Nonprofit software automates all areas of NPOs, from fundraising events and donor database management to general accounting and customer relationship management (CRM).
We used our advanced review methodology to rank the top nonprofit management software based on features like donor tracking, marketing tools, and more.
- Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT: Best Overall
- Bloomerang: Best for Small Nonprofits
- Aplos Fund Accounting: Best for Faith-Based Organizations
- Donorbox: Best Free Option
- Sage Intacct
- NetSuite
- Denali Fund Accounting
- MIP Fund Accounting
1 Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT - Best Overall
Why we chose it: Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT is our top overall pick for medium to large organizations, earning a score of 8.8 for its fundraising and donor management features. These include pledge tracking, gift management, and annual fund workflows. We also like how Raiser’s Edge offers an intuitive interface for maintaining detailed constituent records. Additionally, the software helps foster connections with donors and volunteers through integrated email tools.
We found Raiser’s Edge’s accounting capabilities well-tailored to nonprofits. Its flexible general ledger structure allows users to generate detailed reports based on various dimensions, such as by program or fundraising event. The Accounts Receivable (A/R) and Accounts Payable (A/P) modules enable nonprofits to create invoices, handle bills, and monitor funding sources. Additionally, the software can track grant requirements and provide intelligent suggestions, such as top prospects, recommended ask amounts, and donors at risk of lapsing.
Raiser’s Edge offers numerous customizable reports and dashboards to monitor fundraising performance, donor behavior, and campaign effectiveness. However, pricing information isn’t publicly available, requiring you to contact the sales team for a quote. We also think non-accountants will find the system challenging to use without a thorough understanding of fund accounting.
2 Bloomerang - Best for Small Nonprofits
Why we chose it: We found Bloomerang best for small to medium-sized organizations with two to 200 employees. The software helps smaller NPOs find, contact, and retain donors with a cost-effective feature set. Bloomerang starts at just $125/month for unlimited users, though it limits you to 1,000 constituent records.
Primary features include CRM, online giving, email marketing, engagement meters, generosity scores, and reports. This system integrates with powerful peer-to-peer, wealth screening, funding accounting, website CMS, and more apps, including products like DonorSearch and QuickBooks.
We appreciate Bloomerang’s built-in metrics for tracking donor retention and engagement. However, some users have noted that the CRM features could be improved. Specifically, the software lacks a strong system for tracking detailed donor interactions and does not support assigning soft credits to donations.
- Find More Fundraising Software Products
3 Aplos Fund Accounting - Best for Faith-Based Organizations
Why we chose it: Aplos Fund Accounting is our top pick for faith-based organizations like churches. That’s because it’s tailored to smaller entities requiring donation tracking and fund accounting. We found the accounting interface particularly user-friendly, automatically performing calculations and generating reports for volunteer church treasurers and seasoned accountants alike.
Aplos provides simple templates for newsletter emails and online giving forms. It also handles event registration, membership management, and customizable financial reporting. Additionally, Aplos makes it easy to onboard new volunteers, with live and on-demand training.
However, pricing is on the higher side at $79/month for basic features like fund accounting, reporting, and CRM tools. Fortunately, Aplos offers promotional pricing at $59.25/month for new customers and a 15-day free trial to try before you buy.
4 Donorbox - Best Free Option
Why we chose it: We picked Donorbox because it offers a free plan for organizations that raise less than $1,000/month. It’s a good starting point for new NPOs that need to collect donations, manage donors, and generate marketing campaigns. We like how easy it is to embed Donorbox into an organization’s existing website or as a standalone widget. Payment processing is also available through many methods, including ACH and SEPA bank transfers, Google Pay and Apple Pay, credit cards, and Stripe.
While Donorbox offers a free plan, payment processing with Stripe and PayPal will incur a charge. PayPal payments incur 1.99% + 49 cents per transaction, and Stripe payments incur 2.2% + 30 cents per transaction. Donorbox costs $45/month for organizations that raise between $1,000 - $3,000/month and $150/month for organizations that raise $10,000/month.
5 Sage Intacct
Why we chose it: Though Sage Intacct isn’t a dedicated nonprofit software, it’s still a popular choice among NPOs. That’s because it has granular financial tracking, automated revenue recognition, and comprehensive reporting. We like that it has tools to manage funds, grants, and donations from multiple sources. It also allows you to create separate closes, reports, and revenue recognition for each funding source.
Sage Intacct automates revenue recognition following GAAP standards, useful for compliance with accounting regulations. It streamlines processes like allocating funds across programs and locations. Additionally, Intacct generates Statements of Activities, Financial Position, Cash Flow, and Form 990. Through push-button consolidations, it even provides visibility into financials across entities, currencies, and tax jurisdictions.
While not dedicated solely to nonprofits, Intacct’s multidimensional architecture allows it to handle the complex needs of nonprofits as they grow, including multi-entity, multi-currency, and global consolidations. However, Intacct might not be suitable for smaller nonprofits due to its higher pricing. Exact pricing details are not available on their website, so you’ll need to place a consultation call for a quote.
6 NetSuite
Why we chose it: NetSuite is another popular ERP system for NPOs, despite not being a specialized nonprofit software. We like its strong financial capabilities, including a chart of accounts, budgeting, tax setup, expense allocations, and bank reconciliations. This allows nonprofits to manage funds properly and track restricted and unrestricted donations.
NetSuite’s integrated CRM module gives a complete view of the donor/constituent lifecycle from leads and opportunities to donations and support. It also offers analytics and reporting across the entire platform with SuiteAnalytics, giving insight into key metrics like program performance, donation trends, and resource utilization.
Organizations can apply for the NetSuite Nonprofit add-on for additional functionality. NPOs can get the base ERP system donated for free; however, full nonprofit management capabilities require purchasing add-on modules and user licenses at discounted rates through the Social Impact program.
7 Denali Fund Accounting
Why we chose it: We picked Denali Fund Accounting for organizations managing federal grants, private grants, and corporate sponsorships. It also helps NPOs avoid failing compliance audits, supporting GAAP and FASB guidelines. We found Denali’s audit trail capabilities particularly useful, ensuring users can’t delete previous entries and all changes are tracked and accounted for.
Modules available with Denali Fund include accounts payable and accounts receivable, payroll, bank reconciliation, purchase orders, order entry, inventory control, donor tracking, and job costing. Some modules can be purchased standalone; however, some modules are required with others. An integrated point-of-sale system is also available with Denali Fund, which works with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
On the other hand, Denali Fund is likely too complicated for those new to fund accounting. It’s a fairly in-depth accounting system, so its learning curve is steeper.
8 MIP Fund Accounting
Why we chose it: MIP Fund Accounting made our list because it caters to government agencies and NPOs. It’s a solid choice because it provides fraud protection, a clear audit trail, and GASB-compliant, audit-ready reports. You can access audit trails anytime by creating multidimensional charts for expenses and revenue.
We like that MIP offers capabilities for managing multiple funding sources and budgets. The software facilitates detailed tracking of restrictions on net assets and allows for the automatic allocation of costs across multiple cost centers. This is especially useful for government agencies that manage complex budgets and need to ensure accurate fund distribution.
However, we found a number of user reviews that considered the software dated-looking and not user-friendly. Some also found customizing reports a clunky process, with no support for multi-entity reporting.
- Find More Nonprofit Accounting Software Products.
What Is Nonprofit Software?
Nonprofit software, sometimes called nonprofit technology or nonprofit apps, consists of tools for administration, fundraising, donor management, accounting, and marketing. Users include advocacy groups, charitable institutions, government organizations, and faith/religious-based congregations.
For nonprofit organizations, using an industry-specific solution to account for donors and donations, fundraising operations, gifts, membership, and other funding sources is crucial to maximizing outreach, productivity, and engagement with donors.
What Are The Features of Nonprofit Software?
- Communication tools: Includes email marketing, text messages, or traditional direct mail for outreach. A common feature in nonprofit CRM software.
- Fundraising: Execute highly targeted marketing plans. Enable the creation of custom campaigns to link online donations and physical donations in a single system. Keep track of donations tied to specific campaigns.
- Campaign reporting: Create custom reports to account for donations, grants, pledges, and other funding sources. This includes data-driven analysis to measure fundraising performance, donor retention, and historical fundraising campaign success.
- Donation management: Track donations and pledges made by donors through fundraising campaigns. Anticipate inbound donations; process recurring donations with ACH or credit card payments; organize corporate donations, matched gifts, and any other source of contributions.
- Contact management: Keep records on past donors to streamline communication of donation pleas, marketing materials, and invites for various events.
- Event planning: Organize and host charitable events, such as in-person fundraisers or awareness campaigns.
- Membership management: Track different levels of memberships, such as group/family or single. Share documents with members via their updated contact information. Allow referrals for new members, allow members to sign up for events, or adjust online billing preferences.
What Are The Benefits of Nonprofit Software?
Nonprofits can benefit from software in some key areas, such as:
Improve Your Volunteer and Donor Databases
Anything that helps your organization stay organized regarding people-to-people relationships will fall under a nonprofit database and membership software. One could think of these solutions as being nonprofit CRMs since nonprofits are primarily looking to track metrics on 3 distinct types of people:
- Donors: Analyze which campaigns they give to, manage communications between them and the organization, and provide them with the appropriate tax forms at year-end.
- Members: Databases act as a way to grow your membership programs. Like how memberships are managed in a professional association, membership databases provide constituent relationship management and track member information, communication efforts with members, help keep members engaged, and give members access to their accounts. Fees can be managed in a straightforward manner, and members can sign up for in-demand volunteer spots or help organize fundraising campaigns.
- Volunteers: Store contact info, release forms, hours worked, availability, and past experiences. Provide real-time reports to see which individuals are having the most level of success. Determine which events have drawn the most interest.
Create End Of Year Donation Statements and Donor Contribution Summary Reports
All nonprofit organizations that receive contributions totaling $250 or more, OR provide goods and services to donors to make contributions of more than $75, must send donation receipt letters for tax purposes. The government regulates end-of-year donation letters to any business with legal nonprofit status. These forms allow your donors to deduct donations from their taxes.
These donation statements are proof that a donor has contributed to your organization—something the donor can keep as proof if the government starts to investigate their claimed tax deductions further. By easily providing these to donors, you’ll be able to build trust and a level of comfort that will encourage repeat donations.
A donor contribution summary report tracks each donor’s contribution total as needed. They include your organization’s name, the donor’s name, the dates of contributions, the amounts of contributions, and a statement explaining whether or not your organization provided any goods or services in exchange for these gifts.
Donor contribution summary reports can be sent to donors via direct mail or email. Most nonprofit software will include a cover letter of sorts–acting as a great tool to keep your donors up to date on what’s happening with the organization, before listing each donation for the calendar year.
Create Form 990
All tax-exempt organizations in the US must file an annual information return with the IRS, which includes Form 990. This form allows the IRS to gather information about the organization and educates organizations about tax law requirements and compliance. Tax Form 990 can also help educate the public on programs offered by the nonprofit organization.
While nonprofit organizations do not have to pay federal, state, or local income tax, they still have to pay payroll, sales, and use taxes. Most tax-exempt organizations must file an annual informational return with the IRS–which includes Form 990. Nonprofit software can provide step-by-step instructions for preparing and filing Form 990, including receipt of confirmation that it was accepted.
Is QuickBooks a Nonprofit Software?
Certain QuickBooks products from Intuit can successfully be used by a nonprofit organization. The solution can support tracking budgets by programs or funds, donor management, grant management, financial reporting, bank reconciliations, and more.
QuickBooks offers two desktop solutions that are built with nonprofits in mind:
- QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit Edition
- QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit
QuickBooks Premier offers various editions that you can choose from, depending on your industry. The Nonprofit Edition provides custom features to:
- Create a chart of accounts the way IRS Form 990 requires
- Draft reports to view money contributed and spent by donor or grant
- Plan budgets based on fundraising allocations
- Organize tax forms for donors, vendors, and employees
This version of QuickBooks is limited to a maximum of 5 users.
QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit includes features similar to its Premier counterpart but includes access for up to 30 users. Key reports include budget by programs, statements of financial income and expense, statements of functional expenses, donors and grant statements, large donor statements, and statements of financial position.
Will QuickBooks Online Work For Nonprofits?
QuickBooks Online can be used in a nonprofit setting, but you’ll want to make sure your staff can put up with the “for-profit language” of the program. The dashboard mentions profit and loss, sales, and other terms not commonly used in nonprofit environments. At this time, there is not a nonprofit edition for QuickBooks Online.
Current versions of Quickbooks must instead be customized to enable nonprofit-specific functionality. For organizations, this requires savvy Quickbooks experts capable of customizing the software to meet their organization’s particular needs. Many NPOs instead look to adopt new nonprofit accounting software solutions that work out of the box.
For organizations set on sticking with QuickBooks Online, Intuit has been recommending QuickBooks Online as the accounting system to have for nonprofits. The solution has one of the lowest cost of entry points, starting at $15/month for the self-employed version or $40/month for the Plus version.
How Much Does Nonprofit Software Cost?
The starting price for nonprofit software will range from $25/month to $120/month depending on what the software offers. Software only used for donor management might come in at the lower end of that spectrum. In comparison, a complete nonprofit accounting software with fundraising campaigns and fund accounting may range toward the higher end.
Most systems charge per user per month and require a minimum number of users. Software with local installations (desktop software) usually has a one-time fee for purchasing it outright and offers optional yearly fees for support and updates.
Are There Any Free Nonprofit Software Solutions?
Nonprofit organizations are always trying to reduce or eliminate as many traditional business expenses as possible so they can spend more of their limited funds on the mission itself. As a result, it’s no surprise that most NPOs prefer free software options.
Realistically, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a free nonprofit software solution capable of proper donation tracking or membership/volunteer management without downsides. Most “free” options are just trials or basic versions of paid options to attract customers. However, combining these tools could let a nonprofit decide which are worth their paid counterparts. Fortunately, many solutions are relatively inexpensive, depending on exactly what features your organization requires.
Review some of the best free NPO software products available.
