Non-profit organizations often require powerful CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools to manage donors, track volunteer engagement, and run effective campaigns, all while keeping costs low. While Salesforce offers a Nonprofit Success Pack, which provides free and discounted services, many smaller non-profits may still find the overall costs of Salesforce challenging. Here are some excellent free Salesforce alternatives designed to help non-profits effectively manage relationships, donations, and outreach.
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1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a popular free CRM tool with robust features for managing contacts, tracking interactions, and automating emails. It’s ideal for non-profits that need a centralized database to manage donors, track interactions, and send outreach messages. HubSpot’s CRM includes contact management, task automation, email marketing, and reporting tools.
Features:
- Contact and donor management with detailed activity history
- Email tracking, templates, and automation for personalized outreach
- Task management and reminders to keep fundraising on track
- Integrations with popular tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Mailchimp
Learn more about HubSpot CRM at HubSpot’s website.
2. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 offers a free CRM with team collaboration, task management, and project tracking capabilities. It supports unlimited contacts and includes tools for managing donors, organizing events, and tracking volunteer efforts. Bitrix24 also offers group chat, document sharing, and task assignments, making it a great choice for non-profits looking for an all-in-one solution for CRM and team collaboration.
Features:
- Contact and lead management for tracking donors and sponsors
- Task and project management tools for coordinating campaigns and events
- Communication tools including chat, calls, and video conferencing
- Cloud storage for secure file sharing and document management
Learn more about Bitrix24 at Bitrix24’s website.
3. Zoho CRM for Nonprofits
Zoho CRM offers a powerful free version with features for contact management, deal tracking, email automation, and reporting. Non-profits can use Zoho CRM to organize donor data, automate outreach, and track campaign progress. Zoho also offers Zoho Creator, a low-code app development tool, which allows non-profits to build custom applications tailored to their specific workflows.
Features:
- Contact management and tracking for donors and volunteers
- Workflow automation for managing outreach campaigns
- Reporting and analytics tools for tracking fundraising goals
- Integration with other Zoho tools like Zoho Mail, Zoho Campaigns, and Zoho Creator
Learn more about Zoho CRM at Zoho’s website.
4. CiviCRM
CiviCRM is an open-source CRM designed specifically for non-profit organizations, providing tools for donor management, event planning, and volunteer tracking. CiviCRM integrates well with popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, making it ideal for non-profits with existing websites. Since it’s open-source, CiviCRM is fully customizable, allowing organizations to tailor the platform to fit their unique needs.
Features:
- Donor and membership management, including recurring contributions
- Event registration and management with online ticketing
- Volunteer management and tracking capabilities
- Integration with popular CMS platforms for easy website embedding
Learn more about CiviCRM at CiviCRM’s website.
5. Insightly
Insightly offers a free CRM plan that includes contact management, project management, and reporting features, making it ideal for non-profits that need a straightforward way to manage donors and volunteers. Insightly’s project management features also allow organizations to organize events and campaigns while keeping track of tasks and deadlines.
Features:
- Contact and lead management for tracking donor relationships
- Project management tools for organizing campaigns and events
- Task tracking, reminders, and email integration for streamlined workflows
- Customizable dashboards and reports for monitoring KPIs
Learn more about Insightly at Insightly’s website.
6. Apptivo
Apptivo is a CRM platform that offers free tools for contact management, project tracking, and customer support. It’s a versatile CRM with a range of apps that can be added based on an organization’s specific needs. Apptivo’s free plan supports up to three users, making it ideal for small non-profits or volunteer-driven organizations.
Features:
- Contact and lead management for donor and volunteer tracking
- Sales and project management tools for tracking campaigns
- Customizable fields and reports to tailor the CRM to specific needs
- Integrates with G Suite, Office 365, and more
Learn more about Apptivo at Apptivo’s website.
7. EngageBay
EngageBay is a free CRM platform designed to help organizations manage customer relationships, automate marketing, and track campaigns. EngageBay’s CRM and marketing tools include contact management, email marketing, and reporting, which are beneficial for non-profits looking to improve outreach and engagement with donors and volunteers.
Features:
- Contact management with detailed activity tracking
- Email marketing tools, including personalized email templates and automation
- Task management and goal tracking for organizing campaigns
- Reporting and analytics to monitor fundraising efforts
Learn more about EngageBay at EngageBay’s website.
8. Really Simple Systems
Really Simple Systems provides a free CRM with tools for contact management, task tracking, and email marketing. It’s designed with simplicity in mind, making it ideal for smaller non-profits or organizations that need a straightforward solution for donor management. Really Simple Systems also offers integrations with accounting software, helping non-profits keep track of finances alongside CRM data.
Features:
- Contact and donor management with custom data fields
- Task management and reminders to keep campaigns on schedule
- Basic email marketing for outreach campaigns
- Integration with accounting and marketing tools
Learn more about Really Simple Systems at Really Simple Systems’ website.
9. Freshsales (Freshworks CRM)
Freshsales, part of the Freshworks suite, offers a free CRM with essential features for managing donors and contacts, tracking engagement, and automating outreach. The platform is easy to use and provides built-in email and phone integration, making it simple for non-profits to connect with donors and volunteers. Freshsales also offers workflow automation and analytics tools, ideal for smaller organizations needing an intuitive CRM.
Features:
- Contact and deal management for tracking donor and sponsor relationships
- Built-in email and phone capabilities for direct communication
- Workflow automation for managing outreach and follow-ups
- Detailed reporting and analytics
Learn more about Freshsales at Freshworks’ website.
10. Airtable
Airtable is a flexible spreadsheet-style database tool that can be customized to function as a CRM for non-profits. It’s highly adaptable, allowing non-profits to track donors, organize events, and manage tasks using a visual interface. Airtable also provides templates specifically for non-profits, making it easy to get started with donor tracking, volunteer coordination, and event planning.
Features:
- Customizable databases for tracking donors, events, and tasks
- Collaboration tools for managing teams and volunteers
- Integration with various apps like Slack, Mailchimp, and Google Calendar
- Kanban, grid, calendar, and gallery views for organizing data
Learn more about Airtable at Airtable’s website.
Choosing the Best CRM for Your Non-Profit Organization
The best CRM for your non-profit will depend on your organization’s size, goals, and specific requirements. HubSpot CRM and Zoho CRM offer excellent free plans with contact and donor management, which are ideal for organizations focused on outreach and fundraising. CiviCRM provides a powerful open-source option for non-profits needing a customizable and highly integrative solution. Airtable is suitable for those seeking a flexible database-style platform that can be tailored to track various aspects of non-profit operations.
Each of these CRMs offers robust features to help non-profits improve donor relations, automate outreach, and track engagement without high costs. Explore the features to find the best CRM that meets your organization’s unique needs.
