Best Social Media Management Tools for Nonprofits in 2025
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Best Social Media Management Tools for Nonprofits in 2025
Nonprofits need professional social presence but work with volunteer staff and tiny budgets. Classic catch-22.
Good news: Many tools offer up to 50% off for nonprofits. Some are completely free.
This guide covers 10 tools with nonprofit pricing and how to maximize impact on limited resources.
What Nonprofits Need in Social Media Tools
Different priorities than businesses
Nonprofits need:
- Affordable pricing (or free)
- Easy learning curve (for volunteers)
- Donor engagement features
- Campaign/fundraising integration
- Multi-user access (staff + volunteers)
- Compliance-friendly features
Less critical for nonprofits:
- Advanced advertising tools
- E-commerce integration
- Enterprise-level analytics
- Sales pipeline features
Common nonprofit challenges
- Limited budget — Can't justify expensive subscriptions
- Volunteer turnover — Tools need to be easy to learn quickly
- Multiple stakeholders — Board, staff, volunteers all need access
- Fundraising cycles — Heavy activity around campaigns, then quiet periods
- Compliance — Need to track regulated communications
Your nonprofit has 2 volunteers managing social media. What's the MOST important tool feature?
Top 10 Social Media Tools with Nonprofit Pricing
1. Buffer (Best Overall for Nonprofits)
What it does: Scheduling, publishing, analytics, engagement
Nonprofit discount: 50% off all plans
Nonprofit pricing:
- Essentials: $3/month per channel (was $6)
- Team: $6/month per channel (was $12)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Extremely easy to use
- Clean, simple interface
- Approval workflows for volunteers
- Great for small teams
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok
Best for: Small nonprofits with 1-3 social accounts
2. Hootsuite (Best for Larger Nonprofits)
What it does: Full social media management suite
Nonprofit discount: Up to 75% off through TechSoup
Nonprofit pricing:
- Professional: ~$25/month (was $99)
- Team: ~$63/month (was $249)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Comprehensive features
- Strong analytics
- Team collaboration tools
- Integrates with many other tools
Platforms: All major platforms
Best for: Established nonprofits with dedicated marketing staff
3. Canva (Best for Design)
What it does: Graphic design for social media posts
Nonprofit discount: 100% free for eligible nonprofits (Canva for Nonprofits)
What's included free:
- Canva Pro features
- Brand kit
- Magic resize
- Content planner
- 100+ million stock photos
- Premium templates
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Creates professional visuals without a designer
- Templates for social media, flyers, events
- Easy for volunteers to use
Best for: Any nonprofit creating visual content
4. Later (Best for Visual Platforms)
What it does: Instagram and visual platform scheduling
Nonprofit discount: 50% off all plans
Nonprofit pricing:
- Starter: $9/month (was $18)
- Growth: $20/month (was $40)
- Advanced: $40/month (was $80)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Visual calendar perfect for Instagram
- Linkin.bio for driving traffic
- User-generated content collection
- Easy to preview feeds
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn
Best for: Nonprofits focused on Instagram and visual storytelling
5. Sprout Social (Best for Donor Engagement)
What it does: Enterprise social media management with CRM features
Nonprofit discount: 25-50% discount (contact sales)
Nonprofit pricing: ~$125-185/month (normally $249+)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Social inbox for donor conversations
- CRM-style contact management
- Advanced reporting for board presentations
- Excellent support
Platforms: All major platforms
Best for: Larger nonprofits focused on donor relationships
6. SocialBee (Best Budget Option)
What it does: Scheduling with content categories and recycling
Nonprofit discount: 30% off all plans
Nonprofit pricing:
- Bootstrap: $13.30/month (was $19)
- Accelerate: $27.30/month (was $39)
- Pro: $55.30/month (was $79)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Content categories for different post types
- Evergreen content recycling
- AI caption writer included
- Affordable for small budgets
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Google Business
Best for: Small nonprofits wanting automation features
7. Loomly (Best for Teams)
What it does: Content calendar with approval workflows
Nonprofit discount: 20% off for verified nonprofits
Nonprofit pricing:
- Base: $26/month (was $32)
- Standard: $60/month (was $76)
- Advanced: $139/month (was $175)
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Great for coordinating volunteers
- Approval workflows built-in
- Post inspiration and ideas
- Easy calendar view
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat
Best for: Nonprofits with multiple people managing social
8. Bitly (Best for Link Tracking)
What it does: Link shortening and tracking
Nonprofit discount: 10,000 free Bitlinks for nonprofits
What's included free:
- Custom branded links
- Click tracking
- QR codes
- Basic analytics
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Track donation link clicks
- Measure campaign effectiveness
- Professional branded links
- Easy reporting
Best for: Any nonprofit tracking link performance
9. Google Workspace for Nonprofits (Best for Overall Productivity)
What it does: Email, docs, drive, and more
Nonprofit discount: 100% free (Basic edition)
What's included free:
- Gmail with custom domain
- Google Drive storage
- Google Meet
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Admin controls
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Foundation for digital operations
- Easy file sharing
- Collaboration tools
- Integrates with everything
Best for: Every nonprofit as foundational infrastructure
10. Meta Business Suite (Best Free Option)
What it does: Facebook and Instagram management
Nonprofit discount: Free (for everyone)
What's included free:
- Scheduling for Facebook and Instagram
- Basic analytics
- Inbox management
- Content calendar
Why it's great for nonprofits:
- Completely free
- Direct from Meta
- Access to all Facebook features
- Donation stickers and fundraising tools
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram only
Best for: Nonprofits primarily using Facebook and Instagram
Comparison Table
How to Get Nonprofit Discounts
Step 1: Verify nonprofit status
Most tools require:
- 501(c)(3) status (US) or equivalent
- Valid EIN number
- Official documentation
Step 2: Apply through proper channels
TechSoup: Many tools offer discounts through TechSoup. Create an account and validate your nonprofit.
Direct application: Some tools have nonprofit application forms on their websites.
Contact sales: For larger tools, email sales@ and mention nonprofit status.
Step 3: Provide documentation
Typically needed:
- IRS determination letter
- Organization information
- Website and social profiles
- Brief description of mission
Step 4: Wait for approval
Most applications take 1-2 weeks to process. Some are instant.
Free Tools for Nonprofits
Completely free options
Meta Business Suite
- Full scheduling for Facebook and Instagram
- Analytics and insights
- Inbox management
- No catch—it's Meta's native tool
TweetDeck
- Twitter/X management
- Multiple columns for monitoring
- Team collaboration
- Scheduling included
Canva for Nonprofits
- Full Canva Pro features
- Requires nonprofit verification
- Takes 2-3 weeks to approve
Google Analytics
- Website traffic analysis
- Social referral tracking
- Goal tracking for donations
Mailchimp Free Plan
- Up to 500 contacts
- Email marketing basics
- Basic automation
Freemium tools with generous free tiers
Buffer: Free for 3 channels, 10 posts per channel Later: Free for 1 social set, 30 posts per month Bitly: Free with limited features Trello: Free for unlimited boards (content planning)
Maximizing Social Media on a Small Budget
Prioritize ruthlessly
If you have 2 hours/week:
- Focus on ONE platform where your audience lives
- Post 2-3 times per week
- Respond to all comments and messages
If you have 5 hours/week:
- Add a second platform
- Increase to 4-5 posts per week
- Start building an email list from social
If you have 10+ hours/week:
- Expand to 3 platforms
- Create original content (photos, videos)
- Engage in community conversations
Content that works for nonprofits
High engagement content:
- Impact stories (show where donations go)
- Behind-the-scenes (humanize your org)
- Volunteer spotlights
- Beneficiary stories (with permission)
- Milestone celebrations
Fundraising content:
- Specific asks with clear impact ("$50 provides...")
- Matching gift promotions
- Campaign countdowns
- Thank you posts
Awareness content:
- Statistics and infographics
- Issue education
- Partner shoutouts
- Event promotion
Volunteer social media management
Make it sustainable:
- Create simple guidelines document
- Use tools with approval workflows
- Build a content library for emergencies
- Train multiple people (avoid single points of failure)
Set clear expectations:
- Time commitment required
- Response time for messages
- What requires approval vs. what doesn't
- Escalation process for issues
Platform-Specific Tips for Nonprofits
Advantages: Largest reach, built-in fundraising tools, events feature Strategy: Focus on community building, use Facebook Fundraisers, post 4-7x/week
Advantages: Visual storytelling, younger audience, Stories for engagement Strategy: Show impact visually, use Stories daily, leverage Reels for reach
Advantages: Professional network, corporate donors, board recruitment Strategy: Thought leadership content, employee advocacy, 2-3x/week
Twitter/X
Advantages: Real-time engagement, advocacy, press attention Strategy: Join relevant conversations, live-tweet events, 3-5x/day
TikTok
Advantages: Viral potential, Gen Z audience, authentic content wins Strategy: Behind-the-scenes, educational content, jump on trends
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best free social media tool for nonprofits?
Meta Business Suite for scheduling Facebook and Instagram. It's completely free with no limitations. For design, Canva for Nonprofits gives you Pro features at no cost.
How do I prove nonprofit status to get discounts?
Most tools accept your IRS determination letter and EIN number. Create a TechSoup account—many discounts are distributed through their platform.
Should nonprofits hire a social media manager?
Depends on your budget and goals. Start with volunteers and free tools. If social media becomes a significant donation driver, consider part-time help. Full-time only makes sense for larger organizations.
How often should nonprofits post on social media?
Quality over quantity. 3-5 posts per week on your primary platform is sustainable for most small nonprofits. Consistency matters more than volume.
What social media metrics should nonprofits track?
Focus on: engagement rate, website traffic from social, email signups, donation conversions from social, and follower growth. Don't obsess over vanity metrics like total followers.
Your nonprofit has $0 budget for social media tools. What's the best starting stack?
Conclusion
Nonprofits don't need expensive tools to succeed on social media. With strategic use of free tools and nonprofit discounts, you can build professional social presence on almost any budget.
Start here:
- Apply for Canva for Nonprofits (free design)
- Use Meta Business Suite (free scheduling for FB/IG)
- Register with TechSoup for software discounts
- Add Buffer or Later when you need more features
Your mission deserves to be seen. These tools help you share it with the world without breaking your budget.
Related Reading
- Hootsuite Alternatives — More tool options to compare
- Best Pinterest Scheduler Tools — If Pinterest is part of your strategy
- Social Media Automation Tools Guide — Automate to save volunteer time
- 30-Day Social Media Calendar That Converts — Ready-to-use content plan
- Best Times to Post on Facebook — Maximize limited posting time
- Engagement Calculator — Track your nonprofit's performance
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