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18 Free and Discounted Marketing Tools Every Nonprofit Should Use

Boost your nonprofit’s reach with our curated list of 18 free and discounted marketing tools designed to engage more supporters effectively.

Introduction

In the competitive landscape of nonprofit organizations, effective marketing is crucial for expanding your reach and engaging supporters. However, budget constraints often limit access to sophisticated marketing tools. Thankfully, there are numerous free marketing tools and discounted options tailored specifically for nonprofits. This guide highlights 18 of the best tools that can help your organization optimize its marketing efforts without breaking the bank.

Nonprofit Marketing Budget Considerations

Allocating your marketing budget wisely is essential for maximizing impact. While for-profit companies typically allocate 10-20% of their gross revenues to marketing, nonprofits should aim for 5-15%. Determining the right amount depends on your organization’s goals and the channels that best reach your target audience. By leveraging free marketing tools, nonprofits can stretch their budgets further, ensuring sustainable and effective marketing campaigns.

Types of Nonprofit Marketing Tools

Marketing tools come in various categories, each serving a unique purpose. Here are the primary types of free marketing tools that nonprofits should consider:

Search Marketing Tools

These tools enhance your website’s visibility through SEO optimization or paid advertising, driving more traffic and increasing your online presence.

Content Marketing Tools

Content tools assist in creating valuable and engaging content, such as articles, blogs, videos, and graphics, tailored to your audience’s interests.

Social Media Marketing Tools

Leverage social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with your community, share your mission, and grow your supporter base.

Email Marketing Tools

Effective email marketing tools help manage supporter lists, create personalized campaigns, and maintain regular communication with your audience.

Analytics Marketing Tools

Analytics tools measure the success of your marketing efforts, providing insights into supporter behavior and campaign performance to inform future strategies.

Top 18 Free and Discounted Marketing Tools for Nonprofits

Search Marketing Tool

1. Google Ad Grant

The Google Ad Grant program offers eligible nonprofits $10,000 in free advertising credits each month. Utilize this grant to promote donation pages, service offerings, and educational content, increasing your organization’s visibility on Google’s search results pages. Managing the grant requires meeting Google’s eligibility standards and maintaining compliance, making professional assistance beneficial.

Content Marketing Tools

2. Grammarly

Enhance your nonprofit’s written content with Grammarly, an online writing assistant that provides grammar, punctuation, and spelling suggestions. Its premium features include clarity improvements to ensure your mission is communicated effectively. Grammarly integrates seamlessly with platforms like Microsoft Office and Google Docs.

Pricing: Free access to Premium-level features is available for nonprofits.

3. Kwala

Kwala is a graphic design agency dedicated to mission-driven organizations. They offer unlimited graphic design services for a fixed monthly rate, helping nonprofits create stunning visuals without the need for a full-time designer.

Pricing: $439 per month or an annual subscription of $3,999 with the first two months free.

4. Canva

Canva empowers your team to design visually appealing graphics, presentations, and social media posts with ease. Its user-friendly interface and extensive template library make content creation accessible to everyone.

Pricing: Free for nonprofits upon application approval.

5. Piktochart

Create compelling infographics, charts, and reports with Piktochart. Its video editing tools also allow for quick creation of shareable social media content, perfect for engaging your audience.

Pricing: Discounted annual plans available at $60 per member per year for nonprofits.

6. Pexels

Access a vast library of royalty-free stock photos with Pexels to enhance your nonprofit’s visual content. These images are free for commercial use, perfect for websites and social media.

Pricing: Free for all Pexels photos and videos.

7. HubSpot

HubSpot’s content creation tools, including a blog ideas generator and campaign assistant, help streamline your marketing strategy. Their tools support comprehensive content marketing and sales efforts tailored to your nonprofit’s needs.

Pricing: 40% nonprofit discount, including premium onboarding and extensive integrations.

8. WordPress

WordPress is a versatile content management system that allows nonprofits to build and manage their websites and blogs effortlessly. With a range of customizable themes and plugins, your team can easily update and scale your online presence.

Pricing: Free to download and customize.

Social Media Marketing Tools

9. Hootsuite

Manage multiple social media accounts from a single dashboard with Hootsuite. Schedule posts in advance, engage with followers, and track key metrics to optimize your social media strategy.

Pricing: Nonprofits receive a 75% discount on Hootsuite Team or professional plans.

10. Buffer

Buffer offers intuitive scheduling tools for planning and publishing content across various social media platforms. Its collaboration features ensure your team maintains consistent branding and messaging.

Pricing: 50% nonprofit discount on all plans.

11. Later

Plan and schedule your social media posts with Later’s mobile app. Utilize AI-generated captions and the Linkin.bio tool to drive traffic from Instagram and TikTok to your website or merchandise store.

Pricing: 50% discount for eligible nonprofits.

Email Marketing Tools

12. Mailchimp

Mailchimp helps manage and communicate with your supporters through well-designed campaigns and detailed analytics. Its recipient list management features allow for targeted messaging to specific audiences.

Pricing: 15% discount for verified nonprofits and charities.

13. Active Campaign

Active Campaign combines email marketing, automation, and CRM functionalities to deliver personalized communications. Track engagement with robust analytics and utilize pre-built templates for efficient campaign creation.

Pricing: 20% nonprofit discount for eligible organizations.

14. Brevo

Brevo facilitates relationship-building across email, SMS, and chat messaging. Its campaign management tools enable timely and effective marketing communications with a high delivery rate.

Pricing: 15% nonprofit discount on the Enterprise license fee.

15. Mailerlite

Grow your audience with Mailerlite’s email marketing, automation, and newsletter tools. Create customized campaigns using various editors and enhance subscriber lists with landing pages and pop-ups.

Pricing: 30% discount on paid plans, stackable with annual subscription discounts.

Analytics Marketing Tools

16. Google Analytics

Measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts with Google Analytics. Track key data points, understand user behavior, and gain insights into your website’s performance to refine your strategies.

Pricing: Free.

17. Hotjar

Gain valuable insights into your website’s user experience with Hotjar’s heatmaps and conversion funnels. Real-time feedback helps you understand supporter interactions and optimize your site accordingly.

Pricing: Eligible nonprofits receive 50% off higher data plans or a free Business account.

18. Jetpack

Enhance your WordPress site with Jetpack’s suite of features, including security protections and real-time visitor stats. Monitor trends and keep your website safe with minimal effort.

Pricing: Several free features available for nonprofit use.

Conclusion

Finding the right free marketing tools can significantly enhance your nonprofit’s ability to engage supporters and expand your reach without straining your budget. By leveraging these 18 tools, you can implement effective marketing strategies that are both sustainable and impactful. Choose platforms that are user-friendly and offer reliable support to ensure your nonprofit’s marketing efforts are successful.

Ready to elevate your nonprofit’s marketing strategy? Unlock the future of marketing with CMO.SO and empower your organization with cutting-edge SEO and AI marketing tools.

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Boost your nonprofit’s reach with our curated list of 18 free and discounted marketing tools designed to engage more supporters effectively.

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