Find the best HR Software for Nonprofits

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Rippling

Rippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. So for the first time e...Read more about Rippling

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179 recommendations

Asure Payroll & Tax Management

Asure’s end-to-end Payroll, HR, and Time and Attendance solutions were developed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses. With the modern Asure platform, remain compliant, support your employees, and free up time to focus o...Read more about Asure Payroll & Tax Management

4.5 (40 reviews)

140 recommendations

TimeClock Plus

TimeClock Plus is a cloud-based workforce management solution designed to make the day-to-day of your organization more efficient. TimeClock Plus also offers dynamic scheduling and job costing features that can be configured to an...Read more about TimeClock Plus

4.4 (194 reviews)

137 recommendations

Paycom

Paycom offers user-friendly HR and employee-driven payroll technology to enhance the employee life cycle, in a single software. Paycom drives efficiencies, increases data integrity and gives employees power over their HR informat...Read more about Paycom

4.4 (862 reviews)

116 recommendations

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isolved

isolved is the most-trusted HCM technology leader, providing the best combination of software and services to meet the needs of today’s People Heroes – HR, payroll, and benefits professionals. From talent acquisition to workforce ...Read more about isolved

3.9 (503 reviews)

92 recommendations

BambooHR

Instead of using fragmented spreadsheets, limited or clunky software, and physical paper, BambooHR helps you centralize your data and automate the way you complete key HR tasks. As you hire, onboard, and pay your employees, every ...Read more about BambooHR

4.6 (2747 reviews)

69 recommendations

WorkforceHub Time & Attendance

WorkforceHub is a cloud-based time, attendance, and leave management system for small to mid-size businesses. This software can capture time data from web-based clocks or physical clocks for employees onsite, mobile, and working a...Read more about WorkforceHub Time & Attendance

4.4 (30 reviews)

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Factorial

Factorial is a cloud-based human resources (HR) solution that caters to small businesses across various industry verticals. Key features include a time-off manager, an organisational chart generator, a document manager and more. ...Read more about Factorial

4.5 (252 reviews)

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ClearCompany

Since 2004, ClearCompany’s end-to-end Talent Management platform has enabled thousands of companies to maximize talent by empowering people at every stage of the employee journey. ClearCompany integrates data-driven best practices...Read more about ClearCompany

4.4 (316 reviews)

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WorkforceHub

WorkforceHub is a cloud-based time, attendance, and leave management system for small to mid-size businesses. This software can capture time data from web-based clocks or physical clocks for employees onsite, mobile, and working a...Read more about WorkforceHub

3.0 (3 reviews)

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GoCo

GoCo is a cloud-based human resources, benefits and payroll solution designed for small businesses. The platform automates the process of collecting required documents for newly hired talent, enrolling new employees in benefits pl...Read more about GoCo

4.6 (106 reviews)

32 recommendations

Dayforce HCM

Dayforce makes work life better. Everything we do as a global leader in HCM technology is focused on improving work for thousands of customers and millions of employees around the world. Our single, global people platform for HR, ...Read more about Dayforce HCM

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ITCS-WebClock

ITCS-WebClock is a cloud-based human resources solution that caters to HR, payroll and finance teams in businesses of all sizes across various industries. Key features include time and attendance tracking, absence management, expe...Read more about ITCS-WebClock

4.6 (67 reviews)

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When I Work

When I Work is a cloud-based employee scheduling solution that helps organizations track time and attendance, create and edit employee schedules, add new jobs to the calendar, review timesheets and fill shifts. When I Work le...Read more about When I Work

4.5 (1077 reviews)

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BrightHR

We are BrightHR; the only software powered by HR, health & safety, and legal experts. Everything you need to simply manage your staff, all in one place, PLUS free tools to set your business apart. We are on a mission to transform...Read more about BrightHR

4.7 (76 reviews)

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Replicon

Replicon's advanced timesheet functionality lets businesses track valuable information including check-ins/outs, task progress, and billable/non-billable hours. The invoice module allows users to build custom invoices, examine pay...Read more about Replicon

4.5 (523 reviews)

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Patriot Payroll

Basic Payroll: $17/month + $4 per employee or contractor. You run payroll and handle your tax filings. Full Service Payroll: $37/month + $4 per employee or contractor. You run payroll, but let us handle the payroll tax filings. ...Read more about Patriot Payroll

4.8 (3361 reviews)

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Greenhouse

Greenhouse is the leading hiring software for growing companies. Thousands of the most successful companies, like DoorDash, Betterment, Wayfair and DocuSign, use Greenhouse to optimize all aspects of their hiring and onboarding. W...Read more about Greenhouse

4.5 (667 reviews)

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JazzHR

JazzHR is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applicant tracking system. Founded in 2009, JazzHR provides recruiting and hiring software accessible to businesses of all sizes. JazzHR’s sourcing tools enable users to post jobs, mir...Read more about JazzHR

4.3 (469 reviews)

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Humi

Humi is a best-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits software solution for Canadian businesses. A flexible platform for all of your people operation needs, Humi stores employee data and streamlines tasks related to onboarding, time off...Read more about Humi

4.4 (104 reviews)

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Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

When running a nonprofit, managing the human resources (HR) aspect of your organization is often a huge challenge. You have to deal with full- and part-time staff as well as volunteers. Most of them don't work from the office regularly and may be located in (or frequently traveling to) other cities or states.

To top it all off, nonprofits have distinctive staffing needs. For instance, zoos and aquariums need seasonal volunteers during the holidays. Aid organizations regularly recruit local personnel in different regions or countries, while disaster relief organizations have to quickly move their personnel to affected areas.

Despite these unique needs, nonprofits don't often have huge budgets or a skilled IT team. For this reason, you need HR software that's specifically suited to nonprofit organizations.

HR software for nonprofits allows you to organize the information of each person, track attendance and time off, and automate payroll and benefits. It can streamline recruitment and manage training modules for employees and volunteers.

This guide aims to help you find the right HR software for your nonprofit. Here's what we have covered:

What is HR software for nonprofits?

HR software for nonprofits are tools for managing, recruiting, and training an organization's employees and volunteers. Some solutions, such as CiviHR, have been designed specifically for nonprofits. However, a few generic HR solutions can also suffice for the needs of most nonprofits.

An-employee-profile-in-CiviHR

An employee profile in CiviHR (Source)

HR software is broadly categorized into the following three types:

Human resource information system (HRIS): This is a tool to manage, track, and automate the core HR needs via a digital portal. It includes features such as personnel tracking, payroll, benefits, time and attendance, and recruiting. However, not all HRIS vendors offer all five features—some only offer personnel tracking or 2-3 features.

Employee-dashboard-in-BambooHR

Employee dashboard in BambooHR (Source)

Human resource management system (HRMS): This is an integrated suite that combines core HR functions with analytics. It helps you analyze trends and create reports. Though it's similar to an HRIS, an HRMS offers talent management and performance review in addition to the core HR features.

Performance-reviews-in-Namely

Performance reviews in Namely (Source)

Human capital management (HCM): This covers a wide range of core and strategic HR functions. An HCM tool can handle the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment, to management, to development, to retention. Gartner's Market Guide for HCM Suite Applications report (content available to only Gartner clients) notes that HCM features support the following four key capabilities:

  • HR administration: Organizing and managing an employee's personal information, benefits, and payroll.

  • HR service delivery: Creating an organizational knowledge base and providing access to policy and procedure guidance.

  • Talent management: Recruiting, onboarding, and managing employees as well as enabling learning and development.

  • Workforce management: Managing scheduling as well as tracking time and attendance.

HCM solutions also offer advanced analytics and reporting.

Performance-reviews-in-Namely

Succession planning in Workday (Source)

To help you understand which type of HR solution will suit your nonprofit, our HRIS vs. HRMS vs. HCM: What's the Difference? report tackles the differences and lists some of the popular solutions in the market.

Common features of HR software for nonprofits

Most HR solutions aimed at nonprofits offer the following essential features:

According to our research, these are the common features of a GPS tracking solution:

Time and attendance management

Track staff attendance and schedules in various departments, locations, and projects. Also, manage paid time-off (PTO), sick days, maternity/paternity leaves, and other absences.

Personnel tracking and management

Centralize and store staff data such as contact information, banking details, salary history, chosen benefits, and insurance plans. Also, create profiles that consolidate all their data on a single page for viewing only.

Payroll

Manage your staff's salaries and pay rates, set a payment schedule, and automate payroll runs. Also, track tax information for each individual and generate tax forms when needed.

Benefits management

Administer and manage employee benefits such as healthcare, life insurance, retirement plans, and travel compensation. Some solutions also allow staff to access their information via the self-service portals and select plans that suit them.

Applicant tracking

Manage the processes of hiring, track incoming resumes, and store data on all candidates in a central location. This information can be used to draft descriptions of new roles or analyze trends in the job market.

Staffing management

Map personnel to different departments, projects, and temporary roles. Also, get alerts when the staffing changes or staff numbers are inadequate.

Talent management

Track the key performance indicators (KPIs) for each employee and evaluate their performance. Manage their reviews and feedback. If needed, conduct behavioral and competency tests.

Reporting

Generate custom reports on various HR modules such as staffing, benefits, and payroll.

Learning and professional development

Manage ongoing staff skill development and training programs. Use the vendor's available training modules, create new training modules, or integrate with third-party learning management systems. Also, keep track of each employee's certifications.

Recruiting and hiring

Automate HR tasks such as posting job openings to multiple websites and social platforms as well as evaluating resumes. Create customized hiring workflows, manage the incoming resumes, and score applicants on multiple parameters. Also, facilitate background check, send job offers, and onboard new hires.

Employee self-service portal

Create a self-service portal for staff to access their data, perform HR tasks (i.e., request PTOs or view benefits), and train, as required. The portal should also allow them to raise tickets for IT and HR issues or queries.

Employee onboarding and exits

Automate the onboarding and exit workflows for your staff and volunteers. Allow them to sign-in via the self-service portal to start onboarding, without any assistance from an HR personnel.

Integrations

Integrate with third-party platforms that offer project management, learning and development, accounting, and other functions that tie in to the larger HR needs of your nonprofit.

Knowledge base

Create a centralized knowledge base about the policies, processes, and benefits for your staff. Embed this database in the employees' self-service portal.

What type of buyer are you?

Nonprofits of different sizes and types will have different requirements from HR software—for instance, not all of them will need the same features. Hence, you should understand your needs as a buyer before choosing a solution. In general, nonprofits that need HR software fall into one of the following categories:

  • Grassroots nonprofits: These nonprofits have an annual budget of up to $1 million. They likely have a small team of full-time employees and seasonal volunteers, based in one location. They may not have a dedicated HR or IT staff. For these reasons, these buyers can use a basic HR solution with payroll and time and attendance functionalities.

  • We recommend exploring free versions of generic HR software as well. If the free tools don't meet your basic needs, check out cloud-based solutions. The primary benefit of cloud software is that it eliminates the costs of implementing and maintaining the tool. The vendor undertakes these tasks, with the cost included in the per user monthly fee.

  • Small and midsize nonprofits: Such nonprofits have an annual budget of $2-10 million. They likely have more fixed staff and seasonal volunteers than grassroots organizations. They could be working on one or multiple projects, and be based out of one or multiple locations. They may also have dedicated HR and IT personnel and a defined budget for these functions.

  • A huge challenge for them is managing volunteers and requests for volunteering, internships, and part-time jobs. These buyers should consider cloud software that offers personnel tracking, applicant tracking, performance management, and the core HR features. Check with your vendor about enrolling the seasonal volunteers for free.

  • Large nonprofits:These buyers have an annual budget over $10 million. They have numerous full-time staff, seasonal volunteers, and part-time workers. They could have projects in more than one country that also require managing travel. They need communication tools to stay remotely connected with staff in different countries.

  • With bigger budgets, they should consider an HCM solution with numerous features, including recruiting and hiring, compensation management, and learning management. We recommend checking both on-premise and cloud-based solutions. While you can fully customize on-premise tools, cloud software allows your staff to work remotely.

Regardless of your nonprofit's size, check out our 10-step guide to selecting the right HR software and tips on saving money while buying HR software.

Benefits of HR software for nonprofits

HR software helps nonprofits create and follow a standardized process for everyday HR tasks, thus improving the organization's efficiency and effectiveness. Here's a list of the software's key benefits:

  • Manage staff and volunteers efficiently: The software makes it easy to schedule slots for your volunteers and staff so that you can maximize their hourly productivity. It also helps you avoid overstaffing or volunteers sitting idle.

  • Maintain accurate personnel records: With organized and accurate records for each employee and volunteer, you won't have to go searching for contact details, leave history, or financial details. The software prevents incorrect salary deductions or inaccurate records on health or insurance plans.

  • Automate repetitive HR tasks: If you have frequent volunteer and staff changes, you may be spending a substantial amount of time on repetitive tasks and processes such as onboarding, payroll, and expense reporting. The software can automate these tasks and save you a lot of time and effort.

  • Streamline recruitment, hiring, and staffing: The software streamlines recruiting and hiring to help you find volunteers with the right experience. It helps you prepare for seasonal staffing needs by reducing the time taken to review applicants and set up interviews. It also helps you create staffing plans for contingencies.

Key considerations when buying HR software for nonprofits

After detailing the features and benefits of the software, let's look at a few key considerations. Keep these in mind as you begin the selection and purchase process:

  • Use a features checklist: Whether you are a grassroots, small, midsize, or large nonprofit, it's important to identify what you require from the HR software. Our HR software needs cycle report will help you create a features checklist. Check the features offered by a vendor to find the right solution and avoid overpaying.

  • Review pricing and hosting models: Deciding the deployment model is crucial. Cloud solutions have no hosting costs and offer per user/month plans. On the other hand, you pay an upfront fee to host and maintain an on-premise tool on your own servers. Read our reports on HR software pricing and hosting models and typical costs of HR software.

  • Check the tool's scalability: Most vendors allow you to scale-up when your user numbers increase. But you also need to scale down when seasonal requirements end. Check with the vendor on scaling down, the time to implement, and any additional fees. Ensure that your final agreement reflects these conditions and offers you this flexibility.

  • Assess the usability: Some solutions can be "clunky" and hard to use, resulting in an unpleasant user experience. To get the maximum return on your investment, thoroughly review a solution's user experience and interface. Sign up for software demos and trials to get a feel of the tool.

  • Ask for discounts or donations: Some vendors have standing discounts for nonprofits, while others donate their software. Check out our How to Get Nonprofit Software Discounts report for more details.