Best Email Marketing Service For Nonprofits

For nonprofits looking for the best email marketing services, ACTIVECAMPAIGN and MAILERLITE stand out.

Both offer unique features and benefits tailored to the needs of nonprofit organizations:

1. ActiveCampaign: Known for its complex email automation capabilities, ActiveCampaign is ideal for nonprofits seeking sophisticated automation features. It offers over 400 automation templates, conditional content display, and a dedicated IP address for larger nonprofits. The user interface is straightforward, making it easy to navigate. ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial and a 20% nonprofit discount​​​​.

2. MailerLite: MailerLite is appreciated for its affordability and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for nonprofits. It offers a straightforward email editor, powerful automation capabilities, and the ability to sell digital products. Nonprofits can benefit from a 30% discount on paid plans​​.

3. GetResponse: This platform is praised for its powerful A/B testing features and an intuitive drag-and-drop builder. It allows nonprofits to test various aspects of their emails, including subject lines, call-to-action buttons, and images. GetResponse offers a significant discount for nonprofits, but its analytics features are basic​​.

4. Constant Contact: Renowned for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive set of features, Constant Contact is great for all sizes of nonprofits. It offers customizable email templates, event management tools, and donor management features. The platform also provides a 20% to 30% discount for nonprofits when they prepay for six or twelve months​​​​.

5. Mailchimp: Mailchimp is well-known for its pre-built automation journeys and a wide range of integrations. It provides a limited free plan and is suitable for nonprofits looking for a mix of functionality and ease of use​​.

6. Moosend: This platform offers a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop email builder, pre-designed newsletter templates, and effective marketing automation. Moosend is known for its powerful segmentation and personalization options, along with top-notch email deliverability. They offer a 25% discount for nonprofits​​.

Each of these platforms has its strengths, and the best choice will depend on the specific needs and budget of your nonprofit organization.

When choosing an email marketing service, consider factors like ease of use, template design quality, automation features, segmentation capabilities, and pricing, including any special nonprofit discounts.

Choosing the right software will help you generate more revenue, and increase email open and click rates. If you are new to Email Marketing, reading our Introductory Guide to Email Marketing first.

Key Considerations For Nonprofits When Purchasing a Email Marketing Software

When nonprofits are selecting an email marketing software, there are several key features they should consider to ensure effective and efficient communication with their audience:

1. Ease of Use: Nonprofits often have limited resources and staff may not always be tech-savvy. An email marketing platform that is user-friendly and easy to navigate can save time and reduce the need for extensive training​​. Both ActiveCampaign & MailerLite shine in this regard. The tool should help you with A/B Testing, testing subject lines, and optimizing for the right time to send the email marketing campaigns.

2. Template Design and Customization: Email marketing software should offer a range of attractive, professional-looking templates that are easy to customize. This feature is essential for creating visually appealing emails that resonate with donors and volunteers​​.

3. Automation and Workflow Capabilities: Look for software that allows for the automation of email campaigns. This includes the ability to schedule emails, set up autoresponders for new subscribers, and create workflows for different segments of your audience​​​​.

4. Segmentation Tools: Effective segmentation allows you to send targeted emails based on donor behavior, preferences, and engagement level. This personalization can lead to higher engagement and more successful fundraising campaigns​​.

5. Integration with CRM and Other Tools: The software should integrate seamlessly with other tools used by your nonprofit, such as CRM systems, donation platforms, and social media, to streamline operations and maintain consistent data​​. A powerful tool will help you boost your email marketing efforts.

6. Analytics and Reporting: Having access to detailed analytics like open rates, click-through rates, and engagement metrics helps in making data-driven decisions and understanding the effectiveness of your email campaigns​​ & your overall email marketing efforts.

7. Compliance and Security: Ensure that the platform complies with email regulations like GDPR and provides robust security features to protect sensitive donor information. Your email service provider should be able to help in this regard.

8. Nonprofit Pricing and Discounts: Many email marketing platforms offer special pricing or discounts for nonprofits. This consideration is crucial for organizations operating on tight budgets​​, and for small businesses.

9. Customer Support: Responsive and helpful customer support is vital, especially for organizations that might need extra assistance in setting up and managing their email campaigns​​. A great way is to chat with the email service provider and ask for some best practices to help you in your email communication. See how responsive and helpful they are.

10. Mobile Optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices to check emails, it’s important that the email marketing platform supports mobile-optimized emails that look good on all screen sizes. It improves the user experience. 

By focusing on these important things in your email platform, and it’s features, nonprofits can choose an email marketing platform that not only fits their budget but also effectively supports their marketing and communication strategies. It will grow their email list and build rapport with the community. Plus it will improve the attach rate on your website. Create a responsive website using Elementor and WordPress for best results.

Your regular email newsletter can grow your nonprofit to greater heights. Keep them updated of your upcoming events in your newsletters.

Download the Email Marketing Checklist for a complete knowledge of the things you should be doing to generate results from email marketing.

Success Stories of Non Profits Using Email Marketing

Hundreds of non profit organizations use Email Marketing to grow their tiny lists into a mega marketing channel. See some success stories here.

1. Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico: The success story of Roadrunner Food Bank and their two-click donation system was detailed on MarketingSherpa. You can visit their website or the specific article for more in-depth information and potential screenshots. 

   With the two-click system, Roadrunner uses a dashboard to generate buttons for subscribers to click in an email. The nonprofit has control over what the donation button will look like in terms of copy, color and size. When a subscriber receives an email with the two-click pay button, they simply click the donation amount they’d like to give.

   

2. Nonprofit Email Marketing Case Study: This case study was shared by Pamela Grow, a fundraising and marketing consultant for nonprofits. You can explore her website for more details and possibly find screenshots or visual representations of the email campaigns discussed.

3. Raise Money Through Email With Storytelling: A step by step method by Vanessa Chase Lockshin, that is worth its weight in gold. You must try this approach if you are a non-profit and are looking for quick gains from Email Marketing.

   

For more real-life examples with potential links to images or screenshots of their success stories, I recommend visiting marketing and nonprofit-focused websites such as:

• HubSpot Blog: They often feature case studies and success stories of various marketing strategies, including email marketing for nonprofits. HubSpot Blog.

• Nonprofit Tech for Good: This platform provides resources for nonprofit professionals, including success stories and case studies in digital marketing. Nonprofit Tech for Good.

• The NonProfit Times: This site might have articles and case studies on successful email marketing campaigns run by nonprofits. The NonProfit Times.

• EmailToolTester: They provide reviews and comparisons of email marketing tools and occasionally feature case studies and success stories. EmailToolTester.

Recommendation: Best Software For Email Marketing For Nonprofits

In conclusion, choosing the right email marketing software is a critical decision for nonprofits. It’s not just about sending emails; it’s about building relationships, engaging with your community, and driving your mission forward. ActiveCampaign and MailerLite emerge as two standout options, each offering unique features tailored to the diverse needs of nonprofit organizations.

ActiveCampaign stands out with its advanced automation, detailed segmentation capabilities, and user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for nonprofits looking to enhance their engagement strategies. Explore ActiveCampaign here.

On the other hand, MailerLite is highly appealing for its intuitive design, ease of use, and affordability, making it ideal for smaller nonprofits or those just starting with email marketing. Check out MailerLite’s offerings.

Both platforms offer distinct advantages, so your choice will depend on your specific needs, budget, and the scale of your operations. Remember, the best email marketing software is one that aligns with your organizational goals, helps you connect with your audience effectively, and ultimately supports the growth and impact of your nonprofit.

By integrating tools like ActiveCampaign or MailerLite into your strategy, you’re not just investing in a software solution; you’re investing in the future of your cause.

After helping hundreds of organizations in implementing email marketing to grow their donor base and increase donations, we can confidently say that ActiveCampaign is one of the best nonprofit email marketing software to grow your email list.

Add sign-up forms so that the right people can become donors and volunteers. Your target audience is waiting for your email newsletters that will help you grow new supporters. Start sending marketing emails now. 

Contact Us For Your Email Marketing Campaign Setup

Simply drop an email to us, and we will help to setup your email marketing campaigns properly, and help you grow your nonprofit organization’s efforts. 

You focus on your work, and let us handle the dirty stuff.

We love to help nonprofits in their email marketing efforts.