The free Mailchimp alternative for nonprofits
Switching from Mailchimp to OpenFundraise
Send donor emails from the same place your donations come in. No monthly bill that grows with your list, and no syncing contacts between tools.
Starts at 500 contacts and rises as your list grows.
Email campaigns, donation forms, and donor records. No contact limits on price.
How to switch from Mailchimp
- 01
Export your list
Download your contacts from Mailchimp as a CSV file.
- 02
Import it into OpenFundraise
Upload the CSV. Contacts land in groups you can email right away, next to their giving history.
- 03
Send your next email from OpenFundraise
Once your first campaign goes out, you can cancel your Mailchimp plan.
Why nonprofits switch from Mailchimp
Mailchimp is built for email marketing across every kind of business. Nonprofits usually pair it with a separate donation tool, which means two bills, two contact lists, and a sync that breaks when a supporter changes their email address.
OpenFundraise puts email campaigns, donation forms, and donor records in one place, and all three are free. Every gift lands on the same profile you email, so a thank-you or a year-end appeal reaches the right people without an export.
- Donation formsHosted pages, embedded forms, and recurring giving.
- Email campaignsScheduled sends with click tracking, tied to gifts.
- Donor recordsEvery gift, email, and text on one supporter profile.
OpenFundraise vs. Mailchimp at a glance
| Feature | OpenFundraise | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 | From $20/mo, rising with contacts |
| Email campaigns with scheduling | ||
| Link click tracking | ||
| Donation forms and recurring giving | Needs a separate donation tool | |
| Gifts on every contact's record | Only if synced from another tool | |
| Fees on online gifts | $0 | Not a payment platform |
Stop paying per contact
Mailchimp's price climbs as your list grows. Sending email on OpenFundraise costs nothing, no matter how many supporters you have.
One list, not two
Donors land in the same records your emails go to, so there is no export, import, or sync to keep up.
See what each email raised
Every gift is tied back to the email that brought it in, so you know which sends actually raise money.
Mailchimp may still fit if you depend on complex automated journeys or run an online store next to your nonprofit, since those are Mailchimp strengths.
Mailchimp alternative FAQ
Is email really free on OpenFundraise?
Yes. Email campaigns, donation forms, recurring giving, and donor records are free. Only SMS and in-person giving are paid add-ons.
Does Mailchimp offer a nonprofit discount?
Mailchimp lists a 15% discount for nonprofits, which you request through its billing team. OpenFundraise is free outright.
Can I bring my Mailchimp list?
Yes. Export your audience from Mailchimp as a CSV and import it into OpenFundraise.
Mailchimp details from Mailchimp Standard pricing and Mailchimp pricing and nonprofit discount, checked October 2026. Prices change, so check their site for current plans. OpenFundraise is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mailchimp. Mailchimp is a trademark of its owner.
Other switching guides
Bring your Mailchimp list and stop paying for email.
Donation forms, email, and donor records are free. Your nonprofit keeps 100% of every online gift.