Meta Description: Discover 18 free and discounted marketing tools designed to help nonprofits reach more supporters and maximize their impact on a budget.
Introduction
In the world of nonprofit organizations, every dollar counts. With the average nonprofit raising just $78 for every 1,000 fundraising messages, it’s crucial to adopt marketing strategies that are both effective and budget-friendly. Leveraging discounted marketing resources for charities can significantly enhance your outreach without straining your finances. This guide presents 18 handpicked free and discounted marketing tools tailored to empower nonprofits in their mission to connect with supporters and amplify their impact.
Nonprofit Marketing Budget Considerations
Before diving into the myriad of marketing tools available, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of your marketing budget. Typically, nonprofits allocate between 5-15% of their overall budget to marketing efforts. This allocation ensures that resources are efficiently utilized to align with organizational goals and target audiences. Prioritizing the right marketing channels based on your budget allows for strategic investments that yield the highest return on engagement and support.
Types of Nonprofit Marketing Tools
Choosing the right marketing tools can streamline your efforts and enhance campaign performance. The tools available for nonprofits generally fall into the following categories:
Search Marketing Tools
These tools focus on increasing your organization’s online visibility through paid advertising and SEO optimization, driving more traffic to your website.
Content Marketing Tools
Content tools assist in creating valuable and engaging content, including videos, blogs, and designs, that resonate with your audience.
Social Media Marketing Tools
Leverage platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to engage with your community and spread your mission effectively.
Email Marketing Tools
Maintain regular communication with your supporters through targeted and personalized email campaigns.
Analytics Marketing Tools
Measure and analyze the success of your marketing campaigns to adapt and improve your strategies based on supporter behavior.
Top 18 Free & Discounted Marketing Tools for Nonprofits
1. Google Ad Grant
Description: The Google Ad Grant program offers nonprofits $10,000 in free monthly advertising credits on Google Ads, enabling them to promote donation pages, services, and educational content.
Favorite Feature: Ability to target specific keywords to reach your ideal audience on Google’s search results pages.
Pricing: Free for eligible organizations that comply with Google’s requirements.
2. Grammarly for Nonprofits
Description: Grammarly ensures your nonprofit’s communications are clear and error-free by providing advanced grammar, punctuation, and spelling suggestions.
Favorite Feature: Seamless integration with tools like Microsoft Office and Google Docs for effortless editing.
Pricing: Free access to Premium-level features for nonprofits.
3. Kwala
Description: Kwala offers professional graphic design services tailored for mission-driven organizations, helping create stunning visuals that reflect your nonprofit’s vision.
Favorite Feature: Unlimited revisions to perfect your designs without additional costs.
Pricing: Fixed monthly rate of $439 or an annual subscription of $3,999 with the first two months free.
4. Canva for Nonprofits
Description: Canva enables nonprofits to design eye-catching graphics, social media posts, and presentations with its user-friendly interface and vast template library.
Favorite Feature: Collaborative design features allowing team members to contribute and refine projects together.
Pricing: Free access for eligible nonprofits after application approval.
5. Piktochart
Description: Piktochart is a versatile tool for creating infographics, charts, and visual reports that effectively communicate your nonprofit’s message.
Favorite Feature: Video editing tools that simplify the creation of shareable content for social media.
Pricing: Discounted annual plan at $60 per member per year for nonprofits.
6. Pexels
Description: Access a vast library of royalty-free stock photos and videos to enhance your organization’s visual content without copyright concerns.
Favorite Feature: Advanced search options by color, background, and popular collections to find the perfect image quickly.
Pricing: Completely free for commercial use.
7. HubSpot
Description: HubSpot’s all-in-one platform assists nonprofits in managing content creation, campaign planning, and audience engagement with robust marketing tools.
Favorite Feature: AI-assisted blog ideas generator to inspire weekly content creation.
Pricing: 40% discount on premium plans for nonprofits, including extensive onboarding and integrations.
8. WordPress
Description: WordPress is a powerful content management system that allows nonprofits to create and manage websites and blogs with ease.
Favorite Feature: Comprehensive Nonprofit Guide that helps set up and customize your website efficiently.
Pricing: Free to download and customize, with numerous free themes and plugins available.
9. Hootsuite
Description: Hootsuite streamlines social media management by allowing scheduled posts, unified inbox, and performance analytics across multiple platforms.
Favorite Feature: OwlyWriter AI generates engaging captions and post ideas to enhance your social media presence.
Pricing: 75% discount on Team or Professional plans for nonprofits.
10. Buffer
Description: Buffer enables nonprofits to plan, schedule, and publish content across various social media platforms, maintaining consistent branding and audience engagement.
Favorite Feature: Specialized tools for creating video content optimized for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Pricing: 50% discount on all products and plans for eligible organizations.
11. Later
Description: Later offers intuitive social media scheduling with mobile access, allowing nonprofits to manage their posts on-the-go and maintain a dynamic online presence.
Favorite Feature: Linkin.bio tool that creates customizable link pages to drive traffic from social profiles to your website or store.
Pricing: 50% discount for eligible nonprofits.
12. Mailchimp
Description: Mailchimp provides comprehensive email marketing solutions, including automation, audience targeting, and detailed analytics to engage and grow your supporter base.
Favorite Feature: Advanced recipient list management for personalized and effective email campaigns.
Pricing: 15% discount for verified nonprofits and charities.
13. Active Campaign
Description: Active Campaign combines email marketing, automation, and CRM functionalities to deliver personalized communications and track engagement effectively.
Favorite Feature: Pre-built templates and customizable layouts that simplify the creation of impactful email campaigns.
Pricing: 20% discount for eligible nonprofits.
14. Brevo
Description: Brevo focuses on building relationships through email, SMS, and chat, offering tools for marketing campaigns, sales, and transactional emails with high delivery rates.
Favorite Feature: Comprehensive campaign management tools that enable triggering transactional emails and tracking interactions seamlessly.
Pricing: 15% discount on Enterprise license fees for nonprofits.
15. MailerLite
Description: MailerLite offers robust email marketing features, including automation, newsletters, and customizable landing pages to help nonprofits grow their subscriber lists and engage supporters.
Favorite Feature: Flexible landing pages and pop-ups that facilitate subscriber list building and audience expansion.
Pricing: 30% discount on paid plans, stackable with annual billing discounts.
16. Google Analytics
Description: Google Analytics provides essential tools to analyze your nonprofit’s web traffic, measure marketing effectiveness, and understand user behavior.
Favorite Feature: Detailed insights into the performance of volunteer and donation pages to optimize engagement strategies.
Pricing: Free to use.
17. Hotjar
Description: Hotjar offers powerful analytics tools that visualize user behavior on your website, helping you refine your digital strategies for better engagement and conversions.
Favorite Feature: Heatmaps that graphically represent user interactions, making it easy to understand and improve site layout.
Pricing: 50% off higher data plans or a free Business account for eligible nonprofits.
18. Jetpack
Description: Jetpack is a versatile WordPress plugin that enhances website security, performance, and analytics, ensuring your nonprofit’s online presence is robust and secure.
Favorite Feature: Real-time visitor statistics that provide actionable insights into website traffic and trends.
Pricing: Several free features are available specifically designed for nonprofit use.
Conclusion
Navigating the digital marketing landscape on a tight budget can be challenging for nonprofits, but the right tools can make all the difference. By leveraging these 18 free and discounted marketing tools, your organization can enhance its outreach, engage more supporters, and maximize impact without overextending resources. Focus on tools that offer user-friendly features and reliable support to ensure your marketing efforts are both effective and sustainable.
For more marketing tips and innovative strategies, visit CMO.SO and unlock the future of marketing for your nonprofit today.