5 HubSpot Features Nonprofits Can’t Afford to Ignore (with September 2024 Updates!)

Nonprofits operate in a world where resources are often limited, but the demand for meaningful engagement and measurable impact is high. HubSpot’s suite of tools is designed to help nonprofits streamline operations, enhance donor engagement, and scale their efforts without the burden of complex systems or massive budgets. 

With the latest updates in September 2024, HubSpot is more powerful than ever for mission-driven organizations. 

Here are five key features nonprofits should prioritize to maximize their reach and impact:

1. CRM and Contact Management

For nonprofits, relationship-building is crucial. HubSpot’s CRM offers an intuitive, centralized system to manage donor, volunteer, and stakeholder interactions, helping your team track every engagement, whether it's a donation, event registration, or communication.

New Update: 

The Custom Channels API (Beta) takes CRM functionality to the next level by allowing nonprofits to integrate custom text-based messaging channels directly into HubSpot. This empowers organizations to build and manage communication platforms tailored to their community’s needs, from SMS donation reminders to volunteer coordination.

• Why it Matters: Nonprofits are increasingly using diverse communication platforms to engage supporters. With the Custom Channels API, you can manage all channels within HubSpot, ensuring consistent messaging and a unified view of each supporter’s interactions.
• Pro Tip: Use the API to create a seamless omnichannel experience by integrating messaging platforms like WhatsApp or custom volunteer portals into HubSpot. Learn more here​​.

2. Marketing Automation

Many nonprofits struggle with time-consuming manual marketing tasks. HubSpot’s marketing automation helps streamline email campaigns, social media posts, and donor nurturing efforts, ensuring that your nonprofit can engage donors and volunteers without overwhelming your team.

New Update: 

The new Form Editor (Beta) allows nonprofits to build custom forms with more flexibility, whether embedding them on your website or using them for event registrations. This feature simplifies the process of collecting information from donors, volunteers, or event attendees.

• Why it Matters: Effective forms help nonprofits capture vital data for segmentation and follow-up communications. HubSpot’s enhanced editor allows you to create forms that adapt to user behavior, improving conversions and engagement with minimal effort.
• Pro Tip: Use smart forms to display personalized fields based on a user’s previous interactions or their lifecycle stage (e.g., recurring donor, new volunteer). This ensures a more engaging, relevant experience for each visitor. Learn more here​​.

3. Lead Nurturing & Smart Content

Nonprofits rely on personalized engagement to build long-term relationships with donors and supporters. HubSpot’s smart content feature allows you to tailor your messaging based on a visitor’s behavior, such as donation history or event participation, creating a more personalized experience.

New Update: 

With Enhanced Reporting for Custom Objects, nonprofits can now track unique data points—such as donor impact metrics or volunteer hours—directly within HubSpot. This enhanced reporting allows you to generate detailed insights on the effectiveness of your campaigns and programs, driving smarter decision-making.

• Why it Matters: Custom reporting is essential for nonprofits that need to demonstrate impact to stakeholders. Tracking detailed metrics helps you understand donor behaviors, program success, and volunteer engagement, allowing you to allocate resources where they’re needed most.
• Pro Tip: Customize your reports to track donor retention rates, program outcomes, or volunteer engagement, giving your team the insights they need to adjust strategies in real-time. Learn more here​​.

4. Sales Pipelines & Reporting Dashboards

While nonprofits may not manage “sales” in the traditional sense, many still oversee complex donor relations, grant applications, and program funding opportunities. HubSpot’s Sales Hub allows you to create custom pipelines to track these relationships and manage interactions at each stage.

New Update: 

HubSpot’s Data Quality Digest helps nonprofits keep their CRM data clean by providing weekly reports on inconsistencies. With growing donor and volunteer databases, ensuring data accuracy is essential to avoid miscommunications and lost opportunities.

• Why it Matters: Nonprofits that scale quickly can face challenges with inaccurate or outdated data, leading to missed donation opportunities or poorly timed outreach. The Data Quality Digest helps you stay on top of data hygiene, ensuring your CRM reflects accurate information for every campaign.
• Pro Tip: Set up automated notifications via Slack or email to be alerted about data issues, such as duplicate donor profiles or incomplete volunteer records, so you can address them proactively. Learn more here​.

5. Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Tools

For nonprofits focused on major gifts or corporate sponsorships, HubSpot’s Account-Based Marketing (ABM) tools can be invaluable. ABM helps your team align outreach efforts with high-value donors or sponsors by creating tailored, personalized campaigns.

New Update: 

The LinkedIn CRM Sync allows nonprofits to seamlessly log LinkedIn interactions into HubSpot. This integration is particularly useful for nonprofits that rely on LinkedIn to build relationships with corporate sponsors, board members, or high-value donors.

• Why it Matters: LinkedIn is a powerful tool for nonprofit networking, whether you’re prospecting for corporate sponsorships or seeking new board members. The CRM Sync logs LinkedIn activity directly in HubSpot, ensuring no important connection is overlooked.
• Pro Tip: Combine LinkedIn activity logging with HubSpot’s automated workflows to trigger personalized follow-ups based on engagement, ensuring key relationships are nurtured effectively. Learn more here​.

Tired of the same old strategies? Experience the transformative power of HubSpot for your nonprofit. 

Nonprofits are often resource-strapped, which means they must be strategic about how they engage with donors, volunteers, and supporters. With HubSpot’s new features and recent updates from September 2024, nonprofits now have even more tools to streamline operations, maximize engagement, and scale their efforts. 

From CRM integrations and automated marketing to ABM tools for major gifts, HubSpot offers a robust, all-in-one solution to help nonprofits focus on what matters most—making an impact.

Discover how Digital Reach can help.