Communication and collaboration: Microsoft Teams
Flexible communication and collaboration is key for nonprofit organizations, and Microsoft Teams offers just that. This cloud-based platform allows for seamless communication and collaboration among team members through chat, video calls, file sharing, and more. In Teams, you can create project-specific channels where team members can discuss ideas, share relevant information, and coordinate their schedules in a shared calendar.Â
Teams is also part of the Microsoft 365 cloud productivity suite, which makes it ideal for nonprofits that are already using Microsoft products like Outlook, Word, OneNote, and more. Plus, with its affordable pricing, Microsoft Teams is an attractive option for nonprofits with tight resources.
Donor management: Bloomerang
Nonprofits that rely on donations need a reliable donor management system to keep track of donors, donations, and communication.
With Bloomerang’s user-friendly interface, nonprofits can easily manage donor data, automate communication and acknowledgments, and track donations, and fundraising campaigns. Bloomerang offers a fundraising component, which allows for online donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event management. It also offers advanced features such as donor segmentation, event management, and email marketing. Overall, Bloomerang is a comprehensive and affordable option for nonprofits looking to streamline their donor management process.
Accounting: QuickBooks Online
Managing finances is vital for nonprofits that often work with very restrictive budgets. QuickBooks Online is a trusted and user-friendly accounting software that allows nonprofits to track expenses, create invoices, manage budgets, and generate financial reports.
What makes QuickBooks particularly useful for nonprofits is its nonprofit-specific features, such as the ability to track donations and generate donation receipts. Many financial processes (e.g., invoice approvals, financial reporting, and payroll) can also be automated, saving nonprofits time and minimizing errors.
Volunteer management: QuickBooks Online
Better Impact is a comprehensive volunteer management tool packed with features that facilitate a smooth experience for both nonprofits and volunteers. For one, it allows volunteers to self-register, sign up for events and shifts, and track their own hours. Nonprofits can also manage volunteer profiles, communication, and background checks through the platform.
For nonprofits onboarding dozens of volunteers at one time, Better Impact offers training and support resources to bring new users up to speed quickly. Additionally, it comes in a free version with the core features, making it accessible to nonprofits with smaller budgets.Â
Project management: Asana
When it comes to project management, Asana is a solid option. For starters, it’s free for up to 10 users, and nonprofits can even apply for a 50% discount on the paid version. As for its features, Asana clearly lays out project plans, timelines, and tasks in either a Kanban-style, Gantt Chart, list, or calendar view. Nonprofits can organize multiple projects into portfolios to get an overview of their progress and prioritize tasks. Teams can assign collaborators on specific task cards, set deadlines, communicate within the platform, and integrate it with other tools (e.g., Dropbox).Â
Whether your nonprofit is working on one-time events or ongoing campaigns, Asana offers a flexible and customizable project management solution.
Customer relationship management: Salesforce
Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform (CRM) that has helped countless businesses and nonprofits manage their contacts, leads, and outreach more effectively. Nonprofits can use Salesforce to track all interactions and engagement with donors, volunteers, members, or clients in one centralized location. This way, whenever a donor is ready to donate or a volunteer has expressed interest in an event, nonprofits have all the information they need at their fingertips to personalize the process.
Insights into event attendance, donor behavior, and engagement rates can also be presented in easily understandable reports and dashboards. Marketing teams can then use this data to qualify and target leads, create personalized outreach strategies, and optimize their campaigns for maximum impact.Â
Email marketing: Mailchimp
Email marketing is a tried and true method for nonprofits to raise awareness about specific campaigns and keep donors and volunteers informed. Mailchimp is a user-friendly email marketing platform that makes it easy for nonprofits to design, schedule, and send professional-looking emails to their audience.
With Mailchimp, nonprofits can create mailing lists, customize email templates with their branding and content, and track the performance of their campaigns through detailed analytics (e.g., open and click-through rates). Nonprofits can also set up automated emails that trigger follow-up messages based on specific actions like donations or volunteer sign-ups. Those with extensive email lists can also take advantage of Mailchimp’s significant 15% discount for nonprofits.
Social media management: Hootsuite
Similar to email, social media can be a powerful tool for nonprofits to reach and engage with their audience, but it’s essential to stay organized and consistent with posts for maximum impact.
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows nonprofits to keep track of their campaigns in one location. Whether most of their social media outreach is done over Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, nonprofits can rely on Hootsuite’s dashboard for an overview of all accounts and scheduled posts. They can also monitor mentions, track hashtags, and plan content calendars in advance to stay ahead of their social media strategy. What’s more, Hootsuite is compatible with other nonprofit tools like Salesforce and Mailchimp, which can help sync data and optimize your marketing efforts.
Nonprofits need all the support they can get when it comes to managing their day-to-day operations and fulfilling their missions. If your nonprofit is looking for IT solutions that can help you work more efficiently and effectively, Varsity Tech can serve as your dedicated IT partner. From software selection to implementation and ongoing support, our team of experts can help your nonprofit navigate the ever-changing world of technology with confidence and ease. Contact us today.
