This page contains a host of information about online tools, from database solutions to online toolsets to social media tips.
Table of contents
Online tools for nonprofits: general
- Content Management System (CMS) solutions
- Customer Relations Management (CRM) solutions
- Standalone tools
Online tools for nonprofits: general
TechSoup
TechSoup hosts an enormous catalog of tools and software for nonprofits. They also write about software, databases, and digital tools.
IdealWare
IdealWare is dedicated to helping nonprofits make smart software decisions. A good place to start when considering new tools.
Website and database tools
Generally speaking, biking and walking advocacy organizations should have websites that can accomplish the following things:
1) Content management
- Your website should be an online home for static information about your organization. This includes important information like the mission, staff / board list, information about programs, and resources. Someone at your organization should be able to update this information relatively easily on an as-needed basis.
Tool: Content Management System (CMS) - Your website should be an online home for updatable information pertaining to your organization's work. Specifically, your website should have a blog or some type of RSS feed that allows you to communicate new information on a regular basis. Someone at your organization should regularly update your website with news.
Tool: Content Management System (CMS) with blogging functionality - Your website should connect to your social media presence, whether that means linking to your Facebook and Twitter profiles or including an automatically updating feed.
Tool: Content Management System (CMS) with design that integrates social media
For content management, you'll need a Content Management System (CMS).
2) Supporter management
- People should be able to join your organization on your website.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool - People should be able to financially support your organization through your website.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool with built-in fundraising tools OR CMS + standalone donation tool - Your organization should have the ability to send mass emails to your members and supporters. Supporters should be able to sign up for email lists on your website. Someone at your website should be able to send both emails and ad-hoc emails to your supporter list.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool with built-in emailing OR CMS + standalone email tool - People should be able to sign up for events on your website.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool with built-in events OR CMS + standalone events tool - You should be able to set up advocacy campaigns, such as letters targeted at decision makers and petitions, from your website.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool with built-in advocacy tools OR CMS + lightweight advocacy tool - Your organization should be able to keep track of which people have taken which of the above actions.
Tool: CMS + Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool OR CMS + standalone tools + spreadsheets
For supporter management, you'll need a robust Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool or a combination of various standalone tools.
Content Management System (CMS) solutions
The following tools are popular content management solutions for nonprofits.
Nonprofit Soapbox 
The Soapbox tools include three interrelated systems: Nonprofit Soapbox, a content management system (CMS) built on Joomla; Soapbox Engage, a tool that plugs into both a website and Salesforce and helps nonprofits use Salesforce for events, petitions, signups; and Soapbox Mailer, an emailer that plugs into Salesforce. The Alliance for Biking & Walking uses all three of these tools along with Salesforce; we recommend them to organizations who already operate on Salesforce, are looking for consolidation of tools, and have enough internal bandwidth to dedicate to website maintenance and online tool operation.
Soapbox Engage (URL)
Nonprofit Soapbox (URL)
Soapbox Mailer (URL)
Wordpress
Wordpress is a popular and flexible CMS for nonprofits. For a full build and customization, organizations normally choose to pay a designer and developer to build the website to their specifications, although default templates are also available.
Drupal
This open source CMS is a powerful solution for nonprofits and businesses. It requires custom development and design and plugs in with CRMs like CiviCRM.
Customer Relations Management (CRM) solutions
Nonprofits face a variety of options for helping supporters connect with their organization and for keeping track of the actions that people take.
It's worth noting that no database or CRM is without its troubles. At the very least, a CRM requires some investment for initial setup. In order for a nonprofit to realize all the benefits and data insights that a database or CRM can provide, staff will need to invest in regular data upkeep, input, maintenance, and analysis.
That said, building a web presence with a good CRM and/or database and using it strategically can help a biking and walking advocacy organizations grow in capacity enormously. We've listed some of our favorite systems below.
Action Network
For startup organizations, the Alliance recommends starting to host online actions and email campaigns with The Action Network, an action platform that is free for small nonprofits. Action Network actions can be embedded into Wordpress.org websites. The Action Network can also synch with Salesforce. The Action Network is not really a CRM; rather, it's a robust action tool that is lightweight enough for startup organizations and powerful enough for larger groups. At this point, The Action Network likely could not replace CiviCRM or Salsa or Salesforce for a larger nonprofit.
Soapbox tools
The Soapbox tools include three interrelated systems: Nonprofit Soapbox, a content management system (CMS) built on Joomla; Soapbox Engage, a tool that plugs into both a website and Salesforce and helps nonprofits use Salesforce for events, petitions, signups; and Soapbox Mailer, an emailer that plugs into Salesforce. The Alliance for Biking & Walking uses all three of these tools along with Salesforce; we recommend them to organizations who already operate on Salesforce, are looking for consolidation of tools, and have enough internal bandwidth to dedicate to website maintenance and online tool operation.
Soapbox Engage (URL)
Nonprofit Soapbox (URL)
Soapbox Mailer (URL)
NationBuilder
NationBuilder is an all-in-one toolset for nonprofits, businesses, and campaigns. It includes a website CMS, a CRM targeted actions, events, petitions, donations, email blasting, mass texting, reports, and integrated social media. NationBuilder is a good choice for a nonprofit looking for a standalone all-in-one tool for website and database needs.
CiviCRM
CiviCRM is an open source contact relations management system that can manage contacts, contributions, communications, fundraising, advocacy campaigns, events, membership, and reporting. Organizations must have a separate CMS such as Wordpress or Drupal.
Salesforce
Salesforce is an infinitely customizable and powerful database that is made available for free to 501(c)(3) organizations. The Alliance and several Alliance member organizations have had great success in using Salesforce for their primary database. Salesforce can be used to track individual supporter actions when combined with a tool like Soapbox Engage. Salesforce can be set up to track membership, donations, volunteerism, event attendance, sponsorship, and a host of other activities. However, it is important to note that the Salesforce nonprofit starter pack generally requires customization from a paid Salesforce consultant in order to be truly optimized for an individual organization. There is also a significant learning curve for using Salesforce, as it was intended primarily as a business lead development tool, not as a nonprofit communications or membership management tool.
IdealWare articles on CRMs for nonprofits
The following articles may be helpful in researching CRM and database solutions for your nonprofit.
Creating the Relationship-Centric Organization: Nonprofit CRM (URL)
10 Things to Consider in a CRM (URL)
A Consumer's Guide to Donor Management Systems (URL)
What Can a CRM Do For Me? (URL)
Standalone tools
These tools can be used in conjunction with a CMS to perform specific functions. Your organization may want to invest in these tools if you are not using a CRM or other tool that combines these functionalities into one.
Standalone email tools
MailChimp
A low-cost, easy to use email tool. We highly recommend MailChimp if your organization is looking for an email program disconnected from a CRM. MailChimp synchs up with Salesforce, making it a good choice for organizations on Salesforce.
Soapbox MailerThe Soapbox tools include three interrelated systems: Nonprofit Soapbox, a content management system (CMS) built on Joomla; Soapbox Engage, a tool that plugs into both a website and Salesforce and helps nonprofits use Salesforce for events, petitions, signups; and Soapbox Mailer, an emailer that plugs into Salesforce. The Alliance for Biking & Walking uses all three of these tools along with Salesforce. Mailer is not the easiest emailing system; however, the Alliance would recommend it in conjunction with the rest of the Soapbox toolset.
A Few Good Broadcast Email Tools (IdealWare)
An article on standalone mass email tools for nonprofits.
A Few Good Broadcast Email Tools (URL)
Standalone fundraising tools
Online Fundraising Platforms for Non-Profits (Mashable.com)
Published on March 14, 2011, this article lists the best online fundraising platforms for non-profits, highlighting specific details, fees, and unique aspects of each.
Top 12 Online Fundraising Platforms for Non-Profits
5 Online Donation Tools to Delight Your Donors (Nonprofit Hub)
Some of Nonprofit Hub's favorite online donation tools, with an emphasis on widgets and donate buttons. They are all both easy for donors to use and affordable for nonprofit fundraising at all levels.
5 Online Donation Tools to Delight Your Donors (URL)
IdealWare articles on fundraising tools for nonprofitsThe following articles may be helpful in researching donation solutions for your nonprofit.
A Few Good Online Donation Tools (URL)
Implementing Your Donor Management Software (URL)
A Consumer's Guide to Donor Management Systems (URL)
A Few Good Tools for Peer-To-Peer Fundraising (URL)
Standalone events tools
A Few Good Tools for Event Registration (IdealWare)
Internet tools to manage registrations, and a lot more, for your nonprofit, charity, or library event.
A Few Good Online Event Tools (URL)
EventBrite
An easy to use online tool for free and paid ticketing events.
Standalone advocacy tools
IdealWare articles on petitions and online surveys
There are several standalone tools for petitions and advocacy. Free or inexpensive survey tools are also good ways to connect supporters to petitions and online advocacy actions.
A Few Good Online Survey Tools (URL)
A Few Good Online Petition Tools (URL)
Analytics
Google Analytics
The Alliance recommends using Google Analytics for website monitoring and reporting.
IdealWare articles on website analyticsThere are several standalone tools for petitions and advocacy. Free or inexpensive survey tools are also good ways to connect supporters to petitions and online advocacy actions.
The New Google Analytics (URL)
A Few Good Web Analytics Tools (URL)
