10 Best Marketing Tools for Non-Profits That Increase Donations

Which marketing tools for non-profits will actually help you raise money? Here are some we think you’ll love.

There are plenty of marketing tools for non-profits available. Figuring out which ones will work for you? That’s another story. There’s a delicate balance of effectiveness, cost, user-friendliness, and access that’s a significant part of the equation.

As a non-profit, you want to reach as many people as you can, and not just reach them, but engage them. After all, you need people who will donate, who will attend your fundraisers, who will spread the word, who will offer you moral support, or maybe decide to get involved and volunteer.

As a non-profit, it’s probably fair to say that the more efficient your tools are, the better. The tools listed here low-cost (or free) and easy to use, so you can spend less time and be more effective with your marketing.

Increase donations online by promoting a catchy hashtag, then keep track of your efforts by displaying everyone’s social posts in your office and on your website. Start building your social wall today.

10 Marketing tools for non-profits that you don’t want to miss out on

1. Mailchimp

Mailchimp bills itself as an all-in-one marketing platform, but they are best known for their emailing software. A basic plan, which allows up to 2,000 addresses on your mailing list, is free and comes with 30 days of free email support. The numerous pre-designed templates are easy to customize, and there are useful options that let you create pop-up forms, get basic reports, and segment your audience. And that’s just the free version. Step up a notch or two, and you can get multi-step custom workflows, send-time optimization, A/B testing, and up to 100,000 contacts on your email list.

2. OptinMonster

Of course, if you plan to email your audience (and you should), you need their email address. OptinMonster is designed to pop up when someone on your website is about to close the tab or navigate to another site. For a small fee, you can encourage website visitors to sign up for your mailing list.

3. Everwall

Don’t forget that user-generated social media is one of the best possible marketing tools for non-profits. And one of the best ways to share that content is to promote it on your website and at your events. Everwall lets you do both, with easy-to-use social media walls that bring your social marketing to life.

4. Brown Paper Tickets

Whether you’re hosting a free seminar or a huge gala, tickets are an important part of the process, and Brown Paper Tickets is a hassle-free way to get those tickets into the hands (or onto the phones) of your audience. There’s no cost to you to set up an event, and free events are free to your attendees, as well. For paid events, your attendees only pay a small service charge, and have the option of either mobile or physical tickets at no additional cost.

5. Asana

Asana is a “work management platform” that can help your non-profit track your marketing goals and projects. The free version includes a list or board view of projects, due dates, and you can collaborate with up to 15 teammates. The premium version includes a timeline, task dependencies, and start dates.

6. Grammarly

Grammarly is so much more than a spell-check solution. It’s a writing assistant that will help your outgoing communication and all your marketing turn out clear, concise, and mistake-free. Grammarly is available as an extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, as well as iOS and Android.

7. CoSchedule Headline Analyzer

Those emails you write – especially the fundraising emails – need to be opened if they’re going to do you any good. The secret? A good email subject line. The CoSchedule Headline Analyzer offers feedback on your headlines and email subject lines, complete with a number grade and a letter grade, so you can adjust your subject line accordingly.

8. Instagram

If your non profit isn’t using Instagram yet, it’s time to catch up. Nonprofit Tech for Good notes that, “social media drives 57% of traffic to fundraising campaign pages.” There are a multitude of ways to use Instagram, from behind-the-scenes videos to success stories to a snazzy call to action with beautiful graphics, courtesy of our next in the list of marketing tools for non profits: Canva.

9. Canva

Canva puts the power of graphic design in your hands. Upload your images or use theirs. Add text, download, and post. It’s that easy. You can create flyers, event programs, social media posts, infographics, and so much more.

10. Donorbox

Donorbox makes it easy for your supporters to give. The platform supports multiple types of currencies and donors can checkout with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Bank transfers. Recurring donations are easy to set up and secure. Conveniently, Donorbox also integrates with Mailchimp, and if you collect less than $1,000 per month, there’s no platform fee.

Finding the right marketing tools doesn’t have to be a long trial-and-error process. Try some, or all of these tools and watch as your donations start to increase.