Matching Gift Operational Stats: Insights From Top Nonprofits

Matching Gift Operational Stats: Insights From Top Nonprofits

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There are millions of established nonprofit organizations, and the matching gift tactics they employ range from fully built-out strategies to lacking entirely. A recent research report by the Top Nonprofits team shares insights from the leading peer-to-peer focused fundraising groups⁠—specifically focusing on the P2P Top 30.

Matching gift operational study

Here at Getting Attention, we found these findings to be particularly helpful in shedding light on the comprehensive matching gift strategies from some of the most successful organizations overall. That said, we decided to pull a few key matching gift operational stats produced by the study that we’d like to share with you.

Let’s dive in!

100% of the P2P Top 30 organizations employ some sort of matching gift promotion.

The first statistic that we want to note is that of the 30 organizations’ whose practices were analyzed in the matching gift study, every one of them had some sort of matching gift strategy built into their overall fundraising efforts.

Again, the extent to which matching gifts were incorporated certainly varied from one nonprofit to the next, but all 30 fundraisers mentioned matching gifts in at least one component of their efforts.

There is a positive correlation between matching gift strategies and overall fundraising revenue.

Another interesting finding demonstrates that there is a positive correlation between an organization’s matching gift strategies and its total fundraising revenue (inclusive of matching gifts and other funding streams).

In fact, this graph from the study lays out the data, showing that nonprofits’ matching gift scores and their overall revenue tended to increase alongside one another.

Matching gift and overall revenue correlation chart

All in all, it can be inferred that organizations with well-thought-out matching gift promotions are more likely to see elevated nonprofit funding and that those organizations with high levels of fundraising success are more likely to invest in a comprehensive matching gift strategy.

The mean matching gift strategy score for the P2P Top 30 falls at 7/14.

For their recent study, the Top Nonprofits team designed a dedicated scorecard to analyze various elements of participating organizations’ matching gift strategies.

The study references the following criteria⁠—each statement accurately reflecting the organization’s matching gift strategy earns the nonprofit an additional point:

  1. Hosts a dedicated matching gift page on its website.
  2. Mentions matching gifts within the donation form.
  3. Uses an auto-completing company search field.
  4. Includes matching gift information within the confirmation screen.
  5. Has an embedded company information widget on the confirmation screen.
  6. Populates company information widget with employer program details automatically.
  7. Shares direct links to program guidelines + next steps on the confirmation screen.
  8. Sends matching gift emails post-transaction.
  9. Mentions matching gift opportunities in the confirmation email.
  10. Leverages separate, dedicated matching gift email(s).
  11. Triggers matching gift emails using the organization’s own domain and branding.
  12. Links to program guidelines + next steps in follow-up emails.
  13. Sends matching gift emails within 24 hours of the initial donation being made.
  14. Uses matching gift software.

Overall, the average matching gift score for the fundraisers included in the project was calculated to be 7/14⁠. This translates to a ‘B’ on the overall grading scale.

Broken down by software provider, the study also notes that the mean score for organizations utilizing Double the Donation software falls at 8.1/14. Meanwhile, Affinaquest’s HEPdata users earned an average of 4.6 points, and organizations using no software (or a still-unknown provider) averaged 3.3/14.

Only 6.7% of organizations analyzed with the Top Nonprofits scale earned a perfect score.

(And they all used the same software provider: Double the Donation)

Of the nonprofits analyzed in the study (30 total), only 6.7% (or two organizations) earned a perfect score, having met all fourteen designated criteria on the grading scale.

This means that the vast majority of fundraisers have significant opportunities for improving their matching gift efforts⁠—and can easily do so by pursuing the elements missing in their current strategies.

We did note, however, that both organizations earning full marks employed the same matching gift software⁠—Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro.

There are 4 primary locations wherein top nonprofits typically promote matching gifts.

Though there were fourteen criteria laid out in the matching gift study, most matching gift promotional efforts can boil down to four overarching opportunities.

This includes an organization’s dedicated matching gift web page, donation forms, confirmation/thank-you screens, and follow-up email communications.

93.3% of top nonprofits have a matching gift page on their website.

Nearly all nonprofits analyzed in the matching gift study currently provide a dedicated matching gift web page on their website. Even those scoring on the lower end of the scale had online matching gift hubs available on their sites.

In fact, this essential asset is one of the key foundations of a healthy overall matching gift strategy. It provides ample information for donors to learn about the opportunity and how they can get involved. Plus, most organizations link to the resource on their confirmation screen, in follow-up emails, and more.

Many of the P2P-based organizations analyzed also host separate event sites for their most prominent fundraising events. Of these groups, some chose to host their matching gift pages on the event-specific website, while others chose to present theirs on the parent organization site, and others still opted for separate match pages on each.

53.3% mention matching gifts within their donation forms.

Another key practice covered in the Top Nonprofits report indicates that mentioning matching gifts within an organization’s donation forms is essential. The explanation? It’s an excellent opportunity to collect donor employment data. When the form provides context into the why behind employment data inquiries (i.e., to uncover matching gift opportunities), donors are typically happy to oblige.

And according to the matching gift promotions analysis, more than half of the organizations in the study integrated this tip into their practices.

Like just about every other aspect of nonprofit matching gift marketing, the ways in which they did so differed. This ranged from short and sweet labels marking the optional data fields for employer matching information to summaries of matching gifts and the benefits that come with program participation.

83.3% highlight matching gifts on their confirmation screens.

Following the donation form itself is typically a gift confirmation screen. And according to the study, the majority of leading nonprofits use this chance to promote matching gifts. However, the extent of the confirmation page promotional efforts varies widely.

For example, some organizations offered single-sentence mentions that encouraged donors to pursue the opportunity on their own. The fundraiser may prompt individual donors to contact their company’s HR department to find out if their employer participates.

However, other nonprofits took a more advanced approach. These teams provided company-specific program guidelines and eligibility criteria and even direct links to online submission forms. This allows the donor to kick off the matching gift process from the initial thank-you screen with just one click!

While the former is better than lacking matching gift mentions altogether, the latter technique really works to simplify matching gifts for donors and ultimately aims to drive more matches to completion.

16.7% do not include matching gifts on their donation forms nor their confirmation screens.

Unfortunately, a number of organizations (luckily, a small number) did not include matching gift information in their donation forms or their confirmation screens. This ultimately means that the fundraisers do not have an easy way to collect employment information during the giving process, nor do they offer instant next steps after an individual submits their gift.

This could cause an organization to miss out on available matching gifts. Because remember: more than 26 million individuals work for companies that offer matching gift initiatives. Yet 78% of the match-eligible segment has no idea that they qualify for such a program.

Matching gift promotion opportunities

For nonprofits that fall into this group, incorporating matching gifts within the giving experience⁠—either directly within, immediately afterward, or, in the best of both worlds, both locations⁠—is a quick and impactful way to ramp up matching gift marketing.

86.6% enlist follow-up emails to remind donors about matching gift opportunities.

Once the donation process itself is complete, most organizations took the time (or, more likely, triggered automations) to follow up with donors regarding matching gifts. These typically fell into one of two categories: mentions of matching gifts within a more general confirmation or acknowledgment email or dedicated, separate email focused on matching gift opportunities and how to get involved. And in the best cases, some combination of both!

According to the study, however, not all follow-ups necessarily hold the same value. In fact, the report outlines tips and tricks for creating optimized matching gift messages, which include using the organization’s own email domain and branding, personalizing the contents with employer-specific information, and more. And the most strategic nonprofits utilize emails that provide direct links to the recipients’ online submission portals, empowering donors to launch the matching gift process right from the email.

10% highlight matching gifts in confirmation emails and separate follow-up messages.

Though 86.6% of organizations follow up with donors about matching gift opportunities post-transaction (using some combination of confirmation emails that highlight matching gifts and separate matching gift messaging), only 10% of participating nonprofits incorporated matching gifts in both types of email communications.

Why does this matter? Well, the more opportunities a donor has to be informed and reminded about matching gifts, the higher the chances are that they complete their end of the matching process. Another common roadblock among fundraisers that enlist only confirmation emails to mention matching gifts is that donors are more likely to skim and discard the message without the reader even getting to the part about matching gifts. That’s a missed opportunity for donors and nonprofits alike!

Of those that send matching gift emails post-transaction, 52% do so within 24 hours of donors first contributing.

Another finding we saw in the study is that when it comes to following up on match-eligible donations, timeliness matters. In fact, one of the key criteria included in the matching gift scorecard asks whether the organization sends matching gift emails in the first 24 hours after the initial donor contributes.

And of the organizations that have enlisted matching gift emails, more than half do, in fact, meet this standard. The report even highlights that many organizations’ triggered their first matching emails within minutes of the donor clicking “submit” on their gift!

Not to mention, a separate compilation of matching gift operational stats from Double the Donation indicates that match reminder emails sent within 24 hours of an initial donation result in a 53% open rate. That’s more than 2-3 times higher than the average nonprofit email open rate⁠—inferring that donors are more likely to engage with the content when sent in a timely manner.

73.3% of the Top 30 organizations use Double the Donation’s tools.

Organizations analyzed within the Top Nonprofits study of the P2P Top 30 can be divided into four categories based on software usage.

At the time of the report, 73.3% employ Double the Donation’s matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro. Meanwhile, 16.7% use HEPdata tools, and 3.3% use Amply software. The remaining 6.7% of organizations did not seem to use any dedicated matching gift tools.

The following chart from the report helps visualize the findings:

Matching gift operational stats - software usage

So what does this finding imply? More top-earning nonprofit fundraisers are trusting Double the Donation to empower their matching gift efforts than any other provider.

Not to mention, Double the Donation users scored more highly on the matching gift score chart overall compared to users of alternative software solutions.

Wrapping Up

By analyzing the matching gift operational stats of top nonprofits, we can gain insights into best practices to follow and make a note of emerging trends in matching gift fundraising. From there, organizations like yours can learn from others’ successes and identify growth opportunities—then pursue those areas more effectively.

Interested in learning more about top matching gift strategies and best practices? Check out these additional resources to dive deeper:

  • The Matching Gift Research Report [From Top Nonprofits]. Check out the full study here! We referenced some of our favorite matching gift operational stats in this guide. However, the complete research report shares in-depth analysis of thirty leading nonprofit fundraisers that you won’t want to miss.
  • 14 Important Questions to Ask About Matching Gifts. Got questions? We have answers⁠. Explore the basics of corporate matching gifts and how to leverage the opportunity for your team in this guide. The more you know, the better you can optimize your nonprofit’s efforts to drive results.
  • 19 Matching Gift Companies with Impactful Programs. Get familiar with some of the most prominent matching gift programs and see if your donors work for these companies. View guidelines and initiatives for employers like General Electric, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and more.

Make the most of the matching gift opportunity with Double the Donation. 

Want to learn how to leverage digital fundraising for nonprofit success? Learn more with this guide.

Digital Fundraising for Nonprofits: 6 Key Strategies

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Optimizing your digital fundraising and marketing strategies now helps cement your future fundraising success. But, with so many nonprofits competing for visibility online, it can be difficult to stand out. By investing in the right digital tools, using social media, leveraging the Google algorithm, and organizing your data, your nonprofit can boost your online reach far beyond your existing community. 

1. Use online fundraising software                  

It’s only fitting to manage your digital fundraising campaigns online. Digital fundraising software can help your nonprofit:

  • Record and store donor-specific information
  • Launch online donation forms
  • Send automated gift acknowledgments
  • Manage online event registrations
  • Report your fundraising metrics
  • Create and send email blasts 

No matter your nonprofit’s size or focus, a well-rounded fundraising software solution can streamline all of your operations. Your nonprofit should choose fundraising software that automatically syncs any donor-specific information with your CRM so your information is always up-to-date. 

Getting started with a fundraising software solution is simple. First, research and demo the different options on the market and choose which one is the best for you. Then, work with your onboarding specialist to learn how to use the software and tailor it to your specific fundraising needs. Once you’re comfortable with the system, remember to consistently flag any additional problems you run into so you can best leverage the software.

2. Include remote options for your fundraising event

Virtual and hybrid events naturally complement your digital fundraising strategies. For instance, you can easily send the link to your online donation page in the chat of an event hosted via video call. Plus, hosting remote or hybrid events is easier than ever due to the affordability and user-friendliness of digital fundraising software solutions. Consider adding a remote component to these traditionally in-person fundraising ideas:

  • Silent auction
  • 5K walk/run
  • Gala
  • Dinner party
  • Movie watch party
  • Meet-and-greet with beneficiaries
  • Networking event
  • Webinars and panels with nonprofit experts
  • Q&A sessions with the executive director or board president
  • Giving Days

A simple way to add a remote element to your event is to gather attendees on a video call. Video conferencing software is widely available, so it’s likely that your attendees could easily make an account and participate. Also, some platforms even have nonprofit discounts, helping to save your nonprofit valuable operating costs.  

3. Try a peer-to-peer format

Another way to boost your digital fundraising event’s revenue is to use a peer-to-peer structure in which participants run their own mini-campaigns and use marketing techniques to promote your larger fundraiser. This structure complements digital fundraising because, with peer-to-peer software, you can automate the fundraising process for your nonprofit, your fundraising participants, and their mini-campaign supporters.

Peer-to-peer fundraising software allows your nonprofit to set up a digital hub for your fundraising campaign. From this landing page, your participants can sign up to host a mini-campaign. Then, they’ll receive their own landing page that they can customize with their own fundraising appeals. Once they send their personal link to their network of supporters, they can conveniently donate to the campaign directly from the website. You can also allow participants to join a fundraising team and assign roles with special privileges, such as team captain, through the software. Your peer-to-peer fundraiser will be more shareable and engaging than ever before in a digital setting!      

4. Align your fundraising website with SEO

Boost your fundraising website’s visibility by updating it according to search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. SEO is the process of changing your website’s content to complement the algorithm that orders the search engine results page (SERP). In other words, it ensures that your digital fundraiser’s website ranks highly on Google and that your campaign gets more exposure.

If you aren’t tech-savvy and don’t have much room in your planned marketing budget, don’t worry – updating your website to align with SEO best practices is free and there are many resources to help you get started. According to Google, these elements determine your SERP ranking:

  • Website security
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Speedy load times
  • Quality of on-site content 
  • On-page organization of content
  • Accessibility to visitors of all abilities 

Use your CMS or website builder to gauge your status in these areas. Once you’ve located any weaknesses on your digital fundraiser’s website, determine the scope of your desired changes. For instance, you’ll need to budget more time to completely rewrite your blog content than you’ll need to add alt text to your images. Then, train your team on how to implement the changes and delegate tasks. Note that you won’t see results right away, as it takes Google time to read and rank websites on the SERP.   

5. Apply for the Google Ad Grants program

Your nonprofit can guarantee a desirable spot on the SERP by applying for the Google Ad Grants program. This program awards nonprofits up to $10,000 of prime advertising space on the SERP for free every month. To get started, all you need to do is:

  • Sign up for a Google for Nonprofits account
  • Verify your 501(c)(3) status
  • Apply for the Google Ad Grants program

Once you’re approved, determine which pages you want to promote and which keywords to target. Your nonprofit can then use the $10,000 to bid on relevant keywords against other nonprofits, so target the keywords that are specific to your mission. 

6. Keep your data organized

Any strong digital fundraising strategy is data-driven. But, to properly leverage your data, you need to keep it organized so you can access it when needed. You can clean your CRM by:

  • Identifying and removing duplicate data points
  • Sending a survey to supporters to update contact information and preferences
  • Standardizing processes for maintaining data

With accurate and organized data, your nonprofit can pinpoint which areas of your digital fundraising strategy need further attention and which efforts were successful.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, your online fundraising success depends on how you leverage digital platforms, such as fundraising management and peer-to-peer software. To launch your new digital fundraising tactics, establish attainable, data-driven, and specific goals with your team. Then, pick the software solutions and strategies that allow you to achieve these objectives. Throughout the process, ensure you’re maintaining constant digital communication with your prospects because you can cultivate a deep relationship with them, even through a screen.

Engage with your nonprofit staff to promote a strong team and employee retention.

5 Ways to Impact Staff Retention

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Most, if not all, nonprofits struggle to retain talent, especially in today’s challenging job market and remote work environment.

Improving employee retention requires an intentional and multifaceted approach. To be successful, your plan must encompass multiple employee touchpoints and a focus on employee engagement strategies.

While compensation plays a role in employee satisfaction, studies show that it is not the sole driver. Employees who feel valued, appreciated, and recognized by their organizations and direct managers are happier with their current situations and more likely to envision a future with their organizations.

The following tips can help boost employee engagement and increase retention:

Redirect your compensation efforts

Offering competitive salaries is a challenge for most nonprofits. Frequently, overhead costs must be kept to a minimum and salary budgets are limited by funding.While replacing employees is costly, many nonprofits simply do not have the resources available to provide increases to pay or pay ranges. Exploring other avenues to address compensation gaps is important.

One approach is to view compensation from a total rewards perspective. Focus on the indirect components of compensation, emphasizing the overall value of the package provided to employees. Indirect compensation includes perks, recognition programs, mental and physical wellness benefits, culture, management styles, and much more.

It is also important to address any inequities in your compensation structure as part of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Focus on career advancement and development

Another common reason employees leave an organization is a lack of advancement. Often, individuals seek positions elsewhere without fully understanding the developmental paths available with their current employer.

Employees need to feel that they have the ability to move and progress within a company. Meet with your employees to understand their goals and interests. It is imperative for leadership to communicate about the organization’s plans and how individuals may fit into that plan and future opportunities that will be provided.

Formalized policies and practices regarding pathways to advancement and promotions are important to retention. A policy of filling open positions from within and laying out a clear   process is evidence of commitment to employee growth and development.

Consider various ways of providing opportunities for development. Not all movement needs to be vertical. Lateral moves within an organization can be equally valuable. They allow employees to gain greater insight into the organization, develop new areas of expertise, and may open new doors.

Build marketable skills

In addition to changes in responsibilities, employees want to keep expanding their knowledge bases. Formal training programs are always an option, but they can be expensive and require a significant commitment of time. Leveraging internal expertise to develop new skills and competencies can be an effective and economical way to provide opportunities to develop new skills.

Some common initiatives include lunch and learns, peer mentoring, and preceptorships. This cross-pollination connects people across your organization, building rapport, trust, and camaraderie that deepens their connection to the organization.

Recognize the pressures on employees

Employees experience stress both in and outside of work. Regardless of the source, the resulting mental fatigue impacts work performance. Society is becoming more in tune and comfortable with discussing and addressing mental illness and stress. Top employers show similar understanding by instituting benefits that help employees better cope.

Examples of employer-provided support include:

  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Generous paid time off
  • Access to mental health services
  • Educational programs that address common life stressors

Providing resources to support personal and family challenges shows your employees that you value them as people. These benefits and programs evidence an organizational commitment to stand by employees through both significant, life-altering events as well as everyday obligations that may cause chronic stress.

Commit to transparency and clear communication

Employees need to know how and why decisions are made. Do not allow the rumor mill or employee imaginations to tell your story. Frequent, honest communication undermines the spread of inaccurate information, allows for understanding, and builds trust between leadership and staff.

Communication should be two-way, not just from leadership down. Build a culture where employees not only expect managers to ask for their input but feel comfortable offering their opinions. Find out what your employees think about important topics, including what they like and dislike about working at your organization.

Common mechanisms for gathering employee perceptions and ideas include:

  • Town halls
  • Climate surveys
  • Team meetings
  • One-on-one sessions
  • Stay interviews
  • Exit interviews

Welcome feedback in a positive fashion, as negative responses will only stifle future participation.

Once you have this information, do not sit on it. If you are going to ask for feedback, it is crucial that you take action. If action is not possible, circle back to employees to explain the decision-making process.

Emphasize your calling

Typically, the employees that a nonprofit attracts are passionate about the organization’s mission and have a strong desire to serve. Capitalize on this connection to keep your employees excited about being part of your team.

Integrate your values and mission into everything you do – your culture, policies, and initiatives. When your mission is central to serving your constituents it is also critical to how you treat your employees. A consistent reminder of the good that comes from their efforts will inspire and have an impact on employees’ long-term commitment to your organization.

In closing, putting together a retention strategy that addresses your organization’s unique needs can be challenging. It can be helpful to seek guidance from professional HR consultants to identify best practices and help implement change. Whether you decide to seek external assistance or develop your plan in-house, the above tips will point you in the right direction for developing a winning retention plan for your organization.

3 Methods for Measuring Your Nonprofit’s Investment Success

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Is your nonprofit’s investment strategy paying off? Understanding your investment portfolio’s performance is critical to establishing a healthy budget, determining future fundraising strategies, and providing a meaningful snapshot to stakeholders.

When evaluating your nonprofit investment performance, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

  1. Return on Investment (ROI)
  2. Risk
  3. Liquidity

By combining these methods, you’ll be able to take a holistic view of your investment approach and make the best possible decisions for the success of your organization and community at large. Let’s dive in!

1. Return on Investment (ROI)

According to NPOInfo, return on investment (ROI) represents the total revenue your organization gains over the total investment cost, including the principal amount and ongoing fees.

When looking at your nonprofit’s investment success, return on investment is the most important measurement to consider. For nonprofits, we recommend looking at your ROI through two different lenses: ROI over a period of time and ROI compared to the market.

ROI Over a Period of Time

ROI over a period of time considers both capital gains and dividends and can be used to analyze the overall performance of a nonprofit’s investment portfolio.

To calculate ROI over a period of time, simply divide your investment return (current value minus investment cost) by the cost of your initial investment. 

ROI = (Investment Return / Investment Cost) × 100%

For example, if you invested $100,000 in a mutual fund and it gained 10% over the course of a year, your ROI would be 10%.

ROI Compared to the Market

ROI compared to the market is a way to measure how well your investments performed compared to a benchmark index. In this sense, it focuses on the difference between the return you earned and the return you could have earned by investing in a low-cost, passive benchmark index.

For example, if the S&P 500 gained 10% over a year, and your investment earned 13%, your ROI compared to the market would be 3%. 

Additionally, as inflation rates rise, you should compare your ROI against current rates. If inflation is at 9%, but your investment account returns 8%, your fund is actively losing its value, and you should reconsider your investment strategy.

2. Risk

In addition to ROI, you should consider the riskiness of your investments when evaluating your investment performance. A successful high-risk investment strategy can quickly become a very unsuccessful one.

While measuring the risk of your investment strategy is a complex process, for nonprofits, we recommend you begin by evaluating it in two forms: volatility and drawdowns.

Volatility

Volatility is a calculation of how much your investments fluctuate in value over time. Measuring volatility can help your organization understand the predictability of an investment fund’s growth. For example, a fund that gained 10% one year, lost 12% the following year, and gained 16% in a third year would be considered an unpredictable and thus volatile investment. 

Volatility is particularly important to consider with short-term, time-bound investments where you can’t wait for the value to swing upward before removing the funds. However, in general, the higher the volatility, the higher the risk. 

Drawdowns

A drawdown tells you how much an investment or fund has lost in value over a specific period of time. Drawdowns are important to consider in your performance analysis because they provide historical insight into how much your investments can lose. Much like volatility, the higher the drawdown, the higher the risk.

Generally, a diversified portfolio, alongside ongoing fundraising activities, such as events, donations, and matching gifts, will help your nonprofit reduce the potential risk in your investment portfolio and perform better long-term. For example, if you have a portfolio diversified across multiple asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and cash, your overall investment is less likely to suffer if one of those assets performs poorly.

3. Liquidity

As an investment performance metric, liquidity tells you how easily you can convert your investment into cash and access your money in an emergency. While not all your funds will be liquid, nonprofits should aim to have an easily-accessible reserve fund of nine to twelve months of their operating budget in a conservative and diversified portfolio.

Endowment funds, for instance, often carry restrictions that regulate the amount your organization can withdraw each year and where that money can go. Similarly, if you have a portfolio that is composed of only stocks, you may have a difficult time quickly converting your investments into cash in the case of an emergency. On the other hand, if you have a portfolio composed of cash and bonds, you will likely have an easier time converting your investments into cash.

To measure liquidity, consider the percentage of your investment portfolio that is composed of cash and cash equivalents. For example, if you have a portfolio consisting of 50% cash and 50% stocks, your portfolio would be considered 50% liquid.

The Bottom Line

By measuring return on investment, risk, and liquidity, you will be able to get a clearer picture of how your nonprofit’s investments are performing.

However, for many nonprofits with limited resources, this information can often be challenging to find, share, and act on. To improve transparency and accessibility as well as increase your investing success, it’s important to consider the investment tools you use. Infinite Giving’s guide to nonprofit reserve funds recommends that you ask the following questions of providers when considering where to invest your funds:

  • How will you support my nonprofit’s goals?
  • What are the associated service and investment fees? 
  • How do I access, deposit, and withdraw funds?
  • What security features do you offer?
  • What investment portfolio options do you offer?
  • Can I generate and share custom reports with my stakeholders?
  • Do you offer accessible customer service and expert advice?

With the right investment tools and measurement strategies, you can better engage key stakeholders and donors, make financially sound investment decisions, generate more income for your organization, and make a greater impact in your community.

Mobile Optimization: 5 Reasons it Matters for Nonprofits

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You’ve heard it time and time again: optimizing your website for mobile devices is crucial. Your website goals probably include engaging with donors, volunteers, and other supporters, and encouraging them to stay involved for the long term. A mobile-optimized website can support these goals and help you drive more online traffic. 

Specifically, we’re going to discuss five reasons why mobile optimization is so important for nonprofit websites: 

  1. Most people spend a large portion of their day on their phones.
  2. Mobile donations are more popular than ever.
  3. Social media use is also increasing globally.  
  4. Mobile optimization is a Google ranking factor. 
  5. Mobile load speed affects bounce rate.

The best nonprofit websites engage and excite supporters whether they’re using their laptops, tablets, or phones to connect. Let’s take a closer look at why you should emphasize mobile-friendliness when designing your website. 

1. Most people spend a large portion of their day on their phones.

Research shows that the average smartphone user spends five to six hours per day on their phone. People use their phones for everything from online shopping to binge-watching TV shows, messaging loved ones, and ordering food. 

Therefore, your nonprofit’s supporters expect to be able to connect with your organization using their mobile devices. The first step to keeping donors close is appealing to their preferences by offering them a way to engage with and learn more about your nonprofit from the palm of their hand.  

2. Mobile donations are more popular than ever.

Supporters want to be able to give any time, anywhere, without having to pull out their laptops to do so. To attract and retain donors, you must offer plenty of convenient, simple donation opportunities, including a mobile-responsive giving page and text-to-give options. Your supporters should be able to easily fill out and move through the donation process on their phones without squinting or having to pinch their screens and zoom in.

3. Social media use is also increasing globally.  

Creating mobile-friendly marketing content is also critical for increasing engagement with your social media campaigns. 78% of social media users worldwide only use their mobile devices to access social media platforms. Plus, 55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media eventually take some sort of action, whether that’s contributing monetary or in-kind donations, volunteering, participating in advocacy campaigns, or attending events.  

Developing social media campaigns that look great on mobile devices, with elements such as vertical videos and mobile-friendly landing pages, should be a priority for your organization. 

4. Mobile optimization is a Google ranking factor. 

Since 2015, Google has used mobile-friendliness as an SEO ranking factor. That means that to improve your site’s chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages, you must ensure it’s mobile-optimized.

To create a mobile-optimized website that ranks highly on Google, keep the formatting and design simple, ensure your text sizes are large enough to be read on mobile devices, and review and edit your site in the mobile view to check for any formatting issues. When you combine these efforts with other SEO best practices, such as optimizing your website’s pages for relevant keywords, you can help your content become more visible on Google and drive more traffic. 

5. Mobile load speed affects bounce rate.

A mobile-optimized website is not only crucial for SEO—it’s also a central element in creating a better visitor experience. That’s because visitors expect a streamlined, fast-loading mobile website experience. In fact, 53% of visitors will leave your website if your mobile pages take more than three seconds to load. 

If you’re planning to reformat your website’s mobile version, keep web design best practices in mind. Decrease load times by resizing and compressing images, leveraging browser caching, and eliminating unnecessary characters and spaces from your code. 

 

If you’re running into any roadblocks when trying to create a mobile-optimized website, reach out to a nonprofit web design firm for support. These experts can help you carry out audience research and develop a website revamp strategy with your organization’s unique branding and goals in mind. 

Whether you tackle your website design in-house or with the help of an experienced professional, these five reasons make it clear that mobile-friendliness should be a top priority.

Check out these nonprofit marketing ideas to help expand your organization's reach.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas: Promote Your Cause Effectively

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Nonprofit marketing is the key to growing your organization, gaining support, and having people show up to your events. Without marketing, there’s no way for people to know about your nonprofit and all the great work you’re doing.

It can be difficult to come up with effective marketing strategies for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’ve been in the marketing world for a while and feel like your marketing plan could use a refresh. Perhaps you’re constrained by your organization’s small marketing budget. Or maybe you’re completely new to the nonprofit marketing space and have no idea where to start.

Whatever your position is, we’re here to offer a comprehensive list of nonprofit marketing ideas to choose from to help you successfully promote your organization’s work. Take a look at the categories we’ll go over:

Here at Getting Attention, we specialize in teaching nonprofits about the Google Ad Grant program. Google Ad Grants are one surefire nonprofit marketing idea that comes at no cost to your organization. We believe that when paired with other nonprofit marketing ideas, the Google Grants program can skyrocket your promotional efforts and build the support your mission deserves.

Schedule a free consultation with Getting Attention to learn about how Google Grants is an effective nonprofit marketing idea.

We have many nonprofit marketing ideas to cover, so let’s get started!

These are the basics of nonprofit marketing.

What is Nonprofit Marketing?

Nonprofit marketing is the process of strategizing and planning ideas that will help your organization spread its reach and mission, obtain donations, and recruit supporters like volunteers, board members, and event attendees.

You’ve developed an organization that stands for a good cause. However, what you can do in service of your mission is limited by how much others know about your nonprofit. You certainly can’t take on something as big as ending the climate crisis or saving endangered animals without the help of others. That’s where effective nonprofit marketing ideas come in.

While nonprofit marketing is necessary for all organizations, it’s not always easy. You must be organized and focused on the goals you have for your nonprofit. Once you figure out the nonprofit marketing tactics that work for your nonprofit, they can help your organization by:

  • Spreading awareness of your mission. At the heart of your organization is your mission or cause. Nonprofit marketing can let people know what your organization is working so hard to achieve.
  • Securing donations. The more you can share your organization and its mission with others, the more potential donations you can receive.
  • Building relationships with donors. Of course, any monetary contributions your organization can obtain are useful, but recurring donations allow for a more stable income. If you can communicate with your donors effectively, they’ll be more likely to continue supporting your organization.
  • Gaining other supporters. Donors are just one group who can help out your organization. Don’t forget about volunteers, board members, and event attendees. Effective nonprofit marketing ideas can help you reach all kinds of people who are willing to assist you in achieving your mission.
  • Showcasing your services. Your nonprofit has a mission, but how do you specifically carry it out? Knowing exactly what your organization provides will inspire people to contribute to your nonprofit, and a comprehensive marketing plan can help highlight your services.Effective nonprofit marketing ideas can help your organization achieve these objectives.

Now that you know just how useful the right nonprofit marketing ideas can be, we’ll go over some strategies for how to use them effectively. We’ve split these ideas into different categories based on the overall outcome they will have for your organization.

Here are some nonprofit marketing ideas for developing your organization's mission.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Developing Your Organization’s Mission

Without a clear focus, it will be difficult to promote and operate your organization. That’s why developing your organization’s mission is so important. It provides the basis for your nonprofit’s values that likely govern what your organization does, how your employees approach their work, and how others see your organization.

Here’s how to get started with crafting your nonprofit’s mission:

There are many different nonprofit marketing ideas that can help you develop your nonprofit's mission.

  • Create an original nonprofit tagline. It’s important to be able to sum up your mission in a short phrase or sentence. That way, people interested in your work can quickly get a sense of what it’s all about.
  • Come up with design, personality, and attitude guidelines. Cohesiveness is key. Not only do you want your marketing materials to match your mission, but the way your employees act should as well. Be clear with how you want your employees to represent your organization so that everyone knows your standards.
  • Change up your look. If your organization has been around for a while, it might be worth thinking about changing your logo or branding. Doing so can freshen up your online presence and show people that you’re committed to modernizing your organization.
  • Provide information about your nonprofit’s goals and progress. Being transparent about what your organization is trying to achieve and the results you’ve gotten so far will help people to get a sense of where their help could fit in. It’s also just good practice for your nonprofit to be honest and forthcoming about its operations.
  • Exude confidence. If you want people to become a part of your organization, then you need to first believe in your work yourself. List your organization’s strengths so that people can see all the ways you excel as a nonprofit. In turn, people will be more willing to support your organization since it gives off a robust and self-assured image.
  • Incorporate storytelling. It’s the classic dilemma: showing people the work your organization has done is way better than just telling them the services you provide. Gather stories and quotes from those your organization helps so that people can develop a personal connection to your organization. Seeing the impact your organization has on real people will help others understand exactly what they could contribute to.
  • Develop a stable marketing plan or strategy. Staying organized for any task requires making a plan, and marketing is no different. A comprehensive nonprofit marketing plan will map out what you want to achieve in the near and distant future to give your efforts some direction.

Once you have a good understanding of your organization’s mission, it’s time to get online and spread the word.

Here are several nonprofit marketing ideas for using technology effectively.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Using Technology Effectively

In today’s media age, productive technology use is the key to marketing success. Using technology effectively can amplify your organization’s outreach even further and spread your mission to more people. Try out these tech-savvy nonprofit marketing ideas:

Website

It’s important to have a strong nonprofit website to showcase your organization and cause. Here are some website nonprofit marketing ideas:

  • Make a website. A well-designed website for your organization is the perfect place to start. It’s the most widely recognized online marketing tool that people of all ages can comfortably use on any device. Ensure that yours is easy to use and features all the up-to-date information that potential donors, volunteers, employees, supporters, and clients need to decide if they would like to be involved with your organization.
  • Create a blog. Content marketing is a great way to share what’s going on within your organization and provide relevant information about your industry. Writing lots of blog content will show that you’re a reputable source for industry and nonprofit-related topics. Also, people searching for topics you feature in your blog could stumble upon your organization’s website and become interested in supporting your cause.
  • Write engaging copy. Informing people about your cause will warrant a lot of writing. To make your copy easy to follow, break it up with graphics and try to be as concise as possible. It can also help your copywriters if you indicate what you’re envisioning for your brand’s voice and tone.
  • Work on your content’s SEO. SEO, or search engine optimization, is what ensures your content gets found on Google and other search engines. Do some keyword research to find what relevant terms people are searching for and incorporate them into your website and blog.Here's a checklist of nonprofit marketing ideas for your organization's website.

While these ideas are an effective way to strengthen your site, there are plenty of other nonprofit marketing strategies out there.

Social Media

Social media is the perfect way to engage with your younger supporters. Check out these nonprofit marketing ideas for social media:

  • Build out your social media accounts. Social media is always changing, but it’s important to stay on top of the trends and new platforms. As of right now, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat are the places to be. Lean into trends and adapt them to your organization for a fun yet relevant social media presence. If you have room in your budget, it might be beneficial to hire an intern to run your social media accounts so that your content stays fresh.
  • Make videos. Videos often allow you to portray and elicit emotion in a way that images can’t. If you have the resources to do so, try creating a short video related to your mission and post it on YouTube, your website, and your social media channels.
  • Establish a connected online presence. None of your online marketing tools should exist in a vacuum. Connect your website, blog, and social media accounts together to provide a cohesive user experience. For example, provide the link to your website in the bio of your social media accounts and feature your social media accounts on the homepage of your website. Making it easy to jump from platform to platform will ensure that users can find the one that best suits their preferences for interacting with your organization.Here's a checklist of nonprofit marketing ideas for your organization's social media.

After you have developed your nonprofit’s website and social media accounts, remember to follow all general digital marketing best practices.

General Online Nonprofit Marketing Ideas

Finally, take a look at these general nonprofit marketing ideas to improve your organization’s online presence:

  • Utilize multiple marketing channels. Marketing comes in all different forms, and it’s important to leverage as many of them as you can. Combine emails, phone calls, direct mail, social media posts, and website updates for the most comprehensive marketing strategy. You’ll want to try different avenues so you have the biggest chance to capture your audience’s attention.
  • Include calls to action. To inspire action, tell people how they can help create change. Maybe you include a button in one of your blog posts linking to your donation page. Perhaps you add an event registration link to your email newsletter. Making it easy for people to take the actions you want them to makes it more likely that they’ll respond accordingly.
  • Take advantage of virtual events. The boom of video chatting platforms in the workplace has opened up doors for virtual events. Now, you can plan an event that reaches hundreds or thousands of people all around the world. Host a panel or share some updates about your organization with your supporters for an engaging online experience.Here are some general nonprofit marketing ideas.

Smart technology use can push your mission forward and help you gain support. However, it can get expensive to create so much content across different platforms, so it’s important to know how to budget your marketing plan.

Here are some nonprofit marketing ideas for keeping your costs down.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Keeping Costs Down

Nonprofits are typically on tight budgets, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t market their causes effectively. They just need to be smart about how they use their funds. Here are some ways you can promote your organization while keeping costs low:

  • Create a marketing budget. What better way to stay on a budget than by creating one in the first place? It’s important to allocate your resources where they will be most useful and stay aware of how much money your organization has available to spend.
  • Print strategically. These days, there’s less and less of a need to print things, so think about what truly needs to be printed. Additionally, try to print double-sided pages whenever possible and implement batch printing.
  • Unbrand direct mail. There’s no need to send branded envelopes if it’ll overwhelm your budget. Besides, all the important stuff is inside, right? Just make it clear that the letter came from someone at your organization, so recipients won’t think it’s junk mail and toss it.
  • Add a “Donate Now” button to your Facebook page. If your nonprofit qualifies, Facebook will add the button to your page for free. It’s an easy way for supporters to donate and requires no work from your team to upkeep.
  • Team up with a local business. If what’s holding your organization back is funds, seek out someone who can offset your marketing costs. Local businesses are often happy to pair up with nonprofits as a way to give back to their community. See if you can find a local business that will donate food or supplies for your event or keep a donation bucket in their store.
  • Use AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a program available through Amazon where the company will donate 0.5% of people’s eligible purchases to a nonprofit that they choose. There are over one million organizations to choose from, and making sure yours is one of them is an easy and free way to collect some extra cash. Let your supporters and employees know to select your organization on the AmazonSmile website to start earning from their purchases.Try these ideas for how to keep your nonprofit's marketing costs low.

Keeping costs down where you can will ensure that you can set aside the funds you need for bigger marketing projects and more expensive resources.

Here are some nonprofit marketing ideas for advertising your organization.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Advertising Your Nonprofit

There are so many different nonprofit marketing ideas for advertising your organization’s services and making sure they’re put in front of the right audiences. This is great news because it means your organization can pick and choose the tactics that fit your nonprofit best. Check out some nonprofit marketing ideas for advertising your organization:

Online

Marketing your nonprofit online will allow you to reach a larger audience. Here are some nonprofit marketing ideas for spreading the word online:

  • Use Google Ad Grants. The Google Ad Grant program provides eligible organizations with $10,000 per month in Google Ad spending at no cost. You just have to apply, create your ads, and you’re good to go! However, you must maintain your account and follow all program requirements. If you need help with your Google Ad Grants account, schedule a free consultation with us. We’ll help you apply for the program, target the right keywords, and create highly effective ads for your cause!
  • Encourage peer-to-peer fundraising. Peer-to-peer fundraising is when individuals raise money for a nonprofit by reaching out to friends and family. People can set up a donation page, but social media has made peer-to-peer fundraising even easier by building in fundraising options on apps like Instagram and Facebook. For birthdays, holidays, memorials, or no occasion at all, individuals who are passionate about your organization can raise money for your cause.
  • Analyze your data. These days, every action you take online can produce some valuable data points. Track and review data such as clickthrough rate and time spent on each page to see if you can find any patterns and improve your marketing efforts. This nonprofit marketing idea can be especially useful when planning your advertising budget so that you can see where money needs to be allocated.

While it’s important to advertise your nonprofit online, there are still helpful ways to expand your organization’s reach using offline methods.

Schedule a free consultation for help with your Google Ad Grants account.

Offline

Combine your online marketing efforts with these offline nonprofit marketing ideas:

  • Sell branded merchandise. Turn your supporters into walking advertisements for your organization! If you get creative with your merchandise and make it something your supporters will love, then others will be interested in what they’re wearing and research your nonprofit.
  • Find brand ambassadors. Choosing a leader in your nonprofit to be the face of the organization can help with brand recognition and familiarize people with your nonprofit. Additionally, recruiting supporters or influencers to be brand ambassadors for your nonprofit is a great way to spread the word about your organization. Yes, they can post on social media, but they can also help you host in-person events and implement your other nonprofit marketing ideas.
  • Give people a personalized experience. Whether that’s sending a letter to a donor thanking them for their support or reaching out to a supporter to deepen your relationship with them, customize the experience. People respond better when they know you took the time to give them something special and meant for them only.
  • Emulate larger organizations. It never hurts to see what other more established nonprofits are doing and try to reproduce it with your own resources. Check out their blogs and scroll through their social media pages for tips and an idea of the progression of their organization.There are so many ways you can incorporate advertising into your nonprofit marketing plan, both online and offline.

Mixing up your advertising methods is a great way to reach many different people. It also allows you to learn more about your audience and which marketing efforts they respond to best.

These nonprofit marketing ideas can help you foster relationships with partners and donors.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Fostering Stakeholder Relationships

All of your supporters are important, but developing relationships with partners and donors will strengthen your organization’s network and broaden your reach. Take a look at some of our marketing ideas for nonprofits looking to recruit more partners and donors:

Developing relationships with partners and donors is not only a large part of your nonprofit marketing plan but also of your organization's reputation and credibility.

Welcoming Partners and Donors

From the very beginning, you’ll want your new supporters to feel welcome in your organization’s community. Try out these nonprofit marketing ideas for new partners and donors:

  • Send a welcome package. What better way to welcome partners and donors than with a welcome package? Include tons of information about your organization and partner or donor program. Additionally, you’ll want to give them some fun branded merchandise such as a t-shirt, pen, or mug. Doing so can get people excited about working with you and show how much you appreciate them from the very start.
  • Take them out for a meal. Having lunch or coffee with a partner or donor is a great way to develop a relationship with them. You can show them that you care about getting to know them face-to-face and can tell them a little more about your organization. This is also a great opportunity to get any feedback from your partners or donors about their work with you so far.
  • Remind them of matching gift opportunities. If a donor’s employer is willing to match their donation, you could receive double the funding for your organization. It’s best for donors to use software that will inform them of matching gift opportunities beforehand, but it doesn’t hurt to them let know after they have made their donation to see if their employer can help.

Once you develop relationships with your partners and donors, it’s important to keep them strong.

Maintaining the Relationship

Keeping your relationships with your supporters is an essential part of your nonprofit’s success. Take a look at these nonprofit marketing ideas to help you maintain stakeholder relationships:

  • Be strategic with the timing of your messages. It’s important to build a regular email rapport with your partners and donors, whether that be by reaching out to them individually to chat or sending an email newsletter. However, make sure you look into the best time to send these messages. This may depend on the age, career, lifestyle, and time zone of your partners and donors.
  • Reach out to lapsed donors. Just because a donor hasn’t contributed in a while doesn’t mean that they’ve lost interest in your organization. Sometimes, donors are just busy or don’t have your organization on their minds. Sending them a gift or explaining how your donor program has changed can help to re-engage lapsed donors.
  • Keep up with donors. Stewardship is an important part of maintaining relationships with donors. Build trust by following up with supporters and showing them that you are using their money responsibly.
  • Respond well to partner or donor feedback. These people are contributing to your organization, so it’s important to remember that when they give you constructive feedback. Listen to their concerns and try to make things right. Your supporters will appreciate your patience and willingness to help them out.

Forming relationships with supporters is one thing, but keeping them requires effective communication. Apply these nonprofit marketing ideas to your outreach to make sure you’re doing everything you can to create lasting connections with your supporters.

Once you have their support, it's important to keep up your communication with partners, donors, and other supporters using effective nonprofit marketing ideas.

Nonprofit Marketing Ideas For Communicating with Supporters

After you develop relationships with your supporters, you need to figure out how to keep them around. As we’ve mentioned, the best way to ensure that your supporters continue their support is by effectively communicating with them. These are some best practices for communicating with your nonprofit’s supporters:

Communication Style

The way you communicate with your supporters is inherently tied to their perception of your organization. Use these nonprofit marketing ideas to develop a good communication style with your supporters:

  • Be responsive. An easy way to keep your communication style professional is to respond quickly. Responding efficiently to people’s messages shows them you respect their time.
  • Keep a positive attitude. You want your supporters to have a positive experience with your organization, which starts with you and your staff. Approach your communications with optimism despite any challenges your nonprofit encounters.
  • Use a donor database. Keeping track of your supporters’ information and past interactions with your organization can help you make more informed decisions regarding your communication with them. For example, if you have multiple phone numbers listed for the same donor, choosing the preferred one can ensure a quicker response.
  • Implement segmentation. Dividing your supporters into appropriate categories can enable you to send more personalized messages to each group. An easy way to segment your supporters is by type of support: donors, partners, clients, brand ambassadors, board members, and so on. You could also segment supporters by how long they have been involved with your organization or by how frequently they interact with your nonprofit.Here are some nonprofit marketing ideas for improving your organization's communication style.

Improving your organization’s communication style will help you keep great relationships with your stakeholders.

Getting Supporters Involved

While it’s important for your organization to keep your supporters informed, you’ll also want to hear from them about what they think of your nonprofit. Get your supporters involved with these nonprofit marketing ideas:

  • Send out surveys. Receiving feedback from your supporters can help improve areas of your organization that need work. Additionally, the act of asking for feedback shows supporters that you care about their input and are committed to improving your nonprofit.
  • Encourage interactions on social media. If you’re using social media effectively, you can really get to know your supporters and encourage them to interact with your organization in unique ways. For example, you can create polls, ask questions in your captions, and interview supporters so you can feature them in a post or newsletter.
  • Ask your supporters about their experience working with your organization. The best way to promote your organization is by sharing quotes from real people who believe in your nonprofit. Asking your supporters to offer a quote about their experience allows them to reflect on what they enjoy about your organization and share that with others.Check out these nonprofit marketing ideas for getting your supporters involved.

Fine-tuning your communication with supporters can help to maintain your relationships with them and remind them of why they prioritize contributing to your cause. These ideas offer a solid start, but be sure to consistently brainstorm new ways to maintain open lines of communication with your community.

Take a look at these resources for more nonprofit marketing ideas.

Conclusion & Additional Resources

Developing and implementing a marketing strategy can be a lot for a nonprofit to take on, but these nonprofit marketing ideas will give you a solid foundation on which to build. From solidifying your organization’s mission to fostering relationships with your supporters, there are so many ways to promote your nonprofit and make it stand out to prospects.

While we were able to give you a quick glimpse into several marketing ideas for nonprofits, you might want some more information about them. Below we’ve highlighted some resources about ideas that we mentioned:

Here's everything you need to know about Google G Suite for nonprofits.

Google G Suite for Nonprofits: Everything You Need to Know

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Organizing your work and connecting you with your fellow employees are tasks any business software should accomplish. However, none delivers better value and usability than Google’s business software, Google G Suite (otherwise known as Google Workspace).

Like businesses, nonprofits can benefit from all that Google G Suite has to offer. The wide variety of apps suits any need a nonprofit could have and makes communication and daily tasks quicker and easier. All you have to do is understand G Suite’s features and configure them to match your organization’s needs.

To help you out, we’ve put together this guide on everything you need to know about Google G Suite for nonprofits. Here are the questions we’ll answer:

Here at Getting Attention, we help nonprofits navigate the Google Ad Grant program. Spending so much time utilizing and optimizing the tools that Google provides, we know how to use Google G Suite effectively. We are happy to share our knowledge with nonprofits so that they can access all that Google’s applications have to offer.

 

Follow along to learn more about Google G Suite and how it could benefit your nonprofit.Schedule a free consultation with Getting Attention to learn about additional tools Google provides nonprofits.

These are the basics of Google G Suite.

What is G Suite?

G Suite is a host of integrated apps that work together to make your organization run smoothly. For example, you can create a Calendar invite that goes directly to the invitees’ Gmail inboxes. Within the Calendar event itself, you can start a new Google Doc to take meeting notes or add a Meet link for virtual meetings.

These apps work together seamlessly to allow employees to focus more on their work and less on logistics. Additionally, all files, emails, and appointments within G Suite are highly secured, so you don’t have to worry about hosting sensitive information on the platform.

There are many useful features of Google G Suite for nonprofits.

What Features Does G Suite Include?

Together, the apps of G Suite provide many beneficial features for nonprofits. To help you understand how these tools will fit into your organization’s operations, take a look at the features G Suite has to offer:

Organization

Google Drive is the home base for any type of file your nonprofit creates, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Folders within Google Drive allow you to organize these files into categories based on projects, campaigns, teams, partnerships, and more. You can also share these files with others and assign different levels of access to different members of your organization such as viewing or editing capabilities.

Collaboration

One of the unique benefits of G Suite is the ability to seamlessly work on the same files as others at the same exact time. You can even see the icons of who is currently viewing or editing a certain file at the top right of the screen. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can work with your team from anywhere on any device. In particular, Google Meet fosters collaboration by allowing you to meet with others virtually while viewing files within the Drive together.

Communication

Effective communication is key, and G Suite provides many tools for streamlining internal and external outreach, including Gmail, Slides, and Forms. Gmail is the ultimate email service that allows you to easily sort your emails into different categories. Additionally, Slides makes it easy for you to present your ideas to others and foster a dialogue about your presentation topic. Lastly, Forms allows you to easily create questionnaires in order to gather feedback or important information from external stakeholders or teams across your organization.

Integration

As mentioned before, all of the G Suite apps work beautifully together so that you can accomplish your goals. Another example of such integration is when writing to someone on Gmail, you can easily attach files from Drive.

Storage

Different G Suite plans provide different storage options, but they all allow for at least 30 GB of storage per user. This expansive amount of storage means that you won’t have to worry about storing too much on Drive and can create as many files as your organization needs.

Onboarding

G Suite’s tools make onboarding and training new employees a breeze. You can create training files and folders in Drive to organize new information for your recruits. Additionally, you can use Meet to train new employees in different time zones or locations or Sites to create your organization’s own training website.

Marketing

There may not be a specific marketing app within G Suite, but using G Suite’s apps can allow for seamless marketing campaign creation. From brainstorming ideas on Meet to creating a website for your nonprofit using Sites, G Suite can assist your team in the marketing campaign process from start to finish. Google G Suite provides many invaluable features for nonprofits.

Considering all of the amazing features G Suite has to offer, you might be wondering about how much it costs. We’ll go over that in the next section.

Here's a guide to Google G Suite for Nonprofits' pricing.

Is Google G Suite for Nonprofits Free?

Well, yes and no. The cost of Google G Suite depends on which plan your nonprofit chooses. The basic plan is completely free, but you’ll need to upgrade to one of the paid plans to gain access to get more cloud storage, increase the number of users, improve your video meeting quality, and more. Here’s a quick overview of each plan and how much it costs:

Check out the different Google G Suite for Nonprofits plans your organization can leverage

Google Workspace for Nonprofits

  • Cost: $0/user/month
  • Benefits:
    • Up to 2,000 users
    • Video meetings with up to 100 participants
    • 30 GB of cloud storage per user
    • Email address for each user at your nonprofit’s domain
    • Security and management controls
    • Standard support

Business Standard for Nonprofits

  • Cost: $3/user/month
  • Benefits:
    • Up to 2,000 users
    • Video meetings with up to 150 participants and recordings saved in Drive
    • 2 TB of cloud storage per user
    • Email address for each user at your nonprofit’s domain
    • Security and management controls
    • Standard support

Business Plus for Nonprofits

  • Cost: $5.04/user/month
  • Benefits:
    • Up to 2,000 users
    • Video meetings with up to 250 participants, recordings saved in Drive, and attendance tracking
    • 5 TB of cloud storage per user
    • Email address for each user at your nonprofit’s domain
    • Enhanced security and management controls with Google Vault
    • Standard support

Enterprise for Nonprofits

 

  • Cost: 70%+ off standard pricing – need to contact sales
  • Benefits:
    • Unlimited number of users
    • Video meetings with up to 250 participants, recordings saved in Drive, attendance tracking, noise cancellation, and in-domain live streaming
    • Unlimited storage
    • Email address for each user at your nonprofit’s domain
    • Advanced security and management controls with Google Vault, DLP, data regions, and enterprise endpoint management
    • Enhanced support

Google certainly provides a lot of G Suite options for nonprofits to leverage at discounted prices. Whichever plan you choose, your nonprofit’s communication and its overall operations are sure to flourish when you put thought behind how you’ll implement the different features.

Set up your Google G Suite account in these easy steps.

How Can I Set Up Google G Suite for My Nonprofit?

Ready to dive right into G Suite? G Suite offers a ton of great benefits for nonprofits at affordable prices. However, before you start using the software, you must put in the work to get it set up correctly.

There are a few simple steps you’ll need to follow to set up G Suite:

  1. Create a Google for Nonprofits account. If you’re familiar with other Google resources for nonprofits like the Google Ad Grant program, then you may already have a Google for Nonprofits account. If not, then no problem! You can request one here. As long as your organization meets the eligibility requirements and registers with TechSoup, you should have no problem getting approved.
  2. Migrate users over to their new accounts. Once Google approves your Google for Nonprofits account, members of your organization will need to switch from their previous accounts to their new ones. Users can do this manually or by using Google’s migration services.
  3. Arrange teams. When all users have shifted over to their nonprofit accounts, you can split them into teams and give them different levels of access to different resources.
  4. Complete training. To help out new users with the platform, Google provides training through the Google Workspace Learning Center, which includes tips and tricks for how to use G Suite.

Here’s how to set up Google G Suite for your nonprofit.

Congrats! You’re now ready to start using your Google G Suite for Nonprofits account and start accessing all of the wonderful benefits it provides.

Here's a recap of the amazing benefits of Google G Suite for nonprofits.Why Should I Use Google G Suite for My Nonprofit?

If it’s not clear by now, G Suite is the ultimate platform for nonprofits to organize their work and communicate with their employees and communities. It’s not hard to see why it’s the dominant platform that nonprofits turn to when managing their work.

To summarize its benefits, here are some of the top reasons why you should use Google G Suite for your nonprofit:

  • Many helpful apps to run every aspect of your organization
  • Plenty of storage to securely maintain any documents you need
  • Efficient communication and collaboration both internally and externally
  • Organization and integration between apps
  • Easy accessibility from anywhere at any time, great for nonprofit teams that are on the go

There are several benefits of using Google G Suite for Nonprofits.

No matter how big or small your organization is, Google G Suite provides resources that are invaluable to the cohesion and success of your team.

Read on for some additional Google resources.

Conclusion & Additional Resources

Now, you should be backed by plenty of helpful information about how to use Google G Suite for nonprofits. Whether your organization already uses Google resources or is thinking about switching over from another platform, G Suite for nonprofits is a great choice for your organization.

Since Google created the features and pricing with nonprofits in mind, your organization is sure to find G Suite’s tools and accessibility extremely helpful and relevant to your everyday operations.

As we mentioned before, the Google for Nonprofits program has a variety of resources in addition to Google G Suite. If you’re interested in other Google for Nonprofits resources like the Google Ad Grant program, check out some of these articles for more information:

If you want help managing other Google resources like Google Ad Grants, you may benefit from using a Google Ad Grants agency.

Does Your Website Need Plugins, Add-Ons, or Custom Software?

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Picture this: you’re getting ready to launch a digital fundraising campaign, which means you need your website to be in tip-top shape. On top of that, you’re trying to get your donor database organized so that you know who exactly you should reach out to.

As you’re planning your virtual fundraising events for the campaign, you find that your technology can’t quite keep up. You know there’s a whole bunch of features out there that can help, but you don’t know which ones you need. What do you do?

The world of nonprofit technology and website building can feel overwhelming for anyone, but especially if you don’t consider yourself a tech wizard. Even when you’ve picked your theme, visual builder, and domain name, there still seems to be a ton of additional features you can download to enhance your website. From plugins to add-ons to custom software, it can be difficult to know what you actually need.

But don’t worry — we’re here to help! We’ve put together this guide to explain everything you need to know about the features you can download or create to enhance your website, including:

Whether you have a consultant on your side or you’re navigating this on your own, this guide will help you determine which features you should invest in and which ones you might be able to skip. Let’s dive in!

All About Plugins

First on our list is plugins. Plugins are downloadable features that you can add to your content management software (known as a CMS or website builder) that can enhance your platform. Plugins are most commonly used to add features or functionality to a web builder.

There are tons of plugins to choose from, so how do you know which ones are right for your nonprofit? Here are some tips for selecting plugins:

  • Be sure that you actually need the plugin: Before you start downloading all types of plugins, you should first ask yourself if you actually need the plugin. For example, you may need a plugin that makes your website menu easier to navigate, but you might not need one that also adds section navigation. Having a ton of plugins on your website can sometimes slow it down, so try to avoid installing every plugin that strikes your fancy!
  • Look at the reviews: Once you’ve determined if you actually need the plugin, be sure to read the reviews about the plugin. These can help you determine how well the plugin is supported and if the plugin will actually be helpful and perform how it’s supposed to!
  • Ensure that the plugin is regularly updated: The last thing you want is to download an outdated plugin that slows down your site. Check to make sure that the plugin is regularly updated and that a team of developers is available to resolve any issues.

Only you can decide which plugins are right for your site, but make sure you look at each option with scrutiny. If you’re already feeling the choice paralysis, check out this Cornershop Creative guide to WordPress plugins for nonprofits. They did the hard work of finding the best plugins so you don’t have to!

All About Add-Ons

Now you might think that plugins and add-ons are the same thing, but here we’re referring to  Add-Ons as features built-in as options or tools within the platform you are already trying to use.

It’s important to note that some plugins and add-ons may fulfill a similar purpose. As you’re looking for plugins, check first to see if the platform or program you’re using already offers the same feature in the form of an add-on. For instance, you likely won’t need a plugin to create a blog for your site. Your web builder will already have plenty of tools and add-ons to help you add a blog directly to your site.

Here are some examples of add-ons that your nonprofit might find valuable for your website:

  • Social media sharing tools: Adding a social media integration is a great way to help your supporters connect with you online. Pre-built social media integrations will also make it easier for your visitors to share photos, flyers, or videos with their personal networks, helping to spread the word about your nonprofit.
  • Online forms: Your nonprofit likely requires visitors to fill out a form if they want to make a donation, enroll in your volunteer program, or sign up for your email newsletter. Your web builder likely already has options available for you to easily build your own forms. However, this is also a good example of where plugins and add-ons can overlap — there are also a lot of plugin options you can download if your web builder’s form options aren’t quite enough for your nonprofit.
  • Visual editing tools: Your web builder likely has several add-ons that you can use to customize the appearance of your website so that you can make it your own! Some of these add-ons may also help to decrease the load speed of your graphics, which can improve user experience.

As you begin your noble quest for plugins, take a look at all of the add-ons that your web builder already offers. You may find that you already have everything you need and, if not, you’ll at least be able to minimize the number of third-party applications that you’ll need to download.

All About Custom Software

Custom software is a bit different from plugins or add-ons, in that it’s specifically designed to meet your needs and can take the form of a donor database, personalized plugin, a data integration, or anything else that you might need. Compared to plugins and add-ons, custom software may require a bigger investment, but there are plenty of reasons why you might want (or need) custom tech.

Here are a few reasons why your nonprofit might decide to invest in custom software:

  • Have software that grows with you: As your nonprofit continues to grow, you might find that your technology cannot scale up with you. For this reason, custom software might be the best tech solution to ensure that you don’t need to do a major overhaul every time that your nonprofit sees massive growth.
  • Cultivate stronger donor connections: Custom software can also help you build better relationships with your donors through more personalized data management. This NPOInfo guide to donor data management highly recommends keeping your donor data organized so that you can be more strategic with your outreach. Custom software might offer a better fit for your needs because you’ll be able to design your donor management software in a way that will be most helpful to you.
  • Use tech that is designed to fit your needs: Every nonprofit has unique needs that the generic tech marketplace can’t always meet. With custom software, you can engineer a solution that is designed exactly to meet your specific needs.

Custom software requires more time and energy to build, but the payoff can be higher when compared to other, generic applications. To get custom software, you’ll have to define your needs and find a tech consultant who specializes in nonprofits and popular nonprofit platforms to help. Ultimately, you should decide to build custom software if you have an important need that can’t be met by software that’s already out there!

There you have it: your complete guide to everything plugins, add-ons, and custom software. Hopefully this guide has helped you get a better understanding of what type of technology will be most useful for your nonprofit. You’ll have a fully optimized website or platform in no time!

Learn more about fundraising CRMs and our top suggestions in this guide.

13 Top Fundraising CRMs for Nonprofit Organizations

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Fundraising CRMs, or constituent relationship management systems for nonprofits, are vital for effective revenue generation and donor management efforts⁠. This is especially true as organizations continue to grow.

If your nonprofit is seeking a CRM solution (whether for the first time or to upgrade an existing system), you’ve come to the right place! This list of top nonprofit CRMs has been crafted with organizations like yours in mind, and we’ll highlight key features, benefits, and more for each provider.

At Getting Attention, our favorite fundraising CRMs (in alphabetical order) are:

  1. CharityEngine
  2. Classy
  3. Click & Pledge
  4. DonorPerfect
  5. Engaging Networks
  6. Kindful
  7. Neon CRM
  8. NonProfitEasy
  9. Raiser’s Edge NXT
  10. Salesforce
  11. SalsaLabs
  12. SimplyFundraisingCRM
  13. Virtuous CRM

One key function to consider as you browse this list of suggested fundraising CRMs is matching gift abilities. Research shows that between $4 and $7 billion in available matching gift funding is left on the table each year⁠—largely because nonprofits lack the tools to secure those corporate dollars effectively.

Luckily, more and more nonprofit CRMs are beginning to incorporate matching gift functionality into their toolkit through seamless integrations with matching gift software (the most common by far being 360MatchPro by Double the Donation).

Ready to dive in and discover the perfect donor management system for your organization? Let’s get started.

CharityEngine is one of our favorite nonprofit fundraising CRMs.

1. CharityEngine

CharityEngine offers a number of fundraising solutions, including an online donation platform and fundraising CRM. Their CRM system enables teams to quickly and easily automate fundraising, marketing, and data collection to provide nonprofits with more time to spend on mission-related projects.

Top CharityEngine features include built-out donor profiles, donation pages, payment processing, reporting and analytics, and automated workflows.

Not to mention, CharityEngine donation forms drive matching gift revenue by simplifying the matching process for both donors (through personalized reminders and company-specific instructions) and nonprofits (by automating communications, collecting data, and tracking revenue growth). Since the #1 hindrance for matching gifts is a lack of awareness among supporters, CharityEngine leverage matching git software from Double the Donation to ensure each donor is exposed to matching gift information at multiple touchpoints.

GET A DEMO

Classy is one of our favorite fundraising CRMs for nonprofits.

2. Classy

Classy is an all-in-one fundraising platform with solutions for donor management, online donations, and peer-to-peer campaigns. This fundraising CRM is designed to provide users with a central hub for campaign and supporter management called Classy Manager. With these tools, nonprofit fundraisers are able to launch and manage campaigns, track performance and donor interactions, and gain a better understanding of their fundraising overall.

Top Classy features include online donation processing, event management, 360-degree donor views, and robust reporting and analytics.

And Classy doesn’t want you to forget about matching gift opportunities, either! This platform integrates with Double the Donation’s comprehensive matching gift tool to enable a searchable matching gift database, automated donor follow-ups and match reminders, and more. They even offer a two-way data sync that allows matching gift information collected in 360MatchPro to flow into Classy’s platform! When donors are encouraged to participate in their employers’ matching gift programs on multiple occasions, they’ll be more likely to request a match and secure more dollars for your cause.

GET A DEMO

Explore Click and Pledge's fundraising CRM.

3. Click & Pledge

Click & Pledge offers powerful donor management tools built on the Salesforce platform. This innovative fundraising CRM can even help users sort and rank donors based on an algorithm that considers personal donations, amounts fundraised, and gifts within an individual’s network in order to identify their highest-value supporters.

Top Click & Pledge features include automated communications, data analytics, manual donation processing, and a seamless Salesforce integration.

Plus, Click & Pledge integrates with the top matching gift solution, 360MatchPro, to promote matching gift opportunities to supporters, drive more company match requests with automated communications, and boost fundraising revenue overall.

GET A DEMO

DonorPerfect is a favorite nonprofit fundraising CRM.

4. DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a comprehensive fundraising solution that specializes in strategic donor management through targeted communications, multichannel outreach, easy donation processing, and customizable reports. Plus, it can save fundraisers tons of time and resources when they employ DonorPerfect’s extensive automated workflows!

Top DonorPerfect features include payment processing, fundraising event management, online donation forms, and insightful data analytics.

This platform also incorporates matching gift tools and strategies with a Double the Donation integration. This way, organizations can easily communicate the importance of matching gifts to donors and provide targeted next steps depending on the individual’s employer. The easier it is for donors to participate in matching gift programs, the more likely they are to follow through with their request, and the more dollars that go toward your mission!

GET A DEMO

Engaging Networks is a favorite fundraising CRM.

5. Engaging Networks

Engaging Networks is a multi-faceted fundraising platform with tools for online donations, nonprofit marketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, donor and data management, and more. This eCRM is dedicated to providing users with cutting-edge technology with constantly developing upgrades, newly released features, and a web of seamless integrations.

Top Engaging Networks features include advanced visual reporting, target audience query builders, fundraising performance analysis, and donor profiling and geotargeting.

One of their most impactful integrations is with Double the Donation’s matching gift software, 360MatchPro. Thanks to the Engaging Networks and Double the Donation integration, organizations can quickly boost matching gift revenue by promoting these program opportunities at multiple donor touchpoints. This includes, but is not limited to, during the donation process itself and within a number of automated and customizable email follow-ups.

GET A DEMO

Kindful is one of our favorite nonprofit fundraising CRMs.

6. Kindful

Kindful CRM is a product of Bloomerang that is designed to build seamless connections between various nonprofit processes to streamline backend efforts and provide improved donor experiences. This platform emphasizes the power of technical integrations with a number of other fundraising platforms to provide an interconnected network of fundraising software that drives success.

Top Kindful features include tracking and reporting, donor lifecycle dashboards, detailed donor and contact records, donation tracking, and wealth insights.

And for many Kindful clients, this network incorporates matching gift software and practices as well. Their matching gift integration with Double the Donation’s comprehensive automation tool allows organizations to promote company matches through personalized outreach and match reminders. Plus, users can configure automated follow-ups to include matching gift instructions, next steps, and guidelines for each individual’s employer, which ultimately results in increased matches and revenue.

GET A DEMO

Neon CRM is a fantastic fundraising CRM for nonprofits.

7. Neon CRM

Neon CRM is a donor management solution created by the fundraising platform Neon One and designed to scale up alongside organizations of any size. This versatile solution is able to help manage nonprofit fundraising, memberships, events, websites, and more.

Top Neon CRM features include online web forms, grant management, constituent login portals, automated receipting, accounts and relationship tracking, and donation processing.

Plus, their matching gift integration with 360MatchPro by Double the Donation enables organizations to significantly increase matching gift awareness through strategic follow-ups and personalized guidelines⁠—and boost matching gift revenue as a result.

GET A DEMO

NonProfitEasy is a great choice of nonprofit CRM for fundraising and donor management.

8. NonProfitEasy

NonProfitEasy is a product of the Lumaverse technology company that was built to provide organizations with simple, scalable solutions. Previously known as Fundly CRM, NonProfitEasy makes its goal to “turn one-time donors into lifetime supporters.”

Top NonProfitEasy features include donor communication, event management, pledge and grant tracking, and customizable and predefined data reports.

And with a seamless integration with the industry-leading matching gift tool, 360MatchPro, NonProfitEasy users are able to double supporter donations while saving time and effort through automation. This includes donor information screening to identify match-eligible transactions, customized outreach triggered to remind eligible individuals of matching gifts, and powerful tracking and reporting capabilities with forecasting tools.

GET A DEMO

Raiser's Edge NXT is one of our favorite nonprofit CRMs for fundraising.

9. Raiser’s Edge NXT

Raiser’s Edge NXT is a nonprofit fundraising CRM built by Blackbaud that provides organizations of all sizes with donor management tools. The Raiser’s Edge NXT is their newest version of the product, which is a cloud-based software that aims to provide the social good community with an easy and effective fundraising solution.

Top RE NXT features include growth opportunity identification, dynamic email campaigns, integrated multichannel techniques, automated workflows, and accessibility from any device.

To incorporate matching gift fundraising efforts as well, Raiser’s Edge NXT integrates seamlessly with Double the Donation’s matching gift software. This enables nonprofits to leverage the most effective matching gift strategies with little to no time and effort required of their fundraising teams. With automated donor follow-ups and match reminders, organizations see significant increases in match revenue!

GET A DEMO

Salesforce is a fantastic fundraising CRM for nonprofit organizations.

10. Salesforce

Salesforce is a popular CRM solution for businesses and nonprofits alike⁠. Salesforce.com caters to the for-profit side of the sector, while Salesforce.org targets nonprofits, schools, and other mission-driven organizations.

Top Salesforce features include donor-centric relationship-planning, digital-first fundraising experiences, program management and reporting, and grantmaking.

This comprehensive platform also allows Salesforce clients to extend their CRM functionality through a number of technical integrations with partners listed in the Salesforce AppExchange⁠ marketplace—one of which is Double the Donation. When users leverage Double the Donation’s matching gift automation tools, nonprofits can collect two gifts for every one donation solicited by driving matching gift participation.

GET A DEMO

Take a look at SalsaLabs for a great fundraising CRM.

11. SalsaLabs

SalsaCRM from SalsaLabs is a powerful and effective donor management system. This software works well alongside Salsa’s other fundraising products in addition to a range of other top fundraising solutions⁠—including Double the Donation’s matching gift tools!

Top Salsa features include rich donor profiles, extensive relationship-tracking, automated suggested gift calculations, and unified online and offline gift management.

The Double the Donation integration allows Salsa clients to utilize Double the Donation’s matching gift software, 360MatchPro, alongside their fundraising CRMs and donation forms to automate matching gift communications with donors. This boosts awareness of these programs and their availability while encouraging eligible donors to request matching donations from their employers. Ultimately, these tools result in increased corporate donations and better donor relations.

GET A DEMO

SimplyFundraisingCRM is one of our favorite fundraising CRMs.

12. SimplyFundraisingCRM

SimplyFundraisingCRM is a fantastic solution that equips nonprofits with innovative donor management tools. Top benefits of SimplyFundraisingCRM include saving time through strategic automation, raising more with effective fundraising solutions, and receiving guided assistance from a panel of expert fundraising advisors.

Top SimplyFundraisingCRM features include automated donor acknowledgments, one-click donor reports, artificial intelligence, simple, step-by-step processes, and data analysis.

Not to mention, the platform integrates with Double the Donation’s most comprehensive matching gift solution to help drive additional revenue from company matches! Through donor screening practices and automated communications, organizations can easily promote matching gifts and encourage supporters to participate.

GET A DEMO

Virtuous is a favorite nonprofit CRM for fundraising.

13. Virtuous CRM

Virtuous offers a nonprofit CRM that is designed to help fundraisers streamline donor management efforts, improve supporter relationships, and leverage data-rich insights for improved practices.

Top Virtuous features include omnichannel marketing strategies, donor analysis with highlighted opportunities, personalized cultivation and retention plans, and reporting dashboards.

With Virtuous, nonprofit clients can configure their fundraising CRMs to incorporate Double the Donation’s matching gift functionality. This integration allows organizations to increase matching gifts and improve their strategies through automated email follow-ups that contain employer-specific program information and instructions. When more donors request company matches from their employers, the nonprofit receives additional gifts for free!

GET A DEMO

Did any of these fundraising CRMs catch your eye? The providers listed above are some of our favorite solutions for nonprofit data management, donor relationships, automated communications, and more.

The more efficient your software, the more efficient your organization’s practices will be and the more you can do for your mission as a result. Good luck!

Check out these other educational resources to learn more about effective nonprofit fundraising and engagement strategies:

20+ Best Resources for Nonprofit Organizations

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Running a nonprofit organization can be hard. With so many components to focus on, it may feel impossible to accomplish it all on your own with a handful of overlapping spreadsheets. Good news — you don’t have to!

In this comprehensive guide, we will outline the best resources for your nonprofit organization to elevate and optimize your operations across a number of areas..

This guide will cover top providers across the following categories of nonprofit resources:

Soon, you will be on your way to optimizing your organization with the help of the experts and tools below. Let’s dive in!

This graphic links readers to the nonprofit resource of a Google Ad Grant agency.

This section covers Getting Attention's top picked resources for nonprofits.

Resources for Nonprofits: Our Top Picks

Double the Donation

This section covers a matching gift resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Double the Donation’s mission is to help your nonprofit receive more money through corporate matching gift programs. Far too often, nonprofits miss out on valuable donations because many donors are unaware that their employers’ offer corporate matching gifts. Double the Donation provides a solution to this issue with its 360MatchPro software.

360MatchPro prompts donors to enter their employer’s name into a matching gift search tool when providing a donation. If their employer offers a matching gift program, the donor will be directed to submit a match request. Having access to this information will help your nonprofit tailor communications to donors eligible to double their donations. In the end, this will earn your organization more money!

Why we love it

Gaining access to matching gift information will help you raise double the funds for your organization with little additional effort. Additionally, the information obtained from the matching gift tool will help you send personalized reminders about a donor’s specific matching gift program.

If your donor records don’t include donor information, that’s not a problem, either. 360MatchPro can do real-time employer appends to get your donors into your matching gift pipeline.

Pricing

The standard pricing for Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro starts at $1200 per year. This is recommended for organizations already receiving matching gifts that are ready to boost their numbers. Larger enterprises are encouraged to request a quote for custom pricing.

Getting Attention

This section covers a Google Ad Grant resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Getting Attention is a nonprofit marketing agency specializing in Google Ad Grant management. We work closely with clients to develop strategies that are right for them. The professionals at Getting Attention are ready to help you through every step of your Google Ad Grant journey, making sure you optimize your grant opportunity.

Some of the Getting Attention services include:

  • Google Grant applications
  • Account hygiene
  • Google Grant reactivation
  • Keyword research

Click here to explore more!

Why we love it

The experts at Getting Attention help alleviate your organization’s stress of having to manage all aspects of your Google Ad Grant journey. They work diligently to ensure your nonprofit is optimizing resources. With enough already on your plate, leave Google Grant management to the professionals of Getting Attention

Pricing

The services at Getting Attention are priced at a rate of $499 per month. This includes no upfront fees or surprise add-ons. To see all of the services included, click here.

NPOInfo

This section covers a data append resource for nonprofits.

Overview

The professionals at NPOInfo specialize in data append services, ensuring  your nonprofit’s data is clean, updated, and organized to optimize fundraising efforts. They promise:

  • Accuracy. NPOInfo guarantees a high degree of accuracy in their results, ensuring your fundraising initiatives are built on data you can trust.
  • Timeliness. With speedy turnaround, NPOInfo enables your team to reach more donors more quickly.
  • Depth. The NPOInfo team leaves nothing uncovered. They will make sure your organization can take advantage of every opportunity to learn more about your donors.

NPOInfo offers various services, including:

  • Employer appends
  • Email appends
  • Phone number appends
  • Date of birth appends
  • Address appends

With the help of the NPOInfo team, your organization can optimize its donor outreach efforts with clear, clean, and organized data.

Why we love it

Having hygienic and up-to-date donor data is an essential tool for any nonprofit’s fundraising and outreach efforts. The process of achieving such data can be taxing, but the professionals of NPOInfo are willing to take over the task. NPOInfo is the data enrichment service guaranteed to improve fundraising efficiency and increase revenue!

Pricing

Pricing is based on the individual goals of your organization. Determine pricing by requesting a personalized quote!

This section covers the best technology resources for nonprofits.

Best Technology Resources for Nonprofits

iATS Payments

This section discusses a payment processing resource for nonprofits.

Overview

iATS Payments provides reliable, efficient, and secure nonprofit payment processing. They are leaders in fraud protection and have blocked hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fraud attempts. By working with them, your payment data is safe and secure.

With many nonprofit technology partners, iATS Payments can connect your organization to technology solutions that support all of your payment needs, from integrations with online fundraising and CRM software to auction and fundraising event tools.

Why we love it

iATS Payments is an all-in-one solution to overcome your organization’s payment processing issues. With their help, you can reduce frustrations and handle all of your payment needs in one place. Not to mention, they have a proven reliability. They have been trusted by countless organizations to deliver the type of payment processing and support your nonprofit depends on.

Pricing

iATS Payments offers affordable pricing with competitive rates, no hidden fees, and one flat monthly rate. Submit a request form to determine your organization’s personalized rates.

Kanopi

This section discusses a website development resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Kanopi does web design and development differently. They offer several valuable services including:

  • Research and discovery. Through user research, audits of existing work, reviewing analytics, and more, the Kanopi team will evaluate your website needs and produce powerful insights to help you meet your goals.
  • Content strategy. The Kanopi team will help determine how to best present meaningful content on your website that supports your organization’s goals.
  • User experience. Kanopi will help your organization find the perfect blend of design and functionality to optimize the website experience for users.
  • Website development. Experts will plan and create the necessary features that make your web vision become a reality.
  • Website support. Kanopi keeps your website continuously optimized so that it always stays up-to-date.

With the assistance of Kanopi’s team of experts, your nonprofit’s website will position you for the utmost success.

Why we love it

Bad websites waste time, money, and reputations. Your website isn’t just the digital face of your organization. It is what leads your visitors down the path to interact and engage with your nonprofit’s mission online.

If your website is not optimized to create an easy experience for users, your nonprofit will not be able to achieve its goals. The professionals at Kanopi make it easy for your organization to streamline its online presence in a way that promotes user engagement.

Pricing

Kanopi’s pricing is personalized based on the needs of your nonprofit. Contact them here to find the price that works best for you.

DNL OmniMedia

This section discusses a technology consulting resource for nonprofits.

Overview

From registering your domain name to designing your website, the expert nonprofit technology consultants at DNL OmniMedia will optimize your digital strategy for maximum outreach and engagement. In addition to nonprofit technology consulting services, the team offers a number of products including the:

  • Luminate Online donation web app to create a seamless donation experience for your donors.
  • Luminate Online email authoring tool to create emails quickly without writing a line of code.
  • Luminate Online member center web app to customize profiles to match your brand.
  • Luminate Online survey web app to connect with your audience anywhere.
  • MobileAction! customized fundraising app for nonprofits to improve your nonprofit’s fundraising and advocacy efforts.

Best for mid-sized to large nonprofits, the DNL OmniMedia’s mission is to help your nonprofit maximize technology for social good.

Why we love it

DNL OmniMedia makes your nonprofit’s technology work seamlessly for your audience and staff members. They want their clients to spend more time working to accomplish their goals and less time struggling with software and data.

Pricing

The services at DNL OmniMedia are tailor made to your organization, so pricing differs based on personal needs. Fill out a project form to begin!

Cornershop Creative

This section discusses a website development resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Cornershop Creative is a team of WordPress experts, specializing in nonprofit web design, development, and maintenance. They work to blend creativity with decades of combined coding experience. Their expertise will help to build your organization a beautiful, fast, accessible, secure, and SEO-optimized site.

Some services they provide are:

  • Custom web development for nonprofits
  • Hosting, support, and website maintenance
  • Nonprofit SEO and content strategy
  • CRM and campaign implementation 
  • Website optimization and digital strategy

Cornershop Creative is an organization well-equipped to assist your nonprofit with any online needs.

Why we love it

Cornershop Creative takes care of small details that often go under the radar. However, these are the important aspects that make a big difference in how successful a project is. The help of Cornershop Creative’s expert team will best position your nonprofit’s website for success.

Pricing

Cornershop Creative’s pricing plans are personalized to your organization’s needs. Let them know how they can help you here.


This section highlights the best fundraising resources for nonprofits.

Best Fundraising Resources for Nonprofits

Fundly

This section discusses a crowdfunding resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Fundly empowers organizations to support and nurture the causes they care about through crowdfunding. Crowdfunding provides the trust, transparency, and connections necessary to make your efforts instantaneously impactful and hyperlocal. Fundly helps fundraise for:

  • Creative projects
  • Disaster relief
  • Special events
  • Medical and health
  • Military
  • Nonprofits 

Overall, their team is dedicated to providing your nonprofit with the necessary tools to raise money for your mission.

Why we love it

Fundly helps your organization reach more donors and raise more money — a win-win! Through their website, the Fundly team of experts can help your nonprofit run a successful crowdfunding campaign. The principle of Fundly is designed to do good.

Pricing

Fundly offers simple pricing for all: platform fee (4.9%) + credit card processing fee (2.9%) + $0.30 per transaction.

Donately

This section discusses a peer-to-peer fundraising resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Donately is a donation platform made to help improve your donor experience, simplify your processes, and increase your nonprofit’s overall revenue. Donately offers tools to help your nonprofit grow online, such as custom donation forms, donor management tools, and more.

Their online platform makes donating a simple process for both you and your donors. This saves your organization time while creating more opportunities to reach your goals.

Why we love it

From customizable forms to full visibility of donor data, Donately is crafted to help nonprofits expand their impact through online fundraising. Nonprofits of all sizes can use Donately to simplify their online fundraising and improve overall donor experience.

Pricing

Pricing plans are designed to give any size organization great features at an affordable rate. Select the plan best for you

Handbid

This section discusses an auction fundraising resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Handbid helps nonprofits of all sizes adopt powerful, easy-to-use fundraising tools. Their auction software and bidding apps offer everything needed to maximize your nonprofit’s in-person, remote, and hybrid events. Some of these tools include:

  • Mobile bidding
  • Live streaming
  • Chat
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising 
  • Donation campaigns
  • Crowdfunding

Handbid is dedicated to helping organizations auction fundraise through transparent and respectful methods, all while providing excellent customer service.

Why we love it

Handbid is the all-in-one platform that can help your nonprofit collect donations, organize items, create a silent auction, and manage ticket sales and RSVPs. On average, Handbid generates 120% more bids per item and 60% increase in revenue per item compared to paper-based auctions. Their product gives your bidders the best user experience and you the auction management system of your dreams.

Pricing

There are many packages available for the services that best suit your organization’s needs. Look into one today!

Smartwaiver

This section discusses an online waiver resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Smartwaiver helps convert your safety and liability waivers into custom, digital versions. The waivers  can be signed at your location or online from any computer, tablet or mobile device. You can add a link or custom waiver widget to your website so customers can sign your electronic waivers directly from your website before they arrive at an event.

All signed waivers and participant information is stored in Smartwaiver’s secure online database where you can easily search for and find a waiver in seconds. Each time a participant signs and submits awaiver, your organization’s marketing database and intelligence expands. This data can be easily exported to a spreadsheet for clear and concise organization of information.

Why we love it

Smartwaiver offers many intuitive and powerful features that allow your organization to streamline operations. Some of these features include waiver:

  • Customization
  • Optimization
  • Collection
  • Management

Smartwaiver keeps their software simple and uses a customer-centric approach to ensure the best user experience.

Pricing

Smartwaiver offers a free 30-day trial. After your initial 30 days, pricing plans  depend on the number of waivers signed each month.

Jitasa

This section discusses a nonprofit accounting resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Jitasa’s mission is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofits through affordable bookkeeping and accounting services. Your nonprofit can outsource these services to Jitasa and experience their team’s personalized approach. Some of their consulting services include:

  • Cloud-based accounting 
  • Chart of accounts setup or review
  • Account reconciliations
  • Monthly financial statements
  • Form 990s and 1099s
  • Audit preparation

Clients have free access to Quickbooks for nonprofits to ensure they have the necessary tools for effective financial record keeping and strategic planning.

Why we love it

With Jitasa, your nonprofit will have access to a fully staffed accounting team, enhanced internal controls, and experts who have seen it all. Working with a nonprofit accounting agency is ultimately the best way to support your organization’s finances. Keep your organization on track to accomplish your mission with the help of Jitasa so the stress of finances is not another burden you have to take on.

Pricing

Request a personalized quote for your organization today!

This section covers the best resources for nonprofit operations.

Best Nonprofit Operations Resources

RealHR Solutions

RealHR is the best HR resource for nonprofit organizations.

Overview

RealHR Solutions towers above the competition when it comes to nonprofit HR consulting. Since 2005, they have helped nonprofits streamline their HR operations, assess existing policies and procedures, and create new programs. 

RealHR tailors their support to small and mid-sized organizations looking to build or improve their human resources processes. Their customized services include:

  • Developing recruitment, hiring, retention, talent management, and compensation strategies 
  • Increasing HR capacity in preparation for growth or change
  • Setting up HR infrastructure to align best practices with organizational goals
  • Auditing and assessing existing HR practices and policies

With RealHR’s help, your organization can optimize your human resources programs to best accomplish your mission and goals.

RealHR offers a range of resources for your nonprofit’s HR needs.

Why we love it

RealHR Solutions understands that retaining and engaging those who believe in your organization’s mission is extremely important. Ultimately, that is the best way to accomplish your nonprofit’s goals. RealHR’s expert support and HR consulting services can help you get there.

Pricing

Pricing depends on your organization’s needs. Contact RealHR Solutions to learn more today.

Nonprofit.Courses

This section discusses an educational resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Nonprofit.Courses provides online training for nonprofits, their staff, boards, and volunteers. They aggregate thousands of videos, podcasts, books, and documents from around the world to educate nonprofit organizations.

Putting all of this content into one spot makes learning easy, as there are valuable resources available for anything your nonprofit may need.

Why we love it

With Nonprofit.Courses, organizations can select the courses that are right for them. This  expands your nonprofit’s knowledge base through a wide array of course offerings. Doing so will keep your organization up-to-date and best positioned for success.

Nonprofit.Courses’ content comes from more than 150 content experts with in-depth knowledge of nonprofit related disciplines.

Pricing

Most of the content is free or available for the “price” of signing up for their mailing list. Content experts offer in-depth expertise through Premium (paid) content.

Boardable

This section discusses a nonprofit board management resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Boardable is board management simplified. This software helps move your board from discussion to action. Boardable’s mission is to increase board member engagement. They offer integrated features for your entire meeting cycle, making meetings as efficient as possible

Some of these features include:

  • Pre-meeting preparation and collaboration that leads to success.
  • Streamlined meetings to create excitement and engagement.
  • Centralized and permanent records to drive accountability.

With the help of Boardable, your organization will be having efficient and effective board meetings in no-time.

Why we love it

Boardable’s board management and meeting software empowers boards, businesses, and nonprofits to be more productive and efficient. Boardable breaks down your meeting experience to the essentials, allowing your organization to focus on the most important matters. Boardable also integrates with Zoom. In our highly digital world, this is an added bonus.

Pricing

Boardable offers a 14-day free trial. After that, there are pricing plans based on various organization needs.

File990

This section discusses a nonprofit accounting resource for nonprofits.

Overview

File 990 is the fastest, safest and easiest way to e-file your IRS Form 990-N or 990 EZ return. Complete and submit your current and previous year’s forms directly to the IRS in minutes without the costs of working with a professional accountant. Your organization can receive an IRS acceptance notification on your dashboard within a few hours. File990 makes nonprofit accounting simple.

Why we love it

File 990 makes Form 990-N and 990 EZ e-filing easy. The software imports all relevant data about your nonprofit directly from the IRS database. They use bank-level security to keep your nonprofit’s information safe while e-filing your nonprofit’s taxes. This way, your nonprofit never has to worry about a breach of important information.

With their help, you will never file your 990-N and 990 EZ late again. File 990 saves your fiscal period and sends you a reminder when it’s time to file next year’s 990 forms. They even save your data, making the process seamless.

Pricing

The pricing is dependent on the type of form in use. It costs organizations $49.99 per filing for 990-N forms and $69.99 per filing for 990 EZ forms.

SalsaCRM

This section discusses a nonprofit CRM resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Salsa CRM is a donor management software that allows your organization to track supporters holistically. This promotes intelligent decision making to engage, retain, and connect with each donor. Salsa is powered by SmartEngagement Technology, which combines industry best practices with machine learning and automation features. This allows nonprofits to optimize their fundraising strategy and maximize limited time and resources.

Salsa offers rich donor profiles and intelligent reporting. This makes it possible for your organization to spend less time deciphering data and more time connecting with supporters. Salsa also provides automated and personalized messaging — including gift acknowledgements, fundraising appeals and advocacy campaigns— to ensure you never miss a prospective supporter.

Why we love it

By having a unified platform, your cultivation and communication efforts are seamlessly integrated for more relevant, timely, and compelling engagement. Salsa helps your team work smarter to accomplish more.

Pricing

Pricing varies based on donor list size. Contact for a personalized quote.

Mobilize

This section covers a volunteer management resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Mobilize helps mission-driven organizations manage events and recruit volunteers. Trusted by 3,000+ campaigns, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, unions, and more, Mobilize drives action from volunteers, advocates, and supporters at scale. They:

  • Make mobilizing easier. Save volunteer managers’ time with easy-to-use tools that automate routine tasks and integrate supporter data where they need it.
  • Empower supporters. Help supporters find the best opportunities for them, ensuring they sign up, show up, bring friends, and come back.
  • Form networks to supercharge impact. Through friend connections, personalized volunteer experiences, cross-promotion from partners, and the mobilize.us feed, working with Mobilize helps to uniquely increase long-term impact.

To set your organization up to attract volunteers and supporters, Mobilize is a valuable tool worth considering.

Why we love it

Mobilize allows your organization to:

  • Drive more actions more easily
  • Turn volunteers into donors
  • Grow your list
  • Build a community around your cause
  • Achieve your mission

With their help, you can turn your organization’s dreams into a reality.

Pricing

Mobilize lets your organization test the waters by offering a free demo or free trial account. This allows five members of your team to host your next five events or online actions (up to 50 signups or 500 petition signatures) for no charge.


This section covers the best free resources for nonprofits.

Free Resources for Nonprofits

Fundraising Letters

This section discusses a fundraising letters resource for nonprofits.

Overview

 

Fundraising Letters offers letters for every occasion and cause. Fundraising Letters is a project put together by experts to help individuals and organizations effectively communicate with their supporters. They provide fully written, easily-modifiable letter templates to boost your communication efforts. Some fundraising categories they cater to include:

  • Basic fundraising
  • Matching gifts
  • Sponsorship letters
  • Donation requests

With their assistance, you will never have to experience writer’s block again!

Why we love it

There are many reasons to love Fundraising Letters, but here are a few big ones:

  • Time saved: Letters are all pre-written and easily modified to match your organization’s needs. Just pick the template that’s right for you and have your finalized letters written within minutes.
  • Powerful and effective: Tell your story. Connect with supporters. Raise money for your cause.
  • Perfect for all causes: Letters will help take your outreach to the next level.

With the help of these fundraising experts, your organization will optimize communications between its donors and supporters.

Pricing

The services of Fundraising Letters are completely free!

Bonfire

This section discusses a t-shirt fundraising resource for nonprofits.

Overview

Bonfire makes designing, selling, and ordering custom shirts easy. They handle payment processing, order fulfillment, and custom service so you can focus on connecting with your community. Organizations can:

  • Sell shirts through an online campaign. Sell custom products online by creating your own campaign page where anyone can check out. When your campaign ends, they ship products directly to your buyers and send you the profits.
  • Open a free online store. Make it easy for users to browse all of the custom shirts and apparel you’ve designed by creating an online store. They’re free to make and simple to tailor to your brand.
  • Order custom shirts. Order direct and take advantage of bulk discounts – perfect for events, on-site inventory and any occasion calling for premium custom shirts.
  • Fundraise with custom shirts. Easily raise money for your community by selling custom shirts. Perfect for individuals, groups, causes and nonprofits. No inventory needed — Bonfire does all the work!

Bonfire will help your organization and its community support your mission in style.

Why we love it

Bonfire is your exclusive merchandise partner for product drops that connect your organization with its supporters. They offer responsive customer support and an easy solution for community fundraising. Organizations can fundraise online by selling apparel, totes, hats, mugs, and more! In all, Bonfire is your home for custom products.

Pricing

Because you don’t need to purchase the shirts in advance, there is no cost for your nonprofit. Bonfire offers a pricing calculator tool to determine personalized revenue for your organization.

ShopRaise

This section discusses an online shopping fundraising resource for nonprofits.

Overview

ShopRaise allows individuals to support your cause by shopping. No matter what it may be, the ShopRaise app lets supporters donate a portion of their purchases to your cause. With their help, everyday shopping turns into support for your favorite organization at no additional cost.

Consumers can choose any cause or mission to support. They can even create their own. Consider adding ShopRaise to your organization’s fundraising efforts to turn everyday shopping into support for your cause.

Why we love it

The ShopRaise app is easy and free. All users need to do is:

  1. Download the app.
  2. Shop using the ShopRasie mobile app or browser extension at almost 1,000 retailers such as Walmart, Kohl’s, Home Depot, and Petsmart.
  3. Raise up to 10% on each transaction and see contributions make a difference.

ShopRaise is a simple way to engage supporters through everyday shopping and raise funds for your cause.

Pricing

ShopRaise poses no cost to your organization!

This section provides additional assistance for researching resources for nonprofits.

Wrapping Up

With the help of these valuable resources, your organization will be best positioned for success. If you would like to research further, here are some additional resources to look into:

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