Comparison

PollCap vs NGP VAN: Real-Time Intelligence vs Legacy CRM

NGP VAN is the industry standard for campaign compliance and voter file management. PollCap is the intelligence layer that tells you who to call, what to ask for, and when to reach out. They solve different problems — and work best together.

The core difference

PollCap

Intelligence engine

PollCap ingests your donor data — from CSV, FEC filings, and Stripe donations — and transforms it into prioritized actions. Every morning you get an AI briefing: who to call, what to ask for, and which signals just fired. It is a decision engine that tells you where the money is.

NGP VAN

Campaign management platform

NGP VAN manages your campaign operations: voter files, volunteer tracking, event management, compliance reporting, and donation processing. It is the system of record for campaign administration — built for tracking what happened, not predicting what should happen next.

Where PollCap excels

Real-time FEC intelligence

Contributions synced every 15 minutes. NGP VAN relies on manual data entry and periodic uploads.

AI signal scoring

Every donor scored 0-100 by recency, frequency, monetary value, and momentum. NGP VAN has no equivalent.

Capital Engine briefings

AI analyzes market, political, and behavioral signals to identify capital targets. No CRM does this.

Smart call sheets

AI-prioritized call lists with per-entry ask amounts and opening scripts. Not alphabetical — by conversion probability.

Competitive intelligence

Import opponent FEC data, find donor overlap, and generate Flash Reports. NGP VAN has no competitive analysis.

Speed to insight

From CSV upload to prioritized call sheet in under 5 minutes. No weeks of data entry required.

Where NGP VAN excels

Compliance reporting

Industry-standard FEC compliance reports and filings. PollCap is not a compliance tool.

Voter file integration

Deep integration with national voter files for voter contact. PollCap focuses on donors, not voters.

Event management

Full event management with ticketing, check-in, and volunteer coordination.

Scale & track record

Used by thousands of campaigns over decades. Proven infrastructure at national scale.

Better together

PollCap is not a replacement for NGP VAN. It is the intelligence layer that sits on top. Use NGP VAN for compliance, voter contact, and event management. Use PollCap to identify your highest-probability donors, generate AI call sheets, and deploy capital faster than your opponent.

Export your donor list from NGP VAN as CSV. Import into PollCap. In five minutes you will have a signal-scored, prioritized fundraising plan that no CRM can generate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PollCap a replacement for NGP VAN?
No. PollCap is an intelligence layer, not a CRM. Use NGP VAN for compliance, voter files, and event management. Use PollCap for donor scoring, AI call sheets, and capital deployment strategy.
Can I import data from NGP VAN into PollCap?
Yes. Export your donor list from NGP VAN as a CSV file and import it into PollCap. Identity resolution will automatically deduplicate against FEC records.
Does PollCap handle FEC compliance reporting?
No. PollCap reads FEC data but does not file compliance reports. Continue using NGP VAN or your compliance provider for FEC filings.
How much does PollCap cost compared to NGP VAN?
PollCap is $799/month with a 14-day free trial. NGP VAN pricing varies by campaign. PollCap can run alongside NGP VAN as a supplementary intelligence tool.
Which tool should a new campaign start with?
If you need compliance reporting and voter contact tools, start with NGP VAN. If you need to raise money faster with smarter donor targeting, add PollCap. Most serious campaigns need both.

Add intelligence to your campaign stack

14-day free trial. Import your NGP VAN data in minutes and see which donors you should be calling today.