Dynamics 365 and Salesforce are two of the most commonly shortlisted CRM platforms for charities. Explore how they compare in key areas including fundraising, Gift Aid, reporting, finance integration, implementation and long-term costs.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a suite of connected business applications that helps charities manage fundraising, supporter relationships, finance, marketing, service delivery and reporting from a single platform.
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is Salesforce’s dedicated solution for charities and non-profits, designed to help organisations manage donors, programmes, volunteers, fundraising activities and constituent relationships within the Salesforce ecosystem.
For most UK charities, the choice comes down to the systems you already use. Dynamics 365 suits charities already on Microsoft 365 or Business Central, especially where finance integration and Gift Aid matter. Salesforce suits charities that want a large app marketplace and partner network. Both handle fundraising and donor management well.
These are two of the most common CRM platforms considered by UK charities looking to replace legacy systems, reduce manual processes, or improve supporter engagement.
Both platforms offer fundraising, donor management, reporting, marketing, volunteer management, and engagement tools. However, they take different approaches. Salesforce is a CRM platform with a large ecosystem of applications, partners, and solutions available to charities and non-profit organisations, while Dynamics 365 is typically positioned as part of a wider Microsoft platform that can connect CRM, finance, reporting, automation, and collaboration tools.
We compare both platforms from a UK charity perspective, focusing on the areas that matter most during a CRM evaluation.
Many charities reach a point where disconnected systems, spreadsheets, and manual processes begin holding them back.
At that stage, the conversation often comes down to Dynamics 365 or Salesforce.
For many UK charities, the decision is less about choosing the “best” CRM and more about choosing the platform that best fits their existing technology landscape. Organisations already using Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, Power BI, or Business Central often find Dynamics 365 CRM aligns naturally with the systems and processes they already have in place.
| Area | Dynamics 365 | Salesforce |
| Fundraising & Donor Management | Flexible and highly configurable | Strong fundraising and donor management capabilities |
| Gift Aid & HMRC Handling | Strong support through charity-focused solutions | Often supported through partner solutions or additional configuration |
| Finance Integration | Strong integration with Business Central and Microsoft tools | Often requires additional integrations |
| Reporting & Data | Strong alignment with Microsoft reporting tools | Strong reporting and analytics capabilities |
| UK Support | Specialist Microsoft and charity-focused partners | Large charity-focused ecosystem and partner network |
| Implementation | Often favoured by charities seeking closer alignment between CRM, finance and Microsoft 365 tools | Often favoured by charities prioritising fundraising and donor management within the Salesforce ecosystem |
Fundraising is usually the first area charities evaluate when comparing CRM platforms.
Dynamics 365 can support fundraising, donor management, volunteering, memberships, grants, events, and marketing within a flexible CRM environment. It can also be configured around an organisation’s existing processes rather than forcing teams into a predefined model.
Salesforce offers a range of CRM capabilities that can support donor management, fundraising, volunteer management, programme delivery, outcomes tracking, and stakeholder engagement. The exact functionality available will depend on the Salesforce products and applications selected.
Both platforms offer strong fundraising and donor management capabilities. The better fit often comes down to an organisation’s wider technology strategy rather than fundraising functionality alone.
For UK charities, Gift Aid administration can be an important part of the CRM decision.
Many charity-focused Dynamics solutions include support for Gift Aid declarations, donation management, Gift Aid processing, HMRC submission workflows, and finance integration. This can help keep fundraising, finance, and Gift Aid processes connected.
Salesforce can also support Gift Aid processes, although organisations may choose to use partner solutions, additional applications, or custom configuration depending on their requirements.
When comparing platforms, it is worth looking beyond whether Gift Aid is supported and understanding how declarations, claims, finance processes, and reporting will work in practice.
A CRM project can succeed or fail based on how well it connects with finance systems.
For organisations already using Microsoft technologies, Dynamics provides strong integration opportunities with Business Central, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Power BI. The ability to connect fundraising, finance, reporting, and operational data is one of the reasons it is regularly shortlisted by Microsoft-focused organisations.
If you’re evaluating the platform in more detail, take a look at our Charity CRM page page to understand how charities are using it to connect fundraising, finance, reporting, and supporter engagement.
Salesforce can also integrate with finance systems, although the approach varies depending on the finance software being used and the integrations required. Organisations should understand what additional configuration, connectors, or third-party applications may be needed as part of implementation.
Many charities struggle with information spread across fundraising systems, finance software, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
Both platforms provide strong reporting capabilities. Dynamics 365 is often attractive to organisations already using Power BI and other Microsoft reporting tools, while Salesforce offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities within its own ecosystem.
The right choice will often depend on the reporting tools, internal skills, and data strategy already in place across the organisation.
Support and sector expertise matter just as much as functionality.
Microsoft has a strong UK presence supported by specialist charity partners who understand fundraising, finance, service delivery, impact reporting, and digital transformation.
Salesforce benefits from one of the largest charity technology ecosystems, with a substantial network of UK consultants, implementation partners, and specialist applications available.
Both platforms have established support networks. The right option will often depend on whether your organisation is looking primarily for platform expertise, sector expertise, or a combination of both.
Implementation effort has a major impact on cost, timescales, user adoption, and long-term success.
Organisations already using Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, Power Platform, or Business Central often find Dynamics fits naturally within their existing technology landscape. This can reduce the number of systems that need integrating and managing.
Salesforce provides significant flexibility, but implementation effort can increase as organisations add specialist applications, integrations, and customisations. The broader ecosystem provides plenty of choice, but it can also mean managing additional suppliers, applications, and ongoing integration requirements.
Implementation complexity will depend heavily on your existing technology estate, business processes, and long-term requirements rather than the CRM platform alone.
Licence costs are only one part of the picture.
When comparing platforms, charities should also consider:
Many organisations discover that the cheapest licence is not necessarily the cheapest long-term solution. To learn more about the costs involved in a charity CRM project, read our guide on charity CRM costs.
Understanding the full cost of ownership over several years will usually provide a more accurate comparison than looking at licensing costs alone.
There is no universal winner in the Dynamics 365 vs Salesforce debate.
Ultimately, the best CRM is the one that supports your mission, integrates with your wider technology landscape, and gives your team the tools they need to work more effectively.
Dynamics 365 is often shortlisted by charities looking to bring fundraising, finance, reporting, automation, and collaboration together within a single Microsoft ecosystem. For organisations already invested in Microsoft technologies, this can simplify integration and reduce reliance on multiple disconnected systems.
If you’re already using Dynamics 365 and considering a change of Microsoft partner, you may also find our guide to changing CRM partners useful as you plan your next steps.
There is no single answer for every charity. Both Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud are highly capable platforms used by organisations across the sector. The better choice depends on your charity’s requirements, existing technology stack, budget and long-term goals.
For charities already invested in Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, Power BI and Azure, Dynamics 365 can offer a more integrated experience. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud may be a strong fit for organisations that are already familiar with the Salesforce ecosystem or have specific Salesforce-based processes in place.
Ultimately, the best platform is the one that aligns most closely with your charity’s needs, resources and digital transformation strategy.
For charities that rely heavily on Microsoft tools such as Outlook, Teams, Excel and Power BI, Dynamics 365 can provide a more seamless experience through native integrations and a familiar user environment. However, the right choice will still depend on the charity’s specific requirements and long-term goals.
Implementation costs vary depending on the size of the charity, the complexity of requirements, data migration needs, integrations and user numbers. While software licensing is an important factor, charities should also consider costs such as configuration, training, data cleansing and ongoing support.
If you’re planning a CRM project and want to understand the costs involved in more detail, including the factors that affect implementation budgets, read our guide: How Much Could a Charity CRM Cost Your Organisation?
The timeline for a CRM implementation depends on the size of the charity, the complexity of requirements, the quality of existing data and the number of integrations involved. Simpler projects can often be delivered within a few months, while larger digital transformation programmes may take considerably longer. Careful planning, data preparation and user training can all have a significant impact on the overall timeline.
If you’re considering Dynamics 365 as part of your CRM evaluation, we can help you understand how it can support fundraising, donor management, reporting, automation, and integration with the wider Microsoft ecosystem.
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