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Picture your synagogue as a garden—a place where every member can take root and flourish. Just as every plant, from the trees to the flowers, needs care and attention to thrive, so do your members. That’s where synagogue management software comes in. Think of it as your gardener’s toolkit, providing everything you need to cultivate a blossoming community full of connection and belonging.
Using modern, state-of-the-art synagogue software is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for synagogues that want to build strong, lasting relationships with their members. In this guide, we’ll help you find the best platform for your synagogue. Here is what we’ll cover:
With the right tools, you’ll be able to embrace key opportunities to engage members in meaningful ways, whether that’s inviting new congregants to a welcome brunch or empowering enthusiastic event attendees to host their own neighborhood Hanukkah celebrations. Start considering how your synagogue can unlock new possibilities with software today.
What Does Synagogue Management Software Do?
A lot goes into running a successful synagogue, from service planning to fundraising to accounting. Synagogue management software simplifies all of these essential processes so your team can focus less on administrative tasks and more on connecting with your community.
An all-in-one synagogue software solution comes with tools for:
- Member management. Store key member details, such as birthdays and family members, in a centralized database. Use this information to understand each member’s needs and personalize their experience with your synagogue.
- Online engagement. Create and manage your synagogue’s website without any coding knowledge required. Engage members with an online member portal, directory, and custom forms.
- Communication. Send email updates, texts, and newsletters to keep members informed and engaged throughout the year. You should be able to tailor each message with the recipient’s name and other engagement details as needed.
- Event planning. Add single and recurring events, from classes to carnivals to shul dinners, to an online event calendar. Each event will have its own landing page where members can register and purchase tickets.
- Financial management. Streamline your synagogue’s financial activities by handling invoicing, billing, payments, and donations directly through the platform.
Ultimately, your synagogue software should provide a complete picture of your members and operations, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and strengthen relationships with congregants over time.
Top Picks for Synagogue Management Software
While there are several high-quality synagogue management solutions available, finding the best fit for your organization depends on your specific needs and budget.
Explore these top picks to jump-start your research and see what’s popular among other synagogues:
1. ShulCloud: The Leading Synagogue Software
Trusted by more than 1,600 synagogues worldwide, ShulCloud is the leading synagogue software solution on the market. The cloud-based platform is easy for both synagogue teams and members to use, providing convenient access from anywhere at any time. What sets ShulCloud apart from the competition is its flexibility—as the go-to choice for most synagogues, the software is built to conform to your exact needs and support your most complex goals.
Unlock everything you need to engage members, raise funds, and run your synagogue with features such as:
- Membership database. Log a member’s name, address, birthday, yahrzeits, and more on a secure server. Create custom fields to track and engage members based on specific characteristics, from a recurring volunteer’s skills to food preferences for kiddush.
- Member portal. Allow members to log into a personal member portal, where they can update their profiles, make payments, and sign up for events. Make it easy for congregants to connect with one another by searching an online member directory.
- Website management. Create a beautiful website for your synagogue in minutes. Start by choosing from a set of professional templates and designs. Then, add unlimited pages, pictures, forms, and content to make it your own.
- Event management. Add an event to your online calendar with a single click. Provide early bird discounts and other special pricing tiers to boost registrations. Streamline High Holiday planning by selling, assigning, and managing seats with an integrated seat management tool.
- Financial management. Simplify your financial processes with batch invoicing based on member segments in your synagogue database. Send mass emails to effortlessly notify members who are late on payments. Automatically generate tax and billing statements you can send to members via email or direct mail.
- Fundraising. Accept secure online donations, track pledges, and send personalized thank-you messages to donors. Facilitate Purim Basket fundraising by making it easy for congregants to select and pay for their gifts to other members.
- School module. Leverage ShulCloud’s synagogue-specific school tools to run Sunday or Hebrew schools with ease. Manage student enrollment and streamline billing for deposits and ongoing tuition. Use the school reporting engine to find student and financial data whenever you need it.
- Mobile app. The ShulCloud Mobile Member App allows members to interact with your synagogue on the go. Brand the app with your colors and logo, and create a custom home screen with upcoming events and important resource links. Members can donate, access location-based Zmanim, and call your synagogue directly from the app.
ShulCloud’s feature-rich subscription packages start at $139.99 per month. If your synagogue needs to transfer its existing data onto the platform, ShulCloud provides migration services from Rakefet, Chaverware, MM2000, and QuickBooks. Book a free demo to see how ShulCloud will help your synagogue thrive!
2. Congregation Connect
As the only synagogue management solution built on Salesforce, Congregation Connect is perfect for larger synagogues with 750+ members. It offers extensive customization and automation capabilities to streamline operations and provide a 360-degree view of your community.
Congregation Connect comes with integrated tools, including:
- Member management
- Event management
- Yahrzeit management
- Payment processing
- Volunteer tracking
- Marketing automation
Plus, you can choose from add-on features such as congregant portals, QuickBooks integrations, advanced reporting, and more to extend your platform’s capabilities. Contact the Congregation Connect team to learn more!
3. Chabad Suite
Chabad Suite is a streamlined platform that addresses common administrative challenges faced by Chabad organizations. Its easy-to-use tools are built to boost community engagement and enhance operational efficiency.
With this synagogue software, you can:
- Build a mobile-responsive website
- Collect one-time and recurring donations
- Search and filter members in your database
- Send automated birthday and Yahrzeit emails
- Set event reminders and run event reports
- Provide a personal dashboard for members
Chabad Suite’s full-feature pricing starts at $255 per month. The basic plan is $165 per month for CRM functionality only.
4. Aplos
Aplos provides tools that facilitate finances and operations for nonprofits and faith-based organizations. This synagogue management solution helps you connect with members, raise funds, and spend less time on administrative tasks.
Some of the key features of Aplos include:
- Member management
- Unlimited donation form creation
- Donation tracking
- Event management and check-in
- Online ticket sales
- Nonprofit bookkeeping
You can choose from three pricing plans for Aplos, starting with Lite at $79 per month, which does not include advanced features such as pledge tracking or integrations.
5. Rakefet
Rakefet’s cloud-based synagogue software combines member database and accounting functionality. The platform prioritizes providing a personalized user experience with live demos, remote login training, and a dedicated support team.
Rakefet’s all-in-one solution covers features such as:
- Member relationship management
- Accounts receivable and member billing
- Accounts payable and reporting
- Jewish Calendar integration
- Secure login for unlimited users
- Online payment processing
Rakefet costs $96 per month for an annual subscription and $80 per month for a two-year recurring subscription. Additionally, the price for a basic data migration starts at $1,500.
6. Temple Tools
Temple Tools is a synagogue management software solution that covers all of your organization’s basic needs. The platform aims to help synagogues increase membership and maintain long-term engagement.
Some of the core features of Temple Tools are:
- Member management and portal
- Event calendar and member self-registration
- Newsletter creation and management
- Schooling management
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- Custom form creation
However, Temple Tools is priced at $370 per month, which some synagogues might find costly.
7. ShalomCloud
A cloud-based synagogue software solution, ShalomCloud is designed to simplify your synagogue’s daily operations. Administrators can use the platform from anywhere on any browser, and you can set user permissions to control who has access to specific information.
With ShalomCloud, you can:
- Track members and their family units
- Generate Yahrzeit reports
- Connect with members via letters, emails, and text
- Sell fixed-price items, such as class registration, with an online shopping cart tool
- Engage members with a personal member portal
- Accept payments and send automatic acknowledgments
ShalomCloud’s pricing starts at $72 per month for synagogues with up to 125 families and two full-time users, plus a one-time conversion fee of $400.
The Impact of Upgrading Your Synagogue Management Software
Switching synagogue systems can seem overwhelming, but it’s a journey you should start sooner rather than later. Upgrading your technology is about more than simplifying your team’s workflow—it’s about unlocking new, often unexpected opportunities for bringing your members closer together.
To narrow down your list of potential solutions for your synagogue, ask for recommendations from other organizations, read reviews online, and request demos to see your top choices firsthand. Ultimately, the right synagogue management software will help you track the data you need to create meaningful experiences for congregants and make them feel like valued members of your community.
If you’d like to learn more about engaging your synagogue’s members and the role technology can play in your efforts, check out these additional resources:
- ShulCloud Alternatives: A Comparison Guide for Synagogues. Trying to choose between ShulCloud and other top synagogue management software options? Use this comparison guide to make an informed decision.
- Building a Tight-Knit Community with ShulCloud: More Than Just a Synagogue Database. Explore how ShulCloud’s tools make it easy for your synagogue’s team to build authentic, one-on-one relationships with members.
- 5 Best Practices for Synagogues During Membership Renewal. Discover how your synagogue can rethink its renewal process and strengthen congregant bonds in a tech-driven world.
