The Ultimate Guide to Free Stuff for Nonprofits

Running a nonprofit means trying to do a lot with very little– ask anyone who has tried and they will tell you that budget constraints are the number one obstacle they all face. Relying heavily on donations and grants means every dollar counts and needs to be spent wisely. Operational costs like supplies, marketing, legal services and staff development are ongoing expenditures necessary to allow an organization to complete its mission. 

Fortunately, there is an abundance of free resources to help bridge this gap and provide cost-effective solutions that help free up funds for mission-critical programs. Outsourcing in areas like social media posting and email marketing help cut down on administrative expenses by reducing the need for additional, specialized staff members, without the risk of under qualified volunteers. 

Access to free stuff for nonprofits in the form of donated goods, expert advice, or free software is widely available, and through this guide we will share a range of tools and solutions specifically tailored to help vommunity groups equip themselves to meet their goals. 

When you’re ready to take your nonprofit fundraising to the next level, contact Paybee and let our team of experts help you take action. Take advantage of what's out there, and let us help you simplify the process.

Free Software for Nonprofit Organizations

Accessing the right digital tools can help nonprofits streamline fundraising while also enhancing reach and improving project management. Free software solutions save time, money, and energy by automating daily tasks and strengthening overall operational efficiency. With so many resources available, charities of any size can access the technology they need to help them thrive by allowing them to focus more on proper allocation of resources and less on administrative overheads.

Healthy donor relationships are essential to the success of nonprofits. Unfortunately, scarce funding adds another level of difficulty when looking to invest in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems that are integral in building and maintaining those critical connections. Fortunately, there are quite a few free CRM software options available to registered nonprofits: 

• HubSpot CRM is an automation software that allows organizations to manage and track interactions amongst donors, customers, and clients. Its easy-to-use interface allows users to store and manage contacts, track emails and calls, create and manage marketing campaigns, and more.    
• Zoho CRM is a slightly more complex cloud-based software that provides a free plan for up to 3 users. It offers more customization and tailoring options, which is great for teams with more complex needs. Their platform includes workflow automation and provides analytic reporting to help organizations track performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Bitrix24 is another comprehensive tool that combines CRM, task management, email marketing, and website building tools in one place. Their free plan includes 5GB of cloud storage and allows an unlimited number of users. Bitrix24 features built-in chat and video calling tools, making it stand out against others.

Implementing a free CRM system is a great first step in streamlining donor management and communication capabilities. With the right option in place, community groups can spend less time worrying about their budget, and more time focused on tackling problems and finding long lasting solutions. Analyze skills you have within your nonprofit, and choose the platform that will work best for your group. 

Managing relationships is just one piece of a larger puzzle– Nonprofit organizations also need to juggle campaigns, events, and tasks within their own team. Constant management of fundraisers, community outreach, grant applications can all get overwhelming, and lacking a strong, organized project management system leads to missed deadlines, gaps in communications, and an inability to keep track of key initiatives. Tools like Trello, Asana, and ClickUp all provide free versions that contain straightforward features specific to nonprofits that help streamline workflows.

Trello is a simple board and card system that provides the opportunity to visualize and organize projects. Its intuitive interface is user-friendly, making it ideal for social enterprises looking for an accessible hub, especially those working with a remote team. Think of it as as big whiteboard- simple, straightforward, visual. Key features include: 

• Drag-and-drop simplicity.
• Collaboration tools that allow you to add members to boards, assign tasks, set due dates, and communicate in real-time.
• Checklists and labels to keep tasks organized.
• Integrations with tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
• An easy to use mobile app.

For those managing more complex projects such as grant writing or large scale events, Asana provides tools that work as a command center for keeping everything organized in a centralized place. Purposefully designed to reduce confusion and improve communication, Asana provides goal tracking, efficient task and project management, and multiple project views, making it easy for users to manage projects in the way that works for them. 

Other features include:

• Ready-made templates for everything from planning events to onboarding new volunteers.
• The ability to leave comments, share files, and tag team members directly within tasks to keep communication clear and organized.
• Assign subtasks and dependencies while organizing goals and tracking them alongside day-to-day tasks.

ClickUp is another great option when searching for an ideal project management tool. Perfect for larger nonprofits with a wider range of needs, more specifically those who need to balance a diverse range of tasks happening simultaneously across multiple projects.

• Organize tasks within tasks using checklists to breakdown specific work steps.
• Contains built in time tracking to keep track of time spent on projects.
• Easily automate repetitive tasks like sending reminder emails.

Free Fundraising Software

Complex donation processes that make the giving experience hard for donors to navigate, lack of donor trust and transparency due to lack of insight into how funds are being used, and difficulty tracking and managing large volumes of donations are all issues that can hinder ongoing supporter relationships, and can lead to a lot of wasted time and resources. Implementing free fundraising software can reduce friction and simplify the donation process, making it easy for donors to participate in your campaign with just a few clicks. 

Known for their around-the-clock support team, Paybee offers personalized support for  organizations of any size looking to simplify the campaign management process whil executing fundraising events. Created specifically for nonprofits, Paybee’s easy-to-use interface provides donor tracking, comprehensive reporting, and automated follow-ups–key benefits for nonprofits that need professional results despite having limited tech experience. Features like customizable donation pages, both silent and live auctions, and peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities are perfect for those looking for flexibility when running both virtual and hybrid events. Alongside an efficiently integrated donor management program and exportable reports, it’s a great tool for sharing information with accountants or board members alike. Real-time data allows your team to track donations as they pour in, showing which items are performing best and which items are still pending and making it possible for your team to make last minute changes or alterations.

Donorbox is a popular all-in-one platform known for its straightforward contribution pages and convenient multiple payment options. Designed to simplify the giving process, its mobile-optimized donation forms are highly customizable and can be embedded directly onto the nonprofit’s website. Donors are able to choose between making a one time donation or setting up automated monthly contributions, with the option to easily adjust their preferences at any time through a self-service donor portal. Apart from managing donations, Donorbox allows nonprofits to easily manage supporter databases with the choice to set up personalized profiles, view previous donation history, and scan through provided insights. Tracking donations and donor behavior allows organizations to monitor supporters, allowing organizations to be more efficient in their fundraising ventures. Custom branding options like uploading your logo and creating personalized thank you messages add a unique touch. 

If your nonprofit is more centered around peer-to-peer fundraising, Fundly might be the perfect fit. One of the most standout features Fundly has to offer is the ability for organizations to set up campaigns that allow volunteers and members of the community to create their own, personal fundraising pages on the charity’s behalf, taking advantage of supporters' individual networks. 

GiveForms offers a clean, minimalistic design through a straightforward interface, making the donation experience as seamless as possible for supporters. Its distraction-free design can be placed directly into  a nonprofit's website, allowing participants to contribute without ever having to leave the page, increasing the likelihood of participation. They recognize that a majority of online donations will be made directly from a cell phone, and have kept that in mind when optimizing its mobile interface. GiveForm’s emphasis on ease of use makes it the perfect option for small to mid-sized social good organizations looking to make change, but lacking the technological skills to put off full scale operations.

Incorporating fundraising software can make a major difference in how a fundraising campaign turns out. The simpler the process, the higher yield your organization will see. 

Lacking a solid accounting system is a sure fire way for nonprofits to mismanage funds, struggle with providing financial transparency, and face compliance issues that could put their entire operation at risk of failing. Generating financial reports for tax filing can be extremely difficult, managing multiple revenue streams, and keeping real-time updates on financial standing can be overwhelming. Manual processing is take-consuming and prone it errors– many organizations can’t afford to have a trained financial professional in place, leaving limited staff or underskilled volunteers to handle the arduous burden. Implementing free accounting software provides much needed relief to these demands. Organizations can simplify their entire bookkeeping process with no extra cost courtesy of programs that provide a one stop place to track all income and expenses, generate reports for board members, simplify annual tax processes, and more.

Enter Wave– a cloud-based program designed with small businesses and nonprofits in mind.  perfect for charitable organizations with moderate financial needs. It’s simple to use, so no need to shell out expenses for someone with an accounting background. Wave provides professional reports for fundraising campaigns, grant reporting, and all end-of-year financial needs. Main features include:

• Income and expense tracking.
• Creating and sending professional invoices.
• Easy connections for bank and credit card transactions.
• Access for multiple users.
• Professionally generate professional-grade accounting reports.

Wave offers its core features completely free with options to purchase paid add-ons– features such as payment processing and payroll– but the free version is a great base for  small to mid sized organizations looking to cover basic accounting needs without too many bells and whistles. 

Also made for use on a smaller scale, Zipbooks is another free cloud-based accounting software, offering basic bookkeeping features that help track donations, manage finances, and produce professional reports with ease. One standout feature is the ability to create and send an unlimited number of financial reports using their customizable templates. It allows access to essentials like P&L statements, to help keep stakeholders on the loop. Zipbooks has an implemented donor management feature, allowing you to organize sponsor’s contact info, track interactions, and assign custom notes to profiles, allowing you to add a personalized touch and improve relationships with supporters. They offer:

• Intuitive, user-friendly dashboard.
• Built in time-tracking
• ‘Smart Suggestions’- a tool that offers recommendations for improving financial health. (While it is a paid add-on, it’s a unique tool worth mentioning.)

For groups ready for a more advanced financial management program, GnuCash offers a completely free, desktop-based system composed of more tech-savvy features. Groups looking for strong reporting features without wanting to commit to a paid software program have turned to GnuCash since their establishment in 1998. Features include:

• Double-entry accounting to ensure greater accuracy by recording every transaction in two places- keeping your books balanced and accurate.
• Create detailed budgets to compare to your income and expenses.
• Lacking a solid accounting system is a sure fire way for nonprofits.
• Visual graphs alongside your detailed financial reports.
• Multi currency support.

Finding the right software can be a game-changer for any nonprofit. Streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving efficiency across all aspects of your nonprofit can be just clicks away. Whether looking for a simple, user-friendly platform or something more complex to suit your needs, consider the size and skill-level of your team and choose the most efficient option for your organization. 

Free Supplies and Products 

Office supplies, event materials, and in-house training tools are all basic necessities for any organization to operate at full capacity– lacking in any department can have a domino effect from day-to-day operations to the execution of big events. Organizations in the know can access a multitude of resources through local businesses partnerships, donation programs, and various online platforms. High quality materials help organizations appear more established and trustworthy and make it easier to engage supporters and attract new donors. With the right tools in place, staff and volunteers can operate more efficiently, allowing the entire nonprofit to provide quicker, more reliable support to those who need it.

Office Supplies and Equipment

Budget constraints shouldn’t mean that organizations must cut corners when it comes to obtaining basic office supplies and equipment. Computers, printers, paper, even pens, are all items necessary for fundraising groups to work efficiently, but can take up a big chunk of a nonprofits budget. By leaning into free programs, charitable organizations can supply their team with the items they need to successfully support their mission.

Many local businesses and small corporations donate surplus or gently used items to charities. These companies can often claim charitable donations as tax reductions. Some choose to do it to decrease their amount of inventory, helping to reduce their taxable income. Whatever the case may be, reaching out to local offices, co-working spaces, or big-box retailers with sustainability initiatives may result in a nonprofit acquiring anything from computers to papers and pens-even furniture. 

Many businesses donate to social good organizations through donation programs– organized efforts that aim to redistribute new or gently used goods to organizations in need. Businesses participate in these programs for a variety of reasons like receiving great tax incentives, or demonstrating community involvement through Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. One example is TechSoup- an organization that connects  mission-driven organizations with discounted technology products and services. Serving community groups, social enterprises, and other charitable foundations, TechSoup partners with technology suppliers like Microsoft and Adobe to offer discounted software, hardware, or IT services. 

Groups needing assistance gaining supplies can also venture to check online platforms that provide the option to give things away. These platforms serve as virtual marketplaces where individuals, businesses, and organizations can both request and donate items. Some items are entirely free, where some may request a small shipping and handling fee. Freecycle is a grassroots online community-based platform that can be used to find items like office supplies, furniture, and equipment. Facebook marketplace is another great option when searching for office necessities. While you may have to get creative and think outside of the box, you should be able to outfit your operation enough to get all volunteers and staff members operating at full capacity.

Event Supplies

Event supplies and promotional items for fundraising events are another class of items nonprofits use when raising awareness while enhancing their professional appearance. These items tend to be higher in value, with spending adding up quickly in areas where quality is important. Tables, chairs, banners and flyers are a small portion of the never ending list of items organizations use in their never ending efforts. Partnering with other businesses is a great way for community groups to acquire those items that far stretch out their tight resources– they often donate goods or sponsor events in exchange for community visibility and free advertising.

Companies typically supply physical items like tents and decorations, refreshments for event attendees or volunteers, and branded merchandise for giveaways like pens, tote bags, and shirts. They also often provide services like printing flyers and brochures. Nonprofits typically secure this support by offering sponsorship packages, providing benefits such as logo placement on flyers or social media, special shout outs during speeches, or the chance to set up a booth or table at an event. Approach with measurable outcomes to make participation more inviting– projected attendance numbers or information about your charity social media reach and engagement status. Follow up with personal, handwritten notes or emails with photos of the events. Pursuing partnerships with local businesses to acquire resources helps build relationships with the local community while reducing event costs and increasing fundraising efficiency.

Training Materials

Staff and volunteers benefit from quality training and educational materials through an increase in skills and a boost in efficiency levels, leading to an all around improvement in their abilities to make an impact.  A lack of proper training can affect not only program delivery, but also the amount of fundraising the group is actually able to do. These materials ypically cover topics such as leadership, fundraising,  and nonprofit law. Sources to check include Better World Books- a company that collects and sells books to fund literacy initiatives around the world. By receiving a wide variety of these materials, charitable organizations can receive a wide variety of items and offer a more diverse opportunity for learning.

Accessing free physical resources is an invaluable strategy for nonprofits–whether office supplies, event materials, or educational resources–and there are plenty of opportunities available for them to do so. By taking advantage of these varying avenues, organizations increase overall operational efficiency, strengthen their programs, and ensuring they have all of the materials necessary to thrive in their chosen missions.

Free Marketing and Promotional Tools

Limited budgets and a lack of expertise are among the top factors contributing to a lack of visibility for community groups. Small teams are already stretched thin, leaving little time and budget for organizations to invest in marketing professionals and making it all the more difficult to craft and execute effective campaigns. Without a strong marketing force, it’s hard to stand out in an already crowded arena, in competition with other organizations competing for attention and limited donor dollars.

Free marketing and promotional tools are becoming more commonly available to tap into, skyrocketing campaigns to the next level. These tools provide organizations the opportunity to create professional-quality content that engages current supporters while consistently attracting new ones. There are even programs available to help your team build and maintain its online presence– reaching an even wider audience through both email connection and social media.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn–the ever evolving social media landscape requires a lot of attention, which can be overwhelming for smaller nonprofits that just don’t have the manpower to keep up with regular updates. The best social media presence requires a consistent stream of engaging content that has been previously planned, created, and is shared in just the right places at just the right time. Lacking experience in social media strategy can hold an organization back, leading to missed opportunities for enhancing brand visibility and engaging with donors. 

Free social media management tools can remedy all of this– they can take over planning and scheduling posts while also tracking performance metrics across multiple social accounts, all from one simple-to-use dashboard, saving you time and effort while maintaining consistency and professionalism.

Hootsuite - Designed for smaller organizations Hootsuite’s free platform, allows you to manage 2 social media accounts, making it best for groups only looking to engage a small number of social profiles. It provides a basic message inbox service that can schedule up to 5 messages at a time while allowing you to manage DMs and comments across different platforms. Hootsuite’s simplicity is what makes it one of the most popular social media management platforms on the market.

Buffer - Another great tool for beginners, Buffer is straightforward, meaning you don’t have to worry about features that you don’t need convoluting your experience. Schedule up to 10 posts per channel across 3 social media platforms at any given time. Buffer is ideal for nonprofits looking to launch a steady, consistent flow of posts versus creating a more complex campaign.

Later- Unlike the previous options, Later specializes in visual content scheduling, making it ideal for nonprofit’s with lots of photos or graphics– emphasizing visual storytelling to appeal to potential supporters.  Its straightforward visual content calendar makes it easy to map out photo-heavy campaigns, ideal for platforms like Instagram where you can schedule up to 30 posts per month.

These platforms all offer both paid and free versions that can greatly benefit an organization's social media presence by providing consistency and improving follower engagement– a cornerstone in every operation's success in this day and age. 

Email marketing tools are an additional layer of security that nonprofits can implement in their communication strategy in order to keep supporters informed and engaging with your mission. Email marketing tools can ensure you are providing professional-looking digital campaigns that keep you connected to a large audience–a practice that leads to an increase in donations and exponentially strengthens participation in events. Many softwares provide convenient, intuitive templates,measure analytics, and keep track of supporter information all in one place.

Mailchimp is a beginner-friendly email marketing platform that, thanks to its ease of use and abundant feature set, is considered one of the most popular options. Perfect for organizations that need a more instinctive platform, Mailchimp allows you to easily send newsletters, event invitations, and donation appeals, and provides the option to set up automated welcome emails and donation follow-ups.

Sendinblue offers both email and SMS communication options, great for those with a larger number of contacts that may need more than just email communication. Its free plan offers an unlimited contact list and the capacity to send up to 300 emails per day. It boasts an intuitive, drag-and-drop email builder that works great on mobile phones, with customizable features such as different font options and customizable colors. 

Moosend is a paid option that comes in cheaper than many others and offers nonprofits the chance to negotiate custom discounts– They offer a 30 day free, all-access trial. Its free-trial feature allows an unlimited number of emails and access to their analytics dashboard, providing insights into click rates and subscriber activity.

DIrect communication with supporters, volunteers, and donors is key when building long-lasting relationships and making sure your audience stays engaged with your mission. Whether updating sponsors of the effects of their contribution or notifying volunteers of upcoming events, free email marketing tools offer a cost-effective solution to staying connected.

Graphic Design Software

First impressions count, and well designed visuals tell your story quickly, capturing potential supporters' attention and instantly building trust. Free graphic design tools make it easy and affordable for charities to create eye-catching visuals without the need for a professional designer or investing in expensive software. Cava is the most popular graphic design software on the market, offering a user-friendly, web-based system perfect for beginners. Its free plan includes access to thousands of templates, from social media posts to flyers and business cards. Canva runs a program for Nonprofits in which they grant organizations access to its premium features, including perks like Brand Kits for building consistent branding and team collaboration tools. For community groups with access to staff with more design experience, GIMP offers more advanced features such as its open-source graphic design and photo editing software. Capabilities include photo retouch/manipulation, custom artwork creation, and the capacity to take on far more complex graphic design projects. Adobe Express also offers a free plan with access to thousands of ready-made templates, and stands out for its intuitive interface and the ability to produce refined, polished materials without advanced designing skills.

Free Educational and Training Resources

Staff development often takes a backseat when it comes to prioritizing program delivery, despite it being a cornerstone to any nonprofits foundational strategy. Professional development opportunities like training programs and workshops can be extremely costly, but without access to up-to-date knowledge in their fields, teams are at risk of falling behind in areas like the constantly evolving world of technology and staying up-to-date on the industry’s best practices. Investing in staff development has been proven to increase both staff morale and retention, organizational effectiveness, and boosts funding opportunities through proper fundraising tactics and a strong understanding of compliance regulations. There are a variety of free resources available to cause-driven groups looking to improve skills in leadership, management, fundraising, and more. Online courses, webinars, E-books, and in-person workshops are available for free or at heavy discounts to increase capacity throughout your organization.

Many platforms offer free courses tailored specifically for nonprofits special needs. Online courses and webinars cover topics like nonprofit management, volunteer coordination, fundraising strategies, grant writing, and more. Programs such as Coursera and edX partner with top universities to offer high-quality online courses with free access including all course materials. For nonprofits, both edX and Coursera provide the option to audit many of their paid courses, bypassing the fee. EdX allows nonprofits special access to their MicroMasters programs, allowing you to learn without paying for the certificate. Many of these classes will ask for a fee to receive a certificate of completion, however financial aid is available for learners demonstrating need. NonprofitReady is a platform created by experts in the nonprofit sector that provides content specifically tailored to the nonprofit sector. They provide certificate programs staff can use to build their resume for completely free.  With over 500 courses available, this platform is a great resource for both new and experiences staff and volunteers looking to improve their skills.

Workshops and seminars offer hands-on, interactive learning experiences in a range of topics like grant writing, nonprofit leadership, and legal compliance, While most are in person, quite a few can be found online, making them more accessible to volunteers and staff. These opportunities are typically locally offered– providing practical training and excellent avenues for participants to network and build solid connections and partnerships with others in the field.

The National Council of Nonprofits and the Association of Fundraising Professionals are among several state and regional nonprofit associations that offer regular training sessions, workshops, and conferences on topics like nonprofit accounting and strategic planning. Often free for members, these industry expert-led events are great opportunities to stay current on nonprofit trends and regulatory experiences. 

Community organizations like local libraries and foundations typically focus on local community needs through workshops, often facilitated by local leaders in smaller group settings. Join the mailing list of community organizations in order to stay updated on events–Try to attend a wide range of opportunities to broaden your network and find cross-sector opportunities.

Online resources like E-books and guides are another way cause-driven groups can work to enhance operations and improve fundraising strategies in order to better serve their communities. Access to these free resources are available to nonprofits and individuals looking to enhance their knowledge in all aspects of nonprofit operations. Programs like Google Books offer a  wide selection of public domain materials, meaning they are free for everyone to access. Its simple search bar allows you to filter results by type, allowing individuals to find relevant, full-view books on any topic they need for free. Project Gutenberg is a digital library boasting more than 70,000 books. They offer books in multiple formats that can be accessed across all devices, with the goal of making public domain works freely and easily accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. Though not exclusive to nonprofits, its wide variety of subjects cover things like leadership development, community engagement, and organizational learning, all important topics for working within the nonprofit sector. 

Continuous learning is critical for community groups to stay relevant and impactful on their pursuit of its core mission. Combining online courses, workshops, and reading materials is a great way to offer well-rounded training to volunteers and staff members. Learning to leverage these tools to empower your team helps them learn to grow and adapt, leading them to make the greatest difference possible within your community.

Free Legal and Financial Advice 

Failure to file necessary annual reports, employment law mishaps, fundraising violations– without proper knowledge of  complicated rules and laws, organizations can easily find themselves lost in the complex legal landscape surrounding the nonprofit arena. Expert legal and financial guidance can help protect an organization and reduce the risks of any misstep that could threaten operations or funding. Thankfully, free legal assistance is a lot more attainable than one may believe. With proper research, organizations can find assistance through pro bono programs, free financial consulting, and even free tax preparation services.

Smaller nonprofits may be surprised to know how easy it is to gain access to qualified attorneys and legal experts without having to hire expensive in-house counsel. Many pro bono programs, legal aid organizations, and law school clinics offer community groups free legal advice specific to their sector, helping groups stay within compliance regulations, draft  important contracts, register trademarks, and more. University law schools offer clinics in which law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, offer free legal support that lets them gain pre-graduation practice and experience. These clinics are great for helping to draft bylaws, articles of incorporation, tax exemption applications, and provide overall governance advice. Nonprofits just starting out and needing a hand can greatly benefit from these services. Legal aid organizations are nonprofits themselves and provide free or low-cost legal services with things like providing counsel on governance and fiduciary duties, helping boards avoid conflicts of interest and liabilities. They offer hotlines and legal help desks for quick day-to-day questions, with many offering long-term legal partnerships. Refer to legal aid organizations for workshops offering information on a variety of legal topics, or through their free offerings of online toolkits and legal templates for common nonprofit legal documents.

Financial help

At the end of the day, finances are the baseline for nonprofits and effective financial planning is required to properly budget spending and resource allocation, and to secure helpful grants and donations. Here are some resources that can help an organization create a clear financial plan:

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)

A nationwide volunteer organization composed of retired financial professionals providing free mentoring and consulting services in order to give back to the community.

• 1-on-1 financial consultations.
• Guidance on grant management, financial reporting, and financial sustainability plans.
• Virtual or in-person sessions.
• Helps Organizations secure funding. 

Community Foundations

Public charities that serve as grantmaking institutions, raising funds and redistributing them to support community needs by offering financial support.

• Workshops and webinars on financial management.
• Consulting services to help nonprofits improve financial health.
• Guide organizations on grant reporting and fundraising strategies.

University Business Schools

MBA students under professor supervision offer free or low-cost consulting programs.

• Access to seasoned professionals.
• Local focus, ensuring nonprofits receive advice tailored to their specific community.
• Can assist with fundraising strategies, financial statement preparation, and strategic planning.

Access to these resources is simple, a quick Google search will guide you to these services within your community. Simply visit their websites and submit a request for more information.

Tax Preparation

Like other organizations, nonprofits must comply with strict tax laws and file annual tax returns. The tax preparation process can be extremely challenging to take on without internal resources. The IRS VITA is a program designed to help low income individuals and small cause-driven groups, providing assistance with filing basic tax forms and other related documents. Accessed through the IRS website, VITA is composed of volunteers who have been trained and certified by the IRS for the specific purpose of helping to prepare tax returns. There are also a wide variety of local nonprofit networks that partner with various organizations and accounting firms. Typically regionally or community-based, these entities offer free assistance for nonprofit tax filings and documentation, with some providing free educational resources to teach groups how to understand tax regulations. Smaller, new organizations are specialized tax preparers that offer ongoing pro bono services. Local chambers of commerce and community foundations are a great place to start looking for assistance.

One major benefit of these free tax preparation resources is that nonprofits typically only need to turn to them once. Once your team has been equipped with the knowledge and skills they know to tackle tax law, they are able to take that information and apply it year after year.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we’ve touched on a wide variety of free resources available to nonprofits operating on tight budgets– resources that provide educational materials, event supplies, professional development tools, and expert services. By acquiring these resources, organizations can maximize their impact by stretching their budgets and making the most out of what is out on the scene.  

Start today by assessing your organization’s greatest needs. Supplies? Training? Marketing support? From there, reach out to local associations, connect with community members, and explore online platforms to see what best suits your team’s greatest needs. Sign up for relevant mailing lists and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. 

Don’t hesitate–take the first step and begin unlocking the potential of all the free resources that are out there to enhance your nonprofit's abilities and further your mission. For personalized guidance, reach out to Paybee and learn how we can help you begin to take action today!

FAQs

How can nonprofits obtain free office supplies and equipment?

Nonprofit’s can obtain free office supplies and equipment through a variety of services. Many companies and individuals are willing to donate supplies and equipment they no longer need. There are also a plethora of websites in which organizations can request donated goods. Establishing a relationship with a business can provide sponsorship opportunities that typically lead to a donation of materials your group may need. Exploring these avenues is easy–a quick search can put you in touch with those that can help your team acquire (almost) anything you need.

How can fundraising software improve donation tracking and donor engagement for nonprofits?

 Fundraising software can improve donation tracking and donor engagement by providing a centralized place where an organization can monitor donation history, donor preferences, and pledge amounts. Solutions like Paybee make it easier than ever to streamline the donation process making real time reporting and donor engagement seamless. Most contain built-in tools that help nonprofits connect with supporters like sending thank you and follow up emails, alongside program updates detailing the impact of their contributions. Integrated analytics and segmentation tools help tailor communication and efforts to specific groups, making the experience more personal and engaging.

Where can nonprofits find free educational and training materials for their staff and volunteers?

Free educational and training materials for nonprofit staff and volunteers is invaluable and readily available. NonprofitReady offers over 500 online course and certificate programs that cover topics like fundraising, management, and volunteer coordination. Coursera and edX are another set of online programs that offer a broader range of courses that, though not specific to the nonprofit sector, can still benefit those in nonprofit settings.