Guru for Nonprofits
AI-powered knowledge management platform that delivers verified, trusted information exactly where your team works—inside Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any browser. Stop answering the same questions repeatedly and ensure every team member has instant access to accurate, up-to-date knowledge.
What Guru Does
How many times has someone asked "Where do I find the donor acknowledgment template?" or "What's our policy on volunteer hours?" How much time does your team spend answering the same questions, searching through old emails, or recreating knowledge that already exists somewhere? For nonprofits with limited staff, this knowledge fragmentation is a silent productivity killer.
Guru centralizes your organization's collective knowledge into a verified, searchable, AI-powered knowledge base that lives where your team already works. Instead of digging through SharePoint folders, Slack threads, or outdated wikis, staff simply ask questions in natural language and get instant, accurate answers. The key differentiator: Guru's verification system ensures the information they find is actually correct and up-to-date, not a three-year-old document that nobody remembers creating.
The platform operates through "Cards"—bite-sized pieces of verified knowledge that can include text, images, videos, and links. Cards are organized into Collections (like "HR Policies," "Program Guidelines," or "Donor Communications"), and subject matter experts are assigned to verify and update them on a regular schedule. When a card goes stale, the expert gets a reminder—no more outdated information lurking in your knowledge base.
What makes Guru particularly valuable for nonprofits is its ability to reduce "tribal knowledge" dependency. When experienced staff leave, their institutional knowledge often walks out the door with them. Guru captures and preserves this knowledge in a searchable, shareable format—essential for organizations facing high turnover or relying heavily on volunteers who need quick onboarding.
Best For
Organization Size
- Mid-sized nonprofits (50-500 staff)
- Organizations with multiple departments
- Remote or hybrid teams
- Multi-site operations
- Volunteer-heavy organizations
Use Cases
- Staff and volunteer onboarding
- Policy and procedure documentation
- Customer/donor support teams
- IT helpdesk and self-service
- Program delivery guidelines
Key Roles
- Operations Directors
- HR Managers
- Customer Support Leads
- IT Managers
- Training Coordinators
Pricing Consideration for Smaller Nonprofits
Guru's 10-seat minimum means a starting cost of $250/month, which may be significant for smaller organizations. The Guru for Good nonprofit discount requires 50+ users to qualify. Nonprofits with fewer than 30 staff should evaluate whether Notion, Confluence, or Tettra might offer better value for their scale.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Key Features for Nonprofits
AI-Powered Semantic Search
Find answers by asking questions in natural language
Guru's AI search understands the meaning behind your questions, not just keywords. Ask "How do we handle donor complaints?" and get relevant cards even if they're titled "Constituent Feedback Process." The search pulls from your Guru knowledge base and 100+ connected apps, learning your organization's terminology over time.
- Natural language queries—ask questions like you would ask a colleague
- Search across Guru cards and connected applications simultaneously
- AI Chat provides conversational answers with source citations
- Personalized results based on your role and recent activity
Knowledge Agents
Specialized AI bots for different departments and topics
Create custom AI agents trained on specific knowledge collections. An HR Agent answers benefits and policy questions. A Fundraising Agent knows your gift acknowledgment procedures. An IT Agent handles tech support queries. Each agent responds in Slack, Teams, or Guru's interface with accurate, verified information from your knowledge base.
- Deploy department-specific agents (HR, IT, Programs, Development)
- Agents respond directly in Slack channels and DMs
- Train agents on specific collections to ensure focused, accurate answers
- Reduce repetitive questions to HR and operations teams
Content Verification System
Ensure knowledge stays accurate with expert review workflows
Every card in Guru has an assigned expert who's responsible for keeping it accurate. When verification is due, the expert receives an automatic reminder to review and confirm the information is still correct. Outdated or unverified cards are flagged, so your team knows when to trust the information they find.
- Assign subject matter experts to specific cards and collections
- Customizable verification schedules (30, 60, 90 days, or custom)
- Automatic reminders when verification is due
- AI flags redundant or conflicting content for cleanup
Native Slack & Teams Integration
Access knowledge without leaving your communication tools
Guru lives where your team already works. Search and receive answers directly within Slack or Microsoft Teams—no context switching required. When someone asks a question in a channel, Guru can proactively suggest relevant cards. Create and update knowledge cards without ever leaving the conversation.
- Search Guru directly from Slack or Teams with slash commands
- AI suggests relevant cards when questions are asked in channels
- Create new cards directly from Slack messages
- Chrome and Edge extensions for browser-based access
AI Content Assist
Write, edit, and improve knowledge cards with AI assistance
Creating knowledge documentation can be time-consuming. Guru's AI Content Assist helps you write, edit, and format content faster. Refine tone, translate to other languages, summarize long documents, or generate first drafts based on prompts—all within the editor.
- Generate first drafts of knowledge cards from brief prompts
- Refine tone, simplify language, or make content more formal
- Translate content for multilingual teams
- Summarize long documents into concise knowledge cards
100+ Enterprise Integrations
Connect with the tools your nonprofit already uses
Guru connects with the applications where your knowledge already lives—CRMs, ticketing systems, file storage, HRIS, and more. AI search pulls relevant information from connected apps, and you can embed content directly into cards without copy-pasting.
- CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Pipedrive
- Support: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom, Helpscout
- Files: Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Confluence
- HRIS: BambooHR, Workday, Gusto, Personio, and 30+ more
- Custom: Zapier, Workato, and API for custom integrations
How Guru Uses AI
Understanding what's actually AI-powered versus traditional features helps set realistic expectations and maximize value from Guru.
What's Actually AI-Powered
Semantic Search
Type of AI: Natural language processing with semantic understanding
What it does: Understands the meaning behind queries, not just keywords. Finds relevant content even when terminology doesn't match exactly.
How it learns: Adapts to your organization's terminology, acronyms, and search patterns over time.
Practical impact: Staff find answers faster without needing to know exact document titles or keywords.
Knowledge Agents
Type of AI: Conversational AI trained on specific knowledge collections
What it does: Provides department-specific answers in natural language within Slack, Teams, or browser.
How it learns: Trained on your curated knowledge collections; respects verification status and permissions.
Practical impact: Reduces repetitive questions to HR, IT, and operations teams.
AI Content Assist
Type of AI: Generative AI for content creation and editing
What it does: Drafts, refines, translates, and formats knowledge cards based on prompts.
Practical impact: Speeds up knowledge documentation; helps non-writers create clear, professional content.
Duplicate Detection
Type of AI: Content similarity analysis
What it does: Identifies redundant or conflicting cards that may cause confusion.
Practical impact: Keeps your knowledge base clean and reduces "which answer is correct?" confusion.
What's Not AI (But Still Useful)
- •Verification System: Expert assignment and reminder workflows are rule-based automation, not AI
- •Collections & Organization: Manual categorization and folder structure
- •Permissions: Standard role-based access controls, not AI-driven
- •Usage Analytics: Traditional dashboards showing who's searching for what
AI Transparency & Limitations
- Data Requirements: AI search improves with usage data. New organizations may see less personalized results initially—typically 2-3 months of active use before the AI learns your patterns well.
- Human Oversight Required: AI-generated content should be reviewed before publishing. Knowledge Agents can only answer based on what's in your knowledge base—they can't invent answers but may surface outdated cards if verification lapses.
- Data Privacy: Your data does not train Guru's AI models for other organizations. All AI processing uses enterprise-grade security with SOC 2 compliance. Zero third-party data retention.
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
Regional Human Services Organization
Imagine a human services nonprofit with 120 staff across five locations, managing programs for housing assistance, workforce development, and family support. New staff spend their first two weeks asking the same questions: "Where's the intake form?" "What's the income eligibility threshold for Program X?" "How do we refer someone to a partner agency?"
After implementing Guru, they create Knowledge Agents for each major program area. The Housing Agent answers questions about eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and landlord communication protocols. The Workforce Agent knows job training schedules, employer partnerships, and resume templates.
Results after 6 months:
- New staff onboarding time reduced from 2 weeks to 3 days for basic proficiency
- Program managers spend 5+ fewer hours per week answering repetitive questions
- Consistent information across all five locations—no more "we do it differently here"
- Policy updates reach all staff immediately through verified card updates
The verification system ensures compliance documentation stays current—critical when program funding requires accurate policy adherence.
Pricing
Starter Plan
For teams getting started with knowledge management
Billed annually ($30/month if billed monthly)
- 10-seat minimum ($250/month min)
- AI credits included (usage limits apply)
- Custom Knowledge Agents
- Enterprise AI Search
- Verified Knowledge Base
- 100+ integrations
Enterprise Plan
For large organizations with advanced needs
Usage-based pricing for scale
- Everything in Starter
- Advanced governance controls
- Higher AI credit allotments
- Priority support
- Custom implementation
Guru for Good - Nonprofit Pricing
Guru's "Give First" initiative offers reduced pricing on annual plans for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with 50+ users.
How to Access:
- Create a Guru account and start your free trial
- Contact Guru's sales team indicating nonprofit status
- Provide 501(c)(3) documentation for verification
- Receive custom nonprofit pricing quote
Note: The specific discount percentage is not publicly listed. Nonprofits should contact Guru directly to discuss eligibility and receive a custom quote.
Free Trial: 30 days free trial available. Pricing information is subject to change—verify current pricing directly with Guru.
Learning Curve
Time to First Value
- Basic Setup: 2-4 hours (account, integrations, first cards)
- First Knowledge Agent: 30-60 minutes
- Initial Knowledge Base: 1-2 weeks (importing existing content)
- Team Proficiency: 2-4 weeks of regular use
- Full Optimization: 2-3 months for AI personalization
Difficulty Rating
- Easy: Searching, viewing cards, basic edits
- Moderate: Creating cards, setting up verification workflows
- Advanced: Configuring Knowledge Agents, integrations, governance
Support & Training Resources
- Comprehensive help documentation and knowledge base
- Video tutorials and webinar library
- Active community forum
- Email and chat support (Enterprise: dedicated success manager)
Integration & Compatibility
Where You Search From
- Slack (native app and slash commands)
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Chrome extension
- Microsoft Edge extension
- ChatGPT integration
- Web app (getguru.com)
Key App Categories
- CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365
- Support: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom
- Files: Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox
- Project: Jira, Asana, ClickUp, Monday
- HR: BambooHR, Workday, Gusto, Personio
- SSO: Okta, OneLogin, Azure AD
Data Portability & Security
Export Options
- Full data export available
- API access for custom integrations
- Usage analytics and reporting
Security & Compliance
- SOC 2 Type 2 certified
- GDPR compliant
- SSO and SCIM provisioning
- Data encrypted at rest and in transit
- Zero third-party data retention
Honest Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent Slack integration: One of the best in-chat knowledge management experiences available
- Verification system: Unique feature that ensures knowledge stays accurate over time
- Knowledge Agents: Department-specific AI bots reduce repetitive questions significantly
- Intuitive interface: Non-technical staff can create and manage content easily
- Strong security: SOC 2, GDPR, SSO support makes it suitable for compliance-sensitive organizations
Cons
- 10-seat minimum: $250/month floor may be prohibitive for small nonprofits
- Search limitations at scale: Users report search accuracy issues with very large knowledge bases
- Nonprofit discount requires 50+ users: Smaller organizations don't qualify for Guru for Good pricing
- Content organization overhead: Requires ongoing governance to prevent knowledge base bloat
- Limited customization: Reporting and advanced features less flexible than some enterprise tools
Alternatives to Consider
Notion
Best for: Smaller teams wanting all-in-one workspace
More versatile workspace combining wikis, databases, project management, and docs. Free for personal use, team plans from $10/user/month. Notion's AI features are catching up, but Guru's verification system and Slack integration remain stronger for dedicated knowledge management.
Choose Notion if: You need a broader workspace tool, have a smaller team, or want lower costs.
Confluence
Best for: Teams already using Atlassian tools (Jira, Trello)
Enterprise wiki with strong document collaboration and team communication. Free for up to 10 users, then $6.05/user/month. Better for long-form documentation but requires plugins for Slack integration. AI features are newer and less mature than Guru's.
Choose Confluence if: You're already in the Atlassian ecosystem or need extensive document collaboration.
Tettra
Best for: Slack-centric teams wanting simpler knowledge management
Focused knowledge management platform with deep Slack integration and AI answers directly in channels. Simpler than Guru with a lower learning curve. Starts at $8.33/user/month with nonprofit discounts available.
Choose Tettra if: You prioritize Slack integration and want a more streamlined, affordable option.
Glean
Best for: Large enterprises needing cross-platform AI search
Enterprise AI search connecting 100+ applications with autonomous agents and advanced security. More powerful but significantly more expensive (estimated $50+/user/month). Built for organizations with 100+ staff and complex knowledge requirements.
Choose Glean if: You have 100+ employees, significant budget, and need enterprise-scale capabilities.
Getting Started
Sign Up for Free Trial (15 minutes)
Start your 30-day free trial at getguru.com. Connect your Slack or Teams workspace during setup for the best experience.
Pro tip: If you're a 501(c)(3) with 50+ users, mention nonprofit status early to discuss Guru for Good pricing.
Create Your First Collection (30 minutes)
Start with one high-value area—HR policies, IT helpdesk, or a specific program. Import existing documents or create 10-15 essential cards covering your most frequently asked questions.
Pro tip: Ask your team what questions they get asked most often—start there.
Set Up a Knowledge Agent (30 minutes)
Create a Knowledge Agent for your first collection. Deploy it in a Slack channel where relevant questions get asked. Monitor how it performs and refine your cards based on questions it can't answer.
Pro tip: Start with a pilot team before rolling out organization-wide.
Assign Verification Owners (15 minutes)
Assign subject matter experts to verify each card on a regular schedule. This is what keeps Guru valuable over time—without verification, your knowledge base becomes another graveyard of outdated docs.
Pro tip: Set 30-day verification for frequently changing info, 90 days for stable policies.
Quick Win: Your First 48 Hours
Create a "New Employee FAQ" collection with 10 cards answering the questions every new hire asks: Where do I find the org chart? How do I request time off? What's the WiFi password? How do I submit expenses? Deploy a Knowledge Agent in your #general or #new-hires Slack channel. Track how many questions it answers in the first week—that's your time saved.
Need Help with Implementation?
Setting up a knowledge management system requires more than just software—it needs a content strategy, governance plan, and change management approach. If you'd like expert guidance getting started with Guru or optimizing your existing setup, we're here to help.
Get Implementation SupportFrequently Asked Questions
Does Guru offer nonprofit discounts?
Yes, Guru offers nonprofit pricing through their "Guru for Good" program. This initiative provides reduced pricing on annual plans for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations with 50+ users. The specific discount percentage is not publicly listed—nonprofits should contact Guru's sales team directly to discuss eligibility and receive a custom quote.
What size nonprofit is Guru best for?
Guru is best suited for mid-sized to large nonprofits with 50+ employees who need to centralize knowledge across multiple tools. The 10-seat minimum ($250/month) and pricing structure favor organizations with established budgets. Smaller nonprofits (under 30 staff) may find better value with alternatives like Notion, Confluence, or Tettra.
How does Guru's AI search work?
Guru uses semantic search that understands the meaning behind questions, not just keyword matching. The AI considers your role, workflow, and query patterns to surface relevant information. It learns your organization's terminology over time and can pull answers from both Guru's knowledge base and 100+ connected applications like Slack, Google Drive, and Salesforce.
What are Knowledge Agents in Guru?
Knowledge Agents are specialized AI bots that you can create for different departments or topics—like an HR Agent that answers benefits questions, a Sales Agent that knows your pricing and products, or an IT Agent for tech support. Each agent is trained on specific knowledge collections and can provide tailored answers within Slack, Teams, or the Guru interface.
How does Guru ensure knowledge stays accurate?
Guru's verification system assigns experts to review and approve content on a scheduled basis. Content owners receive reminders to verify their cards are still accurate, and outdated information is flagged for review. The AI also detects redundant or conflicting content and alerts administrators. This makes Guru particularly valuable for organizations in compliance-sensitive environments.
What apps does Guru integrate with?
Guru integrates with 100+ applications including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Chrome, Google Drive, OneDrive, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom, Jira, Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com, BambooHR, Workday, Okta, and many more. It also supports custom integrations via Zapier, Workato, and API.