Nonprofit decision checklist
Score each process to see whether NPSP or Nonprofit Cloud fits your organization better.
FAQ
Is NPSP being discontinued?
Check Salesforce’s latest announcements. New nonprofit innovation is focused on Nonprofit Cloud, while existing NPSP customers continue to be supported.
Do nonprofits get free Salesforce licences?
Eligible nonprofits can apply for Salesforce’s Power of Us program, which offers donated licences. Confirm current terms with Salesforce.
Can we migrate donation history?
Yes. Gifts, recurring donations and households can be mapped to Nonprofit Cloud and validated against your totals.
Which is easier for volunteers and staff?
Both can be simplified with good page layouts. Training and simple screens matter more than the product choice.
Not sure which fits? Let’s prototype it
Start with a free proof of concept. Daily stand-ups, and you pay only after delivery.