If you’ve ever thought, “There aren’t enough hours in the day,” or found yourself copying and pasting data between spreadsheets or stuck doing manual processing you’re not alone. Many fundraisers are stuck juggling platforms, trying to prove impact while managing a mountain of manual work. The result? Lost time, lost energy, and a sense that you’re always catching up.
Fortunately, tools like Zapier, Make.com, n8n, and Gumloop are designed to fix these very problems. They automate the admin, link up your systems, and free you to focus on what matters – building relationships and raising more funds. But which one is right for your charity?
This guide compares the four platforms through a fundraising lens. We break down each tool’s strengths and trade-offs, give practical use cases, and offer tips on choosing the best fit for your budget, team size, and tech confidence.
| Feature / Tool | Zapier | Make.com | n8n | Gumloop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Intuitive UI | ⭐⭐⭐ Visual workflows | ⭐⭐ Requires setup | ⭐⭐⭐ Templates + simple |
| Pricing | Expensive at scale | Budget-friendly starter | Free (self-hosted) | Transparent charity-first |
| Hosted? | Cloud only | Cloud only | Self-hosted / cloud | Cloud only |
| Best For | Simple workflows | Advanced logic | Full control + flexibility | Charity-specific tasks |
| Use Case Example | Auto-send emails | Segment supporters | Build custom dashboards | Scrape grant listings |
Zapier: Reliable and Ready-to-Go
Best for: Small charities or non-technical teams that need fast, reliable automations.
Zapier is often the first tool charities turn to for automation. You can quickly connect apps like Gmail, Google Sheets, Eventbrite, and CRMs. Want to add event sign-ups to your newsletter, track donations in Sheets, or send thank-you emails automatically? Zapier does that.
It’s easy to use, requires no coding, and the clean interface makes setup simple. However, the free tier has limits, and if your charity needs more complex logic or custom workflows, you may hit a wall. It’s ideal if you’re short on time and need something that “just works.”
Try if you say: “I just want to stop doing the boring stuff manually.”
Make.com: More Power, More Possibilities
Best for: Growing charities with intermediate tech skills or support.
Make.com (formerly Integromat) allows for deeper control. You can build complex workflows with filters, data manipulation, and conditional logic. Think: new donor makes a gift → is tagged → receives a customised email → CRM is updated → reporting dashboard refreshed.
It’s visual, affordable, and great for charities looking to streamline entire processes. There is a learning curve, but Make has detailed documentation and a supportive community. If Zapier feels limiting, Make unlocks the next level.
Try if you say: “I want workflows that do more than just move data from A to B.”
n8n: Open-Source Freedom and Flexibility
Best for: Charities with in-house tech expertise or dev volunteers.
n8n is the open-source option that gives you full control. You host it yourself, avoid ongoing costs, and integrate any system using APIs. That means no subscription creep and tighter data privacy.
The setup is more involved, and the interface is less slick than Zapier or Make, but it’s incredibly flexible. You can build bespoke automations without being boxed in by a provider’s pricing or feature set.
Try if you say: “We want full control over our data and systems without vendor lock-in.”
Gumloop: Built with Charities in Mind
Best for: Small to mid-sized charities needing fast, purpose-built wins.
Gumloop is newer but designed specifically for nonprofit workflows. It offers pre-built templates for common fundraising tasks – syncing donation data, updating CRMs, sending thank-you messages, and more.
The interface is simple, support is responsive, and the pricing is transparent. It doesn’t offer the custom logic of Make or the open-source power of n8n, but it hits the sweet spot for charities that need speed and clarity.
Try if you say: “I just want something that works for fundraisers, not just techies.”
Practical Charity Use Cases
Here are some common charity automation needs and which tool might work best:
- Welcome journey for new donors: Zapier or Gumloop to connect your donation platform and e-mail provider
- Automated grant reporting: Make.com or n8n
- Scraping funder directories or Facebook Ads Library: Gumloop can help do this quickly and efficiently
- Donor segmentation and engagement: Make.com
- Building a custom live income dashboard: n8n
- Compliance logging (e.g. Gift Aid, GDPR): Make.com + Airtable
Key Considerations When Choosing
- Tech Confidence: If you have no in-house support, go for ease of use (Zapier, Gumloop). If you have capacity, explore Make or n8n.
- Budget: n8n is free to run, but needs setup. Zapier scales quickly in cost. Make.com offers great value and has a generous non-profit discount. Gumloop is designed with nonprofit pricing in mind.
- Complexity of Need: The more complex your workflows, the more likely Make.com or n8n are your best bet.
- Data Sensitivity: n8n gives full control; the others are cloud-based.
Final Thought: Start Small, Win Fast
The best automation tool is the one that fits your charity’s real-world needs today. Don’t chase features you won’t use. Start with one time-saving workflow – like syncing donations or automating thank-you emails. Show the time saved. Then scale.
Still not sure? Book a free automation audit with us or test drive a tool with your data. You’ll see quickly which one helps you reduce admin and raise more, with less stress.
Need Help Setting It Up?
Our team at Technology for Good help charities implement automations using all four of these tools. Whether you want hands-on setup or just advice on where to start, we’re here to help. Let’s make your fundraising systems work harder, so you don’t have to.
EN_GB 
ZH