9 Email Platforms Nonprofits Should Try (Incl. Discounts)

Email marketing might not be the most exciting topic, but it’s how nonprofits keep connected with supporters and actually bring in donations. Finding the right platform? That’s the tricky part.

I’ve spent way too many hours testing these platforms to put together this rundown of email marketing services that won’t drain your nonprofit’s already stretched budget. You’ll find both the cheapest options and some more robust platforms with bulk email services for when you’ve got thousands of contacts.

Why Nonprofits Need a Dedicated Email Platform

Email marketing isn’t just about driving sales; for nonprofits, it’s a powerful tool for building lasting relationships with donors. 

Nonprofits face unique challenges, often operating with tight budgets, small teams, and the need to connect with diverse audiences, from dedicated volunteers to major donors. 

Email provides a direct line to these supporters, allowing you to share impactful stories, important updates, and compelling fundraising appeals in a personal and engaging way.

Here’s how email campaigns for charitable organizations make sense: 

• They inspire giving. 26% of donors say email inspires them to donate, compared to 25% through social media and 17% via websites. Automated thank you emails and targeted, personalized messages can deepen connections with monthly donors and improve donor retention;
• They help share updates. 92% of nonprofits using email marketing services send newsletters, with 41% sending them monthly. This regular touchpoint helps build trust, reinforce mission alignment, and share stories that keep supporters engaged; 
• They deliver results. 35% of nonprofits raised the amount they expected from email fundraising appeals, and 34% raised more than expected. Effective list segmentation, donor data insights, and automated transactional emails can turn one-time donors into repeat supporters.

If you’re aiming for similar results, you need a powerful email marketing platform, as 94% of nonprofits already rely on nonprofit email marketing platforms for impactful campaigns. 

Key Features of a Nonprofit Email Platform

Before choosing a nonprofit email software, remember not all tools are built for nonprofits. Many email marketing tools promise nonprofit-friendly features. 

But you should look for the following features that simplify managing email marketing campaigns: 

• Donation integration. The tool must support embedded donation buttons or forms so supporters can contribute without leaving their inboxes; 
• Segmented lists for supporters. Segmentation helps group donors, volunteers, and first-time givers to personalize email campaigns; 
• Recurring donation campaigns. Automation flow builder to easily set up campaigns for recurring donations and automated donation reminders; 
• Discounted pricing. Opt for an email marketing software offering a special nonprofit plan to save money while accessing premium features;
• CRM or donor database integration. Look for platforms that connect seamlessly with your existing CRM or donor database, making it easy to track donor data, manage relationships, and personalize outreach;
• Ease of use for small teams. Nonprofits often operate with lean teams, so the platform should have an intuitive interface, drag-and-drop email builders, and simple automation tools to reduce workload;
• Data and analytics. Detailed reporting on email engagement, donation history, and campaign performance helps you refine your strategy and improve future results.

Nonprofit Email Marketing Platforms – Comparison Table

Before we dive into each platform’s specifics, let’s quickly compare them:

9 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Nonprofits

Now you know what you must look for in a platform, here are the best charity email marketing tools you should consider for your nonprofit organization. 

• Sender; 
• Mailchimp; 
• Campaign Monitor;
• GetResponse; 
• MailerLite; 
• ActiveCampaign; 
• Donorbox; 
• Keela; 
• Constant Contact.

Let’s look at each of these affordable email platforms for NGOs in detail. 

Sender — Best for Budget-Friendly Email Marketing 

Sender‘s free plan is pretty generous – 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 monthly emails without spending a dime. Perfect for nonprofits where “budget” is often on the mind. The features are surprisingly robust for something that costs nothing.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.7 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 4.8 /5.0
• G2: 4.5 /5.0
• Shopify: 4.6 /5.0

Sender’s free plan handles 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails monthly, which is honestly enough for many smaller organizations to just… never pay for email marketing.

The drag-and-drop email builder gets the job done with templates that actually look like they were designed for nonprofits, not corporate sales teams. You can also customize thre templates to maintain your brand look.

Their list segmentation lets you send different campaigns to different groups – volunteer opportunities to the helpful people and donation appeals to your reliable givers. The automated thank you message option is a lifesaver when you’re too swamped to manually thank every donor. 

Their deliverability is solid too – your urgent campaign emails will end up in inboxes instead of spam folders, which is half the battle, right? Finally, the analytics will help you to track what works (and what doesn’t).

Features

• Community engagement analytics. Track key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and donation conversions to understand what resonates with your audience;
• Automated email sequence. Nurture relationships and encourage recurring donations with pre-built or custom email sequences triggered by specific actions or timeframes;
• SMS marketing features. Send targeted text messages for urgent updates, event reminders, or time-sensitive donation appeals, reaching supporters directly;
• Customizable email templates for nonprofits. Access pre-designed templates specifically crafted for nonprofit messaging, ensuring visually appealing and impactful communications. 

Pricing 

• Free plan – yes, for up to 2,500 members and 15,000 emails. You’ll get premium tools without the premium price tag, so you can do more good with every email marketing campaign;
• Paid plans start at $10/month; 
• Nonprofit discount: 25% off all plans. 

Ideal For

Sender is a practical and budget-friendly email marketing choice for nonprofits of various types, but it particularly shines for organizations like:

• Animal shelters and rescue organizations. Sender’s SMS features are perfect for sending time-sensitive adoption alerts and urgent fundraising appeals, while visually appealing templates help showcase animals in need;
• Environmental advocacy groups. Create impactful email campaigns with Sender’s customizable templates to promote events, share conservation updates, and rally support for environmental protection initiatives;
• Community health centers and services. Use Sender to segment your audience and deliver targeted health awareness messages, appointment reminders, and fundraising appeals to specific demographics in your community.

Mailchimp — Integrations with Donation Platforms like PayPal

Everyone knows Mailchimp. They give nonprofits 15% off, which isn’t amazing but it’s something. The real selling point? They connect with practically everything – donation platforms, CRMs, websites, you name it.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.5 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 2.6 /5.0
• G2: 4.3 /5.0
• Shopify: 3.9 /5.0

Mailchimp integrates with practically everything. PayPal, Donorbox, most CRMs – you connect it once and it just works.

Their email builder is straightforward with templates that don’t scream “I JUST USED A TEMPLATE!” 

The automation is where it gets good – you can set up entire donor journeys once and let them run. Monthly donors get different emails than one-timers, which helps keep them around longer. 

The A/B testing for email subject lines teaches you what works with your specific audience. And yeah, the donation form integration means supporters don’t get bounced around between different systems when making a gift. 

The reporting connects donations directly to specific emails, which is super helpful when your board asks “does email actually work?” 

While their free plan is more limited than it used to be – just 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month, with a daily send limit of 500, the nonprofit discount makes upgrading less painful if you outgrow those tight limits.

While Mailchimp isn’t a HIPAA-compliant email platform, some Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofit use on this list do offer secure options if you’re handling sensitive health information. 

Features

• Drag-and-drop email campaign builder. Easily create visually engaging emails with a user-friendly interface, requiring no coding experience;
• Landing page builder. Design and launch dedicated landing pages within Mailchimp to capture leads and drive conversions for specific campaigns;
• Basic segmentation features. Group your audience based on demographics, behavior, or interests to deliver more relevant content and offers;
• Large integration library. Connect Mailchimp seamlessly with thousands of third-party apps and platforms, expanding your marketing capabilities and centralizing data.

Pricing

• Free plan – no, but there’s free 14-day trial; 
• Paid plans start at $13.44/month;
• Nonprofit discount: 15% off to verified nonprofit organizations and charities. 

Ideal For

Mailchimp, with its user-friendly interface and diverse integrations, is a solid option for nonprofits like:

• Educational institutions. Schools, universities, and educational nonprofits can use Mailchimp to share newsletters, event updates, and fundraising appeals with various audiences, from students to alumni;
• Youth development organizations. With visually appealing templates and easy-to-use features, Mailchimp allows youth programs and after-school centers to engage students, parents, and donors alike;
• Community foundations and grantmakers. Streamline communication with grant recipients, donors, and community stakeholders through automated reports, newsletters, and announcements using Mailchimp’s intuitive platform.

“I am very happy using Mailchimp for my small non-profit and am currently using the free version which meets our needs currently. As we expand, we may upgrade, and we are exploring switching our website to Mailchip as well. Currently we have a popup on our website that lets people sign up for our Mailchimp newsletter, which is a great tool.” – Tracy from Capterra

Also read: 7 Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits & Charity

Campaign Monitor — Best for Beautiful, Branded Email Campaigns

Campaign Monitor is for nonprofits who care about how things look. If your organization relies on visual storytelling – wildlife conservation, arts groups, international development – this platform makes your emails look professionally designed even if you’re not a designer.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.5 /5.0 
• G2: 4.1 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 3.8/5.0
• Shopify: 4.7 /5.0

The design capabilities here are genuinely impressive – the customizable email templates make your cause stand out without needing a graphic designer on staff. 

Their journey designer tool automatically moves supporters through different communication paths based on what they click or open. It also makes volunteer recruitment emails and donor cultivation much more systematic.

The personalization goes beyond just “Dear [NAME]” – it can actually show different content blocks based on donation history or interests. Segmentation is solid too, letting you target very specific groups with relevant messages.

The automated thank you messages and welcome series run in the background while you focus on the million other things on your to-do list. The reporting actually tells you something useful about what’s working. 

Yes, they cost more than some others, but the nonprofit discount helps, and sometimes looking professional is worth paying for.

Features

• Visually driven email builder. Craft eye-catching emails with ease using Campaign Monitor’s intuitive drag-and-drop builder, ensuring your message stands out;
• Targeted segmentation for personalized appeals. Divide your audience based on donation history, volunteer activity, or interests to send highly targeted fundraising appeals and impact reports;
• Donation form integration. Seamlessly connect with popular fundraising platforms to embed donation forms directly within your emails, making it easy for supporters to contribute;
• Performance tracking & analytics. Gain insights into your campaign performance with detailed reporting on open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, allowing for data-driven optimization.

Pricing

• Free plan – no, but there’s a free 30-day trial;
• Paid plans start at $11/month;
• Nonprofit discount: 15% discount off. 

Ideal For

Campaign Monitor, with its focus on visual appeal and targeted messaging, is a suitable choice for nonprofits like:

• Arts and cultural organizations. Theaters, museums, and galleries can leverage Campaign Monitor’s visually driven email builder to create stunning campaigns showcasing upcoming events, exhibitions, and artist spotlights;
• International relief organizations. Reach diverse donor segments effectively with Campaign Monitor’s segmentation tools, tailoring fundraising appeals and impact reports based on donation history, location, and areas of interest;
• Advocacy groups and think tanks. Create compelling email campaigns that drive action with Campaign Monitor’s visually impactful templates, encouraging supporters to sign petitions, contact representatives, or donate to critical initiatives.

“I was able to jump into Campaign Monitor and in a matter of minutes develop a newsletter for my non-profit. It was so simple and seamless. I also like the pay as you go model. I’m only sending to @500 people so the cost is very affordable.”

GetResponse — Best for Automation and Nonprofit Discounts

GetResponse gives nonprofits a FIFTY PERCENT discount. Not a typo! That’s what caught my attention first. They’re great if you’re ready to graduate from basic mass emails to actual strategic, behavior-triggered sequences. The platform is also powerful without being overwhelming.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.2 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 4.1 /5.0
• G2: 4.3 /5.0
• Shopify: 3.0 /5.0

The automation workflows don’t require a computer science degree to set up, but they’re powerful enough to create those multi-step donor journeys that respond to different triggers and conditions.

Their visual automation builder makes it surprisingly easy to create complex email sequences that automatically respond to supporter actions. Perfect for donor journeys or volunteer onboarding when you can’t manually send every email. Their recurring donation automation is particularly strong, helping to convert one-time donors into steady monthly donors.

The segmentation also work well – based on behavior and preferences, not just basic demographics. I especially like their conversion funnels for donation campaigns, guiding potential donors step-by-step toward giving. 

One great feature? Email scheduling recommendations that tell you when your list is most likely to open messages – not just generic “Tuesday at 10am” advice. 

Their list building tools (popups and landing pages) help grow your supporter base without being obnoxious. 

Deliverability is solid too, which matters hugely for urgent campaign emails or time-sensitive volunteer opportunities. 

For healthcare nonprofits, they offer HIPAA-compliant email features to safely communicate sensitive information.

Features

• Web forms. Easily create and embed customizable donation forms and signup forms on your website to capture supporter information and grow your audience;
• Large template library for nonprofit causes. Access a wide variety of pre-designed email templates specifically tailored for fundraising appeals, event invitations, and impact reports;
• Prebuilt automation templates. Implement automated welcome series, donation follow-ups, and volunteer onboarding processes with ready-to-use workflow templates;
• AI writing assistant. Save time and generate compelling copy for your emails, donation appeals, and social media posts with the help of AI-powered writing support.

Pricing

• Free plan – no, but there’s a free 30-day trial;
• Paid plans start at $13.30/month;
• Nonprofit discount: 50% discount off. 

Ideal For

GetResponse, with its focus on automation and visual content creation, can be a good fit for nonprofits such as:

• Religious organizations and places of worship. Use pre-built automation templates to welcome new members, share event schedules, and encourage recurring donations.
• Animal welfare organizations. Leverage visual automation builder to craft engaging welcome series for new adopters, send personalized follow-ups, and share heartwarming stories that drive donations;
• International development organizations. AI writing assistant can help craft compelling fundraising appeals for various global initiatives, while its automation features streamline donor communications across different time zones.

“The support is always available and helpful. The UI is clean and ok to navigate through. (I’ve seen much worse and much better too though) I think it’s a great (and easy to use) alternative to basic ESPs that have far less features for the same price point. If you’re just getting started with newsletters and automations, go ahead and trial it at least.” – Geoffrey from Capterra

MailerLite — Budget-Friendly Automation for Nonprofits 

MailerLite keeps things simple while still offering features that matter. Their interface isn’t cluttered with a million options you’ll never use. Free plan covers 1,000 subscribers, and they give nonprofits 30% off paid plans.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.7 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 4.5 /5.0 
• G2: 4.6/5.0
• Shopify: 2.7 /5.0

Mailerlite’s interface is refreshingly clean. The automation builder creates welcome series and donor nurturing sequences that don’t feel robotic. Their segmentation lets you send advocacy alerts to your activists and donation appeals to your donors without mixing messages. 

The survey tool is surprisingly good for gathering volunteer feedback without paying for separate software. Templates maintain your branding without looking cookie-cutter. 

I really like their landing pages for campaigns or volunteer sign-ups – they extend your reach beyond just email. The analytics tell you what people actually engage with so you can do more of that. 

They also let you control email frequency to avoid overwhelming new subscribers with too many messages (and triggering the dreaded unsubscribe). 

It works well for small nonprofits with minimal marketing staff. While it lacks some bells and whistles of pricier options, it handles the essentials.

Features

• Drag-and-drop editor with a large template library. Create professional-looking emails, newsletters, and donation appeals effortlessly, choosing from a vast selection of pre-designed templates;
• Email automation builder. Cultivate relationships and boost engagement by automating welcome messages, donation acknowledgments, and event reminders;
• Landing page and form builder. Build dedicated landing pages to promote campaigns and capture leads, seamlessly integrated with your email marketing efforts.
• Audience segmentation. Divide your supporter base and send targeted campaigns based on demographics, engagement history, or donation behavior to deliver personalized messaging. 

Pricing

• Free plan – yes, for up to 1,000 users and 12,000 emails/month. 
• Paid plans start at $9/month;
• Nonprofit discount: 30% off all paid plans.

Ideal For

MailerLite’s affordability and user-friendly design make it a suitable email marketing platform for:

• Small, grassroots nonprofits. Organizations with limited budgets and staff can leverage an intuitive drag-and-drop builder and affordable pricing to manage their email communications effectively;
• Community gardens and urban farms. Reach local supporters and volunteers with newsletters showcasing seasonal produce, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities using visually appealing templates;
• Support groups and patient advocacy organizations. Foster a sense of community and provide valuable resources to members with regular newsletters, event updates, and inspiring stories, all easily managed through MailerLite.

“I recently opened a MailerLite account for a non-profit and am not disappointed. The platform is very easy to use and has a simple, intuitive interface (everything is easy to find and doesn’t require a lot learn).” – Michael from Trustpilot

ActiveCampaign — Best for Advanced Donor Segmentation 

ActiveCampaign is for nonprofits who’ve outgrown basic email platforms. They’re segmentation specialists who offer 20% off for nonprofits. If you’re managing donors, volunteers, clients, and advocates all in one system and want each group to get relevant messages (without creating four separate databases), this is worth checking out.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.6 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 3.1 /5.0
• G2: 4.5 /5.0
• Shopify: 4.3 /5.0

ActiveCampaign’s automation is top-notch, handling everything from first-time donor welcome to legacy giving cultivation. 

The predictive sending feature is quite useful – it delivers emails when your specific recipients are most likely to open them, not based on generic best practices. It plugs into whatever donor data system you’re using, creating a complete picture of each supporter. 

The behavioral targeting is impressive – it notices when someone browses your “Get Involved” page and can automatically send volunteer opportunities their way. It also genuinely improves donor retention by ensuring communications remain relevant to each person. 

The CRM features track all interactions, preventing that awkward moment when you ask for a donation from someone who just gave yesterday.

Features

• Premade automation sequences. Implement pre-built automation workflows specifically designed for nonprofit welcome series, donation follow-ups, and re-engagement campaigns;
• Recurring donation drip campaigns. Cultivate lasting support by nurturing relationships with recurring donors through automated, personalized communications;
• Popups and signup forms. Expand your reach and capture leads directly on your website with attention-grabbing popups and embedded signup forms;
• Web push notifications for events. Send timely reminders and updates about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, or fundraising deadlines directly to supporters’ browsers.

Pricing

• Free plan – no, but there’s a free 14-day trial; 
• Paid plans start at $15/month;
• Nonprofit discount: 20% off all plans.

Ideal For

ActiveCampaign, with its powerful automation and CRM features, is well-suited for nonprofits like:

• Mental health advocacy groups. Provide personalized support and resources to individuals struggling with mental health challenges through targeted email sequences and automated follow-ups, guiding them to appropriate resources and events;
• Wildlife conservation organizations. Cultivate dedicated monthly donors passionate about protecting endangered species using ActiveCampaign’s recurring donation-focused automation and personalized impact reporting;
• Disaster relief organizations. Quickly mobilize support and resources during emergencies with ActiveCampaign’s web push notifications for urgent updates, targeted donation appeals based on donor location, and automated impact reports.

“We are a non-profit, and being able to segment our audience (such as donors, volunteers, etc) makes it really easy to target our messaging. I love that we can set it up once and be done, thanks to all the automation features!’ – Jessie from G2

Donorbox — Best for Donation-Focused Email Automation

Donorbox is one of the best best email marketing services built specifically for fundraising. Email is directly integrated with donation processing, so giving behavior automatically triggers the right emails. 

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.8 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: 2.7 /5.0
• G2: 4.6 /5.0
• Shopify: 4.8 /5.0

Their pricing model includes a 1.75% platform fee per donation, plus payment processing fees from Stripe or PayPal (typically around 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction). This structure works well for organisations with big mailing lists but moderate donation volume.

Donorbox combines donation processing with email marketing so everything just works together. Emails trigger automatically based on giving behavior – from first-time gifts to recurring donation management.

The integration between donation forms and email communications is seamless – when someone gives, they automatically get appropriate messages. Their thank you emails include both tax receipts and personalized acknowledgment, strengthening relationships when donors are most engaged. 

The recurring donor communication sequences help reduce churn and increase lifetime value. Their lapsed donor campaigns reactivate giving at higher rates than generic appeals. 

The fundraising-focused email templates address specific scenarios from first-time donations to major gift cultivation, while the tracking directly connects email efforts to actual dollars raised. 

Having donation history and communication records in one system prevents those embarrassing “did I already give?” conversations. 

Features

• Segmentation and personalization. Group donors based on giving history, interests, or engagement levels, allowing for targeted and personalized communications that resonate;
• CRM-based automation. Automate donor acknowledgments, recurring donation reminders, and impact updates through Donorbox’s integrated CRM system, nurturing lasting relationships;
  Drag-and-drop email builder. Effortlessly create visually appealing emails and newsletters with a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, requiring no coding knowledge;
• Unified inbox for all communications. Manage all donor interactions, including emails, social media messages, and chat conversations, from a single centralized inbox, ensuring no message goes unnoticed.

Pricing

• Free plan: yes, but with 2.95% platform fee; 
• Paid plans start at $150/month with a 1.75% platform fee for every donation captured through the platform;
• No nonprofit discount available.

Ideal For

Donorbox, with its streamlined donation management and communication tools, is a strong choice for nonprofits such as:

• Faith-based organizations. Engage congregations, manage recurring tithes, and process event registrations seamlessly through Donorbox’s integrated platform, simplifying administrative tasks for religious institutions;
• Educational institutions. From school fundraisers to alumni outreach, Donorbox empowers educational institutions to collect donations, manage donor data, and track campaign progress effortlessly within a centralized system;
• Humanitarian aid organizations. Respond effectively to crises and manage international fundraising campaigns with Donorbox’s multi-currency support, recurring donation options, and unified communication inbox for efficient donor management.

“Donorbox makes it easy for us to promote and track donations. We also like that we can ticket our events with it, without sending ticket buyers off to third party websites. It’s simple, and therefore easy.” – James from Capterra

Keela — Best All-in-One Nonprofit CRM & Email Tool

Keela is a genuine all-in-one platform built specifically for nonprofits. They’ve integrated donor management, email marketing, and fundraising tools in one system that actually understands nonprofit workflows. This eliminates the integration headaches and scattered data that plague organizations using separate tools for everything.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.3 /5.0 
• Trustpilot: NA
• G2: 4.6 /5.0
• Shopify: NA

Keela connects all your donor data with your email marketing, eliminating those painful integration projects between separate systems. They’ve built nonprofit-specific features that general platforms just don’t offer.

The complete donor profiles make giving history instantly accessible while creating emails – no more asking for amounts donors have already exceeded or sending generic appeals to major givers. 

Their smart ask amounts automatically calculate appropriate suggested donations based on past giving, which noticeably increases average gift sizes. The donor scoring identifies high-potential supporters who deserve personalized attention. 

Built-in fundraising intelligence provides practical guidance for campaign planning and timing. Automated donor communications respond to specific giving patterns, like anniversary messages for loyal supporters or cultivation emails for potential major donors. 

The volunteer management with targeted email ensures the right opportunities reach people who actually want them. Grant tracking and funder communications keep institutional supporters engaged and informed about your impact.

Features

• Dynamic fields for personalizing emails. Craft compelling email communications that resonate with individual donors by dynamically inserting their names, donation history, or other relevant information;
• Nonprofit email template library. Access a range of pre-designed email templates specifically created for nonprofit fundraising appeals, event invitations, impact reports, and more;
• Nonprofit CRM integration for donor management. Seamlessly manage donor data, track donations, and segment your audience within Keela’s integrated CRM platform designed specifically for nonprofits;
• Embeddable donation buttons. Make donating easy and convenient by embedding secure donation buttons directly on your website, emails, and social media pages.

Pricing

• Free plan: no free plan or trial.
• Paid plans start at $134/month with a 1.5% platform fee for every donation captured through the platform;
• No nonprofit discount available.

Ideal For

Keela, with its dedicated focus on nonprofit needs, is a great fit for organizations like:

• Social service organizations. Manage client data, track program outcomes, and cultivate donor relationships seamlessly within Keela’s integrated CRM platform designed specifically for nonprofits serving vulnerable populations;
• Grant-funded organizations. Streamline grant reporting, track deliverables, and manage donor communications efficiently with Keela’s purpose-built tools, simplifying complex reporting requirements and fostering funder relationships;
• Membership-based nonprofits. Engage members, process membership fees, track renewals, and communicate effectively with targeted segments using Keela’s comprehensive features designed to cultivate a thriving member community.

“Keela has enabled me to accomplish the goal of taking better care of the donors for my organization. With Keela, we have automated so much that it gives me time in my work day to build out strategies to build the donor relationship and to develop new strategies to capture new donors.” – Kaithleen from G2

Constant Contact — Best Event & Volunteer Email Tools for Nonprofits 

Constant Contact offers specialized features for event management and volunteer coordination, plus a 30% nonprofit discount. Their templates and support team actually understand the nonprofit world. This platform shines for organizations that heavily rely on events and volunteer programs.

Ratings:

• Capterra: 4.3 /5.0 
• TrustPilot: 4.4 /5.0
• G2: 4.0 /5.0
• Shopify: 3.3 /5.0

When events and volunteers are central to your mission, Constant Contact’s purpose-built tools for promotion, registration, and coordination make life so much easier. Their event tools alone might justify the cost.

Their event marketing tools handle everything from initial promotion to registration confirmations to automated reminders – critical for fundraising events or volunteer training. The volunteer management features include scheduling emails and shift reminders that actually reduce no-shows. 

Online donation capabilities integrate directly with email campaigns, letting supporters give without leaving their inbox (which boosts conversion for urgent appeals). Survey tools gather useful feedback about event experiences or program impact, helping you improve based on data, not guesswork.

Their list growth tools with mobile-friendly signup forms help build your supporter base without technical headaches. The nonprofit-specific email templates address common scenarios from board updates to year-end appeals, saving precious time.

Features

• Professional email template library. Access a diverse library of mobile-optimized email templates, ensuring your newsletters, announcements, and fundraising appeals look polished and professional;
• Automation builder for recurring campaigns. Save time and streamline communications by automating welcome series, event reminders, and donation acknowledgments;
• Reporting tools. Monitor the performance of your email campaigns with insightful analytics, tracking open rates, click-through rates, and donation conversions to optimize future efforts;
• Social media integration. Easily share your email campaigns on social media platforms, expanding your reach and attracting new supporters to your cause.

Pricing

• Free plan: no, but there’s a free 14-day trial; 
• Paid plans start at $12/month; 
• Nonprofit discount: 20% off with 6-month prepay; 30% off with 12-month prepay. 

Ideal For

Constant Contact, with its user-friendly interface and event management features, can be a good fit for nonprofits such as:

• Senior centers and services. Easily communicate upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and program updates to seniors and their families using visually appealing templates and straightforward event registration features; 
• Humane societies and animal shelters. Find forever homes for animals in need by showcasing adoptable pets, promoting fundraising events, and sharing heartwarming success stories with visually-driven email campaigns;
• Environmental education centers. Engage the community with newsletters highlighting upcoming nature walks, educational programs, and volunteer opportunities using an easy-to-use platform and visually appealing templates.

“We are an all volunteer non profit with very limited budget. Constant Contact gives us more tools than we could ever afford anywhere else and brings a level of professionalism we need. Great value, great products, and awesome credibility.” – Victoria from Trustpilot

FAQs About Nonprofit Email Marketing Tools

Which platform offers the best free plan for nonprofits?

Sender currently offers the most generous deal – 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 monthly emails without spending a penny. Just remember, if you need nonprofit-specific features like donation integration, you’ll probably need to upgrade eventually.

For tiny organizations (under 1,000 contacts), MailerLite’s free plan gives you the best balance of automation capabilities and usability. If your list is larger, Sender’s limits are hard to beat for a free product. All these cheap email marketing services want to get you hooked with their free offerings, so they’re surprisingly functional for attracting new subscribers.

Do email tools verify nonprofit status for discounts?

Yes, most platforms actually check that you’re legit before giving nonprofit discounts. You’ll typically need:

• Your 501(c)(3) determination letter
• EIN/tax ID number
• Sometimes your website address

Platforms like Keela and Donorbox that exclusively serve nonprofits often have faster verification processes.

How to migrate from one platform to another?

Check off all the boxes in this migration process list:

1. Export your lists from your current platform, including all the custom fields and segment info.
2. Screenshot your automations or make workflow diagrams so you know what you’re rebuilding.
3. Save your best email templates as HTML files if possible.
4. Import contacts carefully and check that all data fields mapped correctly.
5. Rebuild your most important automations first – welcome series and donation thank-yous take priority.
6. Recreate your common email templates in the new system.
7. Run both systems for a week or two before fully switching over.
8. Update all your website forms and social media links.

Most platforms offer some migration help, especially if you’re moving to a paid plan. 

Note: this process always takes longer than expected. Don’t try to migrate the week before your biggest fundraising campaign.

About author

Emily Austin

Author

Sender

Emily is a content manager who has dipped her toes in almost all fields of marketing, including email marketing, PR, social media, and ecommerce. She loves perfecting digital content, ensuring everything is polished and ready to go live.

Writer - Anmol Ratan Sachdeva