Mural for Nonprofits: Visual Collaboration & Facilitation Platform
Mural transforms brainstorming sessions, strategic planning workshops, and team collaboration from chaotic whiteboard sprawl into focused, productive outcomes. With AI-powered facilitation tools, infinite canvas space, and real-time collaboration features, nonprofit teams can align on strategy, visualize complex ideas, and drive action without being in the same room.
What It Does
Tired of strategic planning sessions that end with scattered sticky notes photographed on phones, never to be seen again? Frustrated by remote brainstorms where only the loudest voices get heard? Mural solves the core challenge of collaborative thinking: bringing diverse perspectives together in one visual space where everyone can contribute, ideas can be organized instantly, and work persists beyond the meeting.
Unlike traditional whiteboarding tools that simply replicate marker-on-board experiences, Mural is purpose-built for facilitation. It doesn't just give you a blank canvas, it provides structured frameworks, AI-powered organization, and facilitation features like timers, voting, and private mode that help teams move from ideation to decision-making. Whether you're running a virtual board retreat, mapping donor journeys, or designing a new program, Mural keeps everyone aligned and productive.
For nonprofits juggling strategy sessions with limited staff time, Mural eliminates the busywork of manually organizing ideas and ensures remote or hybrid teams can collaborate as effectively as if they were in the same room. The platform learns your workflow, adapts to how your team thinks, and turns workshop chaos into actionable plans.
Best For
Organization Size
Small to enterprise nonprofits with remote or hybrid teams who need structured collaboration across departments or with board members.
Primary Use Cases
- Strategic planning workshops
- Board retreat facilitation
- Program design brainstorming
- Donor journey mapping
Key Roles
Executive directors running strategic planning, development directors mapping campaigns, program managers designing services, and board chairs facilitating governance discussions.
Ideal organizations: Nonprofits with distributed teams, complex strategic initiatives requiring stakeholder alignment, or frequent facilitated workshops. Particularly valuable for organizations transitioning to hybrid work or managing multi-stakeholder collaboration (staff, board, beneficiaries, funders).
May not be the best fit if: Your team primarily works on individual tasks (not collaborative sessions), you need simple task management rather than visual thinking tools, or you have very limited budget and can use free alternatives like Google Jamboard for basic needs.
Key Features for Nonprofits
AI-Powered Organization
Turn brainstorming chaos into clarity
Mural AI automatically clusters sticky notes by topic, generates mind maps from concepts on the fly, and rearranges content by new criteria instantly. Instead of spending 30 minutes manually grouping ideas after a brainstorm, let AI do the heavy lifting while you focus on strategic thinking.
- Generative mind maps expand concepts automatically
- Auto-clustering groups sticky notes by theme
- Instant reorganization by different criteria
Facilitation Superpowers
Guide productive sessions with ease
Built-in facilitation tools help you run workshops like a pro, even if you've never facilitated before. Timers keep discussions on track, voting surfaces group consensus, and private mode lets participants brainstorm without groupthink pressure before revealing ideas.
- Timers to keep sessions focused and productive
- Voting to quickly gauge group opinions
- Private mode for pressure-free ideation
- Post-meeting debriefs and custom templates
Real-Time Collaboration
Work together from anywhere
Multiple team members can work on the same mural simultaneously with changes visible instantly. Integrated video and audio chat, along with commenting features, mean you can discuss ideas without switching apps while collaborating on the canvas.
- Unlimited members and visitors (free nonprofit plan)
- Built-in video, audio, and text chat
- Instant updates visible to all participants
Infinite Canvas & Templates
Never run out of space or ideas
An infinite digital canvas means you can add as many sticky notes, diagrams, and images as needed without spatial constraints. Mural's extensive template library provides ready-made frameworks for strategic planning, workshops, brainstorming, and more so you don't start from scratch.
- Unlimited canvas space for complex workflows
- Professional templates for common use cases
- Zoom and pan freely across large projects
Privacy & Access Control
Control who sees what
Open and private rooms let you control visibility for sensitive strategic discussions. Role-based access, content locking, SSO/SAML support (Business tier), and IP whitelisting ensure only the right people can view or edit your murals, critical for board materials or confidential planning.
- Private rooms for confidential discussions
- Role-based access and content locking
- SSO/SAML for secure enterprise access
Deep Integrations
Connect to tools you already use
Mural integrates seamlessly with Slack for notifications, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet for embedded collaboration during video calls, and Jira with two-way sync for product planning. Work where your team already communicates without constantly switching contexts.
- Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace native integration
- Jira two-way sync for product teams
- Slack, Salesforce, Asana, Azure DevOps support
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
Scenario: A regional food bank with 15 staff members spread across three locations needs to develop a new strategic plan for 2026-2028. The executive team wants input from program staff, board members, and community partners, but coordinating in-person meetings across locations is expensive and time-consuming.
The Mural Solution:
The executive director creates a private Mural workspace and uses a strategic planning template as a starting point. Over two weeks, they run three 90-minute virtual workshops using Mural's facilitation features. In the first session, the timer keeps each discussion topic on schedule while participants use sticky notes to share ideas in private mode, then reveal them simultaneously to avoid groupthink. The AI auto-clustering feature instantly organizes 60+ ideas into five strategic themes, saving 45 minutes of manual sorting.
In the second workshop, the team uses voting to prioritize initiatives, with results instantly visualized on the board. Between sessions, board members who couldn't attend live add comments and suggestions asynchronously. The development director uses the canvas's infinite space to map out a detailed donor journey alongside program goals, creating visual connections between fundraising and impact.
By the final session, the entire strategic plan is visualized on one persistent canvas. The team can zoom out to see the big picture or zoom into specific initiatives with action items. The work doesn't disappear after the meeting because everything lives in the cloud, accessible anytime. The executive director exports the final mural as a PDF for the board packet and shares view-only access with external partners.
The Outcome: What would have required six in-person meetings, hotel costs, and hours of manual note synthesis happens in three focused virtual sessions. The visual format helps the entire team, including those who struggle with text-heavy planning documents, understand and contribute to the strategy. The persistent workspace becomes a living document the team refers back to quarterly, updating progress and adjusting plans as needed.
Pricing
Free Plan
Get started with essential features
- 3 murals
- Unlimited members and visitors
- Open rooms
- All core collaboration tools
Team+
For growing teams
- Unlimited murals
- Unlimited editing visitors
- Private rooms
- Mural AI features
- Basic integrations
Business
Most popular for nonprofits
- Everything in Team+
- SSO/SAML support
- Unlimited external guest access
- Advanced integrations (Azure, GitHub, Okta)
- LUMA frameworks
- Priority support
Enterprise
For large organizations
- Everything in Business
- Multiple workspaces
- Advanced security controls
- SCIM management, audit logs, 2FA
- Data residency, BYOK
- Premier support with expert training
Billing Options: Monthly and annual billing available. Annual subscriptions typically offer cost savings compared to month-to-month plans.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Discount & Special Offers
Exceptional value for mission-driven organizations
Mural offers eligible nonprofits an outstanding choice: either a FREE nonprofit workspace or 50% off any paid plan. This goes far beyond typical nonprofit discounts and recognizes the budget constraints of mission-driven organizations.
Free Nonprofit Workspace Includes:
- 10 team memberships for your staff
- 25 guest licenses for board members, volunteers, and external collaborators
- Unlimited visitors with view-only access
- Unlimited murals (far exceeding the 3-mural standard free tier)
- Private rooms for confidential strategic planning
- Annual check-in for renewal (no complicated re-verification)
- Access to the Mural Community for peer connection and learning
Eligibility Requirements:
- Organization must be a 501(c)(3) or international equivalent
- Public charities (not private foundations)
Organizations NOT Eligible:
- Hospitals and healthcare systems
- Credit unions
- Religious affiliated organizations
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Government or government-affiliated nonprofit organizations
How to Apply:
Complete Mural's nonprofit application form. Applications are typically reviewed within 5 business days. You'll need to provide proof of 501(c)(3) status (determination letter or equivalent).
Learning Curve
Approximately 55% difficulty (Easy to Moderate)
Mural strikes a nice balance: basic functionality is intuitive enough that most users can start contributing to a board within 5-10 minutes, while advanced facilitation features and templates require modest investment to master. Unlike complex enterprise tools, Mural doesn't demand extensive training before your first productive session.
What Makes It Accessible:
- Familiar interface: If you've used sticky notes on a whiteboard, the digital experience is immediately recognizable. Drag, drop, type, done.
- Templates remove the blank page problem: Pre-built frameworks for strategic planning, brainstorming, and workshops mean you don't need to design from scratch.
- AI handles organization: Instead of manually grouping ideas (a skill that takes practice), AI clustering does it automatically.
- Facilitation guides: Built-in tools like timers and voting come with instructions, so you don't need formal facilitation training to run an effective session.
Where You'll Invest Time:
- Choosing the right template (1-2 hours initially): With an extensive library, it takes time to explore and identify which frameworks fit your specific needs. Once you find your favorites, this isn't an issue.
- Advanced facilitation techniques (2-4 hours): Using timers, voting, and private mode effectively requires practice to orchestrate smoothly during live sessions. Watch a few Mural tutorials or facilitation webinars to get comfortable.
- Integrations setup (30 minutes-1 hour): Connecting Mural to Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Jira requires some configuration but is well-documented.
Time to Productivity:
First useful output: 10-30 minutes (complete your first brainstorming session)
Confident facilitation: 3-5 sessions (approximately 2-3 weeks of regular use)
Advanced mastery: 1-2 months (custom templates, sophisticated workflows, integration optimization)
Bottom line: Teams with minimal tech experience can run their first productive Mural session within an hour of starting. While there's depth to explore (custom templates, advanced integrations), the essentials are approachable enough for most nonprofit staff. You'll spend more time on facilitation strategy (what questions to ask, how to structure discussions) than on figuring out the software itself.
Integration & Compatibility
Mural integrates deeply with the productivity and communication tools nonprofits already rely on, reducing context-switching and embedding visual collaboration into existing workflows. Rather than forcing teams to adopt an entirely new toolchain, Mural meets you where you work.
Communication Platforms
- Microsoft Teams: Native integration lets teams access Mural boards directly in Teams channels, during meetings in Outlook, and across Microsoft 365 without leaving the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Google Workspace: Integrates with Google Meet (collaborate during video calls), Google Docs, Slides, Calendar, and Gmail. Real-time brainstorming during Meet calls without switching apps.
- Slack: Receive notifications about mural activity (new comments, participants joining, updates) directly in Slack channels. Stay informed without manually checking boards.
Project Management & CRM
- Jira (two-way sync): Changes in Jira sync to Mural and vice versa. Plan sprints or roadmap visually in Mural, then sync action items back to Jira for tracking.
- Azure DevOps: Two-way integration for development teams managing technical projects or platform builds.
- Asana: Connect tasks and project plans to visual workflows in Mural.
- Salesforce: Link donor or constituent data to strategic planning boards.
Knowledge & Documentation
- Confluence: Embed Mural boards in Confluence pages to connect visual collaboration with documentation and knowledge bases.
- Export Options: Export murals as PDFs, images, or embed links in other tools. Great for board packets, reports, or archiving strategic planning outcomes.
Security & Access
- SSO/SAML: Integrate with enterprise identity providers (Okta, Azure AD, OneLogin) for secure, centralized access management (Business plan and above).
- GitHub: Connect development workflows for technical nonprofits or product teams.
Platform Compatibility:
- Web-based: Works in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) on Windows, macOS, or Linux. No desktop app installation required.
- Mobile access: While optimized for desktop/laptop use during workshops, murals can be viewed and lightly edited on tablets and smartphones.
Data Portability & Ownership:
All murals can be exported as PDFs or image files, ensuring you maintain access to your strategic planning work even if you stop using Mural. Unlike some proprietary platforms, your visual content isn't locked in. This is particularly important for nonprofits concerned about long-term accessibility of strategic documents.
No CRM/donor database integration: Mural is collaboration and planning-focused, not a CRM. You won't sync donor records or manage constituent data here, but you can reference or visualize donor segments, campaign strategies, or fundraising workflows during planning sessions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Outstanding nonprofit offering: Free workspace with 10 members, 25 guests, and unlimited murals is one of the most generous nonprofit programs in the industry. Far exceeds typical "nonprofit discount" approaches.
- Facilitation-first design: Unlike generic whiteboards, Mural's built-in facilitation tools (timers, voting, private mode) make it genuinely easier to run productive workshops, even for non-facilitators.
- AI saves time: Auto-clustering sticky notes and generative mind maps eliminate tedious manual organization, letting facilitators focus on guiding discussions instead of admin work.
- Rich integration ecosystem: Deep integrations with Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, and Jira mean Mural fits into existing workflows instead of requiring wholesale process changes.
- Accessible learning curve: Basic functionality is intuitive for non-technical users. Most teams productive within first session, unlike enterprise tools requiring days of training.
- Persistent, shareable workspaces: Unlike in-person whiteboards that get erased, Mural boards live permanently in the cloud, accessible for asynchronous collaboration and future reference.
- Extensive template library: Professional frameworks for strategic planning, workshops, and brainstorming mean you don't start from scratch, saving hours of prep time.
Cons
- Nonprofit eligibility exclusions: Religious organizations, schools, hospitals, credit unions, and government nonprofits don't qualify for the free or discounted program, forcing them to pay full price.
- Paid plans can get expensive for larger teams: At $9.99-$17.99 per member monthly, organizations with 20+ staff may face significant costs if the free nonprofit tier doesn't suffice.
- Facilitator skill still matters: While Mural provides great tools, running an effective workshop still requires facilitation competence. The software can't compensate for poorly designed sessions or weak group dynamics management.
- Not ideal for individual work: Mural shines in collaborative contexts. If most of your work is solo (individual writing, data analysis), simpler tools may be more appropriate.
- Template discovery can be overwhelming: The extensive library is both a strength and weakness. Finding the perfect template among hundreds requires time investment initially.
- Mobile experience is limited: While you can view murals on phones/tablets, serious collaboration works best on desktop/laptop. Not ideal for field-based teams relying primarily on mobile devices.
- Learning advanced features takes time: While basics are easy, mastering custom templates, advanced integrations, and sophisticated facilitation workflows requires sustained practice.
Alternatives to Consider
Miro
The most direct Mural competitor
Miro is Mural's closest alternative with similar visual collaboration features, infinite canvas, and real-time co-editing. Miro tends to have a slightly larger template library and more third-party integrations, but Mural generally receives higher marks for facilitation-specific features.
Key Difference: Miro positions itself as a broader "innovation workspace" while Mural emphasizes facilitation. If your primary need is running structured workshops, Mural's facilitation tools (timers, voting, private mode) are more purpose-built. If you want maximum flexibility and app integrations, Miro may edge ahead.
Nonprofit Offering: Miro offers education/nonprofit pricing but details vary. Mural's free nonprofit workspace with 10 members and 25 guests is often more generous for smaller nonprofits.
Whimsical
Simpler, more focused visual workspace
Whimsical combines flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes, and docs in one clean interface with ChatGPT integration for generating diagrams from text prompts. It's less facilitation-focused than Mural but faster and more streamlined for individual or small team visual thinking.
Key Difference: Whimsical is better for quick diagram creation, wireframing, and knowledge documentation. Mural is better for large-group workshops and complex facilitated sessions with 10+ participants.
Nonprofit Offering: 20% nonprofit discount. Pricing starts at $10/month, making it slightly more affordable than Mural's paid tiers for small teams not qualifying for the free nonprofit workspace.
Google Jamboard
Free basic whiteboarding for Google Workspace users
Google Jamboard is a simple, free digital whiteboard included with Google Workspace. It offers basic sticky notes, drawing, and image insertion with real-time collaboration. Great for casual brainstorming or teams with very tight budgets.
Key Difference: Jamboard is free and dead-simple but lacks Mural's AI features, facilitation tools, templates, and advanced organization capabilities. Think of it as a basic digital whiteboard versus Mural's facilitated workshop platform.
Best for: Small nonprofits with Google Workspace who need occasional simple brainstorming and can't justify Mural's cost or complexity. Not suitable for sophisticated strategic planning or large facilitated sessions.
Getting Started with Mural
1Apply for Nonprofit Workspace or Start Free Trial
If your organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity (not excluded categories like religious orgs, schools, or hospitals), apply for the free nonprofit workspace at mural.co/nonprofits. You'll need your determination letter or equivalent proof of status. Applications are reviewed within 5 business days.
If you don't qualify or want to try immediately, start with the free plan (3 murals, unlimited members) at mural.co. No credit card required for free tier.
2Browse Templates and Run Your First Session
Once approved, explore Mural's template library. For your first session, try a simple brainstorming template (like "Affinity Mapping" or "Dot Voting") for a low-stakes topic, for example, brainstorming ideas for your next newsletter or planning an upcoming team offsite.
Invite 3-5 colleagues to a 30-minute session. Use the timer to keep the brainstorming phase focused (10 minutes), try private mode so everyone generates ideas independently first, then reveal and use AI clustering to group similar ideas. Finally, use voting to prioritize top concepts.
This first session will familiarize your team with the interface, real-time collaboration, and basic facilitation tools without the pressure of high-stakes strategic planning.
3Set Up Integrations for Your Workflow
Connect Mural to the tools your team uses daily. If you use Microsoft Teams, add the Mural app so boards appear directly in channels. If you rely on Slack, enable notifications so team members know when murals are updated or comments added. For Google Workspace users, integrate with Google Meet so you can collaborate on murals during video calls.
Integrations are found in Mural's settings or app marketplace. Most take 5-10 minutes to configure. This step dramatically reduces friction, embedding visual collaboration into your existing communication flow instead of requiring constant app-switching.
4Scale to Strategic Planning & Advanced Facilitation
With confidence from smaller sessions, tackle bigger initiatives: board retreat planning, strategic plan development, or donor journey mapping. Use strategic planning templates as frameworks, leverage private rooms for confidential board discussions, and take advantage of unlimited murals to create a visual library of your organization's strategic work.
Watch Mural's facilitation webinars or join the Mural Community (included in the nonprofit plan) to learn advanced techniques from other users. As you grow comfortable, create custom templates for recurring sessions (annual planning, quarterly reviews) so future facilitation becomes even faster.
Consider designating a "Mural Champion" on your team who invests extra time mastering advanced features and can coach colleagues, ensuring the platform becomes embedded in your organizational culture.
Pro Tip for Nonprofits
Start with lightweight, low-risk sessions (team check-ins, project kickoffs) to build comfort before using Mural for high-stakes board retreats or strategic planning. This builds organizational muscle memory and ensures everyone's comfortable when it really counts. Also, take advantage of the 25 guest licenses in the nonprofit plan to involve board members and external stakeholders without paying for full memberships.
Need Help Implementing Mural?
Choosing the right visual collaboration tool is one thing. Designing effective workshops, building custom templates for your nonprofit's unique needs, and training your team to facilitate productively is another. We help nonprofits maximize Mural's potential through facilitation design, integration strategy, and staff training.