Coming out of this year’s conference season, one thing kept coming up with foundation leaders: software pricing. We heard from foundations that are content with the products they use but are facing significant price increases that have been “startling.”
One conversation stuck with our team. A foundation leader told us her organization is now limiting the number of scholarships it awards, because crossing a certain threshold would move them into the next pricing bracket. A pricing model was shaping how much support reached students in her community.
We’re sharing what we heard because it reflects a real pain point in our industry, and because foundations deserve a clear picture of how a pricing model works before they sign.
What we’re hearing in the industry
Not every foundation’s experience is the same, and many have seen stable pricing. But in our conversations this year, a consistent theme was significant increases tied to a foundation’s growth, such as the volume of grantmaking or assets under management. When pricing rises as your impact grows, every new program or additional award has to be weighed against next year’s software invoice.
Foundations told us this has led to difficult trade-offs:
- →Capping scholarship or grant programs to stay below a pricing threshold
- →Budgeting around renewal increases that are hard to predict
- →Considering a move away from a product they like, purely because of cost
An all-inclusive solution, priced like one
akoyaGO is an all-inclusive solution built for foundations. CRM, grant, scholarship, donor, fund and financial management live in one platform, rather than in separate point solutions with separate price tags. Here is how our pricing model works today.
Pricing that isn’t tied to your growth
akoyaGO’s pricing model is not based on your assets under management or the volume of your grantmaking. Making a stronger impact in your community should not equate to a higher technology price tag. We want to grow alongside the foundations we serve, not punish growth with a new fee structure.
Annual increases capped at 5%
Annual increases under our pricing model are capped at 5%, so foundations can plan their technology budget from one year to the next. Our Terms of Service also provide 90 days’ notice before any fee increase.
Product improvements included in your subscription
To date, as akoyaGO has evolved, new features and improvements to the standard product have been included in clients’ existing pricing. Technology keeps evolving and we believe your platform should keep improving with it.
Flexibility in the agreement
akoyaGO’s approach to client retention centers on partnership, useful foundation software, and excellent service, not restrictive contract terms. akoyaGO has maintained a 97% client retention rate over the last three years, with a focus on listening to foundations, adapting to their needs, and supporting their growth.
- →Clients may end their agreement at will — no contract dates locking you in
- →Your data is housed in your own Microsoft Azure tenant, and you are its sole owner
Value and partnership, not just a reasonable price
akoyaGO isn’t necessarily the lower cost option. The right question isn’t only what software costs this year, but what it will cost as your foundation grows and what you get for that investment. For some foundations, especially those replacing more than one system, akoyaGO may lower overall costs. For others, the value shows up over time through functionality, process improvement, predictable pricing and one centralized platform for all aspects of your foundation operations.
Client retention rate over the last three years
Maximum annual price increase cap
Notice required before any fee increase
Questions to ask any provider about pricing
Whether you are evaluating akoyaGO or reviewing your current system at renewal, these questions show how a pricing model will behave as your foundation grows.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | How akoyaGO answers |
|---|---|---|
| Is my annual price tied to assets under management or grant volume? | Growth-based pricing can make expanding programs expensive. | No. Our pricing model is not based on either. |
| How much can my price increase each year? | A cap makes multi-year budgeting possible. | Annual increases are capped at 5%. |
| Which modules are included, and which cost extra? | Add-ons can make the real cost differ from the quote. | akoyaGO is all-inclusive: CRM, grants, scholarships, donor, fund, and financial management all in one database. |
| Are new features included in my subscription? | Some platforms charge for upgrades over time. | To date, enhancements to the standard product have been included in existing pricing. |
| Who owns my data, where does it live, and is there a cost to retrieve it? | Ownership shapes your options at renewal. | Your data lives in your own Microsoft Azure tenant, and you own it. |
Curious about learning more?
Wherever you’re coming from — if your current pricing model is shaping decisions, it shouldn’t be. We’d welcome a conversation about how akoyaGO’s pricing works for a foundation like yours.
Ameliea Dulaney brings more than seven years of marketing experience rooted entirely in the philanthropic sector. Her career began at a small nonprofit in her hometown, where a lifelong passion for mission-driven work and a natural gift for storytelling found their professional home. Over the years she built her expertise across multiple nonprofit organizations before transitioning into the foundation world, where she led marketing for a community foundation. That experience gave her a deep, firsthand understanding of how foundations operate, what they need, and how to communicate their impact. She joined akoyaGO to bring that perspective to the technology side of philanthropy, helping foundations do good better.
