When nonprofits first started to experiment with digital marketing in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the few tools that were available were expensive and limited in their functionality. Today, the number of low-cost, well-built digital marketing tools is incredible!
Provided you set aside the time to explore and experiment, your nonprofit can use these free or low-cost tools and resources to significantly improve your digital marketing and fundraising campaigns.
Websites & Email
1. Bing Webmaster Tools :: bing.com/webmasters
A free set of SEO, diagnostic, and reporting tools designed to improve your website’s rankings on Bing search results.
2. Google Analytics :: analytics.google.com
Google Analytics is a freemium web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. It is important to note that you must upgrade to Google Analytics 4 by July 1, 2023.
3. Google Campaign URL Builder :: ga-dev-tools/campaign-url-builder
This a free tool from Google that allows you to easily create UTMs to track your website performance, such as referral traffic from social media campaigns and conversions from online ads.
4. Google PageSpeed Insights :: pagespeed.web.dev
PageSpeed Insights is a free tool provided by Google that analyzes how fast your website loads and displays on mobile and desktop devices. Having a fast-loading website is essential for a successful SEO strategy.
5. Internet Archive Wayback Machine :: archive.org/web
The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is an online library of almost 500 billion screenshots of websites since 1996. Nonprofits can use it to study past versions of their website and to monitor their progress in web design over time.
6. Mailmunch :: mailmunch.com
Mailmunch enables users to create a variety of pop-up email forms for their website. The service provides analytics and easy integration with multiple third-party tools. See also OptInMonster.
7. mail-tester:: mail-tester.com
This free tool reveals if your email domain is on a blacklist, flagged for spam, and properly set up for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols. See also MXToolbox.
8. SocialSnap :: socialsnap.com
SocialSnap is a very useful WordPress plugin that enables you to customize the titles, messages, and images that your website and blog content display when posted on social media. SocialSnap also provides customizable social share buttons that can be added to your website or blog content.
9. Textiful :: textiful.com
Textiful empowers public speakers to collect email addresses at events via text message.
10. W3Schools :: w3schools.com
Knowing basic HTML is a must-have skill for digital marketers and fundraisers. Tools like WordPress (website and blog content) and MailChimp (email marketing) are much easier to work with if users can make simple HTML edits.
11. WiseStamp :: wisestamp.com
WiseStamp allows you to create HTML-based email signatures for your nonprofit. However, if you decide to use this service, pay for it because the free service requires WiseStamp branding.
12. Wix :: wix.com
Squarespace is a do-it-yourself, low-cost website builder. Ideal for small nonprofits with limited funds for digital marketing. See also Duda, SquareSpace, and Wired Impact.
13. wpbeginner :: wpbeginner.com
wpbeginner is a comprehensive how-to guide for using WordPress for websites and blogs.
Social Media
1. Accessible Social :: accessible-social.com
Accessible Social is a free resource hub for digital marketers to discover how to make social media content accessible.
2. Buffer :: buffer.com
Buffer enables social media managers to schedule posts on social networks throughout the day and evening. The analytics tool evaluates the effectiveness of your posts and provides the best times to share your content.
3. Emojipedia :: emojipedia.org
Using emojis on social media can increase engagement and when used in email subject lines, can increase open rates. Emojipedia enables you to easily copy and paste emojis using desktop computers.
4. Facebook Fundraising Tools :: socialimpact.facebook.com
Facebook Fundraising Tools enable nonprofits and their supporters to fundraise on Facebook. The tools include a Donate button for pages, posts, and live videos as well as peer-to-peer Fundraisers. Meta pays all processing fees for eligible nonprofits.
5. Instagram Fundraising Tools :: socialimpact.facebook.com/instagram
Instagram Fundraising Tools enable nonprofits and their supporters to fundraise on Facebook. The tools include a Donate button for profiles, reels, and live videos as well as peer-to-peer Fundraisers. Meta pays all processing fees for eligible nonprofits.
6. Linkin.bio :: later.com/link-in-bio
Linkin.bio enables users to create a “Link in Bio” landing page with custom calls-to-action and linked Instagram and TikTok posts.
7. Social Print Studio :: socialprintstudio.com
Social Print Studio enables users to download photos directly from Instagram and Facebook to create print calendars, cards, and tiny books. Ideal for staff and volunteer appreciation.
8. Tiltify :: tiltify.com
Tiltify is a fundraising tool that allows streamers to fundraise for your nonprofit on Twitch. Tiltify also empowers donation processing on TikTok.
Our Certificate in Social Media Marketing & Fundraising program covers the fundamentals of social media marketing and fundraising for your nonprofit. Participants will learn how to create a social media strategy, how to craft a content marketing plan, and current best practices for using social media for community engagement and fundraising.
The program requires the completion of three webinars and costs $100 USD. To earn the 2024 certificate, you can attend the webinars live or view the recordings – or a combination of both. Learn more & register!
Graphic Design & Photo Editing
1. Canva :: canva.com
Canva’s drag-and-drop features and pre-designed layouts enable users to easily create graphics and documents. See also Snappa.
2. Coolers :: coolors.co
Coolers is a color scheme generator that allows users to explore hundreds of color palettes for graphic design projects.
3. Fivver :: fiverr.com
Fivver is an online directory of affordable and skilled freelance graphic designers. See also 99designs and Upwork.
4. Iconfinder :: iconfinder.com
Iconfinder is an online database of nearly one million icons and many of the social media icon sets are available to download for free. See also the Noun Project.
5. Lingo :: lingoapp.com
Lingo allows users to organize all their visual assets in one place and provides templates for branding kits and guidelines.
6. Looka :: looka.com
Looka is an AI-empowered logo design tool that then builds additional branding assets using your logo design.
7. iStock :: istock.com
iStock by Getty Images has high-quality, royalty-free visual content for a low cost. See also Unsplash and Shutterstock.
8. Venngage :: venngage.com
Venngage is an easy-to-use infographic and presentation design tool that allows hi-res image and PDF exports. See also Piktochart.
Video & Video Editing
1. Animoto :: animoto.com
Animoto is an online video maker that makes it easy for anyone to drag and drop their way to powerful and professional marketing videos.
2. ClipChamp :: clipchamp.com
ClimpChamp is a video editing tool that empowers users to easily create video ads for Facebook and Instagram.
3. Lumen5 :: lumen5.com
Lumen5 converts articles and blog posts into video content – ideal for social media.
4. Story Swag :: iTunes
Story Swag is a mobile app that specializes in easy-to-create story videos for social media.
5. ThankView :: Thankview.com
ThankView allows users to easily create personalized Thank You videos that can be delivered by email.
6. Veed.io :: veed.io
Veed.io is an easy-to-use video creation and editing tool that easily allows you to create videos for social media and add subtitles and photos and graphics to videos. See also Kapwing, Promo, and WeVideo.
7. Wistia :: wistia.com
Wistia is a video and audio creation tool that allows you to add email pop-ups to your videos and podcasts. It also provides unique analytics about your viewers and listeners.
Content Marketing
1. BrainyQuote :: brainyquote.com
BrainyQuote is a directory of inspirational quotes – ideal for creating social media graphics.
2. ChatGPT :: openai.com/chatgpt
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that allows users to enter prompts to generate written content such as blog posts, social media messages, and website content.
3. Issuu :: issuu.com
Issuu empowers users to transform PDFs into online digital flipbooks, email graphics, social stories, and more.
4. Postable :: postable.com
Postable allows users to easily send print cards and postcards through the postal service. Ideal for thanking donors, volunteers, and supporters.
5. SlideShare :: slideshare.net
SlideShare is ideal for featuring PowerPoint presentations about your organization’s work.
6. SurveyMonkey :: surveymonkey.com
SurveyMonkey is an online survey service that can be used to gather feedback from donors and supporters.
7. Year.ly :: yearly.report
Yearly makes it easy to design online annual and quarterly impact reports.
Our Certificate in Social Media Marketing & Fundraising program covers the fundamentals of social media marketing and fundraising for your nonprofit. Participants will learn how to create a social media strategy, how to craft a content marketing plan, and current best practices for using social media for community engagement and fundraising.
The program requires the completion of three webinars and costs $100 USD. To earn the 2024 certificate, you can attend the webinars live or view the recordings – or a combination of both. Learn more & register!
