Websites using ActBlue

Okay, let s break down ActBlue, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

ActBlue Overview

ActBlue is a non-profit technology organization that provides a fundraising platform for Democratic candidates, progressive organizations, and other non-profits. It s a powerful tool that facilitates online donations and campaign management.

Key Features:

• Online Donation Processing: ActBlue is primarily known for its secure and easy-to-use online donation forms.
• Recurring Donations: Enables campaigns to set up recurring donation options, fostering sustainable fundraising.
• Data Management: Provides tools for managing donor data, tracking donations, and reporting.
• Integration: Integrates with other campaign tools and platforms.
• Compliance: Ensures compliance with federal and state campaign finance laws.
• Fundraising Pages: Allows the creation of customizable fundraising pages for specific campaigns or events.
• Mobile-Friendly: Optimized for mobile donations, crucial for modern fundraising.

Target Audience:

• Democratic candidates at all levels (federal, state, and local)
• Progressive non-profit organizations
• Political action committees (PACs)
• Issue-based advocacy groups

Revenue

ActBlue operates on a different model than for-profit companies. Instead of seeking to maximize profit, ActBlue s goal is to support progressive causes by facilitating fundraising.

• ActBlue is a non-profit organization (501(c)(4)). This means it doesn t operate to make a profit for shareholders.
• Small Processing Fees: They collect a small processing fee on each donation to cover their operational costs. This fee is typically 3.95% for credit card donations.
• Revenue is reinvested: Any excess revenue is reinvested back into the organization to improve its technology and services.
• No Shareholder Profits: No private individuals or entities are profiting directly from ActBlue s revenue.
• Transparency: As a non-profit, they are transparent about their financial activities, often reporting on how they use the funds to support their mission.
• Donations are not revenue. The funds that move through ActBlue are donations, not revenue for the company.

ActBlue s revenue comes from the small processing fee.

Alternatives

While ActBlue dominates the progressive space, there are alternatives, especially for specific needs or for organizations not aligned with the Democratic party.

• For Republicans and Conservative Causes:
  • WinRed: Specifically designed for Republican candidates and organizations. It mirrors many of ActBlue s features.
  • Anedot: A more general platform used by various political groups.
  • Blackbaud: Primarily for nonprofits but can serve certain political campaigns.
• General Donation Platforms:
  • Classy: Offers a wide range of fundraising tools for nonprofits, and while not political, can be used for advocacy campaigns.
  • Givebutter: A platform popular with nonprofits that can be adapted for political fundraising.
  • Donorbox: Another general-purpose donation platform suitable for various organizations.
• Campaign-Specific Platforms:
  • NGP VAN: Provides a suite of campaign management tools, including fundraising, voter contact, and compliance.
  • NationBuilder: Offers an all-in-one platform with website building, CRM, and fundraising capabilities.

Why Choose an Alternative?

• Political Affiliation: If you re not a Democrat or progressive, ActBlue is not suitable.
• Advanced Features: Some alternatives offer more features like advanced CRM, event management, or peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Pricing: Some might offer slightly different fee structures, though most platforms operate on transaction-based fees.
• Specific Needs: Certain organizations have unique needs that may be better served by specialized platforms.

Pricing

ActBlue s pricing is primarily based on transaction fees.

• Standard Processing Fee: Typically 3.95% per credit card donation.
• No Setup Fees: Generally, there are no setup or monthly fees for using the platform.
• No Hidden Costs: They are transparent about their fees, and you can usually find them on their website.
• Potential Additional Fees: Occasionally, some third-party integrations might incur additional costs.

Customer Care

ActBlue provides customer support through several channels:

• Online Help Center/Knowledge Base: A comprehensive resource with articles, tutorials, and FAQs to help users find answers to their questions.
• Email Support: You can contact their support team via email for assistance with issues or inquiries.
• Limited Phone Support: ActBlue does not offer direct phone support, but they may follow up with phone calls in more complex cases.
• Community Forums/Social Media: They have an online presence where users sometimes share information and tips, although this is not the main channel for support.
• Focus on Self-Service: ActBlue’s design emphasizes self-service through the knowledge base. They invest in making this resource extensive.
• Prompt Responses: They aim to respond to support requests promptly, typically within a day or two, but response times can vary depending on volume.
• Emphasis on Technical Support: ActBlue focuses on addressing technical issues with their platform and ensuring compliance.

Key Considerations Regarding Customer Care:

• Non-profit Model: As a non-profit, ActBlue prioritizes efficient service and uses self-service resources to keep costs down.
• High Volume: During peak political seasons, their support volume may be high, which could slightly increase response times.
• Documentation: ActBlue invests in high-quality documentation to help users self-serve effectively.

In Summary

ActBlue is a powerful and essential tool for Democrats and progressive organizations for raising money online. Its non-profit status and transparency make it a trusted platform within the progressive political sphere. While alternatives exist, ActBlue s streamlined approach to online donations and compliance, coupled with its focus on technology improvement makes it a strong choice for its target users.

Its pricing is straightforward and based on a small percentage per transaction. Customer care is primarily self-service oriented, relying heavily on the online help center, with email support provided for additional assistance.

If you have more specific questions, feel free to ask!