Fundraising Tools & Software | 19 May 2025
11 Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits You Should Use for Email Marketing
Explore better options for email outreach with the top email marketing platforms
18 minute read
Running a nonprofit isn’t easy. Between fundraising, coordinating volunteers, and keeping supporters engaged, the last thing you need is a complicated email marketing platform slowing you down. Email remains one of the most effective ways to communicate with donors and drive support, but finding the right platform to manage it can be challenging.
MailChimp is a popular choice, and for good reason. It’s easy to use, and it’s been a go-to for many nonprofits looking to get their message out. But that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect fit for everyone. For nonprofits with tight budgets, complex donor lists, and limited time, MailChimp’s pricing and feature limitations can be frustrating.
The good news is that other platforms are designed specifically for nonprofits. These alternatives offer better pricing models, more personalized features, and easier integration with donor management systems. Silent Auction Pro is one standout option. Its built-in email marketing tools allow nonprofits to send appreciation emails, track donor engagement, and automate follow-ups with minimal effort. It integrates seamlessly with CRMs, making communication with supporters more organized and effective.
If you’ve been struggling with MailChimp or are just curious about other options, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore the top MailChimp alternatives for nonprofits. .
Why nonprofits need a reliable email marketing platform
Email marketing is essential for building and maintaining relationships with supporters. Whether announcing a fundraising event, sending a thank-you note, or providing an update on a project, email is a direct line to your donors and volunteers.
Boosting donor engagement and retention
A well-crafted email can inspire action, whether it is a donation request letter, event registration, or volunteer sign-up. Unlike social media posts that can get buried in the algorithm, emails land directly in a supporter’s inbox, thus giving your message a better chance of being seen and acted on.
For example, a nonprofit organizing a gala can use email to send save-the-dates, promote auction items, and remind attendees to place their final bids. This type of direct communication drives engagement and increases participation.
Fundraising made easier
Email campaigns are one of the most effective tools for raising money. Studies show that nonprofits see an average return of $42 for every $1 spent on email marketing, but that only works if the platform makes it easy to set up and track campaigns. Personalized appeals and automated follow-ups can increase donation rates significantly.
Challenges with Mailchimp
While MailChimp offers a solid foundation for email marketing, it’s not without limitations:
- Pricing structure: MailChimp’s pricing increases quickly as your contact list grows, which can make it cost-prohibitive for nonprofits with large donor lists.
- Limited automation: More advanced automation features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
- Customer support: Response times for technical issues can be slow, which is stressful when you’re in the middle of a major campaign.
- Nonprofit-specific needs: MailChimp isn’t explicitly designed for nonprofits, so features like donor segmentation, fundraising-specific templates, and CRM integration are limited.
The right platform will not only help you reach your supporters more effectively but will also make managing your email strategy easier and more cost-effective.
11 Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits
If MailChimp isn’t cutting it for your nonprofit, the good news is that plenty of other platforms can better meet your needs. Whether you need more advanced automation, better pricing, or nonprofit-specific features, these platforms offer powerful solutions that make managing donor relationships and outreach more effective.
Here are 11 of the best Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits, including how they compare and what makes them a better fit for nonprofit work.
1. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a powerhouse when it comes to automation and segmentation. It’s designed to handle complex customer journeys, which makes it ideal for nonprofits looking to personalize outreach and automate follow-ups based on supporter behavior.
With ActiveCampaign, you can create detailed supporter segments and automate communications based on specific actions, like attending an event, donating, or opening a previous email. Its automation map feature gives you a bird’s-eye view of all your active campaigns, making it easy to adjust and refine them as needed.
- Top features:
Advanced automation and testing for email, SMS, and website messaging
Lead scoring to prioritize high-value donors
Strong CRM integration for better donor tracking
Pricing: Starts at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts (no free plan).
ActiveCampaign is more complex than some other platforms, so there’s a learning curve, but it's a solid choice if you’re managing large donor lists and need detailed tracking and automation.
2. Kit
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) was built for creators, but its intuitive design and flexible automation make it a great option for nonprofits with smaller teams. Kit is a strong contender if you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform that still offers powerful segmentation and automation.
Its email editor functions like a web builder, allowing you to customize layouts with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Segmentation is based on tags and behaviors, making creating targeted campaigns easy without overcomplicating things.
For example, you could tag all attendees from a fundraiser and automatically send a follow-up email thanking them and encouraging them to donate again.
Top features:
- Intuitive email editor that’s easy to use
- Flexible contact management with simple tagging
- Built-in audience segmentation for more targeted outreach
Pricing: Free plan available; Creator plan starts at $25/month.
Kit doesn’t have the deep data analysis tools you might find with other email marketing platforms, but its ease of use and automation tools make it an excellent fit for smaller nonprofits.
3. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is hard to beat if you’re looking for a platform that makes it easy to create professional-looking emails without much effort. It offers over 200 pre-built templates, covering everything from fundraising appeals to volunteer sign-ups.
The drag-and-drop editor is beginner-friendly, so even volunteers with no design experience can create polished emails quickly. Although the automation tools are more limited than those offered by ActiveCampaign, the tool still allows for automated welcome emails, donation follow-ups, and reminders.
Top features:
- Over 200 customizable templates
- Simple, drag-and-drop editor
- Built-in event and donation tracking
Pricing: Starts at $12/month for up to 500 contacts (no free plan).
Constant Contact is ideal for nonprofits that value simplicity and design over complex automation.
4. HubSpot
HubSpot combines email marketing, CRM, and sales tools into a single platform, making it an excellent fit for nonprofits that want to centralize communication and donor management.
Its free plan includes CRM access, allowing you to track donor interactions, segment your audience, and create detailed donor profiles. The automation features are highly advanced, letting you set up multi-step workflows that respond to specific donor actions (like opening an email or donating).
HubSpot also includes AI tools that help with email personalization, audience targeting, and campaign performance analysis.
Top features:
- Built-in CRM for contact management
- Advanced automation with AI-assisted audience targeting
- Donor lifecycle tracking and multi-step automation
Pricing: Free plan available; Marketing Hub Starter starts at $15/month/seat.
HubSpot is more complex than many other platforms, but its robust donor management and automation tools make it a powerful choice for growing nonprofits.
5. Klaviyo
Unlike some platforms that only track open rates and clicks, Klaviyo provides deeper insights into supporter behavior. You can see which supporters attended events, donated, and engaged with previous campaigns, then create automated workflows based on that data.
For example, you could send targeted reminders to supporters who attended a past fundraiser but haven’t donated yet this year. You could also create a thank-you series for donors who gave above a certain amount.
Klaviyo’s predictive analytics also help you estimate future donation behavior, giving you a better sense of which supporters are most likely to contribute.
Top features:
- Real-time donor behavior tracking
- Customizable donation-based workflows
- Predictive analytics for donation forecasting
Pricing: Free plan available; email-only plan starts at $45/month.
Klaviyo is more expensive than other platforms, but its fundraising-specific features and deep segmentation tools make it a valuable investment for nonprofits that rely heavily on donor support.
6. SendGrid
If your nonprofit needs to send a lot of emails, SendGrid is a solid choice. It’s designed for high-volume transactional emails, making it a good fit for larger nonprofits or organizations running multiple fundraising campaigns simultaneously.
SendGrid’s strength lies in its deliverability. Unlike some platforms that struggle with spam filters, SendGrid maintains strong sender reputations, which helps ensure your emails actually reach your supporters’ inboxes. Its reporting tools provide detailed insights on bounce rates, opens, and click-through rates, allowing you to tweak your campaigns for better performance.
For example, if you’re running a fundraiser and want to send out last-minute reminders, SendGrid allows you to reach thousands of supporters quickly without delivery issues.
Top features:
- Strong deliverability rates and IP reputation management
- Real-time reporting on email performance
- Scales easily for high-volume sending
Pricing: Free plan for up to 100 emails/day; Essentials plan starts at $19.95/month for up to 100,000 emails/month.
SendGrid’s learning curve is slightly steeper than that of other email marketing platforms, but it's worth the effort if you need a reliable tool for large-scale communication.
7. Flodesk
Flodesk stands out for its flat-rate pricing model, which is great for nonprofits with growing lists. Unlike most platforms, which increase pricing based on subscriber count, Flodesk charges a single rate, no matter how large your list gets.
Its strength lies in design. Flodesk’s email templates are clean and modern, making it easy to create visually appealing campaigns without needing graphic design experience. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to adjust layouts, add images, and customize fonts to match your nonprofit’s branding.
For example, a nonprofit could use Flodesk to create a sleek donor appreciation email with embedded video clips and a personalized thank-you message.
Top features:
- Flat-rate pricing regardless of list size
- Modern, minimalist email templates
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
Pricing: Free forms and landing pages; email marketing plan starts at $35/month (billed annually).
Flodesk’s automation tools aren’t as advanced as others, but its simplicity and predictable pricing make it a great choice for design-focused campaigns.
8. Benchmark
Benchmark is an excellent platform to consider if you send regular newsletters to your supporters. It offers over 200 polished design templates that are easy to customize with its simple drag-and-drop editor.
Benchmark makes it easy to manage recurring campaigns, such as monthly donor updates or volunteer spotlights. You can segment your list based on past interactions and set up automated follow-ups for new subscribers or donors.
For example, you could create a welcome email series that introduces new supporters to your mission and invites them to attend an upcoming event.
Top features:
- Over 200 professional email templates
- A/B testing for subject lines and content
- Segmentation for more targeted outreach
Pricing: The free plan is available for up to 500 contacts and 3,500 emails/month, while the pro plan starts at $13/month.
Benchmark is best for nonprofits focused on consistent supporter communication through newsletters and recurring updates.
9. Brevo
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is one of the most generous platforms in terms of free plans, making it ideal for smaller nonprofits or those just getting started with email marketing. Its free plan allows you to send up to 300 emails daily to unlimited contacts.
Brevo offers strong automation and segmentation tools. You can create targeted campaigns based on donor behavior, such as reminding someone who opened your email but didn’t donate.
For example, a nonprofit could use Brevo to create a donor re-engagement campaign, automatically segmenting supporters based on their donation history and sending targeted follow-ups to lapsed donors.
Top features:
- Free plan with up to 300 emails/day
- Advanced segmentation and automation
- Unlimited contacts on the free plan
Pricing: Free plan available; the Starter plan starts at $8.08/month.
Brevo’s reporting tools aren’t as detailed as some pricier options, but its free plan and solid automation features make it one of the best value options for nonprofits. Remember, you get what you pay for. Free may not result in the best customer experience.
10. MailerLite
MailerLite combines ease of use with powerful automation and offers one of the most generous free plans available. The free plan includes up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails, as well as access to automation tools and segmentation.
The platform’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create professional-looking emails, even if you’re working with volunteers who aren’t experienced with design. MailerLite also includes dynamic content blocks to personalize emails based on supporter data.
For example, you could create a thank-you email for donors that includes their name, donation amount, and a personalized message based on their giving history.
Top features:
- The free plan includes automation and segmentation
- Dynamic content for personalized outreach
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
Pricing: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails; Growing Business plan starts at $9/month.
MailerLite lacks some advanced analytics, but its ease of use and free plan make it a smart option for smaller nonprofits.
11. Silent Auction Pro
Silent Auction Pro is a complete event management solution built specifically for nonprofits. It combines event planning, donor tracking, and fundraising tools in one place, making fundraising easy on a single platform. While this platform only offers email features while an event runs (ticketing information to ticket holders, donor thank you notes, and more), it simplifies your work by keeping you in one system. Of course, you can also export donor and bidder information to import into your email platform for future communication efforts.
Silent Auction Pro allows you to create and automate email campaigns for event registration, donor thank-yous, and fundraising updates. It also integrates directly with donor databases, so you can track supporter engagement and tailor your communication based on past activity.
For example, if a donor bids on an auction item but doesn’t win, you can automatically send them a follow-up email suggesting a direct donation.
Silent Auction Pro includes event-specific tools like outbid notifications, paddle raises, and donor recognition during live events. Its real-time reporting allows you to track event performance and adjust strategies on the fly.
Top features:
- Designed specifically for nonprofit events and fundraising
- Real-time reporting and donor tracking
- Personalized support and event coaching
Pricing: Pricing varies based on the package selected.
Silent Auction Pro’s event-focused design makes it the best choice for nonprofits that host regular fundraisers or galas. Its combination of event management and email marketing tools sets it apart from other platforms.
How Silent Auction Pro simplifies nonprofit email marketing
Managing email campaigns as a nonprofit is tough, especially when you’re juggling event planning, donor outreach, and volunteer coordination. Silent Auction Pro offers a customized solution for nonprofits that takes the guesswork out of email marketing. It combines email automation, donor management, and fundraising tools into one seamless platform, saving time and increasing outreach effectiveness.
Pre-built templates for easy outreach
Silent Auction Pro includes a range of pre-built templates for everyday nonprofit needs, such as event invitations, donation requests, and thank-you emails. These templates can be customized with your nonprofit’s logo, colors, and messaging, allowing you to create polished, on-brand emails in minutes.
For example, you could send a personalized thank-you email to all donors within 24 hours of an event, complete with a summary of the funds raised and a call to action for future support.
Intelligent automation for better engagement
Automation is where Silent Auction Pro really shines. You can set up automated donor follow-ups, outbid notifications, and post-event summaries without lifting a finger. Suppose a donor makes a bid at an auction but doesn’t win. In that case, Silent Auction Pro can automatically send a follow-up email suggesting another course of action, like a direct or recurring donation.
For example, if you’re running a paddle raise at a gala, Silent Auction Pro can send real-time updates to donors, showing how close you are to your fundraising goal.
Easy integration with donor databases
Silent Auction Pro connects directly with your donor database, making it easy to segment your audience and send targeted messages. You can create separate lists for past donors, event attendees, and volunteers, ensuring that the right message reaches the right audience.
For example, you could create a segment of lapsed donors and send them a targeted campaign with a personalized request to re-engage with your organization.
Reduces time and effort
Silent Auction Pro frees up time for your team to focus on higher-level strategy by automating the heavy lifting- from event reminders to donation follow-ups. Its real-time reporting also allows you to monitor campaign performance and make adjustments on the fly, ensuring maximum impact with minimal effort.
Why settle when there are better options?
MailChimp may be popular, but that doesn’t mean it's the best choice for your nonprofit. From more advanced automation to stronger donor management tools, plenty of MailChimp alternatives offer better value and performance.
Silent Auction Pro stands out because it was designed with nonprofits in mind. Its email marketing tools are integrated with event and donor management features, giving you everything you need to run a successful fundraising campaign all in one place. Throw in extended support (including support during your event), and you’ll see why more nonprofits are trying Silent Auction Pro.
Ready to see how Silent Auction Pro can simplify your outreach? Request a free demo today and discover how it can help you save time, engage donors, and hit your fundraising goals.
Becca Wallace | President
Getting a grass roots upbringing in charity events and auctions, Becca's background in volunteering helps her understand the needs of everyday and seasoned professional event planners alike. Her passion for using technology to make things easier drives her UI | UX design aesthetic to continually refine Silent Auction Pro. With 15 years of event planning experience and almost 10 years of software and user expereince design behind her, Becca works tirelessly to advance Silent Auction Pro to be simple, sophisticated and user-friendly. Learn more about Becca here.