From CRMs, websites, meeting or communication tools, nonprofits need just as much software as other companies do, except they need it on a budget. Here is a huge list of free software that can help your nonprofit and what it is used for.
1. Google For Nonprofits and Google Suite: This is the first place you should go to setup email and file systems for your nonprofit. This software is used for everything from emailing to creating presentations and spreadsheets. The program also has resources for the Google Ad Grant when you’re ready.
2. Microsoft 365 for nonprofits : This is the suite of the online word/excel/power point, file sharing, teams and email exchange services from Microsoft. The full platform is free for nonprofits under 300 people.
3. Skype: This program is great for conferencing and talking with people face-to-face (or at least voice-to-voice) no matter where they are in the world.
4. Hootsuite: This software lets you manage all of your social media accounts in one place so you can easily keep track of what’s being said about your nonprofit and engage with your audience.
5. Canva: Canva is an easy (and free!) way to create beautiful graphics for your website, social media, or marketing materials without needing a degree in design.
6. MailChimp: MailChimp allows you to easily create newsletters, email lists, and automated emails— perfect for staying in touch with your supporters or members. Plus, their first 2,000 subscribers are free!
7. SumoMe: SumoMe provides a suite of tools to help grow your website’s traffic including share buttons, email capture forms, and analytics tools. And the best part? Many of their features are available for free!
8. Eventbrite: If you’re planning any events (online or offline), Eventbrite can help you promote and sell tickets while tracking attendees and managing event logistics—all for free!
9. Wufoo : Wufoo provides easy drag-and-drop forms that can be used for surveys, contact forms, order forms, event registrations… pretty much anything you need a form for! Their basic plan is free with up to 10 fields per form.
10. FileZilla : FileZilla is a FTP client that lets you transfer files between your computer and web server. This is a handy tool for when you need to upload or download large files or make changes to your website’s code.
11. Wix : Wix is a free website builder that lets you create a professional looking website without any coding knowledge. Just choose from their templates, drag and drop your content, and you’re ready to go!
12. Slack : Slack is a communication tool that can be used for group chat, video calls, and file sharing. It’s great for collaborating with team members or other nonprofits and has a free plan that includes up to 10 integrations.
12. Salesforce.org : Salesforce.org provides free access to their CRM software for nonprofits. This is a powerful tool for managing donor and supporter relationships as well as tracking your fundraising progress.
14. QuickBooks Online : QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that can be used for invoicing, bookkeeping, and tracking expenses. They offer a discounted rate for nonprofits as well as a free trial so you can try it out before you commit.
15. ZoHo : offers a suite of tools including a CRM, calendar, email marketing, and project management. Their Basic plan is free for up to 3 users and gives you access to most of their features.
And finally, when in doubt check out Techsoup.org for an incredible amount of tech resources that fit a nonprofit budget. While this is not an exhaustive list, these are some great programs to get started with. And the best part is, they’re all free! So what are you waiting for? Get started today and see how these tools can help your nonprofit achieve its goals.
