NationBuilder started in 2009 by Jim Gilliam in Los Angeles.
Its main mission has stayed the same since day one. The platform helps leaders, campaigns, nonprofits, and advocacy groups organize supporters, mobilize actions, and foster engaged communities.
Lea Endres has been the CEO since 2017. She co-founded the company and now leads it.
The company has grown steadily over the past 15 years and now employs over 100 people worldwide. NationBuilder serves thousands of customers in more than 100 countries, including big names like the Scottish National Party and Amnesty International.
Revenue is private but estimated to be between $20M and $40M annually. This growth keeps up thanks to rising demand for digital organizing tools.
They recently launched advanced analytics called NationBuilder Insights in late 2024.
Plus, they partnered with payment processors to lower transaction fees for fundraising. The platform also supports distributed, multi-chapter organizations and keeps adding more integrations.
This setup helps you focus on building your community without worrying about technical hurdles.
| NationBuilder – Quick Overview | |
|---|---|
| What It Does | Provides an all-in-one cloud platform for managing supporter databases, websites, communications, fundraising, and events for campaigns and nonprofits. |
| Best For | • Mid-size to large nonprofits • Political campaigns (local, state, international) • Advocacy groups and grassroots movements • Member-based organizations with distributed teams or chapters |
| Key Products | NationBuilder Platform (core CRM, website, fundraising) NationBuilder Insights (ML-driven analytics) Pro Add-ons (custom fields, automation, election tools) Enterprise Solutions (scaling, chapters, dedicated support) |
| Pricing | Starter: $34/mo (up to 5,000 contacts) Pro: $99/mo (up to 15,000 contacts) + modular add-ons Enterprise: Custom pricing with full features 14-day free trial available |
| Standout Features | • Unified people database (CRM) • Drag-and-drop website & donation forms • Multi-channel communication (email, SMS, social) • Fundraising & payment processing • Event and volunteer management • Advanced team permissions & chapter support • Machine learning analytics with Insights |
| Integrations | Zapier, Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Facebook, Twitter, ActBlue, Stripe, PayPal + API for custom integrations |
| Get Started | Start Free Trial → |
NationBuilder Solutions
NationBuilder offers an integrated leadership software platform.
Its core solution bundles database management, website building, email communication, fundraising, and more into one system.
The platform is cloud-based, so you don’t need to worry about local installs.
1. NationBuilder Platform (Flagship)
This is the core CRM for managing people and organizations.
It includes website and landing page builders with modules for donations and events.
You also get integrated email and text messaging tools, with automation add-ons that help you reach your audience more efficiently.
Fundraising and payment processing are built in, along with membership management.
The platform supports volunteer coordination and event organizing.
Plus, there’s an analytics and reporting dashboard to track your progress.
2. NationBuilder Insights
This product uses machine learning for analytics.
You can segment supporters, automate reports, and predict donor behavior.
There’s also a custom report builder for more advanced, enterprise-level analysis.
3. Pro Add-ons (Modular Expansions)
These include custom field expansions to tailor your database.
You can set multiple permission levels for advanced role-based access control.
Membership management packs help support various member types.
Workflow automation packs let you run email and text drip campaigns and auto-tag contacts.
There’s also an election and campaign management pack for handling complex permissions, messaging, and voter files.
4. Enterprise Solutions
NationBuilder scales for organizations with millions of contacts.
It supports distributed organizing with “Groups” and chapter management features.
You get dedicated account management, onboarding, and enterprise-grade support.
Integrations
You can connect NationBuilder with many popular apps like Zapier, Mailchimp, and QuickBooks.
It also integrates with Facebook, Twitter, ActBlue, and payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal.
The API supports custom integrations to fit your existing workflows.
NationBuilder stands out because it combines website, CRM, communications, and payments in one place.
This setup helps political parties, advocacy groups, and growing nonprofits manage everything under a single login.
NationBuilder Features
1. Unified People Database (CRM)
All supporter, member, and donor data live in one searchable hub. You can track every interaction like emails sent, events attended, and donations made.
This makes it much easier to build detailed supporter profiles. It also helps you communicate more effectively with your audience.
2. Drag-and-Drop Website Builder
You don’t need coding skills to launch campaign sites, donation forms, event pages, or petitions.
NationBuilder gives you a variety of templates ready for quick publishing. This means you won’t need separate web hosting or third-party form tools.
3. Multi-Channel Communication
Email, SMS texting, and social media publishing all work together. Every message links back to the supporter’s profile, so your outreach stays targeted and current.
You can also set up automated drip campaigns with their Automation pack to nurture supporters and donors over time.
4. Fundraising & Payment Processing
You can accept donations and membership fees right on your branded website. The platform includes fundraising analytics and donor segmentation.
It supports major credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe for payment processing. New in 2024, qualifying organizations benefit from lower transaction fees.
5. Event and Volunteer Management
NationBuilder lets you schedule in-person or virtual events and track RSVPs.
You can also recruit and manage volunteers, plus segment participants for follow-up. This works well for political canvassing, rallies, and nonprofit fundraisers.
6. Advanced Permissions and Team Management
You get role-based access to assign precise permissions for each team member.
This is perfect if your organization distributes work across local offices, volunteers, or campaign chapters.
7. NationBuilder Insights (Enterprise)
Enterprise users tap into machine learning analytics like donor likelihood scoring and automated supporter segmentation.
Custom dashboards help you get deeper campaign intelligence and act on data faster.
Mobile Apps, API, and Security
NationBuilder offers a robust API for developers and integrations. It doesn’t have a standalone mobile app for supporters, but the admin panel is mobile-responsive for managing things on the go.
Security is solid with SSL encryption, Single Sign-On (SSO) for enterprise, and GDPR compliance. Your supporter and donor data stays protected.
What really stands out in NationBuilder features is how the website, database, and communications come together in one platform. Most other tools require multiple systems to get this done.
NationBuilder Pricing Plans
NationBuilder’s pricing mainly depends on how many contacts you want to manage. It works well if you have different sized organizations, which makes it flexible.
You’ll find some cool add-ons, so you only pay for the features that matter to you. They even offer a 14-day free trial and live demos if you want to test things before committing.
The free plan isn’t an option right now, but the Starter, Pro, and Enterprise plans cover a lot of ground for most users.
| Plan | Price & Features |
|---|---|
| Starter Plan | $34/month (up to 5,000 contacts) • Website builder included • Email tools and basic CRM • Unlimited users |
| Pro Plan | $99/month (up to 15,000 contacts) • All Starter features plus enhanced email • Volunteer management and more admin controls • Option to add specialized packs |
| Enterprise Plan | Custom pricing (unlimited contacts) • Everything in Pro plus custom database capacity • Dedicated account manager and onboarding • Groups for organizing chapters or branches • Custom analytics with machine learning • Developer API and single sign-on • Enhanced email and texting options • Lower payment processing rates • All add-ons included |
You’ll find the Pro Plan allows you to add packs for customization, membership, automation, and elections. The Enterprise Plan bundles all those add-ons and adds even more features.
NationBuilder pricing has increased a bit over the last two years especially in Starter and Pro plans, but their modular add-ons help you control your costs.
If you want to dive deeper, you can learn more about NationBuilder pricing.
NationBuilder Alternatives
If you’re looking at NationBuilder alternatives, it helps to know how some of the main competitors compare.
I found five tools that often come up in the conversation when people consider NationBuilder. Each one has a slightly different focus or pricing approach.
Let’s break down what they offer and how NationBuilder holds its ground.
| Competitor | Their Strengths | NationBuilder Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| EveryAction | More focused on major nonprofits; broader fundraising modules | More advanced donor management, but lacks integrated website builder |
| Salsa Engage | Heavy on advocacy and email marketing, less on web features | More flexible for advocacy; not as streamlined all-in-one |
| DonorPerfect | CRM-focused; limited communications and web tools | Cheaper for pure donor management, but lacks integrated web/email suite |
| Neon CRM | Modular approach, strong donor tools | Strong CRM, but website/email add-ons less unified |
| Action Network | Open-source, simple event and advocacy tools | Free entry-level use, not as robust or customizable |
NationBuilder’s strength really comes from its all-in-one setup.
It combines your website, CRM, fundraising, and communications into one place.
That makes it easier to manage everything without juggling separate systems.
Also, if you have a large team spread across chapters, their chapter management features can be a big help.
Who Should Use NationBuilder
1. Mid-size to large nonprofits, political campaigns, advocacy groups, and member-based organizations
NationBuilder works well if you want to manage supporters, donations, and your online presence all in one place.
If you run a political campaign at any level—local, state, or international—or a grassroots advocacy movement, this platform fits the bill.
It offers a unified setup that helps keep everything organized. You don’t have to juggle separate tools for your website, database, and communications.
2. Organizations with multiple team members or local chapters
You’ll especially benefit if your team is spread out or you have several local chapters.
NationBuilder keeps your database, website, emails, events, and memberships connected so your whole team stays on the same page.
If your nonprofit aims to grow and needs to scale operations smoothly, this platform supports that well.
If you run a smaller group with more basic web or donor needs, you might want to look at cheaper, single-purpose tools instead.
Bottom Line
NationBuilder brings website, CRM, communications, and fundraising into one platform.
You also get flexible add-ons, enterprise analytics, and strong permissions. This makes it great for growing campaigns and organizations.
The cost climbs as your contacts grow.
Some new users might find the learning curve a bit steep compared to traditional CRMs. Also, some groups may not need everything bundled together.
If you want to unify outreach, fundraising, and supporter management while planning to scale, NationBuilder should be on your shortlist.
For solo users or small teams watching their budget, simpler tools might work better.
You can start a trial of NationBuilder to see if it fits your needs.
