9 tools picked for charities and not-for-profits

Best AI tools for charities and not-for-profits in Australia

Australian charities do a lot with small teams and volunteers. Grant applications, acquittal reports, donor communications, newsletters, social media, board papers and volunteer coordination all compete with delivering programs. AI tools can draft, summarise and design much of this material, which is especially valuable for organisations without dedicated communications or fundraising staff.

Several major vendors run nonprofit programs that reduce or remove costs for eligible organisations, so it is worth checking eligibility before paying. Charities also hold sensitive information about clients, donors and volunteers, and the ACNC expects boards to treat AI as a governance matter. The picks below balance usefulness with tools that can be run under sensible data controls.

Last reviewed October 2026

The shortlist

Claude (Anthropic)
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Strong at long-form drafting and editing, which suits grant applications, impact reports and acquittals. Give it the funder's guidelines and your program data, ask for a draft against each criterion, and then rewrite it in your organisation's voice with accurate figures.
Claude review →
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Helps draft donor thank-you letters, appeal emails, volunteer recruitment posts and FAQ pages, and can brainstorm campaign ideas. Keep identifiable client and donor information out of personal accounts, and check every fact before it is published.
ChatGPT review →
Canva AI (Magic Studio)
Free plan + paid
Design
Canva runs a program for eligible nonprofits and its AI tools help small teams produce appeal graphics, annual report layouts, event flyers and social posts from brand templates. Volunteers can create on-brand material without design training.
Canva AI review →
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Paid
General Assistant
Many Australian charities use Microsoft 365 through Microsoft's nonprofit offers. Copilot drafts board papers, summarises meeting notes and email threads and works with donor spreadsheets inside the organisation's own tenant, under existing permissions.
Microsoft 365 Copilot review →
Google Gemini
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Charities using Google Workspace through Google for Nonprofits can use Gemini in Docs, Gmail and Sheets for drafting and summarising. Using the organisational account rather than personal ones keeps data under the charity's administrative control.
Google Gemini review →
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Free plan + paid
Research/Study
Upload past grant applications, annual reports, strategic plans and evaluation reports, and NotebookLM answers questions from those documents only. It makes it faster to find evidence and consistent wording when preparing new submissions.
Gemini Notebook review →
Descript
Free plan + paid
A/V Editing
Descript edits video and podcast content by editing the transcript, removes filler words and adds captions. Charities can produce supporter stories, volunteer thank-yous and program explainers without editing skills; get consent from anyone featured.
Descript review →
DeepL
Free plan + paid
Translation
DeepL translates information sheets, newsletters and service information for communities that speak languages other than English. Have important or sensitive material checked by a qualified translator or community member before distribution.
DeepL review →
Zapier
Free plan + paid
Automation
Zapier connects donation platforms, forms, CRMs, email and spreadsheets, so new donors receive receipts and thank-yous and volunteer sign-ups land in the right list automatically. It reduces manual data entry for small teams.
Zapier review →

Compliance and privacy

The ACNC Governance Standards require responsible persons to act with reasonable care and diligence and to manage the charity's resources responsibly, and the ACNC has pointed to these duties, and the importance of public trust, in its commentary on AI. Grant applications must be accurate: funders rely on the figures and outcomes you report. Client, donor and volunteer information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles for charities that are APP entities, and health or other sensitive information carries stricter rules. Fundraising is regulated by state and territory laws and by Australian Consumer Law where it applies, so AI-written appeals must not mislead. From 10 December 2026, privacy policies must disclose significant automated decisions.

Getting started

1
Check eligibility for nonprofit programs from Microsoft, Google and Canva before buying any AI subscription.
2
Ask the board to approve a short AI policy covering approved tools, data rules and who reviews AI-drafted content.
3
Build a document library of past grants, reports and plans so AI tools can draw on accurate organisational information.
4
Start with grant drafts, newsletters and social posts, and keep client case information out of AI tools.
5
Automate donor receipts and volunteer sign-ups to free staff time for relationship work.

Looking beyond off-the-shelf tools? See AI automation for charities and not-for-profits.

Frequently asked questions

Can charities use AI to write grant applications?

Yes, many funders accept that applicants use AI, but some ask you to disclose it, so read the guidelines. The content must be accurate and reflect your real programs and outcomes. Use AI for structure and drafting, then check every figure and claim against your own records.

Are there free AI tools for Australian charities?

Several vendors offer nonprofit programs, including Microsoft, Google and Canva, with eligibility usually based on charity registration. Terms change, so check current offers directly. Free consumer versions of AI assistants are also available but may use your data differently from paid business plans.

Does the ACNC have rules about AI?

There is no AI-specific ACNC rule, but the Governance Standards apply. Board members must act with care and diligence, which includes understanding the risks of tools the charity uses. The ACNC has highlighted public trust as a key asset that careless AI use could damage.

Is it safe to put client information into AI tools?

Generally avoid it unless the tool is covered by a proper business agreement, data protections and a privacy assessment. Many charities work with vulnerable people whose information is sensitive. De-identify case studies, and get consent before using anyone's story in AI-assisted content.

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