As most non-profits run on a tight budget, this year has brought serious financial constraints for many due to donor funding cuts. This is why now is the time for smaller non-profits to maximize the efficiency of their communications and fundraising campaigns. DevelopmentAid has compiled a list of 10 free software programs that these organizations can leverage to achieve this goal.
When the Trump administration banned funding to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) projects in January, and the Netherlands announced a major shift in its international development strategy the following month including significant cuts in funding for projects in climate, gender, education, or culture, many non-profits realized they would be very quickly affected.
At difficult times such as these, smart budgeting is vital. Funds must be allocated where they will matter the most, and donors have to select the implementing entities more carefully. However, this does not mean that small non-profits will be left behind in the digital transition. In this article, we present 10 powerful tools (and one bonus tool) that not-for-profit entities can use free of charge to improve their efforts across marketing, communications, fundraising, project management, and volunteer recruitment.
1. Canva Pro
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool with over 1 million photos, graphics, and templates built-in. This means time can be saved when selecting and testing different assets for designs. The Pro version includes even more free resources and AI tools, such as the 1-click background remover.
Focus area: Marketing and communications
Main features:
- Free stock videos, images, graphics, templates, and fonts
- Multiple export formats: JPG, PNG, SVG, PPTX, PDF, MP4, GIF
- AI tools for image editing
Review score: 4.5/5 (from PCMAG)
Access conditions: Canva offers non-profits free access to its Pro version for up to 50 users but not all organizations are eligible; for instance, those operating in the fields of education, politics, or professional sports do not qualify. Check Canva’s eligibility guidelines for the full list of categories excluded from this program.
2. Adobe Express Premium
Adobe Express is another graphic design tool tailored for non-designers. Its premium plan comes with 250 AI generative credits and free access to an amazing library of 200 million Adobe photos, videos, templates, and music tracks. Drag-and-drop video and background removers for images and videos are just two of the editing tools available.
Focus area: Marketing and communications
Main features:
- Millions of free photos, videos, templates, and music tracks
- Access to Adobe Firefly generative AI
- Resize multiple assets at the same time
- Generate QR codes
- Drag and drop video creation
Review score: 4/5 (from PCMAG)
Access conditions: Non-profits and public libraries worldwide can apply for free Adobe Express Premium subscriptions through Adobe.
3. Buffer
Buffer allows content to be scheduled across multiple social media platforms in one place. In its free plan, up to 3 channels can be synchronized and 10 posts scheduled per month for each one. This platform also has analytical tools that track digital performance.
Focus area: Marketing and communications
Main features:
- Visual content calendar
- Post scheduler
- Content importation directly from Canva
- Automatic link shortening
Review score: 4.5/5 (from Capterra)
Access conditions: All entities, including for-profit organizations, are eligible for a free plan.
4. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a popular digital marketing platform that can create engaging newsletters and emails with its intuitive drag-and-drop editor. The free plan comes with the capacity to save up to 500 contacts and send up to 1000 monthly emails. This plan also includes access to performance analytics such as open and click rates.
Focus area: Marketing and communications
Main features:
- Newsletter subscription forms
- Email design editor
- Analytical insights
- Audience segmentation
Review score: 4.5/5 (from PCMAG)
Access conditions: All entities, including for-profit organizations, are eligible for a free plan.
5. Trello
Trello is a user-friendly project management tool where to-do lists can be organized, tasks can be assigned to collaborators, and due dates can be tracked. Free accounts can add a maximum of 10 collaborators to the workspace.
Focus area: Project management
Main features:
- Assigning members and due dates to individual tasks
- Trello templates
Review score: 4.0/5 (from PCMAG)
Access conditions: All entities, including for-profit organizations, are eligible for a free plan.
6. Hubspot
Hubspot offers customer relationship management (CRM) tools, with a limited free plan. From contact management and e-mail tracking to conversational bots, this free plan offers quite a few interesting tools for up to two users, making it a great option for small organizations.
Focus area: Fundraising
Main features:
- Integrated email marketing, tracking, and scheduler
- Meeting scheduler
- Form automation
- Pipeline management
- Document library
Review score: 4/5 (from PCMAG)
Access conditions: All entities, including for-profit organizations, are eligible for a free plan.
7. Apollo
Apollo is another CRM platform that works well for smaller non-profits. It is very similar to Hubspot in terms of the free features available, but also offers a contact database where emails and phone numbers for thousands of prospects can be found although these are not always reliable.
Focus area: Fundraising
Main features:
- Email marketing, tracking, and scheduler
- Meeting scheduler
- Form automation
- Pipeline management
- Prospect database
Review score: 4.6/5 (from Capterra)
Access conditions: All entities, including for-profit organizations, are eligible for a free plan.
8. Zeffy
Zeffy is an allrounder fundraising platform for non-profits. It does not charge any platform or transaction fees but instead relies on optional donor contributions to continue to offer its functions free of charge. Currently, 50,000+ non-profit organizations across North America use Zeffy.
Focus area: Fundraising
Main features:
- Sell and manage tickets
- Customizable donation forms
- Peer-to-peer campaigns
- Auctions
- Tap to pay (in-person payments)
- eCommerce
- Memberships
- Raffles and lotteries
- Donor management
Review score: 4.8/5 (from Capterra)
Access conditions: Zeffy is currently only available for non-profits in the United States and Canada.
9. Givebutter
Givebutter offers multiple fundraising tools specifically created for non-profits. In the free plan, organizations have access to unlimited users, contacts, and campaigns. However, Givebutter charges a processing fee of 2.9% + $0.3, which applies to all donations received.
Focus area: Fundraising
Main features:
- Donor management & CRM
- Donation forms
- Fundraising pages
- Events and auctions
- Payment processing
- Marketing and donor engagement (e.g., emails)
Review score: 4.8/5 (from Capterra)
Access conditions: Both tax-exempt and fiscally-sponsored organizations are eligible to register, but to run campaigns you need:
- A U.S. bank account
- A U.S. government-issued EIN or Social Security Number
- A U.S.-based phone number
10. VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is a marketplace for volunteering opportunities where non-profits can register to recruit qualified volunteers. This platform receives 750k monthly visits, making it easy to find volunteers with the right skill set. However, this platform is currently highly focused on the U.S.
Focus area: Volunteer recruitment
Main features:
- Location-specific
- Skills and cause filters
- Volunteer résumé
Review score: 4.6/5 (from Capterra)
Access conditions: All U.S. tax-exempt organizations can have a free basic membership plan. Non-profits outside the U.S. can also register.
DevelopmentAid is an information service provider for international development, hosting over 55,000 NGOs on its database. Subscribing to the DevelopmentAid newsletter offers regular access to articles about NGOs and the international aid sector, as well as bidding opportunities and expert opinions.
