Are you in search of the best nonprofit software for your charitable organization? Tired of giving away your money each month to greedy software vendors? Whether you’re a church, a local chamber, or a recreation club, you need some type of management system to track your fundraising efforts. How do you collect donations at events? Do have a sustained giving program for your non-profit? What about donation forms for your website? The list goes on!
What is Nonprofit Software?
Every nonprofit organization has different needs. Nonprofit software is an all-in-one platform that automates the administrative tasks and processes involved in managing a charitable organization. This allows nonprofits and staff to focus their time and energy on their charity and growing their donor base.
When searching for nonprofit software platforms on the internet, there’s an abundance of options. It can be stressful choosing the right one for your organization. We can help you know what to look for when choosing the top nonprofit system for your organization!
Don't let Software Vendors Steal from your Donation Jar!
Above all, donor management software should come at a minimal cost. Don’t let software vendors steal from your fundraising efforts. Software can get costly if you’re not careful! Choosing the wrong software could cost your organization thousands of dollars in additional yearly fees! Simple is better… especially if you’re in the early stages of starting a nonprofit. You need an easy-to-use system that is ideal for you and your staff members.
How much does nonprofit software cost? Costs can range anywhere from $25 to over $300 per month! So be careful. Go with a system that is within your budget. The nonprofit software you choose should provide you with the essential tools you need to support your organization.
The Top 5 Features that Every Nonprofit Software Needs
Now that you understand the basic pricing expectations for software, let’s jump into the essential features every nonprofit software system should have! The best nonprofit software will have these 5 key features:
1. Donor Management System
Keeping track of all your donors can be overwhelming, even for experienced nonprofit owners. Don’t let donor management become a nightmare! Nonprofit software should have an easy-to-use donor management portal for setting up and managing your members’ profile information. This way you can view and manage a member’s billing information, donor memberships, event attendance, and any other personal preferences, all in one spot.
2. Automatic Giving and Donation Forms
You can’t run your nonprofit without donation processing. The best nonprofit billing software will have the flexibility to accept any type of credit card or ACH payment. Some of the top nonprofit software companies have multiple options for setting up donor membership types and billing schedules. This way your donors can give weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or annually. Also, to maximize your fundraising efforts, the software should have donation forms that accept credit card donations online. You never want to miss a donation opportunity! Check the payment rates from the payment processor because, if you’re not careful, you may be charged 3-4% per donation! This can immensely add up over time.
3. Email Communication System
Nonprofits need a way to stay in touch with their donors. As you grow your organization, email communication becomes a greater need. The nonprofit software should have simple tools to keep your members up to date. In addition, email templates allow you to send out event reminders or sponsorship opportunities to stay engaged with your donors. A good email system can be used to create community awareness, increase donor retention, and grow your nonprofit organization. The software should also offer automation tools and integration to other platforms like Mailchimp. Having efficient communication tools is important for both attracting new donors and keeping your current members informed and engaged.
4. Product Management System
If you’re not selling products, you’re missing out on potential donations! The best nonprofit system will have a product store for selling custom merchandise or gear. Everyone loves a small gift for donating. With a product store, you can create custom t-shirts, coffee cups, or stuffed animals with your nonprofit logo! Engaging supporters through customer merchandise generates revenue, increases brand awareness, and provides a perfect donation outlet. The nonprofit software should allow you to create as many products, categories, variations, and images as you want. Not only that, but it should let you offer promo codes and rewards! Promotions, discounts, and rewards are great motivators to attract even more donors!
Bring in more donations by selling products both online and in person. Look for software that includes a point-of-sale integration for accepting contactless payments, which are growing rapidly!
5. Event Management System
As you may know, planning an event or fundraiser requires a lot of moving parts and can be stressful! The best nonprofit software should lighten the load and make this process easier. Whether it is a dinner, a park potluck, or a charity challenge, the nonprofit system should include all the resources to help! Besides managing event details such as guests, payments, and mailing lists, there should also be a reporting function. Track real-time data including the number of people who attended and how many donations were made. Nonprofit software should make event management a positive and smooth experience!
About Rhino Nonprofit Software
For almost 30 years, our mission has been aiding the success of nonprofit organizations by providing essential business solutions, educational resources, and excellent customer service. In that time, we are proud to say that we have been able to partner with thousands of charitable organizations to help lower their fees on donation processing, increase their monthly contributions, and raise over $140 million from our charitable giving programs!
With Rhino Nonprofit, we strive to do more than just to be another service provider. We aim to make a real difference in our community. Our goal is to be a true partner by cultivating success and longevity with every organization we service. Together we believe we can change the world for the better and build stronger communities one partnership at a time.