If you’re debating between iMIS® and Fonteva, you’re in the right place.The biggest difference is its underlying architecture. Fonteva is an association management system (AMS) built on the Salesforce platform. iMIS, from Advanced Solutions International (ASI), is an engagement management system (EMS) designed specifically for associations and nonprofits.
This page explains how the two compare, why associations choose iMIS, and which themes appear in public reviews of Fonteva.
|
Comparison Category |
iMIS |
Fonteva |
|
Core Architecture |
Engagement management system (EMS) built specifically for associations and nonprofits, hosted on Microsoft Azure. |
Association management system (AMS) built on the Salesforce CRM platform. |
|
Licensing and True Cost |
Subscription-based. Included modules and licensed features vary, so confirm the scope of your proposal. |
Subscription-based, with an embedded Salesforce license. Reviewers cite cost as a barrier, including additional spending on customization, data storage, and ongoing development. |
|
Web Presence and Portals |
The native content management system (CMS), RiSE, manages your public website, member portal, and microsites from the same member database. |
Member portals and communities managed through Salesforce Experience Cloud. A public website may be managed in a separate CMS. |
|
Membership and Billing |
Built-in email marketing automation, campaign tracking, targeted text messaging, and native workflow automation. |
Email automation, member surveys, and complex process automation (leveraging Salesforce Flow). |
|
Finance and Commerce |
Online store, batch accounting, fundraising management, advertising and sponsorship sales, and flexible payment gateways, including Stripe. |
eStore, revenue accounting, and Fonteva Payments. Some reviewers describe difficulty with complex transactions and finance workflows. |
|
Reporting |
Intelligent Query Architect (IQA) builds queries for reports, mailings, business analysis, and website content. |
Salesforce reports and dashboards. Reviewers describe object-model limits and IT support for complex reports. |
|
Member Communications |
Email marketing, campaign tracking, text messaging, and workflow automation. Some automation capabilities depend on licensing. |
Email, surveys, and process automation using Salesforce capabilities such as Salesforce Flow. |
|
Upgrades |
Regular, automatic cloud upgrades delivered by ASI. |
Upgrades from both Fonteva and Salesforce, released multiple times per year. |
|
Integrations and Extensions |
REST API, the iMIS Marketplace with 250+ integrations, and direct connections to ASI solutions such as TopClass, Clowder®, and OpenWater. |
Fonteva Marketplace and the Salesforce AppExchange ecosystem. |
The iMIS vs. Fonteva decision ultimately comes down to the infrastructure, specific integrations, and exact features you need. Here is where our EMS outshines Fonteva.
iMIS is an engagement management system designed for the way associations work. Membership logic, engagement scoring, and workflows are part of the platform from the start.
Fonteva layers association functionality on top of the Salesforce CRM platform, so many membership processes depend on Salesforce configuration and customization.
iMIS brings member data, website content, communications, event management, and accounting into one platform. Every member interaction, from an email open to a committee registration, is reflected in the same database.
Need to connect other specialized applications? iMIS offers a REST API and 250+ integrations through the iMIS Marketplace. As part of the ASI family, iMIS also connects directly with TopClass, Clowder®, and OpenWater.
iMIS supports fixed annual and anniversary billing, configurable billing intervals, and prorating for fixed-term memberships. Billing products can represent dues, chapter fees, sections, subscriptions, and voluntary contributions, and they connect to financial entities and general ledger accounts.
Deferred revenue accounts require the Deferred Income license. Whichever platform you evaluate, ask to see your own dues scenarios, such as midyear joins, chapter charges, and renewal timing.
Intelligent Query Architect (IQA) provides a graphical interface for building queries against the iMIS database. Authorized users can use those queries for reports, mailings, business analysis, and data displayed on website pages.
Because the queries are built on association data, staff can use the same tool to analyze results and to reach the right audience.
iMIS runs on Microsoft Azure, and ASI delivers regular, automatic cloud upgrades. ASI is responsible for the software, hosting, and support, and you can join an independent user community for troubleshooting and webinars.
Fonteva clients may work with Fonteva, Salesforce, and an implementation partner. As with any cloud platform, plan to test your configurations and connected applications after each release.
Cost depends on scope. iMIS includes a comprehensive suite of tools, such as a native CMS, accounting, and marketing capabilities, which can reduce the number of separate applications you maintain.
Compare complete proposals for the same requirements, including implementation, customization, integrations, support, payment fees, and ongoing administration.
Choosing between iMIS and Fonteva often comes down to your organization's IT philosophy, budget predictability, and desire for an all-in-one platform versus an ecosystem-driven approach.
iMIS is a strong fit when you want a purpose-built, unified platform for your association or nonprofit:
You want one platform for member data, website, events, and accounting. These functions are natively connected without middleware.
You want a built-in CMS. RiSE supports single sign-on and reflects website activity in your database.
You have complex dues structures. Billing products, prorating rules, and chapter and section fees are configurable within iMIS.
You want to limit custom development. Association-specific capabilities are part of the platform rather than built on top of a CRM.
You want direct connections to ASI solutions. TopClass, Clowder, and OpenWater connect directly, and integrations such as Higher Logic and Web Scribble are available.
You want a single vendor for software, hosting, and support. ASI is accountable for the full solution
Organizations that require a Salesforce-native environment may consider Fonteva.
★★★★★ 5/5
“iMIS provides us with secure data management. It is easy to manage users and members alike. We can automate many routine tasks such as invoicing and reporting, as well as member joining and renewal processes. We have seen a big reduction in manual effort required of our staff, thus saving us time and resources. All of this allows employees to focus on more strategic tasks.”
Jim R.
IT Manager
★★★★★ 5/5
“I really appreciate how iMIS has evolved into a true one-stop shop. The integrations have helped our organization plan thoughtfully for the future and focus on the User Experience needed to build a meaningful membership. The support has been incredible, and the responses are consistently timely.”
Anonymous Nonprofit Employee
★★★★⯪ 4.5/5
“I like that iMIS is customizable and flexible, allowing us to change the naming of modules, create custom workflows, and automate processes. The software's power in terms of integrations and add-ons is a significant advantage, especially if a feature isn't a core feature out-of-the-box. This flexibility lets iMIS match our business rules rather than forcing us to adapt to it. It's our one source of truth, handling data efficiently, keeping it organized and clean, and giving us a holistic view of our member organizations and their related employees.”
Erik J.
Marketing Manager
Hear how Tandem, the peak body for mental health carers in Victoria, found success with iMIS’s comprehensive functionality:
The themes below appear in reviews of Fonteva on G2, Capterra, and ReviewMyAMS. Reviews reflect individual experiences and were posted at different times, so ask any vendor for references from organizations with requirements like yours.
iMIS is an EMS built specifically for associations and nonprofits and hosted on Microsoft Azure. Fonteva is an AMS built on Salesforce. iMIS offers a unified platform with a native CMS, while Fonteva depends on the Salesforce platform and its add-on ecosystem.
Costs depend on the modules and services in your proposal. For iMIS, confirm which modules and licensed features are included, such as Process Automation or Deferred Income. Fonteva subscriptions include an embedded Salesforce license, and reviewers note additional costs for customization, data storage, and ongoing development.
Ask each vendor for a complete proposal that covers implementation, integrations, support, and payment fees.
iMIS supports fixed annual and anniversary billing, configurable intervals, prorating, and separate billing products for dues, chapters, sections, and subscriptions. Share your exact dues rules during a demonstration so you can see them configured.
iMIS is designed to keep your configurations separate from the core code, and ASI delivers regular, automatic cloud upgrades. As with any platform, test your configurations and connected applications after each upgrade.
Not at all. iMIS offers a REST API, the iMIS Marketplace with 250+ integrations, and direct connections to ASI solutions such as TopClass for learning, OpenWater for awards, and Clowder for mobile apps. List the tools you rely on and confirm each is available.
iMIS uses IQA, which queries the iMIS database and supports reports, mailings, and website content. Salesforce reporting works with the Salesforce object model, and some reviewers describe needing IT support for complex reports. Ask each vendor to demonstrate a report you use today, such as dues renewals or committee participation.
Fonteva information reflects publicly available details from fonteva.com and public reviews, and it may change. Confirm current features and pricing with each vendor.
Explore these other software comparisons to choose the best technology for your association: