Free Tools for Nonprofits — That Work for Your Business Too

🧭 Build-Along Update

Still no word from the IRS on our 501(c)(3) — but that’s expected.
They’re currently processing applications submitted before May 8th, and ours went in June 2nd.

We're continuing to build the nonprofit holdco and record every step.
(Next issue, you’ll get our full Form 1023-EZ mission language and strategy breakdown.)

But today — let’s talk tools.

Not theory. Not fluff.
Just real, useful, business-saving software that’s free or heavily discounted for nonprofits.

💸 Why This Matters

Your new nonprofit structure isn’t just about tax advantages or liability protection.
It’s about smarter systems.

And nonprofits — especially IRS-approved 501(c)(3) orgs — get access to tools your for-profit competition still pays full price for (if they can afford it at all).

Here’s a real-world list of high-value tools your nonprofit holding company can use to:

• Operate leaner

• Automate smarter

• Communicate faster

• And save thousands per year

Let’s go.

🧰 8 Free or Discounted Tools for Nonprofits (and Why They Matter)

1. TechSoup.org

💡 The backbone of nonprofit tech deals

• Discounted access to: Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, DocuSign, QuickBooks, Canva Pro, and more

• Requires a 501(c)(3) letter and account setup

• Some offers are 100% free; others have small admin fees

👉 techsoup.org

2. Google for Nonprofits

💡 Game-changer if your nonprofit uses Google Workspace or YouTube

• Free Gmail/Workspace account with your .org domain

• $10,000/month in free Google Ad Grants (yes, for search ads)

• Access to the YouTube Nonprofit Program (video tools, donation cards)

👉 google.com/nonprofits

3. Slack for Nonprofits

💡 Free Pro plan for team chat and collaboration

• Internal team or board communication

• Organize channels for programs, governance, partners, and more

• Great alternative to email overload

👉 slack.com/help/articles/204368833

4. Airtable for Nonprofits

💡 Free Pro-level Airtable for data, forms, workflows, and CRM

• Track donors, programs, partnerships, workflows

• Visual automations and calendar tracking

• Unlimited collaborators with the nonprofit plan

👉 airtable.com/nonprofits

5. Miro for Nonprofits

💡 Free team whiteboard for strategy, planning, or training

• Mind maps, onboarding flows, SOPs

• Real-time remote team planning

• Useful for education-focused programming

👉 miro.com/nonprofits

6. Zoom for Nonprofits

💡 Discounts through TechSoup — sometimes 50–70% off

• Great for trainings, webinars, or board meetings

• Unlocks full enterprise features

👉 Access through TechSoup Zoom Offers

7. Mailchimp for Nonprofits

💡 Free credits and discounted tiers for 501(c)(3) orgs

• Run separate email campaigns to partners, programs, etc.

• Good for segmenting your nonprofit’s "program" brand vs business activities

👉 mailchimp.com/help/mailchimp-discounts-for-nonprofits/

8. Canva Pro for Nonprofits

💡 Full Canva Pro — for free

• Create brand kits, proposal decks, social media posts

• Collaborate on branded materials

• Great for making pitch decks, compliance visuals, or mission-aligned graphics

👉 canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits

💭 What This Means for You

You don’t need to beg for funding or chase donors.
Your nonprofit can operate like a lean tech startup — if you use the tools already available to you.

And most of these tools don’t care if you’re an education-based nonprofit that happens to own for-profit assets (like a franchise, agency, or consulting business).
They care that you’re IRS-approved.

Once you are, it’s open season on these tools — and your business runs lighter, smarter, and more affordably than your competitors.

👀 Coming Up in Issue #10

We’re finally getting into IRS mission strategy.
You’ll see exactly how we wrote our 1023-EZ purpose section and mission statement — and how to make it bulletproof and IRS-ready.

We’ll also break down:

• Why your mission shouldn’t sound “corporate”

• How to future-proof your programming

• And how to write a public benefit that still supports your core business