If you run a nonprofit, there’s a good chance you’ve either used Salesforce or seriously considered it. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is powerful — no doubt — but many organizations eventually discover some pain points mention below and therefore look for better salesforce alternatives:
- It’s too complex
- It’s too expensive when you add apps, consultants, and customization
- It requires specialized training
- It’s not ideal for small or mid-sized nonprofits
The truth is, most nonprofits don’t actually need a heavy, enterprise-level CRM.
What they do need is a tool that helps them:
- track donors
- manage volunteers
- communicate with supporters
- run campaigns
- collect donations
- automate follow-ups
- measure impact
…without feeling overwhelmed.
The good news? There are several excellent Salesforce alternatives that nonprofits can adopt in 2026 — tools that are simpler, more cost-effective, donor-friendly, and easier for everyday teams to use.
Below is a fully updated breakdown of the best options and what makes each one a great fit.
1. Bloomerang – The Most User-Friendly Salesforce Alternative
If your nonprofit wants something simple, modern, and built specifically for donor relationships, Bloomerang stands out.
Why nonprofits love Bloomerang
- Clean, intuitive dashboard
- Strong donor retention insights
- Easy email marketing tools
- Built-in fundraising and event management
- Helpful support for smaller teams
- No heavy learning curve
Bloomerang feels like the opposite of Salesforce — simple, warm, and donor-centered. It’s designed to help you understand who your supporters are and keep them engaged.
Best for:
Small to mid-sized nonprofits that want a friendly, lightweight CRM.
2. Neon CRM – Great All-Round CRM for Growing Nonprofits
Neon CRM offers more functionality than Bloomerang but is still much easier to use than Salesforce.
Key features nonprofits value
- Donation forms and recurring giving
- Email automation
- Ticketing & event registration
- Volunteer management
- Membership management
- Integrations with QuickBooks, Zapier, Mailchimp, etc.
Neon strikes a good balance between affordability, power, and simplicity.
Best for:
Organizations looking for one system to manage donors, events, volunteers, and communications.
3. DonorPerfect – A Long-Trusted CRM Used by Thousands of Nonprofits
DonorPerfect is one of the oldest CRMs in the nonprofit world, and it stays relevant because it’s reliable, flexible, and trusted by large and mid-sized orgs.
What makes DonorPerfect appealing
- Strong donor analytics
- Customizable reports
- Integrated online donation forms
- Pledge tracking and recurring giving
- Excellent training resources
It’s more robust than the simpler tools but still much easier than Salesforce.
Best for:
Nonprofits with steady donor volume who want long-term reporting and growth tools.
4. Kindful – Clean, Beautiful CRM (Now Part of Bloomerang)
Kindful has one of the most modern, clean interfaces in the nonprofit world. It integrates beautifully with tools many nonprofits already use.
Best features
- Strong integrations (Mailchimp, Classy, QuickBooks, Stripe)
- Excellent donor tracking
- Easy-to-read dashboards
- Lightweight and intuitive design
It’s especially great for organizations that want a CRM that plugs into their existing systems without complex setups.
Best for:
Teams who want a simple, integration-friendly CRM.
5. EveryAction (Bonterra) – Powerful, Campaign-Focused CRM
EveryAction (now part of Bonterra) is one of the strongest alternatives for nonprofits that focus heavily on:
- organizing
- advocacy
- voter engagement
- campaigns
- large-scale communications
Why nonprofits choose it
- Multi-channel communication tools
- Advocacy and petitions
- Event & volunteer management
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Advanced reporting
It’s more powerful than Salesforce in the advocacy space.
Best for:
Nonprofits involved in outreach, civic engagement, and large-scale organizing.
6. HubSpot for Nonprofits – Free CRM That’s Surprisingly Capable
HubSpot’s free CRM has become popular among nonprofits because it’s simple, clean, and great for communication.
Features nonprofits love
- Free donor database
- Free email marketing tools
- Free forms and landing pages
- Donor pipelines
- Marketing automation (paid tiers)
- Very easy to train teams
HubSpot isn’t built specifically for nonprofits, but its user experience is unmatched.
Best for:
Small nonprofits or those on tight budgets.
7. Little Green Light – The “Small But Mighty” Option
Little Green Light is one of the most budget-friendly CRMs on the market — and nonprofits absolutely adore it.
Why it works so well
- Easy donor tracking
- Event & volunteer tools
- Online donation forms
- Simple interface
- Amazing value for price
It stays out of the way while giving teams exactly what they need.
Best for:
Small nonprofits or first-time CRM users.
Which Salesforce Alternative Should Your Nonprofit Choose?
Here’s a quick guide:
- Prefer simplicity? → Bloomerang or Kindful
- Want a balance of power + usability? → Neon CRM
- Need advanced reports and long-term tracking? → DonorPerfect
- Running advocacy or political organizing? → EveryAction
- Need a free CRM? → HubSpot
- Small budget + small team? → Little Green Light, Pipedrive
The best CRM is the one your team will actually use consistently.
FAQ’s
1. Why should non-profits consider an alternative to Salesforce?
Many non-profit organizations are finding Salesforce to be too complicated and costly after customisation and applications are added. Simpler CRMs are often able to increase the team’s adoption and reduce time.
2. Is there a CRM that is a user-friendly system for non-profits?
Bloomerang as well as Kindful, can be thought to be the most simple to master, especially for teams with a lack of technical experience.
3. What is the best, low-cost non-profit CRM?
Little Green Light and HubSpot’s free CRM are excellent budget-friendly options.
4. Which CRM is the best one for advocacy-based non-profits?
EveryAction is the most powerful platform for grassroots activism campaigns, petitions, and other campaign-style outreach.
5. What should nonprofits look for in a CRM?
Donation tracking, tools for communication and automation, as well as event/volunteer management reporting, and simple onboarding
Final Thoughts
The nonprofit you work for doesn’t require an elaborate enterprise system to establish meaningful relationships with donors. The most efficient Salesforce alternatives are simple, cost-effective, as well as designed with nonprofit workflows in mind. This means you’ll spend more time focusing on your cause and less time trying to figure out software.
Pick a CRM that feels at ease with your team members, is in line with your goals and evolves with you. A good CRM isn’t just software; it’s an integral part of your success.