Mobilize vs Trail Blazer

Mobilize is a web and API platform for mission-driven organizations that organize events and recruit volunteers. Organizations can create single-shift, recurring, and multiple-shift events, as well as virtual and in-person events and actions asking people to call legislators’ offices. Volunteer engagement tools include automated email and text messages, post-event surveys, personalized experiences, and event search and discovery. Organizations can recruit volunteers to host events, create customizable campaigns, reach potential hosts across channels, and set approval processes and permission levels. The platform includes shift scheduling, hours tracking, custom forms, and volunteer self-signup. It provides real-time event data, CSV export, read and write APIs, and SQL mirrors or database replicas. Listed integrations include Salesforce, NGP VAN, EveryAction, PDI, ActionKit, and others. Mobilize says its network includes more than 3,000 mission-driven organizations and over 11 million supporters. Its limited starter account costs nothing and covers 5 team members, the next 5 events or online actions, and up to 50 signups or 500 petition signatures. The service provider is EveryAction, Inc., doing business as NGP VAN.

Trail Blazer offers software for political campaigns, nonprofit donor management, and PACs. Non-Profit Manager tracks donors, members, volunteers, relationships, events, grants, and memberships, and includes donor searches, online donation and event forms, thank-you letters, and document storage. Campaign features include voter segmentation, state voter records, mapping and turf cutting, canvassing, polling, and FEC reporting. Mobile Base Camp apps provide access to donor and voter records through Google Play and the Apple Store. Vanco Payment Solutions is listed for mobile giving and optional text-to-give. Nonprofit users can send unlimited mass emails to opted-in lists without separate email software. The company says customer data resides on its servers and is backed up by Trail Blazer. Pricing for the small-database Non-Profit Manager plan is $50 a month for fewer than 500 contacts, with a one-time setup fee of $295 to $495 based on record count. Another Non-Profit Manager plan starts at $100 a month for fewer than 2,500 contact records. A trial is available, but there is no free plan. Windows installation is offered; Mac or other mobile access can be arranged through support.