12 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations rely heavily on email outreach, often naming it their top-performing digital channel. It’s a direct, cost-effective way to stay in touch with donors, share impact stories, promote events, and drive fundraising. But despite its importance, many nonprofits still face common roadblocks—tight budgets, limited tech support, and low open or engagement rates. These challenges can hold back even the most passionate teams.

The good news? The right email marketing platforms can help overcome these hurdles. With features like automation, audience segmentation, and donation tracking, these tools make it easier for nonprofits to reach the right people at the right time, without burning out their small teams or stretching their budgets thin.

Whether you’re a small grassroots group or a growing nonprofit looking to scale outreach, choosing the right platform can boost donor retention, streamline communication, and amplify your mission’s success. This post explores some of the best email marketing platforms for nonprofits—from generous free plans to robust paid solutions—breaking down features, pricing, nonprofit discounts, and what type of organizations each tool is best suited for.

Why Email Marketing Matters for Nonprofits

Email remains a powerful ally for nonprofits because:

• High ROI: On average, every $1 spent returns about $40 in donations.
• Cost-effective: Free freelance or open-source tools beat pricey ad campaigns.
• Storytelling: Nonprofits thrive on stories, which emails are perfect for.
• Donor retention: Regular, personalized messaging keeps supporters committed.

Email allows nonprofits to stay connected, thank donors quickly, and tailor outreach based on interest, driving mission success.

Key Features to Look For

Nonprofits should look for platforms with:

• Nonprofit discounts or free plans
• Donor segmentation (e.g., new vs long-time supporters)
• Automation (welcomes, donation receipts, event reminders)
• Drag-and-drop editors for easy design
• CRM/donation tool integration
• Analytics & A/B testing
• Compliance with CAN-SPAM, GDPR

List of Top Email Marketing Platforms for Nonprofits

1. Mailchimp

Website: https://mailchimp.com

Mailchimp is a extensively honored dispatch marketing platform known for its ease of use and important features.It helps nonprofits create engaging newsletters, automate donor communications, and segment their audience based on behavior or interests. With over 13 million users globally, it supports nonprofits with customizable templates, reports, and CRM tools.

Its drag-and-drop editor simplifies email creation, while automation features save time and effort. Mailchimp also integrates with major platforms like Salesforce, WordPress, and Shopify. Nonprofits can benefit from a 15% discount on paid plans, making it more affordable for mission-driven campaigns.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends
• Essentials: Starting at $13/month
• Standard: Starting at $20/month
• Premium: Starting at $350/month
• Nonprofit Discount: 15% off all paid plans

2. MailerLite

Website: https://www.mailerlite.com

MailerLite is a budget-friendly email marketing platform that offers a generous free plan, making it a great option for small and mid-sized nonprofits. Its clean and simple interface allows users to build campaigns quickly with customizable templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

MailerLite supports subscriber segmentation, automation workflows, and landing pages. It also integrates with donation platforms and CRMs to help nonprofits manage donor communication effectively. With a 30% nonprofit discount on paid plans, it provides high value for cost-conscious organizations.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails
• Growing Business: Starting at $10/month
• Advanced: Starting at $20/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
  

3. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Website: https://www.brevo.com

Brevo is a versatile platform that offers both email and SMS marketing, with unlimited contacts even on the free plan. It charges based on the number of emails sent rather than the number of contacts, which is ideal for nonprofits managing large lists.

The platform features workflow automation, custom templates, and CRM tools tailored for donor communication. Brevo is easy to use and allows real-time tracking of campaign performance. With seamless integrations and optional transactional email features, it suits nonprofits that want both marketing and operational messaging. Eligible nonprofits may get up to 15% off paid plans.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: 300 emails/day with unlimited contacts
• Starter: Starting at $9/month
• Business: Starting at $18/month
• Nonprofit Discount: Up to 15% off

4. Sender

Website: https://www.sender.net

Sender offers powerful email marketing features with a generous free plan, making it a top choice for nonprofits with tight budgets. Its free plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 monthly email sends, allowing for wide campaign reach.

The platform provides a drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, automation workflows, and subscriber segmentation tools. Nonprofits can also access real-time analytics and detailed reports to track engagement. Its interface is simple enough for beginners while offering advanced tools for growing teams. A 25% nonprofit discount is available on paid plans.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month
• Standard: Starting at $10/month
• Professional : Starting at $20/month
• Enterprise : Custom Pricing

Suggested Read: Call Tracking Software

Application Monitoring Tools

5. Constant Contact

Website: https://www.constantcontact.com

Constant Contact is well-known for its event promotion tools and ease of use, making it a preferred platform for nonprofits that regularly host webinars, fundraisers, or awareness events. It provides RSVP tools, ticketing integration, donation pages, and mobile-responsive email templates.

The platform also features a drag-and-drop editor, contact list segmentation, and campaign analytics. Its customer support is reliable, with onboarding assistance for new users. Nonprofits can benefit from up to 30% off on annual plans and a 60-day free trial to explore the platform’s features.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Core Plan: Starting at $12/month
• Plus Plan: Pricing based on contact volume
• Free Trial: 60 days

6. HubSpot

Website: https://www.hubspot.com

HubSpot provides a free CRM and email marketing tool that’s ideal for nonprofits focused on relationship management. The platform supports up to 2,000 emails per month and allows tracking of donor interactions through its CRM.

With features like segmentation, email scheduling, and performance analytics, nonprofits can build targeted campaigns. HubSpot also includes form creation, landing pages, and automation workflows. Its interface is user-friendly, and the CRM functionality is deeply integrated with email tools. Nonprofits can apply for discounts of up to 40% on paid plans.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2,000 emails/month with CRM
• Starter Plan: Starting at $15/month
• Professional Plan: Starting at $890/month

7. Moosend

Website: https://www.moosend.com

Moosend is a marketing robotization platform known for its robust point set and affordable pricing. It offers a powerful drag-and-drop editor, real-time analytics, and customizable templates suitable for nonprofits. Organizations can build email sequences, automate donor journeys, and segment their audience with precision.

While Moosend does not have a free plan, its pricing is competitive, and nonprofits can request special discounts. The platform integrates with most major CRMs and payment processors, making it a great fit for donation-driven campaigns.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Pro Plan: Starting at $9/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available
• Nonprofit Discount: Contact sales for offers

8. Encharge

Website: https://encharge.io

Encharge focuses on advanced automation and behavioral targeting, making it ideal for nonprofits that want to deeply personalize their outreach. It supports visual automation flows, audience segmentation, lead scoring, and tagging.

Encharge integrates easily with donation platforms and CRMs via Zapier, allowing data to flow smoothly between tools. Although it doesn’t offer a free plan, Encharge provides a 14-day free trial and scalable paid plans. It’s best suited for nonprofits with established email lists and data-driven strategies.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Starter Plan: Starting at $99/month
• Premium Plan : Starting at $159/month
• Growth Plan: Contact-based pricing
• Free Trial: 14 days

9. GetResponse

Website: https://www.getresponse.com

GetResponse is a feature-rich platform offering email marketing, landing pages, and automation tools in a single dashboard. It’s particularly useful for nonprofits that want to run webinars, set up donation funnels, or launch multi-step campaigns.

The free plan supports up to 500 contacts, and paid plans come with a 50% nonprofit discount. Its automation tools help save time, while pre-designed templates streamline email creation. It also includes segmentation, list management, and campaign tracking.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 500 contacts
• Email Marketing Plan: Starting at $10/month
• Marketer : Starting at $28/month
• Marketing Automation Plan: Starting at $49/month

10. EmailOctopus

Website: https://emailoctopus.com

EmailOctopus is a simple yet effective dispatch marketing platform, extensively used by nonprofits and small associations for its affordability and ease of use. It provides a free plan with generous contact and shoot limits, making it ideal for nonprofits just starting out.

The platform supports followership segmentation, robotization workflows, and custom sign- up forms. While its point set is n’t as advanced as some bigger tools, it offers all the rudiments for poignant patron outreach. Nonprofits can request a 20 reduction on paid plans to make it indeed more budget-friendly.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month
• Pro Plan: Starting at $9/month for 500 subscribers
• Nonprofit Discount: 20% off paid plans

11. Benchmark Email

Website: https://www.benchmarkemail.com

Benchmark Email is designed for ease of use and quick campaign creation, making it an excellent choice for nonprofits without a dedicated marketing team. The platform offers ultramodern templates, a drag- and- drop builder, and real- time reporting.

Benchmark’s automation features are user-friendly and suitable for basic donor onboarding or recurring campaign schedules. While the free plan is somewhat limited, its paid plans are reasonably priced and scalable. Nonprofits can contact the support team to apply for special discounted pricing.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Free: Up to 500 emails/month to 500 contacts
• Pro Plan: Starting at $15/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
• Nonprofit Discount: Available upon request

12. Campaign Monitor

Website: https://www.campaignmonitor.com

Campaign Monitor is a visually appealing platform developed for companies and brands who want elegant emails that don’t require any technical knowledge. It’s particularly useful for NGOs when developing narrative-based campaigns that appeal to funders. It has real-time analytics, automation workflows, strong segmentation, and blocks of tailored content.

Support is prompt and the interface is easy to use. It is reasonably priced given the degree of design flexibility and data control it offers, even if there isn’t a free plan. Depending on their requirements, nonprofits might ask for customized discounted pricing.

Features:

• Nonprofit-specific templates
• Audience segmentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• CRM or donation platform integrations
• Campaign analytics

 Pricing:

• Basic Plan: Starting at $12/month
• Unlimited Plan: Starting at $29/month
• Premier Plan: Starting at $159/month
• Nonprofit Discount: Available on request

How to Choose the Right Platform

Consider these when deciding:

1. Budget & team size
   • Small list? Free plans (Sender, MailerLite, Mailchimp) shine.
   • Larger donors? Paid tiers or volume pricing (Brevo, ActiveCampaign).
2. Technical capacity
   • Beginners: drag-and-drop like Mailchimp, Sender.
   • With tech support? Go for automation suites like Encharge, ActiveCampaign.
3. Campaign types
   • Need SMS or event pages? Choose Brevo or Constant Contact.
   • Want CRM + emails? HubSpot, ActiveCampaign make sense.
4. Growth & integration
   • Always check for key integrations (WordPress, CRM, donation platforms).

Bonus Tips for Nonprofit Email Campaigns

• Story-driven subject lines: e.g., “How Sara’s story inspired 50 donors”
• Include donation CTA: Every email should have one clear ask
• Segment thoroughly: Send different messages to volunteers vs donors
• Mobile optimization: Most open emails on phones
• Track & tweak: Use A/B testing to compare subject lines, CTAs
• Send regular newsletters: Even monthly updates build trust

Conclusion

Email marketing continues to be one of the most cost-effective and result-driven tools for nonprofit organizations. Whether you’re engaging with donors, announcing an event, or sharing your impact stories, the right platform can make all the difference. Tools like MailerLite, Mailchimp, and Brevo offer generous free plans and nonprofit discounts, helping you do more with limited resources. On the other hand, platforms like HubSpot and Encharge provide powerful automation for nonprofits ready to scale. Your choice ultimately depends on your budget, technical needs, and the type of communication you want to create.

Take advantage of free trials and nonprofit discounts wherever available. Test what works best for your team and your audience. The right dispatch platform wo n’t just support your charge but help you grow it.

FAQs

1. Which email marketing platform is best for small nonprofits?

MailerLite and Sender are great for small nonprofits due to their free plans and simple interfaces.

2. Do these platforms offer nonprofit discounts?

Yes, most platforms offer discounts ranging from 15% to 50% you usually need to provide nonprofit verification.

3. Can I use these tools to send donation emails?

Absolutely. These platforms support donation page integration, automation, and audience targeting for fundraising campaigns.

4. Which platform offers the best free plan?

EmailOctopus, MailerLite, and Brevo offer some of the most generous free plans with useful features.

5. How do I choose the right tool for my nonprofit?

Consider your email list size, technical skills, budget, and the kind of features (like automation or event tools) you need.