36 Useful Apps and Online Tools for Nonprofits Rectangle

The number of low-cost or free apps and online tools available to nonprofits today is astounding. Provided you set aside the time to explore and experiment, your nonprofit can use the apps and tools listed below to significantly improve your web, email, social media, and visual content.

Social Media Tools

1. Blab :: blab.im

Connected to Twitter, Blab enables real-time video conversations from multiple locations. Nonprofits can use Blab for interviews, discussions, and live workshops and then share replays after the live event is over.

2. Buffer :: buffer.com

Buffer enables social media managers to schedule posts on social networks throughout the day and evening. It’s analytics tools will also evaluate your posts to deduce the best possible times to share your content.

3. Latergramme :: latergram.me

Latergramme enables social media managers to format and schedule Instagram posts in a desktop app and then be sent notifications to their smartphone that enable easy posting to Instagram.

4. Periscope :: iTunes/GooglePlay

Periscope is a mobile app connected to Twitter that enables nonprofits to easily broadcast live from special events or while on location.

5. RiteTag :: ritetag.com

RiteTag allows you to track in real-time the performance of your campaign hashtags. Their dashboard shows you how many people are using your hashtag on Twitter and Instagram and enables you to track trending hashtags.

Graphic Design Tools

6. Canva :: canva.com

Canva’s drag-and-drop features and professional layouts enable users to easily design stunning graphics and documents.

7. Creatives Without Borders :: creativeswithoutborders.org

Creatives Without Borders connects nonprofits in need of graphic and web design skills with creatives that are willing to do the work pro bono for a good cause and increased exposure.

8. Pablo :: buffer.com/pablo

Pablo by Buffer enables social media managers to easily create inspirational quote and powerful stat images perfectly sized for social media.

9. Piktochart :: piktochart.com

Piktochart is an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop infographic design tool that allows hi-res image and PDF exports.

10. Relay :: relaythat.com

Relay is a web-based graphic design tool for beginners that enables one-click redesign for multiple image sizes as well as scheduling to social media and analytics.

Photo Editing Tools

11. Adobe Creative Cloud Photography :: adobe.com/creativecloud

For advanced for photo editing, the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan provides users access to numerous Adobe photo editing tools, such as Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

12. Giphy GIF Maker :: giphy.com/gifmaker

Giphy GIF Maker enables users to easily create animated video GIFs and GIF slideshows with captions.

13. Layout :: iTunes/GooglePlay

Layout from Instagram is a mobile app that lets you combine multiple photos into a single image that can be saved to your camera roll and shared on Instagram and other social networks.

14. PicMonkey :: picmonkey.com

PicMonkey is an easy-to-use photo editing platform that enables nonprofits to embed text upon photos, apply watermarks, and create photo collages through a simple drag-and-drop process.

Video Editing Tools

15. Replay :: replayapp.com

Replay for iOS enables users to easily edit video clips, add text, and insert music and photos from your camera roll in order to create well-designed, modern video content ideal for social media.

16. Upload’n’Roll :: iTunes

Upload’n’Roll allows you to upload images or videos saved on your camera roll to Snapchat. Apply filters, write messages, enhance images, draw, and then add to your nonprofit’s Snapchat Story.

17. VivaVideo Pro :: Google Play

VivaVideo Pro is a powerful video editor that enables easy trimming and merging of video clips and photos into video stories that can be accentuated with music, stickers, filters, and subtitles.

18. WeVideo :: wevideo.com

WeVideo is an easy-to-use, cloud-based video editing platform with an advanced suite of creative tools such as animation, color keying, voice over, and clip transformation.

Web & Email Content Tools

19. BrainyQuote :: brainyquote.com

BrainyQuote is a directory of inspirational quotes which can be useful for web, email, and social media content.

20. Get Emoji :: getemoji.com

Using emoji on social media can increase engagement and when used in email subject lines, it can increase open rates. Get Emoji enables you to easy copy and paste emoji.

21. HTML Tutorial :: w3schools.com

Knowing basic HTML is a must-have skill for online marketers. Tools like WordPress(website and blog content) and MailChimp (email marketing) are much easier to work with if users understand the premise of HTML and can make simple edits to WordPress or MailChimp generated HTML code.

22. HTML Editor :: html.am

Once you know the basics of HTML, you can either write the code from scratch or use a HTML editor to easily generate HTML for tables, images, and formatted text.

23. Iconfinder :: iconfinder.com

Iconfinder is an online database of almost one million icons and many of the social media icons sets are available to download for free.

24. Internet Archive Wayback Machine :: archive.org/web

The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is an online library of almost 500 billion screenshots of websites since 1996. Nonprofits can use it to study past versions of their website and to monitor their progress in web design over time.

25. iStock :: istock.com

iStock by Getty Images has high quality, royalty-free visual content for a low cost. Dreamstime and Shutterstock are also recommended. For 100% free photos, see Viralsweep.

26. Mapme :: mapme.com

Mapme is a web-based platform for creating, sharing, and embedding online maps. Nonprofits can use the service to visualize organizational and campaign data geographically.

27. OptInMonster :: optinmonster.com

OptInMonster is a service that allows users to create floating bar and pop-up email opt-in forms for their website. The service provides analytics, A/B testing, and mobile compatibility.

28. SnapWidget :: snapwidget.com

SnapWidget allows you to display your Instagram photos in collage format on your website or blog.

29. Statista :: statista.com

Statista is a searchable portal to multiple statistics databases worldwide. Like inspirational quotes, stats can be useful for web, email, and social media content.

30. Thesaurus.com :: thesaurus.com

When writing web and email content, Thesaurus.com allows you to quickly search for synonyms for words that you use too often. It’s an essential tool for web and email content writers.

31. WiseStamp :: wisestamp.com

WiseStamp allows you to create HTML-based email signatures for your nonprofit. However, if you decide to use this service, pay for it because the free service requires WiseStamp branding. Also, don’t go overboard! Keep your email signatures modern and simple.

Productivity Tools

32. Board Director :: boarddirector.co

Board Director is a service that enables nonprofits to easily manage and communicate with their board members while organizing board documents in one place.

33. Dulingo :: duolingo.com

Dulingo provides access to free online language learning tools. For nonprofit social media managers that work internationally, Dulingo’s design and gamification make it fun to learn the basics of a new language.

34. LastPass :: lastpass.com

LastPass is a service that allows you to create and save passwords for multiple websites thus enabling secure easy login and password management.

35. Noisli :: noisli.com

Noisli is a background noise and color generator that can help you focus while working and brings to you the healthy benefits of the chromotherapy.

36. Paper :: iTunes

Paper is a mobile app for organizing notes, photos, and sketches. You can easily create checklists, spotlight details in photos, and draw diagrams.