VolunteerMatters vs. Bloomerang

VolunteerMatters vs. Bloomerang:
Feature Comparison

The table highlights VolunteerMatters’ clear advantage in configurability, compliance, scalability, and engagement tools.

Feature

Volunteer Project Catalog

Customizable Project Pages

Group and Parent Sign-Up

Text & Email Communication Tools

Automated Communications

Volunteer Application Form

Electronic Agreements

Credentialing System

Policy Automation

Onboarding Paths

Volunteer Database

Advanced Search & Saved Filters

Reports & Dashboards

Unlimited Projects

Project Templates

Shift, Task, and Role Management

Recurring Assignments

Scoped Admin Permissions

Real-Time Admin Alerts

Volunteer Portal (Web + App)

Flexible Time Tracking

Volunteer Feedback Polls

SSO & Access Control

Integrations

Security & Compliance

VolunteerMatters

Bloomerang

Customizable, searchable project catalog with map, list, and calendar views, plus public/private visibility settings.

Basic list view; lacks map and calendar display or visibility segmentation.

Fully branded, dynamic pages with social sharing and automatic updates.

Functional but lacks branding flexibility and dynamic updates.

Register families or teams with leader/member tracking and minor consent.

No group or parent sign-up functionality.

Built-in SMS and advanced email tools with contact filters and templates.

Email only; lacks native SMS or filtering capabilities.

Alerts for assignments, onboarding steps, credentials, and birthdays.

Limited to basic reminders; lacks full automation.

Unlimited custom fields, conditional logic, approval paths.

Basic form capabilities with little configurability.

Custom signature methods (checkbox, initials, full), renewal settings, and guardian logic.

Lacks signature types and legal rule settings.

Track certifications, background checks, and training with expiration dates, uploads, and alerts.

No lifecycle credential management or automated reminders.

Automatically enforce age, expiration, credential, or approval requirements.

No automation or rule enforcement based on credentials.

Role- or project-specific onboarding paths with credential triggers.

Linear onboarding only.

Deeply customizable volunteer profiles with segmentation and filtering.

Flat profile structure with basic data storage.

Save and reuse complex, multi-criteria searches.

Basic search without filter saving.

Visual dashboards for hours, shifts, credentials, and onboarding; schedule exports.

Light reporting with few visualization or export features.

No project limits across departments, locations, or programs.

Supports multiple events but less flexible for ongoing programs.

Copy and customize project templates to save time.

Must rebuild from scratch for each event.

Assign shifts, positions, tasks and items within a single project dashboard.

Basic shift support; lacks task or role depth.

Auto-repeat shifts for ongoing roles.

Requires manual entry.

Restrict admin access by branch, project, or segment.

Basic permissions without granular access control.

Auto-alerts for expiring credentials, no-shows, and gaps.

No proactive compliance alerting.

Responsive web portal and mobile app

Mobile app available but limited branding control.

Kiosk, mobile, QR-code, admin, or timesheet entry; includes geolocation check-in.

App check-in only.

Collect post-event feedback automatically.

No survey or feedback functionality.

SAML SSO and role-based permission tiers for security and governance.

Basic login with no SSO support.

Supports Salesforce, Zapier, and custom platforms via Open APIs.

Limited to Bloomerang CRM; no public APIs.

VolunteerMatters is committed to data security and privacy through its hosted environment in the AWS cloud, along with SOC2 Type I and II certifications.

Bloomerang does not have published security or compliance standards.

The feature comparisons presented above are based on VolunteerMatters’ independent research and interpretation of publicly available information as of the date of publication.
We strive to ensure accuracy and fairness, but we do not claim to be the definitive authority on our competitors’ platforms, which may change or be updated over time. If you believe any of the information presented is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us at info@volunteermatters.com so we can review and make corrections where appropriate.

What's the Difference Between VolunteerMatters and Bloomerang (InitLive)

While Bloomerang offers event-based volunteer management integrated with its CRM system, VolunteerMatters delivers a comprehensive, standalone volunteer lifecycle management platform designed for sophisticated volunteer programs.

Comprehensive Volunteer Management vs Event-Centric Approach

VolunteerMatters provides a full-featured solution covering the entire volunteer lifecycle, from recruitment and vetting to scheduling, time tracking, and reporting. The platform is built specifically for complex volunteer management needs.Bloomerang (InitLive) focuses primarily on event-based volunteer management as an extension of its donor management system. While effective for organizations already using Bloomerang's CRM, it lacks the depth and breadth of dedicated volunteer management features offered by VolunteerMatters.

This makes VolunteerMatters the ideal choice for organizations that:

Advanced Onboarding & Compliance vs Basic Registration

VolunteerMatters excels in sophisticated volunteer onboarding with custom applications, credential tracking, background check integrations, and electronic agreements. This comprehensive system increases policy compliance by 300%, ensuring volunteers are properly vetted.

Bloomerang (InitLive) provides standard forms and basic agreement storage but lacks advanced credential management and automated workflows. Organizations needing strong policy enforcement will find Bloomerang's tools limited compared to VolunteerMatters.

Policy Automation vs Manual Management

VolunteerMatters automates policy enforcement with age restrictions, credential expirations, and approval workflows. The platform includes compliance dashboards for real-time monitoring of volunteer status.In contrast, Bloomerang requires manual enforcement of policies with basic reports instead of automated workflows, creating more administrative work and increasing the risk of non-compliance as volunteer programs scale.

Rich Communication Tools vs Basic Notifications

VolunteerMatters offers comprehensive communication capabilities including automated emails, SMS messaging, targeted segment-based outreach, and feedback surveys—all integrated within the platform.

Bloomerang (InitLive) provides email confirmations through its CRM system but lacks SMS capabilities, credential expiry notifications, and integrated feedback tools. Organizations requiring robust volunteer communication will find VolunteerMatters' tools more comprehensive.

Enterprise-Ready Architecture vs CRM Extension

VolunteerMatters is designed for enterprise-scale volunteer programs with features like branch-restricted administration, role-based permissions, contact segment restrictions, and SOC-2 compliance—critical for organizations managing volunteers across multiple locations.

Bloomerang's volunteer management functionality exists primarily as an extension of its CRM, which may create dependency on their ecosystem and lacks the specialized, scalable architecture needed for complex volunteer programs.