iPaaS for Charities: What It Is and Why It Matters

Charities today rely on dozens of tools to fundraise, communicate and manage supporters. But too often, those tools don’t speak to each other. And this creates hours of manual admin and disconnected data.

Enter iPaaS for charities. It’s a simple but powerful solution that’s helping nonprofits work smarter, not harder.

💡 Most charities don’t even know this category exists. But it’s quietly transforming how teams work behind the scenes.

What is iPaaS for charities?

iPaaS stands for Integration Platform as a Service. In simple terms, it’s a cloud-based hub that helps all your digital tools connect and share data automatically.

Picture it like a digital train station. Your fundraising platforms, CRM and email/comms tools are the trains. iPaaS is the station that ensures smooth and timely transfers between them. No need to carry the luggage (data) manually.

With iPaaS, supporter data flows between systems automatically. That means no more downloading spreadsheets, cleaning files or copying-and-pasting into your CRM.

Why iPaaS is a game-changer for charities

Charity teams often lose hours every week to manual data tasks. That’s time spent on admin instead of fundraising.

Manual data entry isn’t just time-consuming. It also leads to:

Outdated or duplicated supporter records
Missed Gift Aid opportunities
Delayed thank-yous or comms
Poor supporter experience
Stress for staff and lack of data confidence and clarity

iPaaS fixes that. It keeps your data clean, current and centralised. And it gives your team back valuable time to focus on relationships, strategy and impact .

Other sectors are ahead on this (and that’s OK)

Retail, healthcare and finance teams have used iPaaS tools like Zapier or MuleSoft for years to automate workflows. Now, charities are catching up with tools made for their unique needs.

Platforms like Bridgit, MoveData, DataLink (from BrightVine) and Omatic are designed specifically for the nonprofit sector. They integrate with tools like JustGiving, Enthuse, Mailchimp, Stripe and CRMs like Salesforce or Dynamics.

Why more charities are adopting iPaaS

Here’s the reality:

93% of charities say their tech isn’t well integrated
60% say better data management would most improve fundraising
Only 1 in 5 charities feel they get the most from their CRM

(Source: Blackbaud State of Fundraising report, 2024)

This is becoming a sector-wide shift. Integrations are no longer a bonus. They’re becoming a basic requirement.

It’s not as hard as it sounds

The term “integration platform” might sound technical, but modern, high-quality iPaaS tools are built to be easy.

At Bridgit, setup is designed for busy, non-technical charity professionals. No coding. No jargon. Just step-by-step tools to help you connect your platforms and automate your data flows.

Once it’s set up, it runs in the background. That’s it. You save time every day and your data is always where it needs to be.

FAQ: iPaaS for Charities

What does iPaaS mean for a charity?
iPaaS stands for Integration Platform as a Service. It connects the different tools a charity uses - like fundraising platforms, CRMs and email software - so data flows automatically (or at least much faster) between them.

How can iPaaS help charities?
iPaaS saves time, reduces manual admin, prevents data errors and improves supporter experience. It can also help charities claim more Gift Aid and make better fundraising decisions.

Is iPaaS only for big charities with tech teams?
Not at all. Tools like Bridgit are made for small and medium-sized charities too. They’re designed to be user-friendly and require no technical skills.

What tools can I connect with iPaaS?
Depending on your platform, you can connect tools like JustGiving, Stripe, Mailchimp, MuchLoved, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics and more.

How much does iPaaS for charities cost?
Plans start from £49 per month for basic spreadsheet exports. CRM-level automation plans begin at £299 per month, with Bridgit. Key watchout: some iPaaS providers do charge significant upfront implementation costs.

Ready to ditch data admin?

If your team is tired of manual tasks (or you just want a clearer picture of your supporters), we’d love to help.

👉 Reach out for a free data workflow audit or for a friendly chat about how Bridgit can support your charity’s data journey.