Annual benchmark · original data
What nonprofits spend on fundraising software
Typical annual software spend by shop size and category. Most "how much should we budget" answers are guesses; this is a benchmark you can point a board at. Figures are per year and reflect typical spend, not the maximum a vendor could sell you.
Updated July 29, 2026
| Category | Under $250k under $250k raised | $250k–$1M $250k – $1M raised | $1M–$5M $1M – $5M raised | $5M+ $5M+ raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant research | $0-$600 | $200–$2,150 | $2,150–$3,600 | $3,600–$7,600 |
| Prospect research / wealth screening | $0 | $0 | $4,000–$6,000 | $5,000–$8,000 |
| Donor CRM | $0 | $540–$950 | $1,200–$1,800 | $2,400–$6,000 |
| Donation processing | $0 | $0 | $0–$1,800 | $1,800+ |
| Forms & operations | $0 | $0–$210 | $210–$300 | $300–$600 |
| Events & auctions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Typical total stack | $0-$600 | $750–$3,300 | $7,500–$13,500 | $16,000–$28,000 |
Methodology
Figures are modeled, not surveyed: each cell combines vendor list prices verified in July 2026 (Instrumentl, Bloomerang, Little Green Light, Jotform, Donorbox, GrantStation via TechSoup, Grantable, and peers) with widely reported quote ranges for the categories that publish no pricing (wealth screening, dedicated event software), applied to the tool choices a shop at each size typically makes. 'Typical' means the spend of a shop running the recommended stack for its tier, not the maximum a vendor could sell. Free-tool choices (Zeffy, Givebutter, Airtable's free tier, library access to Candid) are counted at $0 where they are the norm for that size.
Cite this benchmark
Free to cite with attribution. Suggested citation:
Nonprofit Software Guide, “What nonprofits spend on fundraising software” (annual benchmark), July 29, 2026. https://nonprofitsoftwareguide.com/benchmarks/
To see the tools behind these numbers, read the recommended stack for your shop size.