A donor appeal, volunteer reminder, and monthly impact update each call for a different message. The best email marketing platforms for nonprofits help you segment supporters, personalize campaigns, and automate follow-up while keeping costs manageable.
I compared six providers using a weighted rubric covering nonprofit campaign fit, automation and targeting, pricing, usability, and support. MailerLite earned the top spot for email marketing software for nonprofits because of its combination of newsletter tools, ease of use, and nonprofit value. Mailchimp stands out as a full-featured email marketing and automation platform for personalized supporter campaigns. Other picks address specific needs, from attracting new supporters to coordinating event communications.
Email marketing software for nonprofits | Best for | Starting price per month* |
|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | Nonprofit newsletters | Free or $10.80 |
| Mailchimp | Automated donor journeys | Free or $13 |
| GetResponse | Supporter acquisition | $15.58 |
| Brevo | Email and SMS outreach | Free or $8.08 |
| HubSpot | CRM-connected marketing | Free or $7 |
| Constant Contact | Fundraising events | $10.20 |
*Billed annually, unless otherwise noted.
**Billed monthly.
Overview of the best email marketing platforms for nonprofits
Email marketing software for nonprofits | Branching automation | SMS campaigns | Built-in event ticketing | Expert score out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | 4.48 |
| Mailchimp | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4.32 |
| GetResponse | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | 4.25 |
| Brevo | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4.14 |
| HubSpot | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4.04 |
| Constant Contact | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.01 |
✓ = Available on the evaluated plan, including optional paid add-ons. ✕ = Unavailable on that plan through native features or first-party add-ons.
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For this guide, I evaluated the six best email marketing platforms for nonprofits using a weighted rubric covering nonprofit campaign fit, automation and targeting, pricing and nonprofit value, usability and collaboration, and support and sending safeguards. I considered how each platform supports donor outreach, volunteer updates, supporter acquisition, and fundraising events, along with its integration options for donor databases and CRM systems.
This analysis is based on comparative research, product documentation, and user feedback from third-party review platforms. I assessed each provider’s capabilities, plan limits, additional costs, and nonprofit discount requirements to help organizations choose the best email marketing for nonprofits that fits their budget and team capacity.
Methodology: How I evaluated the best email marketing platforms for nonprofits
I compared six best email marketing platforms for nonprofits based on their suitability for donor outreach, volunteer updates, supporter acquisition, and fundraising campaigns. I scored each provider on a five-point scale using a weighted rubric covering five categories:
- Nonprofit campaign fit (25%): I reviewed donor database and CRM integration options, supporter segmentation, event and fundraising tools, and sign-up forms and landing pages.
- Automation and targeting (25%): I compared workflow triggers, branching, personalization, dynamic content, testing, and reporting tools for tailoring outreach and improving campaigns.
- Pricing and nonprofit value (20%): I assessed paid-plan costs, nonprofit discounts and eligibility requirements, contact and sending limits, add-on fees, and free plans or trials.
- Usability and collaboration (15%): I reviewed email builders, templates, setup and migration requirements, user access, and the resources needed to manage campaigns with a small team.
- Support and sending safeguards (15%): I evaluated support availability, onboarding resources, consent and unsubscribe controls, and guidance on email authentication and list management.
This evaluation draws on product documentation, published pricing, comparative research, and third-party user feedback. Scores reflect the plans evaluated, accounting for feature restrictions and additional costs. I combined the weighted category scores into an overall rating out of five to determine the final rankings of the email marketing software for nonprofits.
How do the best email marketing software for nonprofits compare?
MailerLite: Best nonprofit email marketing software for newsletters
Pros
- Drag-and-drop editor and reusable newsletter templates
- Interest groups and segments for targeted newsletters
- Nonprofit discount available upon approval
Cons
- Donor giving history requires an external data source
- No native SMS campaigns for complementary outreach
- Built-in event ticketing is unavailable
Why I chose MailerLite
MailerLite is my top choice for nonprofits that use newsletters to maintain supporter relationships. Its drag-and-drop editor and reusable templates give small teams a practical way to publish monthly impact reports, program updates, and volunteer opportunities. Groups and segments help tailor each edition to subscriber interests, so supporters receive updates that connect with their reasons for following your organization.
Its main weakness is the lack of a built-in donor management system. If you want to personalize newsletters using donation amounts or giving history, you’ll need to bring that data in from another system and verify what your integration supports. Nevertheless, MailerLite’s newsletter creation, audience targeting, and subscriber welcome tools provide a useful balance of simplicity and flexibility for organizations that already maintain donor records elsewhere.
Also read: MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Which One Should You Use?
About MailerLite
MailerLite is an email marketing platform that combines newsletter creation, audience management, automation, signup forms, and landing pages. It suits nonprofits that want to build an opt-in readership and share regular updates on their mission, programs, and impact. Approved nonprofits can also access a discount.
Key features
- Newsletter editor: Create mobile-friendly newsletters using a drag-and-drop editor and reusable templates. Maintain a consistent layout for impact stories, program news, and ways to get involved.
- Interest-based targeting: Organize readers into groups and automatically update segments using their preferences, contact details, and engagement. Send relevant editions to volunteers, donors, or supporters of specific programs.
- Subscriber welcome sequences: Automatically introduce new readers to your mission and set expectations for future newsletters. Tailor follow-up messages using group membership, custom fields, or campaign activity.
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Add reusable content blocks to keep impact stories, volunteer updates, and calls to action consistent across nonprofit newsletters. (Source: MailerLite) 
Schedule outreach around a stored event date, then tailor follow-up based on whether supporters opened the email. (Source: MailerLite) 
Build a welcome sequence that sends the next message to readers who opened your introduction and resends it to those who missed it. (Source: MailerLite)
Pricing
MailerLite Marketing plans | Free | Comfort | Power | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly cost (billed annually) | $0 | $10.80 | $22.50 | Custom |
Monthly cost (billed annually) | $0 | $12 | $25 | Custom |
Users | 2 | 3 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Contacts | 250 | From 500 | From 500 | From 200,000 |
Monthly email sends | 2,500 | From 5,000 | Unlimited | Custom |
Free trial: 14 days
Mailchimp: Best for automated donor journeys
Pros
- Branching workflows personalize supporter follow-up
- Advanced segmentation supports targeted donor campaigns
- Nonprofit CRM integrations connect supporter information with outreach
Cons
- Unsubscribed contacts can still count toward billing limits
- Giving-based workflows depend on external donor data
- Complex journeys require setup and ongoing maintenance
Why I chose Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the best newsletter platforms for nonprofits ready to turn occasional appeals into ongoing donor engagement. Its full-featured email marketing and automation platform combines segmentation with branching workflows, helping teams deliver relevant messages as supporters interact with campaigns. For example, you could introduce your mission, share a program’s impact, then tailor the next email based on a supporter’s clicks or recorded interests.
Its main downside is the list maintenance that contact-based billing requires. Unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts can count toward your contact limit, making audience cleanup important as your database grows. Still, its targeting tools, adaptable sequences, and compatible CRM integrations offset that administrative work by reducing the manual effort of personalized follow-up.
Also read: Best Mailchimp Alternatives for Email Marketing
About Mailchimp
Mailchimp is an email marketing and automation platform with audience management, campaign creation, testing, and analytics. Nonprofits can use it to coordinate supporter communications and connect compatible CRM or fundraising tools. A nonprofit discount is available following verification.
Key features
- Branching automation: Build sequences with delays and conditional splits based on contact details or campaign activity. Adapt follow-up to a supporter’s interests or response to earlier outreach.
- Advanced segmentation: Combine conditions using engagement, interests, and available donor data. Target relevant groups with distinct appeals, impact updates, or opportunities to get involved.
- Nonprofit CRM integrations: Connect compatible tools, such as Keela, to bring supporter information into your email marketing. Confirm which fields and sync options the connector supports before using giving data in automated journeys.
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Use conditional branches to tailor supporter follow-up based on tags, engagement, or synced giving data. (Source: Mailchimp) 
Combine engagement and audience conditions to target relevant supporters with donor appeals or impact updates. (Source: Mailchimp) 
Add Mailchimp email statistics to your Neon CRM dashboard to review campaign results alongside nonprofit operations. (Source: Neon One)
Pricing
Mailchimp Email Marketing plans | Free | Essentials | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed monthly | $0 | From $13 | From $20 | From $350 |
| Users | 1 | 3 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Maximum contact count | 250 | 50,000 | 100,000 | Custom |
| Monthly email sends | 500 | 10x contacts | 12x contacts | 15x contacts |
GetResponse: Best for supporter acquisition
Pros
- Landing pages and forms capture supporter signups
- Automated emails nurture new subscribers
- Page analytics help refine signup campaigns
Cons
- Acquisition campaigns require coordinated setup
- Donation-based targeting depends on external giving data
- Nonprofit discount requires website attribution and is time-limited
Why I chose GetResponse
GetResponse is one of the top email marketing tools for nonprofits focused on growing their supporter base. Its landing pages, signup forms, and automated emails connect the initial opt-in with ongoing outreach. For example, you could promote a volunteer interest page, collect email subscriptions, then introduce subscribers to your programs and explain how to participate.
The main issue is the preparation needed to connect the page, form, audience rules, and follow-up sequence. That demands more coordination than sending a standalone newsletter. For teams regularly recruiting supporters, however, managing sign-up and nurturing within one platform makes that effort worthwhile. Page analytics also help you identify where to refine the acquisition experience.
About GetResponse
GetResponse is an email marketing and automation platform with landing pages, signup forms, audience targeting, and analytics. Nonprofits can use it to grow an opt-in email list and introduce new subscribers to their mission. Its nonprofit discount is available to eligible organizations, subject to verification, website attribution, and a limited discount term.
Key features
- Campaign landing pages: Create dedicated pages for volunteer recruitment, awareness initiatives, or downloadable resources. Review page performance to improve the content and sign-up experience.
- Signup forms and popups: Collect email opt-ins through customizable forms and popups. Give visitors a clear reason to subscribe, such as program updates or opportunities to get involved.
- Automated subscriber nurturing: Introduce new supporters to your mission through a follow-up sequence. Tailor subsequent messages using contact details and engagement with earlier emails.
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Customize your campaign page’s headline and benefits to give visitors a clear reason to join your nonprofit’s email list. (Source: GetResponse) 
Connect your signup form to the right supporter list, then configure opt-in confirmation and autoresponder settings. (Source: GetResponse) 
Build a follow-up sequence with timed emails and segment-based branches to guide new subscribers toward relevant participation opportunities. (Source: GetResponse)
Pricing
GetResponse plans | Starter | Marketer | Creator | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed annually | From $15.58 | From $48.38 | From $56.58 | Custom |
| Monthly price, billed monthly | From $19 | From $59 | From $69 | Custom |
| Users | 3 | 5 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Unlimited email sends | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contact tagging and scoring | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI email and subject line generator | 3 uses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Free trial: 14 days
Brevo: Best for email and SMS outreach
Pros
- Email and SMS campaigns in one platform
- Workflows automate email and text follow-up
- Lists and segments support targeted outre
Cons
- SMS requires separately purchased credits
- Event registration and ticketing require separate tools
- Donation-based targeting requires external giving data
Why I chose Brevo
Brevo provides great email marketing for non profit organizations seeking to coordinate email and text outreach into one platform. I recommend it when detailed campaign updates need a timely companion message: an email can explain a volunteer initiative, while an SMS reminds opted-in supporters about the approaching signup deadline. Its targeting and automation tools help teams coordinate these messages around the same campaign. Plus, it provides free email marketing for nonprofits, with up to 300 daily sends for 2,000 contacts.
The biggest hurdle is getting SMS ready to send. Sender registration and country-specific requirements take preparation, and email permission alone does not establish consent for marketing texts. Once those foundations are in place, Brevo’s shared contact tools, targeted campaigns, and automated follow-up make it a practical choice for nonprofits that regularly combine detailed email communications with brief reminders.
About Brevo
Brevo is a marketing and CRM platform with email campaigns, SMS messaging, contact management, and automation. Nonprofits can use it to coordinate supporter communications and target messages using contact details and engagement. Eligible organizations can apply for a nonprofit discount with proof of their status.
Key features
- Email campaign editor: Create branded emails using templates and a drag-and-drop editor. Give supporters the context behind an appeal, program update, or volunteer opportunity.
- Targeted SMS campaigns: Select opted-in recipients through lists and segments, then send concise updates or reminders. SMS requires credits and compliance with the destination country’s sending requirements.
- Cross-channel automation: Coordinate email and SMS through workflows with triggers, delays, and conditional splits. Introduce an initiative by email, then follow up with a timely text to eligible supporters.
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Arrange text, images, and buttons to explain your nonprofit’s impact and give supporters a clear next step. (Source: Brevo) 
Personalize supporter reminders, then check the message preview, SMS count, and sending options before saving. (Source: Brevo) 
Personalize supporter reminders, then check the message preview, SMS count, and sending options before saving. (Source: Brevo) 
Compare conversions attributed to email, SMS, campaigns, and automations to assess which outreach contributes to your goals. (Source: Brevo)
Pricing
Brevo plans | Free | Starter | Standard | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed annually | $0 | From $8.08 | From $16.17 | From $449.08 | Custom |
| Monthly price, billed monthly | $0 | From $9 | From $18 | From $499 | Custom |
| Users | 1 | 1 | 3 (add-on) | 10 | Unlimited |
| Contacts | 2,000 | 2,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Monthly email sends | 300/day | 100,000 | 500,000 | 10 million | Custom |
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HubSpot: Best for CRM-connected marketing
Pros
- Shared CRM records inform email targeting
- Workflows coordinate emails and contact updates
- Campaign reporting connects related marketing activities
Cons
- Setup and administration require dedicated resources
- Marketing contact limits require ongoing monitoring
- Giving-based targeting requires imported or integrated donation dat
Why I chose HubSpot
HubSpot (via Marketing Hub) provides the best email marketing services for nonprofits that need supporter records and email campaigns to work together. I recommend it for larger teams that want to build audiences directly from CRM data. Recorded interests, form submissions, and email engagement can inform targeting and follow-up — for example, identifying supporters interested in a specific program and adapting subsequent messages as they respond. For teams also comparing the best AI marketing tools, that connection provides a useful foundation for evaluating how AI-assisted marketing fits their existing supporter workflows.
Its main drawback is the administration involved. Contact properties, integrations, audience rules, and workflows need clear ownership, which can stretch a team focused on basic newsletters. However, shared records and connected automation can reduce repeated list preparation for nonprofits with dedicated marketing resources. Campaign reporting, on the other hand, gives staff a clearer view of how supporters engage across related activities.
About HubSpot
HubSpot Marketing Hub is HubSpot’s marketing software, built around its shared CRM. It combines email campaigns, forms, audience segmentation, automation, and analytics to coordinate outreach using contact data. Eligible nonprofits can apply for HubSpot’s nonprofit program, subject to qualification and subscription requirements.
Key features
- CRM-based segmentation: Create audiences using contact properties, recorded interests, form submissions, and email engagement. Incorporate giving history when donation data is available through an import or integration.
- Connected marketing workflows: Automate emails, branch follow-up, and update contact properties within the same workflow. Keep supporter records and outreach aligned as contacts interact with campaigns.
- Campaign reporting: Group related marketing assets and review their impact on contact engagement and website traffic. Compare initiatives to understand which campaigns attract and engage supporters.
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Review views, submissions, and conversion rates to identify which personalized pages encourage supporter signups. (Source: HubSpot) 
Enroll supporters after a form submission, then branch follow-up using CRM properties to keep outreach relevant. (Source: HubSpot) 
Track how contacts move from page views to form submissions and nurturing stages to identify gaps in supporter follow-up. (Source: HubSpot)
Pricing
HubSpot Marketing Hub plans | Free | Starter | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed annually | $0 | $7 | $800 | $3,600 |
| Monthly price, billed monthly | $0 | $10 | $890 | N/A |
| Seats | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Marketing contacts | N/A | 1,000 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Monthly email sends | 2,000 | 5x contacts | 10x contacts | 20x contacts |
Constant Contact: Best for fundraising events
Pros
- Built-in event registration and ticketing
- Email invitations connect outreach with registration
- Registrant reports include ticket and payment details
Cons
- Online ticket payments incur platform and processing fees
- Custom automation requires an upgrade
- Giving-based targeting requires external donor data
Why I chose Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a great fit for nonprofits that regularly bring supporters together through fundraising dinners, benefit workshops, or community events. I favor it for teams that want email promotion and registration in one platform. You can build an event page, create ticket options, and send invitations, then monitor signups without coordinating a separate ticketing service.
Its main drawback is the fees attached to online ticket payments. Platform and paymentprocessing charges need to be included in your event budget. That said, it has features for email marketing for non profits that host events regularly. The combined invitation, registration, and reporting tools can justify that expense by reducing coordination work and keeping attendee details together for event updates and follow-up.
About Constant Contact
Constant Contact is an email marketing platform with contact management, campaign reporting, and built-in event tools. Nonprofits can use it to promote fundraisers, collect registrations, and accept ticket payments through supported processors. Verified nonprofits can qualify for a subscription discount when prepaying; the discount does not cover event fees.
Key features
- Event registration and ticketing: Create registration forms, free or paid tickets, and promotional codes. Set ticket quantities to manage capacity for fundraisers and community gatherings.
- Email event promotion: Build invitations that link to your event page. Schedule outreach around registration deadlines and share relevant updates with prospective attendees or registrants.
- Registrant and payment reporting: Review registration details, ticket totals, and payment status. Use these records to plan attendance and coordinate event communications.
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Review your event setup, then activate it to open registration for your fundraiser. (Source: Constant Contact)Review your event setup, then activate it to open registration for your fundraiser. (Source: Constant Contact) 
Use the event email tools to invite supporters, remind nonresponders, and share updates with registrants. (Source: Constant Contact) 
Filter event orders by payment status or type to check ticket purchases and coordinate attendee follow-up. (Source: Constant Contact)
Pricing
Constant Contact plans | Lite | Standard | Premium | Multi-account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed annually | From $10.20 | From $29.75 | From $68 | Custom |
| Monthly price, billed monthly | From $12 | From $35 | From $80 | Custom |
| Automation templates | 1 | 3 | Unlimited | Custom |
Free trial: 14 days
How to choose email marketing software for nonprofits
Choose software around your nonprofit’s main outreach goal, existing supporter records, and team capacity. Use these five checks to narrow your shortlist.
1. Prioritize your main outreach goal
Decide whether you primarily need newsletters, supporter acquisition, donor follow-up, email and SMS outreach, or fundraising event promotion. Compare providers against that priority before considering additional features.
Example: For ticketed fundraisers, verify whether the platform handles registration and payments or requires a separate event service.
2. Verify donor database and CRM connections
Check which supporter details an integration transfers, how frequently it updates them, and whether information moves in one or both directions. Confirm how consent and unsubscribe preferences are handled across systems.
Example: To target recurring donors, verify that giving status can sync into the email platform and remain current.
3. Compare costs at your expected usage
Review contact limits, sending allowances, user access, SMS credits, onboarding charges, and integration fees. Check nonprofit discount eligibility, exclusions, and renewal conditions.
Example: Request quotes for your current audience and expected growth, including the sending volume anticipated during your busiest fundraising month.
4. Assess the fit for your team
Consider who creates campaigns, approves content, manages subscriber data, and resolves problems. Evaluate templates, user permissions, and support options against those responsibilities.
Example: During a trial, have your newsletter owner create an impact update, select its audience, preview it on mobile, and schedule it. Note any steps that require outside help.
5. Map a workflow and define its success measure
Outline a campaign before comparing automation tools. Check the triggers, delays, and branches it requires, then confirm how you will measure the intended outcome.
Example: Map a welcome email, a program introduction, and a volunteer invitation. Verify that follow-up can adapt to clicks or recorded interests and that signups can be tracked through a connected form or registration tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best email marketing platform for nonprofits?
MailerLite earned the highest overall score in this guide and is my recommendation for nonprofit newsletters. Mailchimp suits automated donor journeys, while Constant Contact is a stronger fit for fundraising events. Choose based on your main campaign needs, existing systems, and staff capacity.
Can nonprofits use free email marketing software?
Yes. Free options can support small subscriber lists and basic campaigns, but contact limits, sending allowances, branding, automation, and support restrictions may limit their usefulness. Check whether the offering can accommodate your busiest outreach period before committing.
Does email marketing software replace a nonprofit CRM?
Usually, no. Email marketing software manages campaigns and subscriber engagement, while a nonprofit CRM or donor management system maintains giving history and broader supporter relationships. An integration can connect those functions, but verify that it transfers the data your campaigns need.
Do email marketing providers offer nonprofit discounts?
Several providers in this guide offer discounts to eligible nonprofits, with different conditions. Constant Contact requires prepayment, GetResponse’s offer includes website attribution and a limited term, and HubSpot’s program has geographic, customer, and subscription requirements. Compare eligibility and the final cost before choosing.