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The #1 Open Source CRM For Nonprofits Worldwide

CiviCRM is an open source Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system that is built and maintained by a dedicated community of professional fundraisers, nonprofit directors and software developers; people just like you. It is a powerful, flexible, highly customizable CRM platform used by nonprofit and civic sector organizations focused on solving real world problems.

Translated into 30+ languages and used by thousands of organizations around the world, CiviCRM is an open source alternative to inflexible, expensive, proprietary CRM systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Raiser’s Edge and so many more.
Why Use CiviCRM
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Example screenshot of CiviCRM

Why Use CiviCRM?

Built by nonprofits, for nonprofits

Greenpeace
Hong Kong Diginity Institute
University of Cambridge Development and Alumni Relations
Pathways to Family Peace
Paroisse Saint-Germain
PREreview
Zavod PIP – Pravni in informacijski center Maribor
Salal Foundation
Warmshowers.org Foundation
Polish Club of Denver
Prairie Arts Council
Social Justice Action Center
Renters And Housing Union
Fundació Terra
West London Action for Children
The Wycombe Environment Centre Limited
Scholemoor Beacon
Partners in Advocacy

Since 2005, CiviCRM has been built and put to the test by nonprofit organizations working to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues, making it among the best CRM software applications on the market. Its feature set is comprehensive, supporting mission critical functions such as email and SMS communications, donor lifecycle management, payment processing, and much more. Best of all, because CiviCRM is truly open source, it is highly flexible and can be adapted or downright modified to meet your exact needs.

Nonprofits love CiviCRM because it’s:
Comprehensive
Integrated
Open Source

Integrate & Extend

Maximize efficiencies by extending CiviCRM and integrating with other apps.

CiviCRM does more than just store your organization’s data in one CRM system, it integrates into many popular software platforms that extend its capabilities and allow organizations to do everything from process payments to build powerful online member communities. A complete list of integrations and extensions can be found at https://civicrm.org/extensions
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WordPress

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Backdrop

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Joomla!

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Drupal

Integrations vary in degree of setup and complexity. You may find that it’s best to use a partner to assist with complex integrations.
Feature Overview
Truly Open Source

Truly Open Source

Best for organizations that value full control of their impact.

CiviCRM is the only true open source CRM for nonprofits that works as an alternative to the popular proprietary systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, and countless others. Free seat licenses and free entry-level pricing tiers do not make an application open source!

What is open source, if not ‘free‘?

We’re glad you asked! ‘Open source’ means that you are free to download, use, modify, and share the software application without restriction, based on the application’s open source licensing (CiviCRM is AGPL v3, in case you were wondering). This puts you in complete control of your system!

Own Your Data

With CiviCRM, you are in complete control of your data. That means your data and the processes that govern it are established by your organization. Nobody is collecting or monitoring your data, only to turn around and monetize it.

If you adhere to high privacy standards or need to meet requirements like GDPR, CiviCRM puts you on the right path.

Own Your System

And the system that manages your data? Well, you’re in control of it, too! With CiviCRM, you can manage the entire tech stack, from server to software.

For many, that’s overkill. But for most, the ability to fully control and customize your system is critical to adapting it to your organization’s workflows and maximizing your impact.

Own Your Impact

By giving you complete control over your data and your system, CiviCRM breaks the constraints imposed by other proprietary systems that have stakeholders to please or a financial bottomline to meet.

With CiviCRM, you are free to focus on creative ways to leverage your data and systems to best maximize your impact without any artificial external constraints.

Get Started With CiviCRM Today!

Options That Fit Your Organization’s Needs

Getting started with CiviCRM has never been easier. From do it yourself, to turnkey cloud hosting, to expert integrations, CiviCRM can be set up and configured to match your exact needs. The four options below reflect the most common pathways to implement CiviCRM successfully.

Do It Yourself

Ideal for users with technical skill
This is an ideal starting point for users that want to dive into the nuts and bolts of CiviCRM. Affords you the ability to leverage the software exactly how you want and to become a part of the CiviCRM community.
  • Full control over infrastructure and costs
  • Full feature set and customizability
  • Great entry point into the CiviCRM community
  • Can include a website (that you maintain)
  • Requires technical skill (and patience!)
Get Started

CiviCRM Spark

Great starting point for new users
Ideal for users that either lack technical knowledge, or that simply want to avoid managing technical infrastructure, and that are new to CiviCRM or CRM’s in general. This is a great way to stick your toe in the water and get started without a huge commitment.
  • Requires no technical skill
  • Fast & easy, with low monthly subscription
  • Includes subscription to CiviAcademy
  • Least customizable
  • Doesn’t include a website
Explore Spark

CiviCRM in the Cloud

Fast, powerful, minimal overhead
Built for users that want more than an entry level CRM but that want to avoid managing technical infrastructure. Cloud hosting provides near immediate access to CiviCRM and to powerful configurations suitable for the needs of most organizations.
  • Robust feature set, suitable for most nonprofits
  • No administration or technical overhead
  • Cost effective (pricing varies based on offering)
  • Often includes a website
  • Generally less customizable than other options
Cloud Hosting

Work with a Partner

Most flexible and customizable
Intended for organizations with more complex needs that either lack technical resources or would like expert support in optimizing CiviCRM and related systems. Get started on the right foot by leveraging a CiviCRM expert.
  • Ideal for organizations with complexity
  • Most customizable and flexible
  • Best suited for migrations & integrations
  • Diverse expertise and support capabilities
  • Generally more expensive (depending on complexities)
Find a Partner

These are the four basic options to get started using CiviCRM. If you have additional questions or want to explore more, please feel free to chat with us (to the right) or jump on to community chat.

Support At Your Fingertips

Like everything in CiviCRM, when it comes to support you have a lot of flexibility and options. Your exact support requirements will depend on several factors such as type of support (technical, training, etc.), immediate need, complexity of implementation, etc. All of these situations can be addressed using a combination of the resources below.

Community Resources

The CiviCRM community offers a ton of free resources that can help support your organization.

Explore the Community

CiviAcademy

CiviAcademy is a paid service built by CiviCRM LLC that provides comprehensive video tutorials and instruction.

It is ideal for users that are new to CRMs and/or to CiviCRM specifically.

  • Single fee, lifetime access
  • Discounted for CiviCRM supporters
  • Included in active Spark subsriptions
Subscribe to CiviAcademy

Professional Support

Need immediate assistance or prefer a professional support contract? Partners offer your best option.

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BackOffice Thinking

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JMA Consulting

CiviListen GmbH

Find a Partner