Stop trusting sales decks. Start auditing evidence.

For NGO buying committees
Selecting a donation platform is high-stakes. The wrong choice creates years of technical debt. Download the Vendor Evaluation Framework to standardize your RFP process and spot red flags before you sign.
  • The "Kill Switch" Gates: 5 non-negotiable pass/fail criteria to filter bad vendors instantly.
  • Weighted Scorecards: Auto-calculating sheets that balance IT security vs. Fundraising growth.
  • The Evidence Log: A checklist to ensure vendors prove their claims (SOC2, PCI, Uptime).

Why most vendor evaluations miss what matters

Most platforms look great in a demo. But the risks that kill projects are buried in the fine print.

The "Hidden Fee" Trap

The platform fee looks clean. Then you find the gateway markup. Then the overage clause. Then the add-on you can't opt out of.
The kit forces a 5-year total cost check.

The Security Black Box

“We are secure” shows up in every proposal. Proof rarely does.
The kit demands evidence before scoring.

Internal Deadlock

Fundraising pushes for speed. IT pushes for control. Meetings stall the decision.
The kit aligns teams with weighting.

Step 1: Kill Switch gates

Disqualify high-risk vendors before the first scoring meeting.

Stop scoring vendors who cannot meet your minimums. Run the gates first. Disqualify early.

  • Data ownership and export
  • Reliability and support minimums
  • Nonprofit track record requirements
  • Pricing model dealbreakers
A spreadsheet showing pass/fail results for vendors. Vendor A passes with "PROCEED" highlighted in green; Vendor B fails with "DISQUALIFY" in red.

Step 2: The Evidence Locker

Don’t score claims. Score proof.

Stop scoring vendors who cannot meet your minimums. Run the gates first. Disqualify early.

  • Security baseline evidence
  • Data ownership and export
  • Reliability and support minimums
  • Nonprofit track record requirements
  • Pricing model dealbreakers
Spreadsheet screenshot titled "Evidence_Pack.xlsx" showing a table with columns: Category, Evidence Item, and Status. Security item validated in green, Privacy requested in orange, Reliability not provided in red.

Step 3: The Decision Matrix

Every trade-off on one screen.

core vendors across the same criteria, with weights your committee agrees on. The kit flags red risks that should trigger escalation.

  • Percentage-based fees with no cap
  • Weak SLA language
Spreadsheet showing a decision summary with Red Flags Check, indicating no relevant nonprofit case studies as OK, and percentage-based fees as Flagged.

“This framework saved us months of debate. Our CTO and Fundraising Director finally used the same decision logic.”

UNHCR

Who this is for

IT / Security

Checks evidence, risk, reliability, ownership.

Finance / Procurement

Checks pricing structure, contract terms, 5-year cost.

Fundraising / Growth

Checks donor experience, CRM fit, workflows, reporting.

Common Questions

No. Use it to evaluate any donation platform or custom build. Same gates, same scorecard.

Any team buying a donation platform with shared ownership across IT, fundraising, and finance.

Shortlist vendors with evidence

One scorecard. Every vendor. Download the kit.

Download the Kit