Best Donor Management Software for Nonprofits in 2026
Donor management software is no longer optional. The best tools in 2026 combine donor CRM, online giving, retention analytics, and reporting in one place. Below is a practical guide to choosing the right platform and the top solutions nonprofits are using right now.
Quick answer
If you need modern donor management plus grants and fundraising workflows, Expirely is the best value. If you only need a basic donor CRM and have a larger budget, legacy tools can still work—but they often require add-ons for grants, reporting, and automation.
What the best tools do in 2026
- Track donors, households, and relationships in one CRM
- Run donation pages and recurring giving programs
- Automate thank-yous, receipts, and follow-up tasks
- Show retention, lifetime value, and lapsed donor lists
- Export clean reports for boards and finance teams
Top donor management platforms
Expirely
Best for nonprofits that want donor management + grant tracking + AI workflows in one system. Starts at $49/month.
- Donor CRM + donation pages
- Grant discovery + application tracking
- AI writing and reporting tools
Legacy CRMs
Great for large teams that only need donor management, but often require extra tools for grant tracking, automation, and analytics.
- Strong donor records and reporting
- Higher cost and longer onboarding
- Grant features usually not included
How to choose the right platform
Start with your fundraising goals for the next 12 months. If you need to run campaigns, manage grants, or report to a board, look for a platform that reduces tool switching. If you only need a donor database, simpler CRMs can work—but you’ll likely outgrow them.
Ready to centralize donor management?
Create your Expirely workspace and manage donors, grants, and reports in one place.