Today I’m excited to begin a series on Free Resources for Nonprofits. I talk a lot  about funding- strategy, diversification, investment, and ultimately how to protect and steward those funds. But today I want to focus on simply spending less of those funds! Because, of course, if we can find ways to cut costs, those savings can look a lot like additional program funding! 

A dollar saved is a dollar earned for your mission! 

With that end goal in mind, let’s explore how we can stretch those budget dollars further by taking advantage of some fantastic free offerings for nonprofits.

     Nonprofits operate with small teams and limited resources, which can make it challenging to create visually engaging content to promote their mission and reach a wider audience. Whether it's designing social media posts, flyers, or event invitations, nonprofits are constantly in need of professional-looking visuals, but hiring a dedicated graphic designer is simply not an option for most nonprofits. That’s why I want to tell you about Canva for Nonprofits—a free design tool that generously gives nonprofits access to its premium features to help these organizations elevate their marketing efforts and and move their missions forward.

What is Canva for Nonprofits?

     Canva is a popular online design platform that allows anyone, regardless of design experience, to create stunning visuals. From social media graphics to presentations, Canva offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of customizable templates. For nonprofit organizations, Canva offers a unique program called Canva for Nonprofits, which gives eligible organizations free access to Canva Pro—a premium version of the platform that typically costs $12.99 per month, for up to 50 team members!

Why Canva for Nonprofits is a Game Changer

1. Professional Designs on a Budget

     If your organization does not have an individual dedicated to marketing or communications or you don’t have the budget or skillset required to use expensive graphic design software, Canva for Nonprofits can fill in the gaps with premium design tools and templates, allowing you to create polished and professional-looking content for FREE!. With thousands of professionally designed templates, nonprofits can quickly customize flyers, banners, social media posts, event invitations, signs, newsletters, and more, all while ensuring brand consistency.

2. Time-Saving Features

Canva for Nonprofits is filled with handy tools that make design faster and easier. For instance, the “magic resize” feature allows you to resize one design into several different versions, each sized perfectly for each social media platform, with just a click! So you can design something once and then quickly and automatically adapt it to fit social media posts, flyers, or banners- whatever you need, without all the extra steps. Additionally, the “brand kit” feature allows nonprofits to store their logo, fonts, and color palette, ensuring that all their designs easily align with their branding.

3. Collaboration Tools

     Nonprofits often have small teams, and collaboration is key to getting work done efficiently. Canva for Nonprofits enables teams to work together on designs in real time. Multiple team members can comment, edit, and provide feedback on designs, making the creative process smoother and more efficient, especially for teams working remotely from different locations.

4. Access to Premium Resources

     One of the most valuable features of Canva for Nonprofits is the free access to a library of over 75 million stock images, videos, illustrations, and audio. These high-quality resources would typically come with a premium price tag, that can really add up when you’re constantly creating new content. But, with Canva for Nonprofits, organizations can download and use the entire library for free!

How to Get Started with Canva for Nonprofits

     To get started, your nonprofit must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Once approved, you’ll have free access to Canva Pro, including all the premium features and resources. The application process is simple and can usually be completed within a few days.

     For nonprofit organizations, where every dollar counts, Canva for Nonprofits is an invaluable resource that helps organizations stretch their budgets and share their impact with high-quality, visually engaging content. By offering free access to professional design tools, Canva empowers nonprofits to share their impact and do more good!

     If you found this post helpful, this is just the first in this series on Free Resources for Nonprofits!  So, subscribe here to be notified of the next video each week!