Software for Nonprofits: Free and Discounted Options
Nonprofits operate on tight budgets, but that doesn't mean settling for bad tools. Many SaaS companies offer genuinely generous free tiers that work perfectly for organizations under 50 people. Here's a complete stack at $0/month using verified free plans — plus information on nonprofit discount programs.
The $0/Month Nonprofit Stack
| Category | Tool | Free Tier Limits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM | HubSpot CRM | Unlimited contacts, basic pipeline, 2,000 emails/mo | $0 |
| Kit (ConvertKit) | 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends | $0 | |
| Email (alt) | Mailchimp | 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | $0 |
| Project Management | Notion | Unlimited pages, 7-day history, 10 guests | $0 |
| PM (alt) | ClickUp | Unlimited tasks, unlimited members, 100MB storage | $0 |
| Forms | Tally | Unlimited forms, unlimited submissions | $0 |
| Communication | Discord | Unlimited messages, voice/video | $0 |
| Total Monthly Cost | $0/mo | ||
CRM: HubSpot Free (Unlimited Contacts)
HubSpot Free CRM is the strongest free CRM for nonprofits. You get unlimited contacts, a basic deal pipeline, email logging, live chat, and forms. The 2,000 emails/month limit with HubSpot branding is the main constraint. HubSpot also offers a 40% nonprofit discount on paid plans through their Nonprofits program.
When to upgrade: HubSpot Starter at $20/seat/mo removes branding and adds email health reporting. The jump to Professional ($890/mo) is almost never justified for nonprofits. If you need automations, pair HubSpot Free with Zapier Free or Make Free instead.
Email: Kit Free or Mailchimp Free
Kit Newsletter (Free) gives 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends. This is the better choice for nonprofits building a donor or supporter list. Kit was built for creators, but the subscriber-first model works well for nonprofits running newsletters about their mission.
Mailchimp Freelimits you to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month. Mailchimp does offer a 15% nonprofit discount on paid plans. If your list is under 250 people, Mailchimp's templates and drag-and-drop builder may be easier to use than Kit.
The decision: Kit Free if your list exceeds 250 contacts (or will soon). Mailchimp Free if you have a tiny list and prefer visual email building.
Project Management: Notion Free or ClickUp Free
Notion Freegives unlimited pages for individuals with 7-day page history and 10 guest collaborators. Use it as a wiki, project tracker, and document hub. Notion also offers a free Plus plan for nonprofits and educators — apply through their credit programs.
ClickUp Free gives unlimited tasks and unlimited members with 100MB storage. Better for structured project management with task assignments, due dates, and status tracking. ClickUp Unlimited ($10/member/mo) is the first upgrade when you need unlimited storage and integrations.
Nonprofit Discount Programs Worth Knowing
- HubSpot for Nonprofits: 40% discount on paid plans
- Mailchimp: 15% discount for verified nonprofits
- Notion: Free Plus plan for nonprofits (apply via credits program)
- Canva: Canva for Nonprofits offers free Pro access for verified organizations
- Google Workspace: Google for Nonprofits provides free Business Standard accounts
- Slack: Slack for Nonprofits offers 85% discount on Pro and Business+ plans
- Asana: 50% discount for verified nonprofits
What to Skip
- Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud: Salesforce offers 10 free licenses for nonprofits, but implementation complexity is extreme. Most small nonprofits abandon Salesforce within 6 months. HubSpot Free is simpler and requires no consultant.
- Dedicated nonprofit CRMs (Bloomerang, Little Green Light): These start at $99–$199/mo. HubSpot Free does donor tracking with custom properties for $0. Consider dedicated tools only when managing 5,000+ donor relationships.
- Paid analytics: Google Analytics is free and sufficient for nonprofit websites. Plausible ($9/mo) is better but harder to justify when budgets are tight.
- Paid form tools: Tally gives unlimited forms and submissions free. Typeform and Jotform have strict free-tier limits. Google Forms is also free but less polished.
Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make
- Accepting Salesforce free licenses without implementation resources. Salesforce is powerful but requires a trained admin. Budget $0 for software but $5K+ for setup consulting — or just use HubSpot Free.
- Using personal email for organizational communication. Google for Nonprofits provides free Google Workspace. Use it for professional email, shared drives, and calendar.
- Not applying for nonprofit discounts. Many vendors offer 15–85% discounts but don't advertise them prominently. Check TechSoup and each vendor's nonprofit page.
- Paying for Mailchimp when Kit Free is better. Mailchimp Free caps at 250 contacts. Kit Free gives 10,000 subscribers. For nonprofits growing their supporter list, Kit is the clear winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HubSpot Free really enough for a nonprofit?
For organizations under 50 people managing fewer than 5,000 contacts, yes. You get unlimited contacts, a deal pipeline (repurpose as a donation pipeline), email logging, and forms. The main limitation is 2,000 email sends/month with HubSpot branding.
How do I track donations in HubSpot Free?
Create a custom pipeline called “Donations” with stages like “Prospect,” “Solicited,” “Pledged,” and “Received.” Use custom properties for donation amount, date, and campaign. It's not a dedicated donation CRM, but it works.
Should we use Discord or Slack?
Discord Free gives unlimited message history and voice channels. Slack Free limits you to 90 days of message history and 10 integrations. Slack offers an 85% nonprofit discount on Pro ($8.75/user/mo becomes ~$1.31/user/mo). If your team prefers Slack's interface, the discounted Pro plan is excellent value.