Charities and non-profits have a significant amount of data to manage, like donor data, giving histories, donation frequencies, Gift Aid reporting, and volunteer efforts. These numbers reflect your impact and offer insights into key decisions. To be able to better manage these numbers, you need a system that keeps everything organised and easy to access.
That’s where a nonprofit CRM comes in.
A non-profit CRM or customer relationship management platform is a digital tool that allows charities and non-profits to store, manage, update, and report data. This software is also known as a donor management system or a non-profit database, but more importantly, it can understand the motivations, interests and passions of your supporters and provide tools to connect with them on a deeper level.
Charity CRM enables you to do so much more than just manage data. For instance, you can raise funds, manage volunteers, improve donor retention, meet compliance reporting requirements, and showcase the genuine impact of your efforts. The right non-profit CRM can be a game-changer for your organisation, helping you move closer to your charity goals.
But how do you choose the right charity CRM? What do you need to consider?
When selecting the best CRM for your company, there are a number of things to take into account. Before you start researching and comparing online tools, you need to consider a list of CRM features that will help you solve your charity’s unique challenges. Ask yourself these questions:
- What are my charity’s biggest goals?
- Where does my charity currently stand?
- What are the most important upcoming activities?
- What is my budget?
This will help you decide which CRM is the best for your non-profit. Once you have a clear understanding of your requirements, the next step is to explore the best charity CRMs available. Below are 14 powerful non-profit CRM tools and the key factors to consider before making the right choice.
The Best CRM Tools for Non-Profits
1. KindLink: Top Pick for Transparency, Impact, and Engagement
Website: https://www.kindlink.org
Overview:
KindLink is an all-in-one CRM and impact reporting platform designed by charity experts, specifically for non-profits. This all-in-one system allows you to manage donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries, automatically handle and report Gift Aid donations, and control GDPR preferences and consents.
It also allows you to create impactful storytelling through social media integrations. Not only that, but this platform seamlessly integrates with its fundraising and donation tools to help your charity transparently share results.
This tool has supported over 4,000 non-profits in their mission, making it a reliable choice for your charity. According to our research, it’s also one of the very few platforms that doesn’t take any commission or platform fees from charities. This means your non-profit gets 100% of the donation.
Key Features:
- Donor and volunteer CRM with segmentation
- Automated donation tracking and tax receipts
- CSR integration for corporate partnerships
- Project-based impact tracking
- Story sharing via the KindLink social platform
- Event and campaign management
- Premium features include customised donation pages, personalised ‘thank yous’, online sales/ticket payments, and more
Pros:
- Free plan with maximum core features available; ideal for new and small nonprofits
- Zero commission, platform fees or hidden charges
- Seamless combination of CRM and storytelling tools
- Excellent transparency and reporting features
- GDPR and PCI-DSS compliant
- HMRC integration for effortless Gift Aid reporting and claims
- Corporate social responsibility (CSR) marketplace access
- Easy migration; add and import records for free
Cons:
- Less suited for large-scale non-profits with complex needs, best for organisations seeking simplicity and efficiency
- Limited customisation compared to high-end systems
Pricing:
- Open and free access for registered charities
- Minimal bank fees of 1.40% + 15p per donation apply, among the lowest in the market
- Paid plans start at ~£14.99/month + VAT, depending on usage
Best For:
Small to medium non-profits focused on transparency and corporate partnerships.
2. CharityEngine
Overview:
CharityEngine is a non-profit software that supports fundraising, email marketing, events, and donor management features.
Key Features:
- Secure payment processing
- Fundraising analytics dashboard
- Customised donation pages
Pros:
- Multiple features in one platform
- Good for midsize to large nonprofits
Cons:
- Steep learning curve with limited training resources
- Higher price point
- Lacks communication about updates, features, and bug fixes
Pricing:
Custom quotes according to usage, typically on the higher end.
Best For:
Large non-profits and development teams with a bigger budget.
3. Funraise
Overview:
Funraise is a CRM platform supporting donation processing with donor profiles and donor segmentation for better communication with a modern, intuitive design aimed at growth-focused nonprofits.
Key Features:
- Create custom donation forms and pages
- Communicate with SMS & email messaging
- Access to donation tracking and CRM database
Pros:
- Modern design
- Responsive customer support
- Advanced customisation
Cons:
- Limited integrations compared to older platforms
- Some features are gated in premium tiers
Pricing:
Free plan available but includes 5% platform and 2.9% + 30¢ processing fees; premium starts at ~$99/month.
Best For:
Mid-sized to large non-profits focused on donor journeys.
4. Kindful (A Bloomerang Company)
Overview:
Simple CRM with good third-party integrations, now part of Bloomerang.
Key Features:
- Integrated email marketing tools
- Donor payment processing
- Comes with peer-to-peer fundraising tools
Pros:
- Integration with third-party tools like Mailchimp and QuickBooks
- Clean UI with a user-friendly interface
Cons:
- Some advanced features are locked behind add-ons.
Pricing:
Usage-based pricing starts at ~$119/month for the basic plan.
Best For:
Growing non-profits want flexible integrations.
5. Salesforce for Nonprofits (NPSP)
Overview:
This CRM platform is used by for-profits and non-profits alike. The software can be customised for your non-profit by downloading the specific Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) integration.
Key Features:
- Built on the Salesforce platform
- Create donor profiles
- Personalise your dashboard
- Use marketing and engagement plans
Pros:
- Customisable and scalable as per your needs
- Support resources from a developer-backed community
Cons:
- Difficult to implement without hiring an external consultant
- Add-ons increase expenses
- Steep learning curve; IT knowledge needed
Pricing:
Starts from $60 per user/Month with annual billing.
Best For:
Large non-profits with IT resources.
6. Neon CRM
Overview:
This CRM is built to help non-profits grow, inspire supporters, and increase engagement. Neon CRM supports email marketing and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Key Features:
- Create donor and volunteer profiles
- Access to email marketing tools
- Sell merchandise on online stores
- Manage and track grants
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Access to relationship tracking tools
Cons:
- Creating reports is complicated, with separate screens for building and viewing
- Additional monthly fee for live chat and phone support
Pricing:
Starts at $99/month for the basic package, more for additional features.
Best For:
Non-profits that need a CRM for events and memberships.
7. Little Green Light
Overview:
Little Green Light is an affordable donor management software CRM with useful resources and integrations for small teams.
Key Features:
- Manage the contacts of your donors, volunteers, and members
- Task fundraising efforts
- Easily import and export data
Pros:
- Easy-to-use lists for mailing
- Budget-friendly tool for first-time CRM users
Cons:
- Lacks advanced automation or analytics features
- Limited features, support and reporting capabilities
- Not recommended for mid-sized to large non-profits looking to scale
Pricing:
Starts at $45/month for 2,500 constituent records.
Best For:
Small shops and grassroots non-profits that are moving from Excel into a CRM tool.
8. Donorbox
Overview:
Donorbox is an AI-driven donor management system that goes beyond donation forms, offering fundraising and engagement tools.
Key Features:
- Simplify your donor engagement with email integration tasks
- Create donor profiles and groups
- Automate tasks with JayAI, an AI assistant
- Fundraising pages and peer-to-peer tools
Pros:
- Easily manage recurring donation forms
- Good UI and reporting capabilities
Cons:
- Some CRM features are still developing
- Advanced analytics is limited to premium
Pricing:
The free plan comes with limited features, including platform fees between 2.95 and 3.95%.
The Pro plan starts at $150/month with platform fees between 1.75 and 2%.
Best For:
Small to mid-sized non-profits are launching online fundraising.
9. CiviCRM
Overview:
It’s an open-source CRM specifically created for non-profits, supporting donations, memberships, events, and case management.
Key Features:
- Effortlessly track supporter contributions and pledges
- Manage cases and memberships with ease
- Support mass email campaigns
- Scale up with peer-to-peer fundraising options
Pros:
- Open source makes it highly flexible and customisable as per your needs
- No licensing fees
- Easy to integrate with Drupal, WordPress, Joomla and Backdrop
Cons:
- Requires hosting and developer support to keep the platform running
- Time-consuming setup
- UI can feel dated without customisation
Pricing:
Free because it’s an open-source platform, but hosting/development may cost anywhere between $50 and $300/month.
Best For:
Organisations with strong technical expertise or those needing a self-hosted CRM.
10. HubSpot for Non-profits
Overview:
While not built exclusively for non-profits, HubSpot offers a powerful free CRM and provides special discounts to nonprofit organisations. Its speciality lies in automating marketing, tracking the donor pipeline, and managing contacts.
Key Features:
- Quick and easy data import
- Track donor journey with a focus on managing deals and pipelines
- Create lists for managing to-dos and activities for managing relationships
- Clear and combined reporting dashboards
Pros:
- Generous free features
- Powerful marketing & email workflows.
- Intuitive UI and easy onboarding
Cons:
- Not purpose-built for non-profit fundraising
- A higher learning curve is needed
- Customisation can require tech expertise
Pricing:
Smart CRM Professional (starting at $50/mo per seat) or Smart CRM Enterprise (starting at $75/mo per seat).
Best For:
Non-profits looking for a scalable CRM optimised for marketing.
11. DonorPerfect
Overview:
DonorPerfect is an established non-profit CRM, offering donor management, reporting, and fundraising tools. It’s popular for its online giving, grants, direct mail, and event fundraising features.
Key Features:
- Access to a donor database and communication history
- Access custom reports and dashboards
- Recurring and mobile giving options
- Time-saving automation tools
Pros:
- Mature platform with sound training resources
- Integrations with QuickBooks, Constant Contact, and more
Cons:
- The interface may feel outdated and complex
- The reporting setup can be complex for new users
Pricing:
Starts at ~$99/month (based on the number of donor records).
Best For:
Established charities need a reliable, customisable CRM with a proven track record.
12. Donorfy
Overview:
Donorfy is a UK-based non-profit CRM designed for cloud-first charities. A part of the Access Group, it offers smart automation, integrated donation tools, and easy contact segmentation.
Key Features:
- Manage contacts and donations with relative ease
- Access fundraising tools and Gift Aid automation
- Engage in campaign tracking and email marketing
- Web widgets for forms and event registration
Pros:
- Built for UK charities (including Gift Aid support)
- Easy to use with a clean interface
Cons:
- Primary focus on UK regulatory and giving norms
- Fewer integrations than U.S.-based counterparts
Pricing:
Free tier available (Essentials); paid plans start from £69/month.
Best For:
Small to mid-sized UK-based charities looking for a modern and cost-effective CRM.
13. Beacon CRM
Overview:
Beacon is a modern, cloud-based CRM for non-profits in the UK. It's known for flexibility, automation, and user-friendly design and can seamlessly manage donors, volunteers, grants, and memberships.
Key Features:
- Fully customisable data structure
- Avail donor, membership, and volunteer tracking
- Access built-in online forms and workflows
- Integrations with Stripe, Mailchimp, and others
Pros:
- Highly flexible and configurable
- Beautiful UI and intuitive setup
- Strong UK support and data compliance (GDPR)
Cons:
- No free tier, only free trial available
- Some advanced features require setup expertise
Pricing:
Starts at £30/month (for small organisations); scalable pricing tiers.
Best For:
Technically sound UK charities wanting flexible CRM design without coding.
14. Access Charity CRM
Overview:
Access Charity CRM is part of the Access Group’s suite for nonprofits, providing a comprehensive platform to manage supporters, fundraising, events, and volunteering in one place.
Key Features:
- Supporter journeys and donor lifecycle tracking.
- Campaign and event management.
- Automated Gift Aid processing.
- Wealth screening and reporting.
Pros:
- Highly scalable and integrated with finance & HR tools.
- Designed specifically for UK nonprofit workflows.
- Full-service CRM with strategic insight tools.
Cons:
- Requires implementation support for setup.
- Premium pricing is not ideal for small charities.
Pricing:
Custom pricing varies based on org size and modules needed.
Best For:
Mid-to-large UK charities seeking a unified CRM, finance, and operations platform.
How to Choose the Right CRM?
With a plethora of charity CRM options to choose from, it can get confusing to narrow down to one option. Don’t worry, we can help you find the right non-profit CRM with the following steps:
- Do your research: Cast a wide net to see which options tick all the boxes. Use the above list as a starter.
- Plan your budget: Assess how much you can afford and how you can maximise this investment over time.
- Finalise your shortlist: Sit down with your team to create a shortlist of potential favourites according to affordability, features, integrations, scalability, and ease of use.
- Pick the winner: Take your top choice with enough information backing from all the stakeholders involved.
- Create an implementation plan: Design a step-by-step plan to completely implement and integrate your platform into your system.
- Training and support: Train your employees on your new system and provide learning and training support.
Conclusion: Choose from 14 CRM Tools for Non-Profits
Technology is a powerful enabler for organisations, and this is just as true for charities. The right digital platform can significantly impact your non-profit’s success, especially when it comes to raising funds for your cause.
A well-chosen platform streamlines operations, enhances donor engagement, and helps maximise donations. It's important to make sure this choice fits with your goals and effectively advances your mission by giving it the same thought and care that you would give to your cause.
