Every nonprofit organization needs a database system to manage their clients, donors, and all the other people they are connected with. The best database for nonprofits is neither too complex nor too simple. There’s a lot of flexibility required to keep track of all the details that usually go into a nonprofit organization.
Best Database For Nonprofit Organizations
Managing donor information is no easy feat and if you’re feeling overwhelmed by tracking data across multiple spreadsheets or post-it notes, that’s an obvious sign to invest in a donor database (also referred to as a CRM platform).
In essence, CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management.
In the nonprofit realm, CRM takes the form of a donor database that consolidates information to a central location, allowing you to track constituents, manage donations, streamline communications, and firm up your fundraising strategy.
With the growing popularity of customer relationship management software, there’s a slew of donor databases to choose from. While there’s overlap between database features, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
When shopping around for your perfect database, here are a few things to take into consideration:
- Donor database (CRM) vs. fundraising platform. There’s a difference between a fundraising platform and donor management software (CRM) but they work together. While some fundraising platforms (like CauseVox) also offer light CRM capabilities, they’re used to help you tap into new networks and ideally funnel that data to donor database.
- What CRMs can and can’t do. CRM software can provide a 360-degree view of your organization but it’s only as good as the data you put into it. There’s certainly a human component that’s necessary because CRM platforms can’t operate own its own or fill gaps in your data.
- The “must-haves” and “cool-to-haves”. List off your non-negotiables and what features you wouldn’t mind passing up on. CRM platforms come with a host of functionalities so consider whether your database of choice accommodate for any unique organizational needs.
- Nonprofit size. From a staffing standpoint, how many people will have access to the database? From a nonprofit network perspective, how many existing contacts do you have and how large do you anticipate your supporter base to be in the future? The number of licenses and contacts determines what package you need, which in turn, will influence the amount you pay.
- Budget. A donor database is a long-term investment but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Many vendors offer free trials so request one today and learn first-hand what each has to offer to find something that falls within your price range. There’s really something for everyone.
- Level of customer support. If you’re new to the CRM and data migration game, you may want to consider the level of implementation and technical support each vendor provides. Are you a self-guided learner or would you benefit from more hands-on instruction?
- CRM Integrations. Let’s say you use MailChimp for email marketing, CauseVox for fundraising, and Stripe for payment processing. If those platforms aren’t sharing information with your CRM, what good is it?
The ideal CRM solution connects your existing systems and aggregates your nonprofit’s data so that you can personalize communications and build better relationships with your donors.
In a previous role, one of my projects involved researching donor database options. As the organization’s network grew, an upgrade to a more robust CRM became due.
In my case, I wanted to find a flexible, easy-to-use database that would allow multiple collaborators simultaneous access and integrate nicely with third-party apps.
After combing through reviews, getting a second (and third) opinion, and shopping around, here’s a quick rundown of four cloud-based options I was pretty impressed with:
1. Salesforce
Salesforce is a cloud-based platform and a leading name in the for-profit sector. There’s four pricing tiers, but Salesforce also offers a package called the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) that offers a layout adapted for the nonprofit environment. Through the Power of Us program, Salesforce offers qualifying nonprofits a free subscription for up to ten users.
Mobile-friendly: Yes
Customer Support: Online library of resources and discussion forums
Pricing: Free*
*for the first ten licenses through the Power of Us program
2. Kindful
Kindful offers a four-in-one solution that looks at donor communications, fundraising tools, donor management, and reporting. Kindful tracks donors in real-time, provides wealth insights, and works with popular apps and integrations (including CauseVox). There’s six pricing packages to choose from so try out a demo to find your fit.
Mobile-friendly: Yes
Customer Support: online articles, weekly webinars, and video tutorials.
Pricing: Starting at $100/mo
3. Bloomerang
Bloomerang provides an interactive dashboard that shows donor retention rates and areas for improvement. Of course, with its core features, you can also track incoming donations, manage campaigns, and pull reports. With five pricing tiers, Bloomerang is great for organizations of any size.
If you’re just starting out, another option is Bloomerang Lite™, an affordable database designed with small and start-up nonprofits in mind.
Mobile-friendly: Yes
Customer Support: Bloomerang Academy, web-based videos and chat support.
Pricing: Free*
*for nonprofits with less than 500 contacts and up to $100K in annual revenue
4. NeonCRM
Another donor database that came highly recommended was NeonCRM. NeonCRM offers a plethora of features including grant management, email segmentation, relationship tracking, and workflow automation.
With the online reviews I’ve read, one of the main selling points of NeonCRM is that it’s a cost-effective solution. They offer three subscription packages with services that start at $50 a month and scale up according to the size of your organization.
Mobile-friendly: Yes
Customer Support: Web-based chat support, live phone support, and webinars.
Pricing: Starting at $50/mo
5. CauseVox
The CauseVox Fundraising CRM helps you track and run your digital fundraising with real-time reporting on metrics that give you the insight you need to raise more with less effort.
CauseVox automatically tracks your donor data as you fundraise, helping you easily spot fundraising trends, access donor history, and manage your data.
Most Common nonprofit Organizations
Are you looking for a list of nonprofit organizations that is organized by interest? Here is a partial list of non-profit organizations categorized according to specific focus areas. While some of the organizations could fall into numerous categories, each organization appears on the list only once and is categorized according to primary area of interest.
Advocacy Groups for Human Rights and Civil Liberties
These charities help people fight for their rights, either through legal advocacy or by providing education, awareness, and funding for human rights initiatives.
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Jewish World Service
- Americans United
- Amnesty International
- Anti-Defamation League
- Association on American Indian Affairs
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
- The Carter Center
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Committee for Missing Children
- Doctors of the World
- Human Rights Watch
- NAACP
- The Center for Victims of Torture
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- Center for Community Change
Animal Rights
Animal rights organizations seek to protect animals and their habitats through advocacy, as well as, action-based and educational initiatives.
- African Wildlife Foundation
- American Humane Association
- American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Animal Welfare Institute
- Best Friends Animal Society
- Born Free USA
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Doris Day Animal League
- D.E.L.T.A. Rescue
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
- The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
- Farm Sanctuary
- Friends of Animals
- Humane Farming Association
- Humane Society of the United States
- Marine Mammal Center
- National Audubon Society
- Performing Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.)
- Pet Partners
- RedRover
- Wildlife Conservation Society
Land Conservation and the Environment
These charities seek to protect the environment through education and conservation initiatives. Charities in these categories may focus on research, direct action, or political and legal advocacy.
- American Farmland Trust
- American Forests
- American Rivers
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Beyond Pesticides
- Carbon Fund
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Coral Reef Alliance
- Cousteau Society
- Earth Island Institute
- Earthjustice
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Farm Aid
- Greenpeace
- Keep America Beautiful
- National Park Foundation
- Ocean Conservancy
- Safina Center
General Emergency Relief
These organizations step in and provide relief during difficult times such as natural disaster and war.
- American Red Cross
- Children’s Disaster Services
- Emergency Nutrition Network
- Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation
Refugees
These organizations provide support for people forced to flee their homeland due to war, famine, political unrest, disease, and natural disaster.
- American Near East Refugee Aid
- American Refugee Committee
- International Rescue Committee
Medical Assistance
These programs provide medical relief and assistance to people who may not otherwise have access to affordable care for financial, social, or geographical reasons. These organizations may also provide emergency medical relief.
- Medical camp in the remote village of Jharkhand, IndiaAmeriCares
- Catholic Medical Missions Board
- CURE International
- Direct Relief International
- Doctors Without Borders
- International Medical Corps
- Medical Teams International
- Operation Smile
- Samaritan’s Purse
- World Medical Relief
Education, Research and Cultural Preservation Groups
These groups have specific missions geared towards improving education, providing more educational opportunities, promoting cultural awareness, or preserving the culture of specific populations.
- ACCESS College Foundation
- Africa-America Institute
- AFS USA
- American Enterprise Institute
- American Indian College Fund
- Asia Society
- Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL)
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Scholarship America
Health: Research, and Education
These health foundations focus on research about specific illnesses. Many also have an educational component to enlighten people about prevention and management strategies.
- amfAR
- Alliance for Aging Research
- American Heart Association
- American Stroke Association
- Arthritis Research Institute of America
- Avon Foundation
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- City of Hope/Beckman Research Institute
- Epilepsy Foundation
- ALS Association
- American Diabetes Association
- Autism Speaks
- Hearing Health Foundation
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Lupus Research Institute
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
- First Candle
- March of Dimes
Support for Chronic Illnesses and Diseases
These organizations provide financial, emotional, or medical support for people with chronic illnesses and their loved ones.
- Alzheimer’s Association
- American Kidney Fund
- American Leprosy Missions
- American Liver Foundation
- American Lung Association
- American Parkinson Disease Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- Bailey House
- CaringBridge
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Easter Seals
- Huntington’s Disease Society of America
- Project Sunshine
- The Sunshine Kids
Cancer Support and Research
These cancer charities provide research and support for people with cancer and their loved ones. Support may include education and emotional support.
- American Brain Tumor Association
- American Cancer Society
- BreastCancer.org
- Cancer and Careers
- CancerCare
- Cancer Recovery Foundation
- Cancer Research Institute
- St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation
- National Children’s Cancer Society
- Children’s Cancer Research Fund
- Jimmy Fund (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
- Livestrong