If you’re like most nonprofit organizers, you may struggle with marketing and fundraising in an increasingly tech-driven world. The worlds of nonprofit marketing and nonprofit tech converge as more and more brands use AI, analytics, and sophisticated tools to dial in their promotion and external communications.
Fortunately for you, there are potential donors, supporters, and volunteers who value the work you do and who want to be part of it. With the help of a few reasonably priced — or even free — tech solutions, you can engage those people.
Cost-Effective Nonprofit Marketing Tools
When it comes to affordable resources, start by looking at Google. Google offers Ad Grants to qualified nonprofits giving you access to some targeted advertising that for-profit companies use. CNBC reported that by the end of 2021, Google will command a 29% share of worldwide digital ad spending.
Other Google tools include their free Google Analytics for powerful insights into your website’s traffic. Google also offers free digital marketing classes that would be beneficial to many nonprofit marketing and fundraising managers.
Payment Processors
If you plan to sell event tickets, merchandise, or fundraise online, then you need a safe, secure way to collect payments. Fortunately, Stripe, PayPal, and Square all offer reasonably priced options nearly any nonprofit can afford. These options also come with brand-name recognition that inspires trust among consumers and donors. Each has its own fee structure, so be sure to compare and also check which integrates best with any other fundraising tech you use.
Donor Database
Every marketer needs a good donor database. There are a few free options available, including HubSpot and Mailchimp. UncommonGood’s platform also includes a donor management system to help you keep track of every individual who interacts with your nonprofit — all in one centralized database. Look for an option that is flexible enough to meet your needs and easy to use.
Email Marketing
An email newsletter is one of the top communication assets in nonprofit marketing. Many overlook their newsletter and instead favor social media like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. This is a mistake since you will always be beholden to ever-changing algorithms on every social media platform. Of course, your nonprofit should still leverage social media, but your email list is an even more valuable asset. Mailchimp has a generous free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers, but beyond that, they charge based on your following.
Fundraising Platform
Many nonprofits use crowdfunding and peer to peer fundraising platforms like GoFundMe and others. Be sure to look at the fees and compare them to other engagement platforms to find the best value for your nonprofit. Note – some find crowdfunding platforms limiting depending on your nonprofit’s activities.
Whichever tools you opt for, be sure to choose options that align with your organization’s values and allow you to tell your story. As a nonprofit, you need to engage supporters, demonstrate the impact you make, and help interested stakeholders feel like they are part of your tribe. Tech can make this easier, or tech can get in the way.
How to Choose the Right Nonprofit Tech
We encourage you to consider the following when developing your nonprofit tech stack:
- Does this tool offer the flexibility to fit our current activities?
- Is the interface intuitive and easy to learn?
- Are the fees reasonable and a good use of resources?
- Does the tool offer valuable insights that help you fine-tune your fundraising and engagement campaigns?
- Does the tool allow you to engage more easily, and save staff time, or will it enable you to do things you haven’t been able to before?
- Does it help you keep more accurate records while reducing your administrative burden?
UncommonGood is more than just a fundraising platform. We offer a 360-degree solution to nonprofit productivity that blends all of the functionality of the tools discussed above (plus more) into one affordable, user-friendly software. Our suite of tools helps with value-driven sweepstakes, branding, storytelling, project management, and much more.