CiviCRM is free, but so what?

Hopefully you didn't choose CiviCRM just because of its zero-dollar license fees.

I'll admit that's a vote in its favor, but by itself it's almost certainly not enough to make it the right choice.

Where CiviCRM really shines is in two aspects:

First, it's designed from the ground up for associations and community-driven organizations. The more well-known business CRMs, designed as they are for sales pipelining, do not really fit the business needs associated with memberships, contributions, events, and advocacy.

Second, as an open source project it is infinitely customizable. With skillful configuration and the addition of any of a vast number of community-provided extensions — which also usually come with no license fees — you can make it do what you really need it to do. Assuming you make a practice of goal-driven and value-based planning, this customization can be a huge win for your organization.

But the fact that it's “free software” can be a bit of a distraction.

Here’s the thing:

Yes, resources are always limited, and what you get out of the box with CiviCRM, for free, is a huge leg up. But as an organization, you're not in business to save money. You have a mission in the world, and your business is to further that mission.

If you just need something free, or cheap, there are plenty of other options out there that are easier, quicker to spin up, and cheaper to own.

If, on the other hand, you're interested in choosing the CRM that works best for you, and you’re ready to budget appropriately to achieve specific business goals, this open-source solution can be a real winning long-term play.

Don't get caught up on the free price. Instead, ask yourself how you're going to use this to win in your mission.

All the best,
A.