ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d focus on Brevo and MailerLite rather than choosing solely on brand recognition.

The important wrinkle is that MailerLite changed its free plan in June 2026, reducing the allowance to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails while adding more design features. MailerLite MailerLite

My practical choice

If you have ≤250 active donors: I'd lean toward MailerLite for its combination of easy-to-use designs, landing pages/forms, and nonprofit discount when you eventually need to pay. MailerLite MailerLite

If you have hundreds or thousands of contacts but send relatively infrequently: Brevo is particularly attractive because the free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts, although you're limited to 300 email sends per day. Brevo Help Brevo Help

For deliverability, don't assume the platform alone determines inbox placement. Use your nonprofit's own domain and authenticate it with DKIM/DMARC; Brevo specifically identifies domain authentication and sender reputation as important to deliverability. Brevo Help Brevo Help

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the most economical setup.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d focus on MailerLite and Brevo rather than assuming the biggest-name platform is best.

Recent 2026 comparisons report MailerLite's free tier at roughly 1,000 contacts and 12,000 monthly emails, while Brevo's free tier allows unlimited stored contacts but limits sending to 300 emails/day. Capterra EmailToolScout

My practical choice

If you have fewer than ~1,000 donors/subscribers: I'd start with MailerLite. Its templates and drag-and-drop editor are particularly well suited to impact stories, appeals, event announcements, and newsletters, and the free allowance gives a small organization some breathing room. Capterra

If you have a much larger donor database: look closely at Brevo. Because its free plan doesn't impose the same contact-storage ceiling, it can be economical when you have many supporters but don't email all of them frequently. The 300/day sending limit is the main constraint. Capterra VettedSaaS

One important caveat: deliverability isn't primarily determined by the platform. Maintaining permission-based lists, removing inactive addresses, authenticating your sending domain (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), and avoiding spammy fundraising practices can matter more than small differences between reputable providers.

*Free-plan limits and nonprofit discounts change frequently, so I'd verify the vendor's current terms before migrating your donor list. Some 2026 comparisons conflict on the exact limits, which is another reason to check the provider directly. blog.groupmail.io Capterra

If you tell me roughly how many donor emails you have and how often you send, I can narrow this to the most economical option for your specific situation.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put Sender and Brevo at the top of the list, with MailerLite as another strong option.

Sender specifically markets its platform to nonprofits and currently advertises 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/month, responsive templates, automation, segmentation, and a 25% nonprofit discount. Sender

My recommendation

Try Sender first. For a nonprofit with limited funds, its combination of a relatively generous free allowance, donor-oriented positioning, templates, and automation is hard to beat. Sender

Choose Brevo instead if you have a very large donor/contact database but don't email everyone frequently. Its free model is based heavily on sending volume rather than the number of contacts, making it attractive for large lists. Capterra MailToolFinder

One important caveat: deliverability isn't determined by the platform alone. Maintaining permission-based lists, authenticating your domain (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), removing inactive addresses, and avoiding spammy fundraising language will matter enormously.

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you send, I can narrow this down to the cheapest option that should work well for you.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d shortlist Brevo and MailerLite, with Brevo getting the edge if your donor list is already fairly large.

Brevo's free plan is genuinely free and includes the drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, and basic reporting. The major catch is the 300-email-per-day ceiling, which can make a large fundraising appeal inconvenient. Brevo Help Brevo Help

MailerLite is probably my first choice for a small nonprofit because its templates and editor are particularly well suited to attractive newsletters, impact updates, and fundraising appeals. Independent 2026 comparisons also put it among the strongest free nonprofit options. Capterra MailToolFinder

I'd put Mailchimp third specifically because its free plan has become much more restrictive: the current free tier caps you at 250 contacts. It does, however, offer a 15% nonprofit discount if you eventually need to upgrade. Mailchimp Mailchimp

One important deliverability point

Don't choose solely on the platform's reputation. Your own sending practices and domain authentication matter enormously. For example, Brevo recommends using a professional domain email address and authenticating your domain; these are important for inbox placement with Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc. Brevo Help

My pick: If you have under 1,000 active donors/subscribers and want beautiful fundraising emails, start with MailerLite. If you have several thousand contacts but send relatively infrequently, choose Brevo.

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you email them, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option and compare the free-tier limits for your situation.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d start with MailerLite.

• MailerLite — best overall: Its free tier is reported to cover up to 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month, with polished templates and an easy drag-and-drop editor. It also has a nonprofit discount if you later need to upgrade. Capterra SaaS Compare
• Brevo — best for a larger donor list: The free plan allows unlimited contacts, but limits sending to 300 emails/day. That makes it attractive if you have many donors but send relatively infrequently. Capterra
• Mailchimp — best for integrations: It's very familiar and has a strong template/integration ecosystem, but its free-plan limits and pricing structure are less attractive as your donor list grows. Capterra GrowthTech Spotlight
• Givebutter — worth considering if fundraising is central: It combines fundraising, donor management, and email rather than making you connect separate systems; its core fundraising features are free. Givebutter

My pick

MailerLite is the strongest fit if your priorities are $0 cost + attractive donor emails + straightforward use + room to grow.

For deliverability, though, the platform itself isn't the whole story. Use a verified sending domain, authenticate SPF/DKIM, only email people who opted in, remove inactive/bounced addresses, and avoid purchased lists. Those practices can matter more than choosing between two reputable providers.

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the cheapest/best option for your specific situation.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put Brevo at the top of your shortlist right now.

My recommendation

Brevo is particularly attractive if your donor list is growing but your email volume is modest:

• Free plan: up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends/day. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Templates: drag-and-drop editor, reusable templates, and pre-designed layouts—useful for newsletters, appeals, thank-yous, and event announcements. Brevo Help
• Deliverability: Brevo provides domain-authentication and deliverability guidance; importantly, your own domain and proper authentication matter substantially more than the platform name itself. Brevo Help
• Downside: the free emails carry Brevo branding, and 300/day can become restrictive during a major fundraising campaign. Brevo Help

How I'd compare the main options

One important 2026 change: Mailchimp's current free plan is only 250 contacts/500 sends per month, although verified nonprofits can receive a 15% discount on paid plans. Mailchimp Mailchimp

Bottom line: If you have more than a few hundred donors and need to stay genuinely free, choose Brevo. If your list is tiny and your priority is having the best-looking, easiest donor newsletter templates, Mailchimp is worth considering despite its much tighter free limits.

For deliverability, whichever platform you choose, I'd prioritize using your nonprofit's own domain, authenticating it (SPF/DKIM), keeping bounced/unengaged addresses cleaned up, and only emailing people who have opted in. Brevo Help

brevo.com
mailchimp.com

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put Brevo at the top of the shortlist, with MailerLite as the strongest alternative.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo's current free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, with a drag-and-drop editor, reusable sections, custom templates, and basic reporting. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The catch is the 300 emails/day limit. If you have 2,000 donors, for example, a single campaign can't reach everyone on the same day without manually requeuing it. Brevo Help

For deliverability, the platform emphasizes using your organization's own domain and authenticating it—important for getting donor communications into inboxes rather than spam. Brevo Help

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

If your list is relatively small and the quality of the donor-facing templates matters most, MailerLite is arguably the better fit. Current comparisons put its free tier around 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month, with particularly strong template quality. Capterra

What about Mailchimp?

It's still a very safe, familiar choice and has a strong template ecosystem. Mailchimp also currently advertises a 15% nonprofit discount on its paid plans. Mailchimp Mailchimp However, its free-plan limits make it less attractive if your donor list is growing.

Bottom line:

• Under ~1,000 donors + beautiful newsletters: MailerLite
• Several thousand+ contacts + essentially $0 budget: Brevo
• You value familiarity/integrations over maximum free capacity: Mailchimp

One important caveat: no platform can guarantee inbox placement. For a nonprofit, domain authentication (SPF/DKIM), permission-based lists, low bounce rates, and removing inactive addresses will matter at least as much as the platform itself. Brevo Help

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email, I can narrow this to one choice.

For deliverability, the platform emphasizes using your organization's own domain and authenticating it—important for getting donor communications into inboxes rather than spam. Brevo Help

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

If your list is relatively small and the quality of the donor-facing templates matters most, MailerLite is arguably the better fit. Current comparisons put its free tier around 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month, with particularly strong template quality.

What about Mailchimp?

It's still a very safe, familiar choice and has a strong template ecosystem. Mailchimp also currently advertises a 15% nonprofit discount on its paid plans. However, its free-plan limits make it less attractive if your donor list is growing.

Bottom line:

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize deliverability reputation, easy donor-focused templates, segmentation (donors vs. volunteers vs. supporters), and a free tier that won’t force you to upgrade immediately. These are the strongest options:

My recommendation by situation

• Small nonprofit (under ~1,000 subscribers): Start with MailerLite. It has the best balance of attractive templates, ease of use, and nonprofit-oriented features. MailerLite
• Growing donor list but tight budget: Consider Brevo because the contact model can be more affordable for larger lists. Capterra
• Need maximum compatibility with other nonprofit tools: Choose Mailchimp because many fundraising and event platforms integrate with it. Fullstaxx
• Want email tied directly to donations and donor records: Look at Zeffy or a donor CRM with email built in. Zeffy

To improve deliverability regardless of platform

• Send only to people who opted in.
• Remove inactive addresses every few months.
• Use a real “From” name (for example, “Maria at ABC Foundation” instead of “No Reply”).
• Avoid sending only donation asks—mix in impact stories, updates, volunteer wins, and thank-yous.
• Set up your organization’s email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) if possible.

If you tell me your approximate donor list size (e.g., 500, 5,000, 50,000) and whether you need donation tracking or just newsletters, I can narrow this to one best choice.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put Brevo and MailerLite at the top of the list.

Current comparisons consistently put Brevo and MailerLite among the strongest free options for nonprofits. Capterra Mailercloud

My recommendation

Choose MailerLite if you have fewer than ~1,000 donors/supporters and your priority is making attractive, warm fundraising emails without much technical work. Its templates and drag-and-drop editor are particularly well suited to newsletters, impact stories, event announcements, and donation appeals. Capterra

Choose Brevo if you have a larger database but don't email everyone constantly. Its free plan doesn't impose the same contact ceiling, although the 300-email-per-day limit means a large campaign may need to be staggered. Capterra

I wouldn't choose based solely on claimed "deliverability rates." List hygiene, authentication (SPF/DKIM), engagement, and avoiding spammy fundraising language generally matter more than small differences between reputable email platforms.

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email them, I can recommend the best one and give you a no-cost setup strategy.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d choose Brevo first, with Mailchimp as the better alternative if you have a very small donor list.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo is particularly attractive because its free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, rather than imposing a small subscriber cap. It also includes a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, and basic reporting. Brevo Help Brevo Help

That makes it a good fit if your nonprofit has, say, 1,000–10,000 supporters but sends only occasional newsletters or appeals.

It also has pre-designed templates and a no-code editor, so you can create donor updates, newsletters, event announcements, and appeals without a designer. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The catch: 300 emails/day can be restrictive for a large fundraising appeal, and the free version puts Brevo branding on your emails. Brevo Help

When I'd choose Mailchimp instead

Mailchimp has a particularly polished ecosystem of templates and is arguably easier for a volunteer or small communications team to learn.

However, its current free plan is much more restrictive: 250 contacts and 500 sends/month. Mailchimp Mailchimp On the plus side, verified nonprofits can receive a 15% discount on paid plans. Mailchimp

Bottom line

One important caveat: no platform can guarantee deliverability just because you use it. Use an email address on your nonprofit's own domain and authenticate that domain (SPF/DKIM); this is important for inbox placement with Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft. Brevo Help Brevo Help

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how many emails you send per month, I can tell you which free plan is likely to work best—and whether there's an even better nonprofit-specific option.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put MailerLite and Sender at the top of the list, with Brevo as another strong option.

Current comparisons put MailerLite particularly high for small nonprofits because of its combination of templates, generous free allowance, and nonprofit discount when you eventually need to upgrade. Capterra SaaS Scored

My recommendation: MailerLite

I'd choose MailerLite if your primary goals are reliable inbox delivery + attractive donor communications without spending money. Its free tier currently accommodates up to 1,000 contacts and 12,000 monthly emails, and its templates are particularly well suited to newsletters and fundraising appeals. Capterra

Sender is worth considering if your list is growing faster: its nonprofit offering advertises 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month for free, plus responsive templates and automation. Sender

One important caveat: deliverability isn't determined solely by the platform. Your nonprofit should authenticate its domain with SPF/DKIM (and ideally DMARC), send only to opted-in supporters, remove inactive addresses periodically, and avoid sending donor appeals from a generic free email address.

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email them, I can recommend the best free option specifically for your organization.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize three things: inbox deliverability, easy donor-focused templates, and a free plan that won’t force you to upgrade immediately. The best fit depends on your list size and how often you email. Capterra Zeffy

Capterra Zeffy### My recommendation by situation

• Under ~1,000 donors/subscribers: Start with MailerLite. It offers polished templates that work well for newsletters, impact updates, event invitations, and donation appeals. Capterra
• Several thousand contacts but limited budget: Consider Brevo because its pricing model is often friendlier for large lists that do not email every day. Capterra
• A small team with little technical experience: Mailchimp is still a safe choice because many volunteers and staff already know it, and it has a large ecosystem. Fullstaxx
• You want email tied directly to fundraising: Look at Givebutter or another donor-management platform so donor history and communications live together. Givebutter

For better donor inbox placement (regardless of platform)

• Use a nonprofit-owned email domain (for example, name@yourorganization.org).
• Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication.
• Avoid buying email lists; send only to people who opted in.
• Keep your list clean by removing bounced or inactive addresses.
• Send consistent updates rather than only asking for donations.

If I were choosing for a small nonprofit starting today, I’d test MailerLite first, with Brevo as the backup if your donor list grows quickly. Capterra

If you share your approximate number of contacts (e.g., 500, 5,000, 20,000) and whether you need donation receipts/CRM integration, I can narrow it down.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize deliverability, ease of use, donor-focused design, and how long the free plan will last as your list grows. No free platform can guarantee inbox placement (that also depends on your domain reputation, sending practices, and donor engagement), but these are strong options:

Capterra Givebutter### My recommendation by nonprofit size

• Under ~1,000 supporters: Start with MailerLite. It’s a good balance of professional-looking donor newsletters, templates, and simplicity. Capterra
• Several thousand contacts but few emails per month: Consider Brevo because its pricing model is often friendlier to large contact lists. Capterra
• You need lots of integrations (forms, events, CRMs): Choose Mailchimp for its ecosystem and familiarity. Fullstaxx
• You want email tied directly to donations and donor records: Look at Givebutter or another nonprofit-focused CRM approach. Givebutter

To improve donor email deliverability (regardless of platform)

• Send from a nonprofit-owned domain (for example, hello@yourorg.org rather than a free Gmail address).
• Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Remove inactive subscribers periodically instead of repeatedly emailing people who never open.
• Use recognizable sender names (e.g., “Jane at Community Food Project” rather than just “Newsletter”).
• Keep fundraising emails donor-centered: show impact first, then make the ask.

If I were choosing for a small nonprofit starting today, I’d shortlist MailerLite for newsletters + appeals or Givebutter if you also need donor tracking and fundraising pages. Capterra Givebutter

For a budget-conscious nonprofit, I’d put Brevo at the top of the free-tier shortlist right now.

My recommendation

brevo.com — Best if your priority is keeping costs at $0 while your donor list grows.

• Free: up to 100,000 stored contacts, with 300 email sends/day. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Templates: drag-and-drop editor, reusable templates, and pre-designed layouts—good for newsletters, appeals, event invitations, and donor updates. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Deliverability: Brevo provides domain authentication (DKIM/DMARC) and deliverability guidance. More importantly, using your organization's own domain and authenticating it is critical to inbox placement. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Main drawback: the 300/day limit means a 1,000-person donor newsletter can't go out to everyone on the same day on the free plan, and free emails carry Brevo branding. Brevo Help

What about Mailchimp?

mailchimp.com is probably the easiest choice for polished nonprofit fundraising campaigns and has strong deliverability infrastructure. It also offers verified nonprofits a 15% discount on paid plans. Mailchimp Mailchimp

However, its current free-plan economics make Brevo more attractive if minimizing recurring cost is your overriding concern. Mailchimp's pricing/free limits have changed, so I'd check the current plan before migrating a substantial donor list. Mailchimp

Bottom line:

• Under ~300 sends/day: Brevo — my free pick.
• You need especially polished fundraising templates/easier nonprofit workflows: Mailchimp.
• Your list is 1,000+ donors and you regularly email everyone: I'd compare paid nonprofit pricing before choosing, because Brevo's 300/day ceiling becomes inconvenient.

One important point: the platform alone doesn't guarantee deliverability. Authenticate your nonprofit's domain, send only to opted-in donors, keep inactive addresses cleaned up, and send consistently. Those factors have a major impact on inbox placement. Brevo Help

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize inbox deliverability, ease of use, donor-focused templates, and how quickly costs rise as your list grows. The best choice depends on your donor list size and whether you need a full fundraising CRM or just email newsletters.

Here are the strongest free or nearly free options:

My recommendation by situation

• Under ~1,000 subscribers and you want beautiful donor newsletters:

→ MailerLite is probably the best fit. It gives a small nonprofit a professional look without much training. Capterra

• You have a growing donor list but send only a few campaigns per month:

→ Brevo can be more cost-efficient because of its sending-based model. Capterra

• You mainly send fundraising appeals, thank-yous, and donor updates:

→ Consider Zeffy or Givebutter so email is closer to your donor records. Zeffy Givebutter

• Your team has volunteers who already know email marketing tools:

→ Mailchimp remains a safe, familiar option, though watch list growth. Capterra

To improve deliverability regardless of platform

• Send from a nonprofit-owned domain (for example, name@yourorganization.org).
• Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Avoid buying email lists; permission-based lists perform much better.
• Segment donors (monthly donors, volunteers, first-time donors, inactive supporters).
• Keep a consistent sending schedule.

If I were choosing for a small nonprofit with limited staff and budget, I’d start with MailerLite for newsletters or Zeffy/Givebutter if donor tracking and fundraising are central. Capterra Zeffy Givebutter

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d shortlist MailerLite, Brevo, and Mailchimp. Current 2026 comparisons put MailerLite and Brevo particularly high for free nonprofit use. Capterra Givebutter

My pick: MailerLite

I'd choose MailerLite if your priority is professional-looking donor appeals without spending money. Its free tier is unusually generous, its drag-and-drop templates are well suited to newsletters and fundraising appeals, and it offers a nonprofit discount if you eventually need to upgrade. Capterra

Brevo is the better choice if you already have a large donor database but don't send very frequently: its free plan reportedly allows unlimited contacts, although you're limited to 300 emails per day. Capterra

One important caveat: no platform can guarantee inbox placement. For donor communications, authenticate your nonprofit's domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, only email people who opted in, and regularly remove inactive/bounced addresses. Those practices generally matter more than choosing between two reputable providers.

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you send, I can recommend the cheapest option and compare the exact free-plan limits.

For a nonprofit with a tight budget, I’d choose mailerlite.com first, with brevo.com as the strongest alternative.

My pick: MailerLite

• Good deliverability: MailerLite emphasizes inbox placement and reports strong deliverability performance. MailerLite
• Donor-friendly design: Its drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, landing pages, and automation are well suited to donation appeals, newsletters, event invitations, and impact updates. MailerLite
• Free plan: As of June 2026, the free tier allows 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. MailerLite MailerLite
• Nonprofit discount: If you eventually need to upgrade, verified nonprofits receive 30% off paid plans. MailerLite

One important catch: MailerLite changed its free plan in 2026. Pre-designed campaign templates are now a paid feature, although the free plan still has the drag-and-drop editor and other design tools. MailerLite MailerLite

When I'd choose Brevo instead

brevo.com is particularly attractive if your donor list is already larger than 250 people. Its free plan permits unlimited contacts and 300 email sends per day, plus custom templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and basic automation. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The downside is the 300-emails-per-day ceiling. A 1,000-person year-end appeal, for example, would need to be spread across multiple days. Brevo Help

Quick decision

One thing matters more than the platform for deliverability: send from your organization's own domain and authenticate it (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), rather than sending from a Gmail/Yahoo address. This is increasingly important for Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft inboxes. Brevo Help Brevo Help

Bottom line: If you have ≤250 active donors, I'd start with MailerLite. If you have 250–10,000+ contacts, I'd seriously consider Brevo because its free plan doesn't impose a contact cap.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d shortlist Brevo and MailerLite, with Mailchimp as the “polished but less generous” option.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo is probably the best free choice if donor-list growth is your biggest concern. Its current free plan allows unlimited contacts and 300 email sends per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, and basic analytics. Brevo Help Brevo Help

That 300/day limit means a 1,000-person donor newsletter would have to be sent/requeued over multiple days, so it's less convenient for large simultaneous appeals.

If your list is under 250: MailerLite

I'd actually choose MailerLite if you have fewer than 250 active donors/subscribers and care most about beautiful, donor-friendly communications. Its free plan currently includes 2,500 monthly emails, three automations, forms, a landing page, and two users. MailerLite MailerLite

It also offers a 30% nonprofit discount on paid plans, which is useful once you outgrow the free tier. MailerLite

One important deliverability point

No platform can guarantee that donor emails reach the inbox. Your domain setup and list hygiene matter enormously. In particular, authenticate your nonprofit's domain (SPF/DKIM and, where appropriate, DMARC), send from a domain-based organizational address rather than Gmail/Yahoo, and only email people who have legitimately opted in. Brevo specifically recommends using a professional domain and authenticating it for deliverability. Brevo Help

Bottom line:

• <250 donors: MailerLite
• 250+ donors: Brevo
• Want the most familiar/easy-to-hand-off platform: Mailchimp
• Want genuinely free email at nonprofit scale: I'd also investigate nonprofit-specific platforms rather than assuming the big marketing platforms are cheapest.

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how often you send, I can recommend the cheapest option and estimate when you'd hit the free-plan limits.

Brevo is probably the best free choice if donor-list growth is your biggest concern. Its current free plan allows unlimited contacts and 300 email sends per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, and basic analytics. Brevo Help Brevo Help

That 300/day limit means a 1,000-person donor newsletter would have to be sent/requeued over multiple days, so it's less convenient for large simultaneous appeals.

If your list is under 250: MailerLite

I'd actually choose MailerLite if you have fewer than 250 active donors/subscribers and care most about beautiful, donor-friendly communications. Its free plan currently includes 2,500 monthly emails, three automations, forms, a landing page, and two users. mailerlite.com mailerlite.com

It also offers a 30% nonprofit discount on paid plans, which is useful once you outgrow the free tier.

One important deliverability point

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d shortlist Brevo and MailerLite, with Mailchimp as the easiest familiar option.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo's free plan is unusually useful for a cash-strapped nonprofit: it allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, with a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, segmentation/automation features, and analytics. Brevo Help Brevo Help

Its deliverability setup also supports SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication, bounce/suppression management, and reputation monitoring. Brevo Brevo Help

The catch: 300/day means a 2,000-person donor appeal can't all go out at once on the free plan, and free emails carry Brevo branding. Brevo Help

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

If your list is under ~1,000 people and presentation matters most, MailerLite is arguably the better fit. Its templates are particularly well suited to attractive newsletters, impact stories, event announcements, and donation appeals. A recent nonprofit comparison also rated it highly for small organizations and noted its nonprofit discount when you eventually move to paid service. Capterra

One important deliverability tip

Whichever platform you choose, use an email address on your nonprofit's own domain and authenticate it with SPF/DKIM/DMARC. Platform quality alone can't compensate for poor sender authentication or an unengaged/unclean donor list. Brevo Help

Bottom line:

• ≤1,000 donors + beautiful newsletters: MailerLite
• Growing donor list + essentially no budget: Brevo
• Want the most familiar/easy ecosystem: Mailchimp; it currently offers a 15% nonprofit discount on paid plans. Mailchimp Mailchimp

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how many emails you send per month, I can recommend the cheapest option that won't box you in later.

Brevo's free plan is unusually useful for a cash-strapped nonprofit: it allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, with a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, segmentation/automation features, and analytics. Brevo Help Brevo Help

Its deliverability setup also supports SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication, bounce/suppression management, and reputation monitoring. brevo.com Brevo Help

The catch: 300/day means a 2,000-person donor appeal can't all go out at once on the free plan, and free emails carry Brevo branding. Brevo Help

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

If your list is under ~1,000 people and presentation matters most, MailerLite is arguably the better fit. Its templates are particularly well suited to attractive newsletters, impact stories, event announcements, and donation appeals. A recent nonprofit comparison also rated it highly for small organizations and noted its nonprofit discount when you eventually move to paid service.

One important deliverability tip

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d shortlist Brevo and MailerLite, with Mailchimp as the easiest mainstream option.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo is probably the best fit if your donor list is already larger than a few hundred people. Its free plan currently allows up to 100,000 contacts and 300 email sends per day, with a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, basic analytics, and automation features. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The catch is the 300/day sending limit. A 2,000-person fundraising appeal, for example, would have to be staggered over several days. Brevo Help

Best for beautiful donor communications: MailerLite

MailerLite has particularly approachable newsletter design and templates. However, its free plan changed substantially in June 2026: it's now 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. MailerLite MailerLite

That's quite restrictive for a nonprofit, although MailerLite offers 30% off paid plans for verified nonprofits, which makes it worth considering if you expect to grow. MailerLite

Where Mailchimp fits

Mailchimp remains a very easy choice for volunteers and small teams, particularly if you need integrations with other nonprofit/donor tools. It also offers 15% off paid plans for verified nonprofits. Mailchimp Mailchimp

Bottom line: If you have more than ~250 donors/subscribers and truly need $0/month, I'd choose Brevo. If you have a very small list and care most about polished, easy-to-create newsletters, I'd choose MailerLite. If your priority is simplicity and integrations, choose Mailchimp.

One important caveat: no platform can guarantee inbox placement. For donor deliverability, your permission-based list, authentication (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), low bounce rate, and avoiding purchased lists matter enormously.

If you tell me roughly how many donor/subscriber emails you have and how often you send appeals, I can narrow this to one choice and estimate when you'd hit the free-plan limits.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d choose Brevo first.

Why Brevo: its current free plan allows unlimited contacts and 300 emails per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, automation, and basic reporting. Brevo Help Brevo Help That makes it particularly attractive if you have lots of donors but send relatively small campaigns—for example, a weekly newsletter or occasional fundraising appeal.

For deliverability, the platform matters, but your sending practices matter just as much: authenticate your domain (SPF/DKIM), only email people who opted in, keep inactive addresses clean, and avoid suddenly sending to your entire historical donor database. Brevo itself highlights current Gmail/Yahoo sender requirements in its campaign guidance. Brevo Help

What I'd pick

1. Brevo — best fit for your situation.
Especially good if your donor list is already several hundred or several thousand people and you need to stay at $0.

2. MailerLite — best alternative.
I'd favor it if having especially attractive, easy-to-build newsletters is more important than maximizing the number of contacts on the free tier.

3. Mailchimp — easiest mainstream choice, but less compelling now.
Its current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 email sends, although verified nonprofits can receive a 15% discount on paid plans. mailchimp.com mailchimp.com

Bottom line: If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how many emails you send per month, I can tell you which free tier will actually cost you $0 and which is likely to become expensive first.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d shortlist Brevo and MailerLite, with Mailchimp as the easiest familiar option.

My recommendation: Brevo

If your list is growing but your cash budget is essentially $0, Brevo has an unusually useful free structure: you can store up to 100,000 contacts, although you're limited to 300 email sends per day. Its free plan includes a drag-and-drop editor, reusable sections, custom templates and analytics. Brevo Help Brevo Help

For donor communications, that makes it particularly attractive if you send relatively small newsletters, thank-you campaigns, event announcements, and occasional appeals rather than blasting thousands of donors simultaneously.

Brevo also provides tools for domain authentication—including SPF, DKIM and DMARC—which are important for protecting deliverability. Brevo Help

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

Choose MailerLite if your priority is beautiful, easy-to-build donor newsletters and you have fewer than about 1,000 subscribers. Current nonprofit comparisons consistently highlight its template quality and generous free tier. Capterra

And Mailchimp?

It's still a very solid choice if your volunteers already know it or you need its broad ecosystem of integrations. Importantly, Mailchimp currently says verified nonprofits and charities can receive a 15% discount on marketing plans. Mailchimp

Bottom line:

• $0 budget + growing donor list → Brevo
• Best-looking newsletters → MailerLite
• Easiest/familiar ecosystem → Mailchimp

One important caveat: no platform can guarantee inbox placement. Your sending practices—using your own authenticated domain, keeping bounced/unengaged addresses clean, obtaining donor consent, and avoiding spammy fundraising language—matter enormously for deliverability. Brevo Help

If your list is growing but your cash budget is essentially $0, Brevo has an unusually useful free structure: you can store up to 100,000 contacts, although you're limited to 300 email sends per day. Its free plan includes a drag-and-drop editor, reusable sections, custom templates and analytics. help.brevo.com help.brevo.com

For donor communications, that makes it particularly attractive if you send relatively small newsletters, thank-you campaigns, event announcements, and occasional appeals rather than blasting thousands of donors simultaneously.

Brevo also provides tools for domain authentication—including SPF, DKIM and DMARC—which are important for protecting deliverability.

When I'd choose MailerLite instead

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize deliverability, easy donor communication, and a free tier that won’t force you to upgrade too quickly. The best choices are usually:

My recommendation by nonprofit situation

• Under ~1,000 donors/supporters: Start with MailerLite. It tends to be the best balance of professional-looking donor emails, simplicity, and cost. Capterra
• A larger list but only occasional newsletters: Consider Brevo because contact storage and send-based pricing can be more economical as your list grows. Capterra
• You need lots of integrations (CRM, events, forms): Mailchimp is often the easiest ecosystem to plug into, though costs can rise as your audience grows. Fullstaxx
• You send frequent fundraising campaigns and want generous free limits: Look at Sender as a budget-focused alternative. Sender

A few deliverability practices matter more than the platform:

• Use your nonprofit’s domain email (for example, name@yourorganization.org) rather than a free Gmail/Yahoo sender address.
• Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Keep your donor list clean by removing hard bounces and inactive addresses.
• Avoid sending every donor the exact same message—segment new donors, recurring donors, volunteers, and event attendees.

For a typical small nonprofit starting from scratch, I’d choose MailerLite first, Brevo if the list is growing quickly, and Mailchimp if your team values familiarity and integrations most. Capterra Fullstaxx

If you tell me your approximate donor list size (e.g., 500, 5,000, 20,000) and whether you send monthly newsletters or fundraising appeals, I can narrow it down.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d shortlist MailerLite and Brevo, with MailerLite as my first choice if your donor list is under ~1,000 people.

Current 2026 comparisons put MailerLite at roughly 1,000 contacts and 12,000 monthly sends on its free tier, while Brevo allows unlimited stored contacts but limits free sending to 300 emails/day. Capterra VettedSaaS

My recommendation: MailerLite

I'd choose MailerLite if you have a small-to-medium donor list. Its main advantages are:

• Good-looking, mobile-friendly templates that work well for impact stories, donation appeals, event announcements, and newsletters.
• Generous free allowance for a small nonprofit.
• Easy drag-and-drop editing, so volunteers don't need much technical training.
• Room for basic segmentation and donor communications.
• It reportedly offers a nonprofit discount once you need a paid plan, making the transition less painful. Capterra Mailercloud

For deliverability, don't choose based solely on a vendor's claimed percentage. Your own practices—authenticated domain, permission-based lists, low bounce rates, and removing inactive addresses—matter enormously.

When I'd choose Brevo instead

Choose Brevo if you have more than 1,000 donors/subscribers but don't email them very frequently. Its free tier's unlimited contact storage is particularly attractive for nonprofits, although the 300-email-per-day ceiling can make a large fundraising blast inconvenient. Capterra VettedSaaS

Bottom line:
<1,000 contacts → MailerLite.
Large list + occasional emails → Brevo.
Need lots of integrations and don't mind potentially outgrowing the free tier → Mailchimp.

One important caveat: free-plan limits and nonprofit pricing have changed substantially during 2026, so I'd verify the vendor's current terms before migrating your donor list. Donorbox

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you send (e.g., 500 donors, 2 emails/month), I can recommend the cheapest option and the exact setup I'd use for donor deliverability.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize deliverability, ease of use, donor-focused templates, and how long you can stay on the free plan. The best fit depends on your list size and how often you email. www.capterra.com

www.capterra.com

My recommendation for most small nonprofits: start with MailerLite. It tends to offer the best balance of:

• professional-looking fundraising/newsletter templates
• easy drag-and-drop editing for volunteers or small teams
• donor segmentation (e.g., monthly donors vs. event attendees)
• automation for welcome emails and donor follow-ups

www.mailerlite.com

A few deliverability practices matter more than the platform:

1. Use a verified sending domain (your nonprofit’s website domain if possible).
2. Only email people who opted in.
3. Remove inactive addresses periodically.
4. Avoid sending only donation asks—mix in impact stories, updates, and gratitude.
5. Keep donation links and calls-to-action clear and mobile-friendly.

If your nonprofit has under ~1,000 subscribers, I’d compare MailerLite vs. Mailchimp first. If you have several thousand donors but limited budget, I’d look closely at Brevo. www.capterra.com

If you tell me your approximate donor list size (e.g., 300, 2,000, 10,000+) and whether you send weekly/monthly appeals, I can narrow it down.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put MailerLite first, with Brevo as the best alternative if your donor list is large.

My pick: MailerLite

MailerLite is particularly compelling for nonprofits because its free plan includes campaigns, automations, landing pages, signup forms, A/B testing and a drag-and-drop editor. Its nonprofit program also gives qualifying organizations 30% off paid plans once you outgrow the free tier. MailerLite MailerLite MailerLite

One important catch: the current free plan is limited to 250 active subscribers. Also, its pre-made campaign templates are now a paid feature after the 14-day trial, although you can still build emails with the editors. MailerLite MailerLite

mailerlite.com

When I'd choose Brevo instead

If you have more than 250 donors, Brevo's free plan is much more generous on contacts: it allows up to 100,000 contacts, with 300 email sends per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor and custom/reusable templates. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The downside is the 300-per-day sending cap. For example, a 1,500-person donor newsletter would have to be spread over multiple days, which isn't ideal for a time-sensitive fundraising appeal. Brevo Help

brevo.com

For deliverability

I'd prioritize authenticated sending (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), a clean opt-in donor list, low bounce rates, and avoiding purchased lists over small differences in platform reputation. Those practices matter enormously for getting fundraising emails into inboxes.

Bottom line:

• ≤250 donors: MailerLite is my choice.
• 250–several thousand donors: Brevo is more practical while you're staying free.
• Growing nonprofit: MailerLite becomes especially attractive because of its 30% nonprofit discount when you need to upgrade. MailerLite

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the best free option for your specific situation.

MailerLite is particularly compelling for nonprofits because its free plan includes campaigns, automations, landing pages, signup forms, A/B testing and a drag-and-drop editor. Its nonprofit program also gives qualifying organizations 30% off paid plans once you outgrow the free tier. MailerLite MailerLite MailerLite

One important catch: the current free plan is limited to 250 active subscribers. Also, its pre-made campaign templates are now a paid feature after the 14-day trial, although you can still build emails with the editors. MailerLite MailerLite

mailerlite.com

When I'd choose Brevo instead

If you have more than 250 donors, Brevo's free plan is much more generous on contacts: it allows up to 100,000 contacts, with 300 email sends per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor and custom/reusable templates. help.brevo.com help.brevo.com

The downside is the 300-per-day sending cap. For example, a 1,500-person donor newsletter would have to be spread over multiple days, which isn't ideal for a time-sensitive fundraising appeal. help.brevo.com

brevo.com

For deliverability

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize deliverability reputation, simple donor-focused templates, list growth limits, and ease of use over advanced marketing features. The best free choice depends on your donor list size and how often you email. Capterra

Best free options for nonprofits

Capterra GrowthTech Spotlight## My recommendation by nonprofit size

• Under ~1,000 donors/supporters: Start with MailerLite. It tends to offer the best balance of attractive donor templates and enough free capacity for a small organization. Capterra
• Several thousand contacts but limited budget: Consider Brevo because its free structure is less focused on charging for every stored contact. Capterra
• You need lots of integrations (donation forms, event tools, CRMs): Mailchimp may be worth the familiarity, even if you eventually outgrow the free tier. Fullstaxx

For better donor email deliverability, whichever platform you choose:

• Use your nonprofit’s own domain email (for example, name@yourorganization.org) rather than a free Gmail/Yahoo address.
• Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
• Send consistently (a monthly newsletter is better than disappearing for six months and then sending a huge appeal).
• Remove inactive subscribers periodically.
• Segment donors: new donors, recurring donors, volunteers, and event attendees should not all receive identical messages.

For many small nonprofits, a practical starting setup is:

1. MailerLite for newsletters and donor updates.
2. A separate donation platform or donor CRM.
3. A simple monthly impact email plus occasional fundraising campaigns.

If you share your approximate number of contacts (e.g., 500, 5,000, 20,000) and whether you mainly send newsletters or fundraising appeals, I can narrow this down further.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d shortlist these three:

My pick: Brevo

Brevo's free plan is probably the strongest fit if your nonprofit has more than a few hundred donors/subscribers. It allows 300 sends per day and stores up to 100,000 contacts, while including a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, and basic analytics. help.brevo.comwww.brevo.commailchimp.com

For deliverability, Brevo says its infrastructure supports SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication, bounce handling, suppression lists, and reputation monitoring. www.brevo.com That doesn't guarantee inbox placement—your list hygiene, authentication, engagement, and sending practices matter enormously—but the platform has the fundamentals I'd want for donor communications.

When I'd choose the others

MailerLite is attractive if you're under 250 active subscribers. Its free plan gives you 2,500 monthly emails and two users, but the free tier was changed in 2026 and now has more limited access to pre-made templates. www.mailerlite.com It does offer nonprofits 30% off paid plans, which makes it worth considering once you outgrow free. www.mailerlite.com

Mailchimp has an excellent template library—more than 130 templates—and is particularly polished for newsletters and fundraising communications. mailchimp.com But its current free plan is capped at 250 contacts, making it less attractive if your donor list is already sizable. It does offer verified nonprofits a 15% discount on paid plans. mailchimp.com

Bottom line:

• <250 donors: MailerLite if simplicity matters; Mailchimp if templates matter most.
• 250–several thousand donors: Brevo.
• Large list + very limited budget: Brevo is particularly compelling because its free tier's contact-storage limit is much higher, though the 300/day sending ceiling can still matter for a large campaign. help.brevo.com

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you email them (e.g., 1,000 donors × 2 newsletters/month), I can calculate which free tier will actually work without hitting sending limits.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put Brevo at the top of the list right now.

Why Brevo: Its current free plan is genuinely $0, supports unlimited stored contacts, and includes a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, and reporting. The main catch is the 300-email-per-day sending limit. help.brevo.com

MailerLite would normally be a strong recommendation for nonprofits because of its clean templates and usability, but its free plan was changed in June 2026 to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, with the new limits being enforced from August 13. www.mailerlite.com

What I'd choose

• Under ~250 donors: MailerLite is worth considering if beautiful, simple fundraising emails are your priority.
• 250+ donors: Brevo is more compelling because you aren't forced to pay simply because your donor database grows.
• Large list + occasional appeals: Brevo is particularly attractive because its pricing is based more on sending volume than contact storage. www.mailerlite.comwww.capterra.com
• If you need a donor CRM, donation processing, and email together: I'd look beyond traditional email platforms; a nonprofit-specific system can sometimes eliminate several separate tools.

One important caveat: deliverability isn't determined just by the platform. Authenticate your nonprofit's sending domain with SPF/DKIM (and ideally DMARC), don't upload purchased lists, regularly remove inactive addresses, and keep donor emails useful rather than overly promotional. Those practices can matter more than whether you choose Brevo or MailerLite.

If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email them (e.g. 500 donors, 2 newsletters + 3 appeals/month), I can recommend the cheapest option and estimate when you'd hit its limits.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put MailerLite at the top of the list, with Brevo as the best alternative.

Current comparisons consistently highlight MailerLite's combination of a generous free tier, polished templates, and strong deliverability. www.capterra.com

My recommendation: MailerLite

For a typical small nonprofit sending monthly newsletters, donor updates, event invitations, and fundraising appeals, MailerLite is probably the sweet spot.

Why:

• Generous free allowance: roughly 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month in current comparisons. www.capterra.com
• Good-looking templates: particularly useful when you don't have a designer.
• Easy drag-and-drop editor: volunteers or staff can produce professional donor communications without much training.
• Strong deliverability reputation: more important than having dozens of fancy marketing features.
• Nonprofit pricing: current sources report a nonprofit discount on paid plans, so there's a reasonable path forward if your list grows. www.capterra.com

When I'd choose Brevo instead

Choose Brevo if you have a large donor/contact database but don't email everyone very often. Its free model is unusually favorable for storing lots of contacts, but the 300-email-per-day sending limit can be a major problem for a large simultaneous fundraising appeal. www.capterra.com

One important caveat about deliverability

No platform can guarantee that donor emails reach the inbox. Your nonprofit's sender reputation, authentication (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), list hygiene, engagement, and avoiding purchased lists matter enormously.

So if I were choosing for a cash-strapped nonprofit:

1. MailerLite — best overall
2. Brevo — best for a large list with modest sending volume
3. Mailchimp — best if integrations/familiarity matter more than maximizing the free tier

I would not choose solely based on the number of free contacts; a platform with beautiful donor templates and good deliverability is worth more than a technically larger free allowance.

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the best free option for your specific situation.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d choose MailerLite first, with Sender as a strong alternative.

\*Free-plan limits have changed recently, so check the provider before committing.

My pick: MailerLite

MailerLite for nonprofits is particularly attractive because it explicitly supports nonprofits, offers customizable templates and automation, and provides a 30% nonprofit discount when you eventually need to upgrade. www.mailerlite.com

One important catch: MailerLite changed its free plan in June 2026. It now allows 250 active subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails, rather than the much larger limits you'll still see on some comparison sites. www.mailerlite.com

If fundraising templates are the priority: Sender

Sender's nonprofit offering is worth a serious look. It specifically advertises 100+ free templates, including donation appeals and supporter newsletters, plus segmentation, A/B testing, and campaign analytics. It also offers a 25% nonprofit discount on paid plans. www.sender.net

If you have a big donor list: Brevo

Brevo has a fundamentally different free-plan structure: you can store a very large number of contacts, but you're limited to 300 emails per day. It supports drag-and-drop templates and SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication, which are important for deliverability. www.brevo.com

Bottom line:

• Under ~250 donors: MailerLite
• Want the best fundraising-specific templates: Sender
• Thousands of contacts but relatively small daily sends: Brevo
• Want the most familiar interface: Mailchimp

One caveat: no platform can guarantee inbox placement. For a nonprofit, proper domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), permission-based lists, removing inactive addresses, and consistent sending habits matter at least as much as which platform you choose.

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you send, I can narrow this to the cheapest option that won't force you to upgrade unexpectedly.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put Brevo at the top of the list if you need a genuinely free platform.

Brevo's current free plan includes 300 sends per day, a drag-and-drop editor, custom templates, reusable sections, analytics, and up to 100,000 stored contacts. It also explicitly supports SPF, DKIM and DMARC and automated bounce/suppression handling—important for deliverability. help.brevo.com

My recommendation

Choose Brevo if your priority is $0 cost + dependable delivery + professional donor emails. The biggest catch is the 300-email-per-day ceiling; a 2,000-person donor newsletter would require sending over multiple days or upgrading. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com

If your list is relatively small and design quality is more important than maximum free volume, I'd also seriously consider MailerLite. Independent 2026 comparisons specifically highlight it as one of the strongest free options for nonprofits, including its template/editor experience. www.capterra.com

Mailchimp is no longer my first choice for a nonprofit with very limited funds. It remains capable and offers verified nonprofits a 15% discount, but its free-plan restrictions and contact-based pricing make it less attractive as your donor list grows. mailchimp.com

One important point: the platform alone doesn't guarantee inbox placement. For donor emails, make sure your nonprofit's sending domain has SPF, DKIM and DMARC configured, use a confirmed/permission-based list, and regularly remove bounced or chronically inactive addresses.

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you email them (e.g., 500 donors monthly vs. 5,000 weekly), I can narrow this to the best free option for your specific situation.

For a nonprofit with very limited funds, I’d put MailerLite at the top of the list—especially if your donor list is under about 1,000 people.

My recommendation: MailerLite

MailerLite is particularly attractive because it has nonprofit-specific pricing: 30% off paid plans, so you have a relatively gentle path when you outgrow the free tier. It also emphasizes customizable newsletter templates and automation specifically for nonprofits. www.mailerlite.com

For donor communications, I'd favor its clean, mobile-friendly templates over something that looks overly commercial. You can build newsletters around impact stories, donor updates, event announcements, and calls to action without needing a designer.

MailerLite nonprofit plans

When I'd choose Brevo instead

If you have, say, 3,000–10,000 donors but only email them once or twice a month, Brevo may actually be the better zero-dollar choice. Its free plan currently allows up to 100,000 contacts, but limits sending to 300 emails per day. That means a 5,000-person newsletter would have to be spread over multiple days. help.brevo.commailchimp.com

Brevo also provides a drag-and-drop editor and responsive email templates. Its published deliverability infrastructure includes SPF/DKIM/DMARC support, bounce handling, suppression management, and reputation monitoring. www.brevo.com

Brevo email marketing

One important caveat about deliverability

No platform can guarantee that your donor emails reach the inbox. Your sending practices matter enormously: authenticate your domain with SPF/DKIM/DMARC, only email people who opted in, remove bounced/unengaged addresses, and avoid buying donor lists.

Bottom line:

• ≤1,000 donors: MailerLite — my first choice.
• Several thousand donors + occasional newsletters: Brevo.
• You already depend heavily on Mailchimp integrations: consider Mailchimp, but its current free tier is considerably less attractive than it used to be. Mailchimp's own current documentation shows its free tier at 250 contacts/500 sends, so I wouldn't choose it purely for the free plan. mailchimp.com

If you tell me roughly how many donors you have and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the cheapest option for your actual situation.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put MailerLite at the top of the list.

Why I'd choose MailerLite

• Its free plan currently supports up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus automations, signup forms, landing pages, A/B testing, and reporting. www.mailerlite.com
• It has templates specifically suited to nonprofits, including fundraising appeals, donation thank-yous, impact reports, and monthly-donor communications. www.mailerlite.com
• MailerLite emphasizes deliverability and says its platform has received strong independent deliverability ratings. www.mailerlite.com
• If you outgrow the free tier, verified nonprofits receive 30% off paid plans, which makes the transition less painful. www.mailerlite.com

One important caveat: 250 subscribers is a fairly tight free-plan limit. If your donor/supporter list is already several hundred or more, I'd look at Brevo before committing.

My recommendation: start with MailerLite if you're under 250 active subscribers and want polished donor communications without spending anything. If you tell me roughly how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email them, I can narrow it down to the best free option for your specific situation.

For a nonprofit with limited funds, I’d prioritize inbox deliverability, ease of creating donor appeals, and how long the free plan will remain useful. The best choice depends mostly on your donor list size and sending habits. www.capterra.com

My practical picks:

• Under ~1,000 donors: MailerLite is probably the strongest balance of polished donor emails + low cost. www.capterra.com
• Several thousand donors but limited sending needs: Brevo can be more economical because the model is less focused on charging by stored contacts. www.capterra.comdonorbox.org
• You run frequent fundraising campaigns and want donor-specific features: Givebutter is worth considering. givebutter.com
• You have volunteers who need something familiar: Mailchimp remains a safe starting point. www.capterra.com

A few deliverability practices matter more than the platform:

1. Send from your nonprofit’s own domain (for example, updates@yourorg.org), not a free Gmail/Yahoo address.
2. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication.
3. Keep your donor list clean by removing bounces and inactive addresses.
4. Avoid sending every donor the same generic appeal—segment by supporters, volunteers, recurring donors, and event attendees.

For a small nonprofit starting from scratch, I would usually start with MailerLite or Brevo, then move only when your fundraising workflow requires a more specialized CRM. www.capterra.com

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d shortlist MailerLite, Brevo, and Mailchimp—but my first choice would be MailerLite if your list is under roughly 1,000 people.

Current 2026 comparisons consistently put MailerLite and Brevo among the strongest free options for nonprofits. MailerLite is particularly attractive because its free tier gives you considerably more monthly sending capacity, while Brevo's unlimited-contact model is better if your donor database is large but you don't email everyone at once. www.capterra.com

My recommendation: MailerLite

I'd choose MailerLite if you're sending things like:

• monthly donor updates
• fundraising appeals
• event invitations
• volunteer newsletters
• impact stories with a donation button

Its templates and drag-and-drop editor are well suited to a small team that doesn't have a designer, and the free allowance is generous enough for many small organizations. www.capterra.com

One caveat: free-plan limits and nonprofit discounts are changing frequently in 2026, so I'd verify the vendor's current terms before migrating your list.

If you tell me approximately how many donors/subscribers you have and how often you email them, I can narrow this to the cheapest/best option for your specific nonprofit.

For a cash-strapped nonprofit, I’d put Brevo at the top of the list if you need a genuinely free platform with a growing donor list.

My recommendation: Brevo

Brevo offers a free plan with up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, plus a drag-and-drop editor, reusable templates, and basic reporting. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com

That makes it particularly attractive if you have, say, 1,000–10,000 donors but only send a newsletter or appeal periodically. The catch is the 300-send daily limit and Brevo branding on the free plan. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com

How I'd compare the main options

Mailchimp currently advertises 130+ email templates and a 15% nonprofit discount on paid plans. mailchimp.com

One important deliverability point

The platform itself isn't the whole story. For donor emails, use an address on your nonprofit's own domain (e.g., hello@yournonprofit.org) and authenticate the domain with SPF/DKIM. This is important for inbox placement with Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft. help.brevo.com

Bottom line: If you're sending to more than a few hundred donors, I'd choose Brevo for the free tier. If your list is small and you care more about having the most polished, recognizable newsletter templates, Mailchimp is worth considering—especially if you can use its nonprofit discount.

For a nonprofit with a tight budget, I’d choose Brevo right now.

Brevo's free plan is genuinely free with no time limit, includes custom templates and a drag-and-drop editor, and allows up to 100,000 contacts. The main drawback is the 300-email-per-day ceiling. help.brevo.com

For deliverability, the platform matters, but your setup matters just as much. Brevo specifically recommends using your nonprofit's own domain and authenticating it; sending from a generic Gmail/Yahoo address can hurt inbox placement. help.brevo.com

Why I wouldn't automatically pick Mailchimp: its free plan is now limited to fewer than 250 contacts, although nonprofits can get a 15% discount on paid plans. mailchimp.com

My recommendation

Start with Brevo if you have more than ~250 donors/subscribers or expect the list to grow. It's particularly good for a nonprofit that sends occasional newsletters, donation appeals, event announcements, and impact stories.

For donor emails, I'd keep templates simple: organization logo → compelling photo → short impact story → one prominent donation/volunteer CTA → social/contact footer. Simple, mobile-friendly emails generally serve fundraising better than overly elaborate designs.

If you tell me roughly how many donors are on your list and how many emails you send per month, I can narrow this down to the best free option for your specific nonprofit.