Quick Overview
- 1#1: NationBuilder - Comprehensive platform for nonprofits to build websites, manage supporters, send emails, and run grassroots advocacy campaigns.
- 2#2: Action Network - Free open-source tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, sending emails, and hosting events for advocacy organizing.
- 3#3: EveryAction - Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling fundraising, advocacy, digital organizing, and voter contact in one platform.
- 4#4: Salsa - Digital engagement platform with CRM, email marketing, online fundraising, and advocacy tools for activist organizations.
- 5#5: Mobilize - Event and volunteer management platform designed for advocacy groups to recruit, organize, and activate supporters at scale.
- 6#6: Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud - Powerful CRM with advocacy modules for program management, constituent engagement, and impact tracking for large nonprofits.
- 7#7: CiviCRM - Open-source CRM offering contact management, event registration, email campaigns, and advocacy workflows for nonprofits.
- 8#8: Blackbaud Luminate - Enterprise suite for online advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, and digital engagement tailored to nonprofit missions.
- 9#9: NeonCRM - Cloud-based CRM with built-in advocacy tools for donor management, email advocacy, petitions, and reporting.
- 10#10: Engaging Networks - Platform for creating advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and donation forms to drive supporter action and growth.
We evaluated these tools based on their ability to integrate core advocacy functions (e.g., petition building, campaign management, supporter engagement), ease of use, feature depth, and overall value for mission-driven organizations, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of advocacy teams.
Comparison Table
Navigating nonprofit advocacy software can be complex, but this table simplifies the process by comparing top tools like NationBuilder, Action Network, EveryAction, Salsa, and Mobilize. Readers will discover each platform’s unique strengths, pricing models, and key features to choose the right fit for their organizational needs, from mobilization to donor engagement.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NationBuilder Comprehensive platform for nonprofits to build websites, manage supporters, send emails, and run grassroots advocacy campaigns. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 2 | Action Network Free open-source tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, sending emails, and hosting events for advocacy organizing. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.7/10 |
| 3 | EveryAction Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling fundraising, advocacy, digital organizing, and voter contact in one platform. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Salsa Digital engagement platform with CRM, email marketing, online fundraising, and advocacy tools for activist organizations. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 5 | Mobilize Event and volunteer management platform designed for advocacy groups to recruit, organize, and activate supporters at scale. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 6 | Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Powerful CRM with advocacy modules for program management, constituent engagement, and impact tracking for large nonprofits. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 7 | CiviCRM Open-source CRM offering contact management, event registration, email campaigns, and advocacy workflows for nonprofits. | other | 7.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 5.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | Blackbaud Luminate Enterprise suite for online advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, and digital engagement tailored to nonprofit missions. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.9/10 | 6.5/10 |
| 9 | NeonCRM Cloud-based CRM with built-in advocacy tools for donor management, email advocacy, petitions, and reporting. | specialized | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 10 | Engaging Networks Platform for creating advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and donation forms to drive supporter action and growth. | specialized | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
Comprehensive platform for nonprofits to build websites, manage supporters, send emails, and run grassroots advocacy campaigns.
Free open-source tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, sending emails, and hosting events for advocacy organizing.
Integrated CRM for nonprofits handling fundraising, advocacy, digital organizing, and voter contact in one platform.
Digital engagement platform with CRM, email marketing, online fundraising, and advocacy tools for activist organizations.
Event and volunteer management platform designed for advocacy groups to recruit, organize, and activate supporters at scale.
Powerful CRM with advocacy modules for program management, constituent engagement, and impact tracking for large nonprofits.
Open-source CRM offering contact management, event registration, email campaigns, and advocacy workflows for nonprofits.
Enterprise suite for online advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, and digital engagement tailored to nonprofit missions.
Cloud-based CRM with built-in advocacy tools for donor management, email advocacy, petitions, and reporting.
Platform for creating advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and donation forms to drive supporter action and growth.
NationBuilder
specializedComprehensive platform for nonprofits to build websites, manage supporters, send emails, and run grassroots advocacy campaigns.
Unified people database that dynamically powers personalized websites, emails, petitions, and actions across all advocacy tools
NationBuilder is a comprehensive all-in-one platform tailored for nonprofits, advocacy groups, and political campaigns, enabling them to build professional websites, manage supporter databases, and execute advocacy campaigns. It excels in grassroots mobilization with tools for creating petitions, email/SMS broadcasting, event organizing, and targeted actions like calls to legislators. At its core is a powerful CRM that integrates seamlessly with advocacy features, fundraising, and community engagement to help organizations grow and activate their base effectively.
Pros
- All-in-one integration of CRM, website builder, advocacy tools, and fundraising
- Powerful broadcasting and petition features for rapid grassroots mobilization
- Robust supporter segmentation and personalization for targeted advocacy campaigns
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Pricing scales quickly with supporter database size
- Design customization often requires coding knowledge
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits and advocacy organizations needing an integrated platform for supporter management, digital advocacy, and community building.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for up to 250 people in database, scaling to $579/month for 50,000 people; enterprise plans available for larger needs.
Action Network
specializedFree open-source tool for creating petitions, mobilizing supporters, sending emails, and hosting events for advocacy organizing.
Integrated grassroots fundraising directly tied to advocacy actions like petitions and events
Action Network is an all-in-one digital organizing platform tailored for nonprofits and advocacy groups, enabling the creation of petitions, email campaigns, online events, and fundraisers. It excels in grassroots mobilization with tools for peer-to-peer texting, volunteer management, and supporter engagement. The platform emphasizes compliance, data security, and scalability for progressive and nonprofit causes.
Pros
- Exceptional value with donation-based pricing model that's free for small organizations
- Comprehensive advocacy tools including petitions, emails, texting, and events in one platform
- Strong focus on data privacy and compliance for nonprofit use
Cons
- Interface feels somewhat dated compared to modern SaaS tools
- Advanced analytics and reporting are less robust than enterprise competitors
- Primarily geared toward US-based organizations with limited international compliance features
Best For
Small to mid-sized nonprofits and advocacy groups focused on grassroots digital campaigns and mobilization on a budget.
Pricing
Donation-supported: free for lists under 10,000 contacts and low volume; suggested tiers from $29/month scaling with sends and features.
EveryAction
enterpriseIntegrated CRM for nonprofits handling fundraising, advocacy, digital organizing, and voter contact in one platform.
Distributed Action Network for scalable, trackable grassroots campaigns with real-time volunteer management
EveryAction is a comprehensive digital platform built for nonprofits, integrating CRM, fundraising, advocacy, and communications into one system. It excels in advocacy through tools like petitions, legislative letter-writing, phone/text banking, and volunteer mobilization. Designed primarily for progressive organizations, it supports data-driven campaigns with strong segmentation and reporting capabilities.
Pros
- Robust advocacy tools including petitions, calls to legislators, and distributed actions
- Seamless integration with fundraising and CRM for unified supporter data
- Powerful mobilization features like predictive dialers and text broadcasting
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features and customization
- Pricing is opaque and can be expensive for smaller organizations
- Interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
Best For
Mid-sized to large advocacy nonprofits needing an all-in-one platform for grassroots organizing and integrated fundraising.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $500-$1,000/month based on contacts, actions, and features.
Salsa
specializedDigital engagement platform with CRM, email marketing, online fundraising, and advocacy tools for activist organizations.
Grassroots advocacy hub with mobile-optimized actions and real-time legislative tracking
Salsa is an all-in-one digital platform tailored for nonprofits, specializing in advocacy, fundraising, and supporter engagement tools. It enables organizations to launch petitions, send legislative alerts, mobilize grassroots actions via email/SMS, and track advocacy impact through integrated CRM and reporting. The platform also supports online donations, events, and peer-to-peer campaigns, making it a robust solution for driving policy change and revenue.
Pros
- Comprehensive advocacy suite with petitions, calls-to-action, and legislative tracking
- Seamless integration of advocacy with fundraising and CRM
- Strong analytics and reporting for campaign performance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Pricing can be high for small nonprofits
- Interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
Mid-sized nonprofits seeking an integrated platform for advocacy campaigns and fundraising.
Pricing
Starts at ~$125/month for basic email/advocacy; scales to $500+/month for full CRM/fundraising suites based on contacts and volume; custom quotes for enterprises.
Mobilize
specializedEvent and volunteer management platform designed for advocacy groups to recruit, organize, and activate supporters at scale.
Distributed event hosting, allowing supporters to create and manage their own branded events
Mobilize (mobilize.us) is a grassroots organizing platform tailored for nonprofits and advocacy groups to recruit volunteers, manage events, and drive supporter actions like petitions and calls-to-action. It features a robust volunteer database, event RSVP tools, and engagement tracking to scale mobilization efforts. The platform integrates seamlessly with CRMs like EveryAction and NGP VAN, making it a strong choice for distributed organizing.
Pros
- Powerful event management with RSVP and shift scheduling
- Strong volunteer recruitment and engagement tracking
- Excellent integrations with nonprofit CRMs and fundraising tools
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small organizations
- Interface may overwhelm beginners with advanced features
- Reporting tools lack deep customization options
Best For
Mid-to-large advocacy nonprofits running volunteer-driven campaigns and distributed events.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; free tier for basic events, premium plans start around $500/month for full features.
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
enterprisePowerful CRM with advocacy modules for program management, constituent engagement, and impact tracking for large nonprofits.
AI-powered Einstein Engagement Scoring for personalized advocacy outreach and constituent prioritization
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is a robust CRM platform tailored for nonprofits, providing tools for donor management, program delivery, volunteer coordination, and advocacy campaigns. It enables organizations to engage constituents through personalized multi-channel outreach, track advocacy efforts with detailed analytics, and manage petitions or grassroots campaigns via customizable workflows. Built on Salesforce's ecosystem, it offers scalability and AI-powered insights for maximizing impact in advocacy work.
Pros
- Highly customizable with extensive AppExchange integrations for advocacy tools
- Powerful AI-driven analytics and 360-degree constituent views
- Scalable for growing organizations with enterprise-grade security
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring training or consultants
- High implementation and ongoing costs for smaller nonprofits
- Overkill for basic advocacy needs without heavy customization
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits needing a comprehensive, scalable CRM with integrated advocacy and fundraising capabilities.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing with nonprofit discounts; free Starter Pack for small orgs (<10 users), otherwise starts at ~$36/user/month scaling to higher tiers.
CiviCRM
otherOpen-source CRM offering contact management, event registration, email campaigns, and advocacy workflows for nonprofits.
CiviCampaign module for integrated advocacy management, including petitions, pledges, and activity tracking
CiviCRM is a free, open-source CRM platform tailored for nonprofits, offering robust tools for contact management, fundraising, events, and advocacy efforts. Its CiviCampaign module enables petitions, surveys, email campaigns, and grassroots mobilization, making it suitable for advocacy workflows. While highly extensible through plugins and integrations with CMS like WordPress and Drupal, it demands technical setup and maintenance.
Pros
- Completely free open-source core with no licensing fees
- Powerful advocacy tools including petitions, surveys, and targeted email campaigns
- Highly customizable with thousands of extensions and CMS integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex self-hosted setup
- Dated user interface lacking modern intuitiveness
- Requires ongoing technical maintenance and expertise
Best For
Tech-savvy nonprofits with in-house developers needing a flexible, cost-free CRM for advocacy and operations.
Pricing
Free open-source software; additional costs for hosting ($10-100+/month), custom development, and premium extensions.
Blackbaud Luminate
enterpriseEnterprise suite for online advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, and digital engagement tailored to nonprofit missions.
Seamless Blackbaud ecosystem integration for real-time syncing of advocacy engagement data with donor records
Blackbaud Luminate is a robust digital engagement platform tailored for nonprofits, enabling online fundraising, donor management, and advocacy campaigns. It supports tools like petitions, legislative alerts, email mobilization, and peer-to-peer fundraising to build and activate supporter networks. Seamlessly integrating with Blackbaud's CRM systems, it provides a unified view of advocate and donor data for comprehensive nonprofit operations.
Pros
- Deep integration with Blackbaud CRM for unified donor and advocate management
- Powerful advocacy tools including petitions, surveys, and targeted mobilization
- Scalable for large-scale campaigns with robust reporting and analytics
Cons
- High cost makes it less accessible for small nonprofits
- Steep learning curve and complex setup process
- Less specialized in pure advocacy compared to dedicated tools, with emphasis on fundraising
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits already using Blackbaud products that need integrated fundraising and advocacy capabilities.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $10,000+ annually depending on organization size, features, and user volume.
NeonCRM
specializedCloud-based CRM with built-in advocacy tools for donor management, email advocacy, petitions, and reporting.
All-in-one CRM that unifies donor data, fundraising, and basic advocacy engagement without needing multiple platforms
NeonCRM, from Neon One, is a robust CRM platform tailored for nonprofits, primarily excelling in donor management, fundraising, and constituent engagement with some advocacy capabilities. It supports advocacy through email campaigns, customizable online forms for petitions and surveys, and workflow automation to mobilize supporters. While not a dedicated advocacy solution, it integrates these tools effectively with core nonprofit functions like events and reporting.
Pros
- Seamless integration of advocacy with fundraising and donor management
- User-friendly interface with intuitive navigation
- Strong reporting and segmentation for targeted advocacy campaigns
Cons
- Lacks advanced advocacy tools like legislative tracking or grassroots mobilization
- Limited native support for high-volume petition management
- Customization for complex advocacy workflows can require technical expertise
Best For
Small to mid-sized nonprofits needing basic advocacy tools integrated with comprehensive CRM and fundraising capabilities.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month for up to 500 contacts, with pricing scaling by contact volume (e.g., $399/month for 10,000 contacts); enterprise plans are custom.
Engaging Networks
specializedPlatform for creating advocacy emails, petitions, surveys, and donation forms to drive supporter action and growth.
Distributed Fundraising and Advocacy, allowing chapters or affiliates to run independent campaigns while sharing centralized infrastructure and data
Engaging Networks is a comprehensive platform tailored for nonprofits, specializing in advocacy campaigns, email marketing, petitions, and peer-to-peer fundraising. It enables organizations to mobilize supporters through emails, SMS, events, and distributed actions while ensuring compliance with global data regulations like GDPR. The tool excels in supporter journey tracking and segmentation for targeted engagement.
Pros
- Robust advocacy tools including petitions, actions, and peer-to-peer mobilization
- Strong multi-language and international compliance support
- Advanced segmentation and reporting for data-driven campaigns
Cons
- Dated user interface with a steeper learning curve
- Pricing scales quickly for high-volume users
- Limited out-of-the-box integrations compared to newer platforms
Best For
Mid-to-large nonprofits with complex, international advocacy and fundraising needs requiring distributed campaign management.
Pricing
Custom tiered pricing based on email volume; starts at around $240/month for 5,000 emails, scaling to enterprise levels with custom quotes.
Conclusion
Evaluating nonprofit advocacy software reveals three standout tools with distinct strengths to fit varied organizational needs. NationBuilder leads as the top choice, offering a comprehensive platform that integrates website building, supporter management, and grassroots advocacy campaigns. Action Network, with its free open-source model, excels at petitions, event mobilization, and grassroots organizing, while EveryAction distinguishes itself with an integrated CRM that merges fundraising, advocacy, and voter contact seamlessly. For a robust, all-in-one solution, NationBuilder stands unrivaled, though the other two provide strong alternatives based on specific priorities.
Take the first step to amplify your nonprofit's impact—explore NationBuilder today. Its powerful combination of tools makes it the ultimate choice for building support, organizing campaigns, and driving meaningful change.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison