TOOLS & RESOURCES
Free Software for Associations
Running an association doesn't require expensive software. These free tools cover documents, accounting and everyday writing — the work every volunteer board does.
PDFgear · Wave · Claude · More free tools
DOCUMENTS
PDFgear
Free · No sign-up
A full-featured PDF editor that's free to download and use, with no account required. Available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, plus online tools in your browser.
What it does
- Edit text, images, links and form fields in any PDF
- Highlight, comment, stamp and mark up documents
- Convert PDFs to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text and images — in batches
- Merge, split and compress files
- Fill out forms and add signatures
- Turn scanned pages into searchable, editable text with OCR
- Summarize long documents and ask questions with the built-in AI assistant
How your association can use it
- Fill out and sign membership applications, W-9s and grant forms
- Combine agendas, minutes and financial reports into one board packet
- Scan receipts and paper records into searchable PDFs for your treasurer
- Compress large files so they fit in an email
- Convert old Word bylaws and SOPs to PDF for your website
What it costs
Free for the desktop app and online tools, with no sign-up required.
ACCOUNTING
Wave
Free Starter plan
Simple, free accounting software that a volunteer treasurer can learn quickly. The free Starter plan covers the bookkeeping most associations need.
What it does
- Unlimited invoices, estimates and bills
- Unlimited bookkeeping records
- Income and expense tracking in one dashboard
- Accept online payments on invoices
- Mobile app for invoicing on the go
How your association can use it
- Record dues, event income, sponsorships and expenses
- Invoice corporate sponsors and vendors
- Track bills and what's been paid
- Build a chart of accounts set up for a non-profit membership association
- Produce the numbers for your monthly treasurer's report and annual budget
- See our accounting services →
What it costs
The Starter plan is free. Automatic bank-transaction import, branded invoices and lower card-processing fees come with the Pro plan, about $19 a month. Receipt scanning and payroll are paid add-ons, and online payments carry processing fees. Check Wave's pricing page for current rates.
WRITING & ADMIN
Claude
Free plan available
An AI assistant from Anthropic that helps busy volunteers write, summarize and organize. Use it free in your web browser, the desktop app for Mac and Windows, or the mobile app.
What it does
- Drafts letters, emails, newsletters and social posts
- Summarizes long documents, reports and meeting notes
- Searches the web and helps with research
- Creates documents and spreadsheets
- Remembers context across conversations, and organizes work into projects
How your association can use it
- Turn rough meeting notes into clean minutes
- Draft sponsor proposals, thank-you letters and newsletters
- Write letters to state legislators about your association's legislative goals
- Summarize bylaws, SOPs and long policy documents
- Build first drafts of budgets, event plans, checklists and grant applications
- Always review what it writes before you send it, and don't paste in members' sensitive personal information
What it costs
The free plan includes the web, desktop and mobile apps. The Pro plan is $20 a month, or $17 a month paid annually, for much more usage. Anthropic also offers eligible non-profits up to 75% off its Team and Enterprise plans through Claude for Nonprofits. Pricing as of October 2026.
MORE FREE TOOLS
Also worth a look
Other free or free-to-start tools we recommend for associations.
Zeffy
Free for non-profits
Free fundraising platform for donations, event tickets, memberships, online stores and auctions — with no platform or card-processing fees.
Stirling PDF
Free · Open source
An open-source PDF toolkit that can run on your own computer or server, so sensitive documents never leave your hands.
EspoCRM
Free · Open source
An open-source CRM for tracking members, sponsors and contacts, with no per-user fees when you host it yourself.
FluentCRM
Free version
An email-marketing plugin for WordPress websites — send newsletters and member updates from your own site. A paid Pro version adds automations.
Google Workspace for Nonprofits
Free for eligible orgs
Professional email at your own domain, shared drives, calendars and video meetings. Check Google's eligibility rules for your type of non-profit.
Free resources from EANGUS
For member associations
EANGUS offers free tools to its state associations. Ask about what's available to yours.
Want help getting set up?
We'll help your board pick the right tools, set them up and train your volunteers to use them.