🔗 Make for Nonprofits
Your team spends hours each week copying data between systems, manually sending follow-up emails, and updating spreadsheets. Make (formerly Integromat) connects your nonprofit's tools—CRM, email, donation platforms, spreadsheets, and more—into powerful visual workflows that run automatically. No coding required, just drag-and-drop logic that saves your team 10+ hours per week on repetitive tasks.
What It Does
Tired of copying donor information from your email to your CRM? Manually creating tasks when a new form submission comes in? Updating three different spreadsheets with the same information because your tools don't talk to each other?
Make is a visual automation platform that connects your existing tools into seamless workflows. When something happens in one app (a new donation, form submission, or calendar event), Make automatically triggers actions in other apps—updating your CRM, sending thank-you emails, creating tasks, posting to social media, or logging data to spreadsheets. All without opening multiple tabs or copying-and-pasting.
Unlike simple automation tools, Make handles complex, multi-step workflows with conditional logic. You can build scenarios like: "When a donation exceeds $500, add the donor to our major gifts list, send a personalized thank-you from the Executive Director, create a task for a follow-up call in 3 days, and log the donation to our monthly reporting spreadsheet." All of this happens automatically in seconds.
Best For
Organization Size
Small to mid-sized nonprofits (5-100 staff) with multiple disconnected tools and tech-comfortable team members willing to invest time learning automation. Best for organizations already using several digital tools that need to work together better.
Best Use Cases
- CRM Data Sync: Automatically update donor records when donations come in, forms are submitted, or emails are opened
- Donor Communication Workflows: Trigger personalized thank-you sequences, follow-up emails, and milestone messages based on giving patterns
- Event Registration Automation: Process registrations, send confirmations, add to CRM, create calendar invites, and update capacity tracking
- Reporting & Data Consolidation: Pull data from multiple sources into Google Sheets or reporting dashboards automatically
- Social Media Scheduling: Auto-post new blog articles, impact stories, or campaign updates across multiple social platforms
- Volunteer Management: Process applications, send onboarding materials, schedule training, and track hours across systems
Ideal For
Operations Managers, Database Administrators, Development Directors, and tech-savvy staff who understand their organization's workflows and want to eliminate manual, repetitive tasks. Also great for consultants implementing systems for multiple nonprofit clients.
Key Features for Nonprofits
Visual Workflow Builder
See your entire automation at a glance with drag-and-drop modules
Unlike linear automation tools, Make shows your entire workflow as a visual diagram. You can instantly see how data flows between apps, where conditional logic branches, and what happens when errors occur. This makes complex automations easier to understand, debug, and hand off to team members.
3,000+ App Integrations
Connect virtually every tool your nonprofit uses
Make integrates with major nonprofit platforms: Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Neon CRM, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Airtable, QuickBooks, Stripe, PayPal, Zoom, Slack, and thousands more. If your tool has an API, Make can connect to it—even without a pre-built integration.
Conditional Logic & Branching
Create "if this, then that" workflows with multiple paths
Handle different scenarios automatically: route high-value donations to your major gifts team, send different thank-you messages based on donation amount, or process registrations differently for members vs. non-members. Routers, filters, and aggregators let you build sophisticated logic without writing code.
Scheduled & Instant Triggers
Run workflows on a schedule or triggered by events
Set up workflows that run when something happens (new donation, form submission, email received) or on a schedule (daily reporting, weekly reminders, monthly reconciliation). Combine both: check for new data every 15 minutes and process it immediately.
Error Handling & Logging
Know what's working and get alerted when something breaks
Make tracks every workflow execution, showing exactly what happened at each step. When errors occur, you get detailed logs and can set up notifications via email, Slack, or SMS. Failed operations can automatically retry, or you can manually reprocess them after fixing the issue.
Data Transformation & Formatting
Clean, format, and manipulate data as it flows between apps
Format dates, parse names, calculate totals, merge data from multiple sources, or transform data structures—all within your workflow. This eliminates the need for manual data cleanup and ensures consistency across systems.
How This Tool Uses AI
Important Clarification: Make is primarily a visual automation and integration platform, not an AI-powered tool. However, it enables nonprofits to leverage AI by connecting AI tools to their existing workflows.
What's NOT AI (But Still Powerful)
Make's core functionality is rule-based automation, not artificial intelligence:
- Workflow Execution: Follows the exact logic you design—"if donation > $500, do X" is a rule you set, not AI making decisions
- Data Routing: Moves data between apps based on your predefined conditions
- Scheduled Tasks: Runs workflows at times you specify
How Make Enables AI Integration
Where Make becomes powerful for AI-driven nonprofits is its ability to connect AI tools to your workflows:
- Connect ChatGPT/Claude: Auto-generate personalized thank-you emails, grant summaries, or social media posts based on your data
- AI Data Enrichment: Send donor names to AI tools to find social profiles, wealth indicators, or interests, then add to your CRM
- Sentiment Analysis: Route volunteer feedback or donor emails through AI sentiment analysis, then alert staff to urgent issues
- Content Translation: Automatically translate communications into multiple languages using AI translation APIs
💡 Think of Make as the "Connective Tissue"
Make doesn't have AI built-in, but it's the platform that connects AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI, etc.) to your nonprofit's data and workflows. It's like a universal adapter that lets AI tools talk to your CRM, email platform, spreadsheets, and donation systems.
When AI Integration Adds Real Value
Use Make to connect AI tools when:
- You want to personalize communications at scale (AI generates content, Make delivers it)
- You need to analyze text data (emails, feedback, grant applications) and route based on insights
- You want to enrich your data with AI-powered research or analysis
Bottom Line: Make is an automation platform that becomes exponentially more powerful when you integrate AI tools into your workflows. It's not AI itself, but it's the infrastructure that makes AI practical and scalable for nonprofits.
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A community foundation with 3,500 donors was spending 15+ hours each week on manual data entry and donor communications. Their process: donations came in through their website, staff manually copied information to their CRM (DonorPerfect), sent thank-you emails from Outlook, created tasks in Asana for follow-ups, and updated a Google Sheet for monthly board reporting.
After implementing Make, they built a workflow that runs automatically: when a donation is received, Make creates or updates the donor record in DonorPerfect, sends a personalized thank-you email (different messages for first-time vs. repeat donors, and special messages for gifts over $1,000), creates a task in Asana for the development team to call high-value donors within 48 hours, logs the donation to their reporting spreadsheet, and posts a thank-you on social media for gifts over $500 (with donor permission).
Results after 6 months: 15 hours per week saved on manual data entry, 95% of donors receive thank-you emails within 5 minutes of donating (previously 24-48 hours), zero data entry errors, and the development team can focus on relationship-building instead of administrative tasks. The workflow took 8 hours to build and test, paying for itself in the first week.
Pricing
| Plan | Operations/Month | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1,000 | $0 | Testing and low-volume automation |
| Core | 10,000 | $9/month | Small nonprofits, basic workflows |
| Pro | 10,000+ | $16/month | Growing organizations, advanced features |
| Teams | 10,000+ | $29/month | Multiple team members, collaboration |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Large organizations, dedicated support |
Free Trial: All plans start with the free tier—no credit card required. Upgrade anytime as your automation needs grow.
What's an "Operation"? Each action in your workflow counts as one operation. Example: "New donation → Add to CRM → Send email → Create task" = 4 operations per donation. A typical nonprofit might use 2,000-10,000 operations per month depending on automation volume.
Annual Billing Discount: Save up to 20% by paying annually instead of monthly.
Nonprofit Discount
Limited public information is available about specific nonprofit discounts. We recommend contacting Make's sales team directly to inquire about nonprofit pricing programs. Many automation platforms offer discounts for registered 501(c)(3) organizations, and Make may have options not publicly advertised.
Start with the free tier (1,000 operations) to test Make's value for your organization, then reach out to discuss pricing if you need higher limits.
*Note: Pricing information is subject to change. Please verify current pricing directly with Make.
Learning Curve
⚠️ Intermediate
Make is more powerful but harder to learn than simpler tools like Zapier. Expect an initial learning curve, but the investment pays off in capabilities.
Time to First Value
- Initial Setup: 10-30 minutes (create account, explore interface, watch intro video)
- First Simple Workflow: 30-60 minutes (2-step automation like "new form → email notification")
- Comfort with Interface: 2-3 hours (build 3-4 scenarios with multiple steps)
- Advanced Proficiency: 5-10 hours (master routers, iterators, error handling, complex logic)
What Makes It Challenging
- Terminology: Terms like "modules," "routers," "iterators," and "aggregators" take time to understand
- Visual Interface: The workflow diagram can feel overwhelming at first, especially for complex scenarios
- Debugging: When something breaks, you need to understand data flow to troubleshoot effectively
What Makes It Easier
- Visual Workflow: Once you understand it, seeing the entire automation is clearer than linear step-by-step interfaces
- Templates: Pre-built scenario templates help you learn patterns and get started faster
- Documentation: Extensive help docs, video tutorials, and an active community forum
- Testing: Run scenarios manually to see exactly what happens at each step before going live
💡 Pro Tip: Start Simple, Then Scale
Don't try to build your dream workflow on day one. Start with a simple 2-3 step automation that solves an immediate pain point. Once that works, gradually add complexity. Each scenario you build teaches you concepts that make the next one easier.
Integration & Compatibility
Connects With (3,000+ Apps)
CRM & Donor Management
- • Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
- • Bloomerang
- • DonorPerfect
- • Neon CRM
- • Little Green Light
- • HubSpot
- • Zoho CRM
Email & Communications
- • Gmail
- • Outlook
- • Mailchimp
- • Constant Contact
- • SendGrid
- • Twilio (SMS)
Donation & Payment
- • Stripe
- • PayPal
- • Square
- • Donorbox
- • Classy
- • GiveWP
Productivity & Collaboration
- • Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Drive, Calendar)
- • Microsoft 365 (Excel, OneDrive, Teams)
- • Slack
- • Asana
- • Trello
- • Airtable
Forms & Survey Tools
- • Google Forms
- • Typeform
- • JotForm
- • SurveyMonkey
- • Tally
Social Media & Marketing
- • Facebook (Pages, Groups, Ads)
- • Twitter/X
- • Buffer
- • Hootsuite
Platform Availability
- Web-Based: Works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (no desktop app required)
- Mobile Access: View and monitor workflows on mobile browser, but building scenarios works best on desktop
- API Access: Make offers webhooks and API connections for custom integrations
Data Portability
- Scenario Export: Export workflow blueprints to reuse or share with other Make accounts
- Execution History: Download logs and execution history as JSON
- Vendor Lock-In Consideration: While scenarios are exportable, migrating to another platform requires rebuilding workflows in that tool's interface
Pros & Cons
Pros
- More powerful than Zapier for complex workflows with conditional logic and branching
- Better value than competitors for high-volume automation (more operations per dollar)
- Visual interface makes complex workflows easier to understand and troubleshoot
- 3,000+ integrations cover virtually every tool nonprofits use
- Generous free tier (1,000 operations) perfect for testing and small-scale automation
- Excellent error handling with detailed logs and manual retry options
- Active community and extensive documentation for troubleshooting
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier—expect 2-3 hours to feel comfortable
- Confusing terminology initially (modules, routers, iterators, aggregators)
- Limited nonprofit discount information—must contact sales directly
- Can be overwhelming for absolute beginners or non-technical staff
- Operations add up quickly for high-frequency workflows (free tier may run out fast)
- Best on desktop—mobile interface works for monitoring but not building workflows
Alternatives to Consider
If Make doesn't feel like the right fit, consider these alternatives:
Zapier
Easier to learn, but more expensive and less powerful
Zapier is the most beginner-friendly automation platform with a linear, step-by-step interface. It's perfect if your team wants to start automating quickly without a learning curve. However, it's significantly more expensive than Make for equivalent automation volume, and complex workflows with conditional logic are harder to build.
Choose Zapier if: Ease of use is more important than cost, you're building simple linear workflows, or your team is intimidated by Make's interface.
n8n
Open-source, self-hosted option for technical teams
n8n is similar to Make but open-source and self-hosted. It's completely free if you host it yourself, offering unlimited workflows and operations. The interface is similar to Make's visual approach. However, self-hosting requires technical expertise (setting up servers, security, backups) and ongoing maintenance.
Choose n8n if: You have technical staff or volunteer developers, data sovereignty is critical, or you want to avoid recurring subscription costs.
Microsoft Power Automate
Best for Microsoft-heavy organizations
If your nonprofit uses Microsoft 365 extensively, Power Automate integrates seamlessly with Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, and other Microsoft tools. It's included with many Microsoft 365 plans. However, it's less intuitive than Make and has fewer third-party integrations outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
Choose Power Automate if: You're already a Microsoft 365 organization, most of your workflows involve Microsoft tools, or you prefer keeping everything in one vendor ecosystem.
Why Choose Make Instead?
Make offers the best balance of power, value, and usability for nonprofits willing to invest 2-3 hours in learning. It's more capable than Zapier for complex workflows, more user-friendly than n8n, and more flexible than Power Automate—at a price point that makes sense for nonprofit budgets.
Getting Started
Your first 48 hours with Make:
Sign Up and Explore (15 minutes)
Create a free account at make.com. No credit card required. Watch the quick start video in the dashboard to understand the interface.
Pro tip: Browse the template gallery to see what's possible before building from scratch.
Build Your First Simple Workflow (30-60 minutes)
Start with a straightforward 2-step automation: "New Google Form submission → Send email notification to staff." This teaches you the basics of triggers, actions, and data mapping without overwhelming complexity.
Pro tip: Use the "Run this scenario once" button to test without activating the automation. This lets you see exactly what happens without committing.
Connect Your Critical Systems (1-2 hours)
Add connections to your CRM, email platform, and donation system. Build a practical workflow that solves a real pain point: "New donation → Update CRM → Send thank-you email." Start with basic functionality, then add complexity as you learn.
Pro tip: Map only essential fields at first. You can always add more data later.
Monitor and Refine (Ongoing)
Once your workflow is live, check the execution history regularly for the first week. Look for errors, unexpected behaviors, or opportunities to add conditional logic. Most workflows need 1-2 rounds of refinement before they're "set and forget."
Pro tip: Set up email or Slack notifications for workflow errors so you catch issues immediately.
Quick Win: Test Make in 30 Minutes
Want immediate proof of value? Create this simple workflow: "When I star an email in Gmail, add it to a Google Sheet." Takes 30 minutes to build and proves Make works with your existing tools. If that works, you'll have confidence to tackle more complex automations.
🤝 Need Help with Implementation?
Setting up automation workflows can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already stretched thin managing daily operations.
If you'd like expert guidance getting started with Make—from identifying which workflows to automate first to building and testing scenarios—we're here to help. One Hundred Nights offers implementation support, from quick setup assistance to full-service automation design and training for your team.
Contact Us to Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Is Make free for nonprofits?
Make offers a free tier with 1,000 operations per month that anyone can use, including nonprofits. While there's limited public information about specific nonprofit discounts, you should contact Make's sales team directly to inquire about nonprofit pricing programs. The free tier is often sufficient for testing and small-scale automation.
Is Make easier than Zapier?
Make has a steeper learning curve than Zapier, but it's more powerful once you master it. Simple workflows take about the same time in both tools, but Make excels at complex, multi-step automations with conditional logic. Expect 2-3 hours to feel comfortable with Make's interface, compared to about 30 minutes for Zapier.
Can Make integrate with our nonprofit CRM?
Make integrates with most major nonprofit CRMs including Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Neon CRM, and many others. With 3,000+ app integrations, Make likely supports your existing tech stack. If your CRM has an API, Make can connect to it even without a pre-built integration.
What's the difference between Make and Zapier for nonprofits?
Make offers more powerful features and better value for complex workflows, while Zapier is more beginner-friendly. Make's visual interface shows the entire workflow at a glance, making it easier to understand complex automations. Make is generally more cost-effective for organizations with high automation needs, while Zapier's simplicity may be worth the premium for teams new to automation.
Do I need coding skills to use Make?
No coding required. Make uses a visual, drag-and-drop interface to build workflows. However, understanding basic logic concepts (if/then statements, data filtering) is helpful. The learning curve is moderate—expect to invest 2-3 hours to build multi-step scenarios confidently, and 5-10 hours to master advanced features like routers and iterators.
How many operations does a typical nonprofit need?
A typical nonprofit might use 2,000-10,000 operations per month depending on automation complexity. Simple workflows (like "new donation → add to CRM → send thank you email") use 3 operations per trigger. The free tier's 1,000 operations covers about 330 automation runs per month, which works for testing or low-volume automations. Most active nonprofits need a paid plan.
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