Best Nonprofit CRM Software

What Is Nonprofit CRM Software?

Nonprofit CRM software, or constituent relationship management software, is a technology tool that helps nonprofit organizations manage and analyze their interactions with major donors, volunteers, members, and other stakeholders. 

Keeping constituent information in one place enables NGOs to organize their communication, donor management, and fundraising operations. The program can record and analyze volunteer and donor activity data, including past donations, attendance, and communication choices.

CRM software for nonprofits often includes features like email marketing, donor and volunteer management, fundraising and donation tracking, event management, and reporting and analytics. These features help nonprofit organizations build stronger relationships with their constituents, improve donor retention, and increase fundraising efficiency.

Nonprofit CRM tools are typically designed to meet nonprofits' specific needs and challenges, such as managing multiple campaigns and outreach efforts, tracking donations and pledges, and managing donor and volunteer relationships.

Why Use Nonprofit CRM Software?

Many nonprofit organizations have been functioning without using a CRM. However, this can lead to inaccurate entries, missing information, and a fragmented process. Below are the main reasons you need nonprofit CRM software.

1. Improved Donor Management

   Nonprofit CRM software helps organizations manage donor relationships more effectively. It allows nonprofits to track donation history, communication preferences, and other important donor information in a centralized database. This information can be used to personalize outreach efforts, improve donor retention, and identify new fundraising opportunities

2. Better Data Insights

   Nonprofit CRM software provides organizations with valuable data insights into donor behavior, campaign effectiveness, and program performance. This data can be used to identify trends, track progress, and make data-driven decisions

3. Increased Security

   By offering cutting-edge security features like encryption, password protection, and access limits, nonprofit CRM software assists organizations in protecting their private donor and member data. This promotes compliance with data protection laws and is a barrier against data breaches.

4. Enhanced Collaboration

   Nonprofit CRM software fosters collaboration and teamwork by enabling staff members to access and share donor and program data across many departments. As a result, firms may communicate and coordinate more easily across functional lines, improving productivity.

5. Enhanced Program Management

   Organizations may track and administer their activities and services more successfully with the help of nonprofit CRM software. It offers resources for tracking program results and effects and planning, scheduling, and reporting programs.

6. Increased Fundraising Efficiency

   Nonprofit CRM software helps organizations streamline their fundraising efforts by providing tools for donation tracking, donor segmentation, and personalized outreach. This helps organizations save time and resources while increasing the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns.

7. Streamlined Communication

   Best CRM for charities offers resources for individualized and focused communication with contributors, members, and volunteers. It enables companies to manage communication history in a centralized database, automate email campaigns, and deliver tailored communications based on donor behavior. This enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of communication.

Benefits of Nonprofit CRM Software

If you’re still unsure whether to implement a nonprofit CRM software, here are the main benefits you can get with the best CRM software for charities and nonprofits.

1. Manage Donor Interactions

   Nonprofit CRM software allows organizations to manage their interactions with donors effectively. It provides a centralized database to store and track donor information, allowing nonprofits to easily communicate with donors, send personalized messages, and track donation history.

2. Increased Fundraising Efficiency

   The provision of capabilities for tracking donations, donor segmentation, and tailored marketing by nonprofit CRM software aids organizations in streamlining their fundraising operations. As a result, NGOs can efficiently manage their fundraising efforts and concentrate on raising the most money possible.

3. Log Volunteer Activity

   Organizations can track volunteer activities using nonprofit CRM software, including volunteer hours and tasks. This enables NGOs to track volunteer engagement and retention while also assisting them in managing their volunteer programs more effectively.

4. Streamlined Workflow

   By automating and streamlining workflows, nonprofit CRM software saves businesses time and effort on repetitive operations. Thus, staff time is freed up for other valuable responsibilities like program development and fundraising.

5. Plan Your Organization’s Events

   Nonprofit CRM software provides tools to help organizations plan and manage events, from initial planning to post-event follow-up. This allows nonprofits to efficiently manage their events and maximize the impact of their outreach efforts.

6. Control Fundraising Campaigns

   Nonprofit CRM systems allow organizations to streamline and control their fundraising campaigns. This includes setting fundraising goals, tracking progress, and measuring success against benchmarks.

7. Improved Collaboration

   CRM for NGOs allows staff members across different departments to collaborate more effectively by providing a centralized database to store and share information. This helps improve communication, reduce redundancies, and improve overall organizational efficiency.

Users Of Nonprofit CRM Software

Wondering if nonprofit is right for you? Below are examples of teams that can use nonprofit CRM in their daily operations.

1. Fundraising and Development Staff

   Fundraising and development personnel utilize the best CRM for fundraising to handle donor connections, track donations, and organize fundraising efforts. It gives fundraising staff tools for donor segmentation, individualized communication, and campaign tracking to help them increase donations and forge closer relationships with donors.

2. Marketing and Communications Staff

   Marketing and communications staff also use nonprofit CRM software to plan and execute outreach campaigns, manage email lists, and track communication history. This allows staff to personalize messaging and target specific audiences, resulting in more effective communication.

3. Data Analysts

   Charity CRM software provides insights into donor behavior, campaign efficacy, and program performance. Data analysts use these insights to spot patterns, monitor development, and make data-driven choices.

4. Finance Staff

   Staff manage gift tracking, pledge fulfillment, and financial reporting using nonprofit CRM software. It enables workers to handle financial records and guarantee regulatory compliance effectively.

5. Executive Directors

   Executive directors can access a thorough overview of the organization's performance and donor involvement through nonprofit CRM software. Directors can use this to monitor organizational goal progress and make well-informed decisions.

6. Event Staff

   Nonprofit CRM software provides tools to help event staff plan and manage events, from initial planning to post-event follow-up. This allows staff to efficiently manage their events and maximize the impact of their outreach efforts.

7. Donor Relations Teams

   Donor relations teams also use nonprofit CRM software to manage donor interactions, track communication history, and personalize messaging. This helps build stronger donor relationships and improve donor retention.

How Does Nonprofit CRM Software Help With Fundraising?

There are various ways a nonprofit CRM can aid fundraising efforts. A nonprofit CRM software can be extremely helpful for fundraising efforts in several ways -

1. Donor Management: Nonprofit CRM software allows organizations to manage donor interactions efficiently. It provides a centralized database to store and track donor information, including donation history and communication preferences. This helps organizations personalize their outreach efforts and build stronger donor relationships, leading to increased donations.

2. Donation Tracking: Organizations may track contributions and commitments and produce reports on their fundraising progress thanks to nonprofit CRM software. This enables groups to keep tabs on their fundraising efforts, spot trends, and modify their strategy.

3. Donor Segmentation: Nonprofit CRM software allows organizations to segment donors based on different criteria, such as donation history, demographics, interests, and more. This helps organizations personalize outreach efforts to other groups of donors, resulting in more effective fundraising.

4. Automated Campaigns: The software helps organizations automate fundraising campaigns, including personalized email outreach, social media campaigns, and targeted appeals. This saves time and resources while also increasing the reach of fundraising efforts.

5. Event Management: Nonprofit CRM software provides tools to help organizations plan and manage fundraising events. This includes tracking event registration and attendance, managing donations, and sending post-event follow-up messages. This helps organizations conduct fundraising events, resulting in increased contributions efficiently.

Features Of Nonprofit CRM Software

Before implementing any software, you need to take a look at its main features and determine whether it meets your requirements.

1. Donor Management

   Not for profit CRM software includes donor management features that allow organizations to track and manage their donor database. This includes tracking donor information such as names, addresses, donation history, and communication preferences. It also includes tools for managing relationships with donors, including donor communication and stewardship.

2. Revenue Management

   The software includes tools for managing revenue and fundraising activities. This includes managing donations, pledges, grants, and other sources of revenue. It also includes features for managing fundraising campaigns, such as donation tracking, campaign reporting, and donor engagement

3. Robust Constituent Profiles

   Nonprofit CRM software allows organizations to create detailed constituent profiles. These profiles include information about donors, volunteers, members, and other constituents. This information can include contact information, demographics, donation history, engagement history, and other relevant data.

4. Event Management

   This feature includes creating and managing events, attendees, and registrations and tracking event attendance and participation. It can also include features for managing event finances, such as ticket sales and donations.

5. Communication

   Nonprofit CRM software includes tools for managing communication with constituents. This includes email marketing, social media integration, and direct mail campaigns. It also includes features for managing communication preferences and tracking communication history.

6. Data Insights & Reporting

   CRM software for nonprofits has data analysis and report generation features. This can involve analysis of donors, fundraising campaigns, events, and other pertinent data. Additionally, it has tools for creating unique reports and dashboards.

7. Integration and Customization

   Fundraising CRM systems can integrate with other software and platforms, such as accounting software, fundraising platforms, and social media. It also includes features for customization, such as custom fields, custom reports, and custom dashboards.

8. Task Automation

   Nonprofit CRM software includes tools for automating tasks and workflows. This includes automated communication, donation processing, and event registration. It also includes features for creating custom workflows and automating other tasks.

9. Mobile Access

   Nonprofit businesses can access their data and carry out tasks from mobile devices thanks to CRM software for nonprofits that offer mobile access. This can apply to dashboards responsive to mobile devices, mobile-optimized websites, and mobile apps.

10. Constituent Segmentation

    Nonprofit CRM software includes tools for segmenting constituents based on factors such as gift history, involvement history, and demographics. This might assist organizations in concentrating their communications and fundraising efforts on particular constituency groups.

11. Security

    The software provides robust security features to protect sensitive data. This includes data encryption, access controls, and user permissions. It also includes features for auditing data access and activity.

Difference Between For-Profit And Nonprofit CRM Software

The main differences between for-profit and nonprofit CRM software are the focus, features, and target audience. Check out the detailed comparison below.

• Focus: For-profit CRM software focuses on sales and marketing, while nonprofit CRM software focuses on donor management, fundraising, and constituent engagement.

• Features: For-profit CRM software typically includes lead management, pipeline tracking, and sales forecasting features. Nonprofit CRM software includes features such as donation tracking, volunteer management, and event management.

• Target audience: For-profit CRM software is designed for businesses and corporations, while nonprofit CRM software is designed for nonprofit organizations, such as charities, foundations, and advocacy groups.

• Pricing model: For-profit CRM software typically uses a subscription-based pricing model, where the user pays a monthly or annual fee based on the number of users and features. Nonprofit CRM software often offers discounted or free pricing for eligible nonprofits, with features tailored to the unique needs of nonprofit organizations.

How To Choose The Best Nonprofit CRM Software?

There are many CRM tools for nonprofit organizations available in the market, making it important to invest time in choosing the best one. Choosing the best CRM software for nonprofits is crucial to the success of your organization. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a nonprofit CRM software:

• Feature Set/User-Friendliness - Look for software with a feature set that matches your organization's needs. It should have tools for donor management, revenue management, event management, communication, data insights and reporting, task automation, constituent segmentation, and security. The software should also be user-friendly and easy to learn for your staff and volunteers.

• Scalability - Consider whether the software can grow with your organization. This is important for organizations planning to expand their operations or increase their donor base.

• Security - Ensure the software has robust security features to protect sensitive donor information. Get software that has data encryption, access controls, user permissions, and other security measures.

• Volunteer Support - Consider whether the software has features to support your organization's volunteers. This can include tools for volunteer management, tracking volunteer hours, and assigning tasks to volunteers.

• Integrations - Look for software that can integrate with your organization's other tools and platforms, such as accounting software, fundraising platforms, and social media. This can save time and streamline your operations.

• Reporting and Analytics - Opt for software that has robust reporting and analytics features. This can include donor analysis, fundraising campaign analysis, event analysis, and other relevant data. It should also include components for generating custom reports and dashboards.

• Mobile Accessibility - Consider whether the software is mobile-accessible, as this can allow your staff and volunteers to access the software from anywhere. Look for software that has mobile apps, mobile-optimized websites, or mobile-responsive dashboards.

• Free Software - While free software can be tempting, carefully consider the features and limitations before choosing a free nonprofit CRM software. Free software may have limited features or restrictions on the number of users or contacts. It may also lack customer support and security features crucial to a nonprofit organization.

Top 5 Nonprofit CRM Software

Find the list of best CRM systems for nonprofits below and select the best one for your organization based on your specific needs.  

1. Kindful

Kindful is a cloud-based CRM fundraising software that provides tools to help nonprofit organizations manage their donor database, fundraising campaigns, and marketing efforts.

Features

• Online Fundraising
• Donor Management
• Email Marketing
• Receipt Management
• Grant Management
• Membership Management
• Social Media Management
• Real-Time Analytics

Pros

• Easy Reporting 
• Easy data entry 
• User-friendly interface
• Straightforward design
• Great support

Cons

• Expensive for small business owners
• Steep learning curve
• Limited customization
• Limited reporting
• Limited payment gateway options
• No mobile app

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $100 per month
• Growth Plan: $200 per month
• Advanced Plan: $300 per month
• Pro Plan: On quote

2. Bloomerang

Bloomerang is a powerful tool that can help non-profit organizations improve their donor management and fundraising efforts. It is highly customizable, easy to use, and provides excellent customer support. Bloomerang's focus on donor retention and engagement can help non-profits build stronger relationships with their donors and supporters.

Features

• Contact Management
• Real Time Analytics and Updates
• Donor Management
• Fundraising Management
• Membership Management
• Real Time Analytics
• Task Scheduling
• Integration

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Automatic reporting
• Excellent donor communication features
• quick customer support

Cons

• Limited features
• Pricing is higher compared to other software
• Learning curve
• Limited customization
• Limited integrations

Pricing

Bloomerang standard pricing plan starts at $119 per month.

3. EveryAction

EveryAction is a comprehensive and user-friendly CRM and fundraising platform designed for non-profit organizations. It provides an all-in-one solution for non-profit organizations to manage their supporters, donations, and fundraising campaigns.

Features

• Donor management
• Fundraising
• Advocacy
• Volunteer management
• Advanced reporting and analytics
• Marketing automation
• Robust integrations

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Comprehensive and integrated features
• Advanced reporting and analytics capabilities
• Strong advocacy and volunteer management tools
• Wide range of integrations
• Excellent customer support

Cons

• Expensive pricing
• Steep learning curve
• Limited customization options
• Some features may not be necessary for smaller non-profit organizations

Pricing

• Starting price: $49/month
• Custom pricing for larger organization

4. DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a cloud-based donor management software that provides tools to help nonprofits and other organizations manage their fundraising activities, donor relationships, and engagement efforts. The platform offers a range of features and customization options to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes and types.

Features

• Donor Management
• Gift Tracking
• Reporting and Analytics
• Email Marketing
• Event Management
• Volunteer Management

Pros

• Personalize donor communications
• Generate segmentation reports
• Customer service
• User-friendly interface
• Detailed donation tracking
• Online forms

Cons

• Reports can be confusing
• Contact management tracking is cumbersome
• Less customization available

Pricing

• Express Package: $89 per month 
• Essentials Package: $159 per month
• Advanced Package: $359 per month 
• Complete Package: $499 per month

5. Virtuous

Virtuous is a cloud-based donor management and fundraising CRM for nonprofits. It provides a comprehensive platform for managing donations, donor data, and fundraising campaigns. Virtuous includes donation processing, email marketing, social media integration, reporting, and analytics. 

Features

• Donor Management
• Donation Processing
• Email Marketing
• Social Media Integration
• Reporting and Analytics
• Workflow Automation
• Personalization
• Mobile App

Pros 

• User-friendly CRM
• Great support staff
• Robust email marketing
• Personalization
• Comprehensive donor management and fundraising software

Cons

• Expensive
• Poor integration
• Steep learning curve
• Limited customization

Pricing

• Starter: $399 per month 
• Professional: $699 per month 
• Enterprise: $1,499 per month 

Trends Related to Nonprofit CRM Software

Even for nonprofits, the trends keep changing. Hence, you need to stay up-to-date with new user interests and preferences. 

1. Voice Command

   The rise of voice-activated technology has led to integrating voice command features in nonprofit CRM platforms. This allows users to navigate and access data using voice commands, making the software more user-friendly and accessible.

2. Mobile Optimization

   With the increasing use of mobile devices, nonprofit CRM software is becoming more mobile-optimized. This allows users to access the software on their mobile devices, making managing donor data easier and engaging with constituents while on the go.

3. Scalability

   Nonprofit CRM software is becoming more scalable, allowing organizations to scale their operations and data management as they grow easily.

4. Increased Focus on Donor Engagement

   Donor engagement is becoming a key focus for nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit CRM software is responding by providing features that enable organizations to engage with donors more personalized and effective way.

5. Focus on Data Privacy and Security

   With the growing concern around data privacy and security, nonprofit CRM software emphasizes protecting donor data and ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

6. Cloud-based Solutions

   Cloud-based nonprofit CRM solutions are becoming increasingly popular as they offer greater flexibility, scalability, and accessibility. Cloud-based solutions also eliminate the need for on-site server hardware, which can be costly and time-consuming.

7. Increased Use of APIs

   Nonprofit CRM software increasingly uses APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to allow integration with other software systems and applications. This enables organizations to connect their CRM software to their accounting software, fundraising platforms, and other tools.

8. Integration

   Integration is becoming more important in nonprofit CRM software as organizations seek to connect their CRM systems with other software applications and tools. This allows for better data sharing and management and improved efficiency and productivity.

9. Subscription-Based Model

   Nonprofit CRM software increasingly uses a subscription-based model, allowing organizations to pay for the software monthly or annually. This model makes the software more accessible and affordable for smaller nonprofits while also providing a predictable revenue stream for software providers. Hence, this is the ideal and best CRM for small nonprofits organizations.

Pricing for Nonprofit CRM Software  

The pricing for nonprofit CRM software can vary widely depending on the vendor, the features offered, and the nonprofit's size. However, here are some general pricing ranges for nonprofit CRM software:

• Basic plans typically start at around $50-$100 monthly for up to 1,000 contacts. 
• Mid-tier plans usually cost around $200-$300 per month for up to 5,000 contacts. 
• Enterprise plans are designed for larger nonprofits with more complex needs. 

Integration Of Nonprofit CRM Software

Nonprofit CRM can do much more than manage data. Therefore, these are the integrations you need to look for in the best CRM for nonprofit organizations.

1. Fundraising software integration

   To assist NGOs in managing their campaigns more successfully, CRM solutions for nonprofits can interface with fundraising software. Nonprofits may manage donor data, track gifts, and produce reports on fundraising progress by integrating with fundraising software. Also, by streamlining their fundraising efforts and ensuring they adhere to rules and best practices, NGOs can benefit from this integration..

2. Donor prospect research software integration

   CRM software for nonprofits can be integrated with donor prospect research tools to assist nonprofits in locating and interacting with possible donors. Organizations can customize their outreach and fundraising activities by integrating prospect research tools to learn more about possible donors, including their giving history, hobbies, and affiliations.

3. Donor management software integration

   Donor management software and nonprofit CRM programs can work together to improve how nonprofits handle their donor connections. Nonprofits can maintain donor profiles, track donor interactions, and produce reports on donor engagement by integrating with donor management software. This integration can improve nonprofits' fundraising ability and foster stronger bonds with their patrons.

4. Nonprofit payment gateway software integration

   To assist nonprofits in managing online donations more efficiently, nonprofit CRM software can interact with payment gateway services. Nonprofits can process donations securely, track donation data, and produce reports on donation activity by integrating with payment gateway software. Through this integration, NGOs can facilitate donations from contributors and guarantee that they adhere to laws and industry standards.

5. Nonprofit accounting software integration

   Nonprofit CRM software can integrate with accounting software to help nonprofits manage their finances more effectively. By integrating with accounting software, nonprofits can track donations and expenses, generate financial reports, and ensure they comply with accounting standards and regulations. This integration can help nonprofits maintain transparency and accountability in their financial management and improve their health.

Conclusion

For managing their donor relationships, fundraising efforts, and financial administration, organizations can benefit greatly from nonprofit CRM software. Nonprofits can improve their operational efficiency, increase the success of their fundraising efforts, and forge closer bonds with their supporters by utilizing CRM software.

There are numerous CRM software solutions, each with a unique set of capabilities, a different price point, and a different level of customer service. When choosing a CRM program, nonprofits should carefully assess their requirements and financial constraints and take into account aspects like cost, features, customer service, and usability.