Nonprofit organisations always look for ways to improve their operations and maximise their impact. Many are turning to digital tools like Salesforce to help them. But budget constraints are always a problem.
This complete guide explores how nonprofits can use Salesforce, its pricing, features, and answers the big question, “Is Salesforce free for nonprofits?” We’ll delve into the available options, potential costs, and strategies to leverage Salesforce’s features effectively, regardless of your budget.
Learn how your organisation can navigate the Salesforce pricing landscape and discover if it can truly be a free solution for your nonprofit.
What is Salesforce for Nonprofits?
It is a powerful, cloud-based CRM platform designed to help organisations manage donor relationships, fundraising, program delivery, and impact tracking more efficiently.
Using AI-driven insights and automation, it offers advanced tools for personalised donor engagement, predictive analytics for fundraising, and seamless integration with nonprofit-specific apps like NGO Connect and Grantmaking.
Nonprofits can better measure outcomes and show their impact to stakeholders through improved data visualisation and real-time reporting.
Why Salesforce for Nonprofit Organisations?
As the leading CRM for Nonprofits, it helps organisations streamline donor management, fundraising, program operations, and impact measurement. With its powerful, AI-driven tools and customisable features, nonprofits can enhance donor engagement, automate workflows, and make data-driven decisions.
Key benefits include:
- Donor & Fundraising Management – Track donations, manage grants, and personalise donor communications.
- Program & Impact Tracking – Measure outcomes, report on success, and demonstrate accountability.
- AI & Automation – Leverage Einstein AI for predictive analytics and smarter fundraising strategies.
- Seamless Integrations – Connect with nonprofit tools like Classy, NGO Connect, and payment processors.
- Affordability – Discounted or free licenses through Salesforce’s Power of Us program.
- Scalability – Adapts to organisations of all sizes, from small charities to large international NGOs.
The Indispensable Role of Digital Transformation for Nonprofit Organisations
These days, digitalisation affects almost everything, and it’s become essential for both businesses and nonprofits. Salesforce found that a remarkable 74% of nonprofits consider digital transformation indispensable.
Technology is crucial for success, according to 76% of nonprofits. This is due to the fact that modern technology platforms significantly increase operational efficiency by offering advantages such as streamlined communication, effective data management, extensive reporting, and automation of routine tasks.
Is Salesforce Free for Nonprofits?
Many nonprofits wonder whether Salesforce is truly free. While not completely free, they can access Salesforce at no cost or with significant discounts through the Power of Us Program and the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP). Let’s explore how this works in practice.
Salesforce Nonprofit Pricing
Power of Us Program:
Eligible nonprofits can receive their first 10 licenses of Nonprofit Cloud (or Sales/Service Cloud) absolutely free through the Power of Us Program. By acquiring these licenses through a pro bono arrangement, nonprofits can achieve significant financial savings. Considering that a single Salesforce Enterprise License can cost more than $150 per user per month, the financial benefits of the program are substantial.
Nonprofit Success Pack:
The Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) is a free and open-source solution that is built on the Salesforce platform. It gives nonprofits special tools for donor management, fundraising, and program tracking – everything a nonprofit needs.
Additional Licenses:
When your organisation needs more than 10 licenses, you can add more users at a much lower price (usually 80% off the normal price). This makes it affordable to expand your Salesforce use as your nonprofit grows.
What's Included (and What's Not) in Free Access?
The free offering includes:
- 10 full-featured Nonprofit Cloud licenses
- Access to NPSP’s nonprofit-specific tools
- 30-day free trial to test the platform before committing
However, some premium features require additional investment:
- Extra licenses beyond the initial 10 (though at discounted rates)
- Advanced functionality like Marketing Cloud or Grants Management
- Implementation services for customisation and setup
With 10 free licenses, discounted upgrades, and specialised NPSP features, Salesforce is one of the most budget-friendly enterprise CRM solutions for nonprofits, no matter their size.
Getting Started with Your Nonprofit CRM
1. Secure Your Free Licenses
Apply for the Power of Us Program:
- Visit Salesforce.org
- Submit proof of nonprofit status (IRS determination letter).
- Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits receive 10 free licenses (Nonprofit Cloud or Sales/Service Cloud).
- Approval typically takes 2-4 weeks (start with a 30-day trial while waiting).
2. Master the Basics
Learn Key Terminologies:
- NPSP (Nonprofit Success Pack): Tailored tools for donor management, campaigns, and outcomes.
- Objects: Contacts, Accounts, Opportunities (donations).
- Relationships: Track connections between donors/programs.
Free Training:
Use Trailhead (Salesforce’s interactive learning platform) for courses like “Understand the NPSP Data Model.”
Also read: What is Salesforce Trailhead?
3. Configure Your System
Set Up Your Account
- Use the emailed link to access login.salesforce.com
- Replace the temporary password
- Configure basic security settings
Install NPSP:
- Go to Setup > App Manager and install the Nonprofit Success Pack.
- Enable features like:
- Household Accounts (for donor families).
- Actionable Relationship Centre (ARC) (visualise connections).
- Outcome Management (track program impact).
Customise for Your Needs:
- Set up Grantmaking (for foundations) or Case Management (social services).
- Import data (donor lists, past donations) via Data Loader.
Also read: What is Dataloader?
4. Leverage Nonprofit Cloud Features
Explore Built-in Tools:
- Fundraising: Track donations and campaigns.
- Program Management: Monitor service delivery.
- Volunteer Tracking: Integrate with tools like V4S or VolunteerHub.
5. Grow with Advanced Resources
Scale Up:
- Add discounted licenses (80% off commercial pricing).
- Adopt Marketing Cloud (email campaigns) or Grants Management.
Get Support:
- Join the Power of Us Hub (free community forum).
- Hire a Salesforce nonprofit consultant for complex setups.
Discount Structure for Eligible Nonprofits
- After 10 free licenses, get 80% off additional subscriptions
- NPSP available at $36/user/month (annual billing)
- Traditional philanthropy vs. digital transformation: These discounts allow nonprofits to access enterprise-grade CRM tools that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive
Resources for Nonprofit Salesforce Professionals
For nonprofit staff, volunteers, consultants, and developers working with Salesforce, staying current with the evolving ecosystem requires leveraging the right resources.
Learning Nonprofit Cloud
- Nonprofit Cloud Recommendation Map – The learning journey begins with Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud Recommendation Map, which provides curated learning paths incorporating Trailhead modules, documentation, and implementation guides, offering a structured approach to mastering the platform.
- Official Documentation Hub – All official help documentation is now organised in dedicated portals for both Nonprofit Cloud and NPSP.
- The Trailhead – This learning platform remains invaluable, though users should watch for the yellow disclaimer boxes that clarify whether content applies to Nonprofit Cloud or NPSP, as the naming can sometimes cause confusion.
Trailhead Tips: Users should note that any content published before March 2023 referencing “Nonprofit Cloud” likely pertains to legacy systems and may be outdated.
Community Support
- For community support, professionals should join the Nonprofit Cloud Trailblazer Group for peer discussions and problem-solving.
- Sprinty’s Community Resources offers a crowd-sourced library of over 100 nonprofit-specific Salesforce tools and solutions.
Certifications for Specialisation
- Certification paths continue to evolve alongside the platform. The Nonprofit Cloud Consultant certification remains the primary credential, though it currently focuses on NPSP rather than the new Nonprofit Cloud architecture.
- With the integration of OmniStudio into Nonprofit Cloud, the OmniStudio Consultant certification has become unexpectedly relevant for nonprofit professionals.
- The new Data Cloud Consultant credential serves those working with larger organisations implementing data-intensive solutions.
- The recently introduced AI Associate certification represents the cutting edge of Salesforce’s capabilities that nonprofits may soon leverage.
Also read: A complete guide on Salesforce Data Cloud consultant certification and Salesforce AI Associate certification.
Conclusion
Salesforce for Nonprofits in 2025 remains a powerful, budget-friendly CRM solution. With 10 free licenses, access to the Nonprofit Success Pack, and deep discounts through the Power of Us Program, nonprofits can streamline operations, enhance donor engagement, and measure impact more effectively.
It’s a smart investment in digital transformation that helps organisations do more with less.
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