Takeaways from Inspire’s Canva for Nonprofits Workshop

The Inspire design team recently had the opportunity to present at the Forum for Nonprofit Leaders hosted by Heartland Bank. As designers, we are usually the ones creating the presentations, not giving them, so it was exciting to step out from behind the scenes and share our expertise with nonprofit professionals. We enjoyed connecting with local leaders and discussing some ways Canva can help nonprofits grow by creating effective, professional communications, marketing materials, social media content and more.

Here are my top takeaways from the session:

1. Canva is Free for Nonprofits
Eligible nonprofit organizations can access Canva Pro and all its features for free! Nonprofit organizations can submit an application on Canva’s website to get their organization verified. Once verified, they will be able to use Canva Pro to its fullest extent at no cost to their organization.

2. Strong branding builds trust and recognition
A consistent visual identity, including logos, colors, fonts, helps nonprofits stand out and create a lasting impression. Canva's Brand Kit makes it easy for users to set up, create and keep materials cohesive across teams and projects. It centralizes branding assets so they are always accessible while designing, helping ensure consistency across all content.

3. Canva is a powerful and affordable tool for marketing

Canva provides an accessible way to create professional-quality content without a large budget. Social media graphics, flyers, presentations, videos, infographics and posters are just a few examples of materials that can be created in Canva. The platform offers pre-set sizes and templates for print and digital materials, an extensive asset library and other tools that make marketing your nonprofit easier and more affordable than ever.

4. Templates save time while maintaining quality
Canva's library of customizable templates allows organizations to create polished materials quickly and efficiently. However, it is important to make templates your own by updating colors, fonts, imagery, and other elements to align with your brand. Templates work best as a starting point for inspiration. Ensuring every piece of content reflects your brand helps maintain consistency and strengthens your organization's message.

5. Great visuals help you tell your story
Engaging graphics, videos, and data visualizations can make complex information easier to understand and help nonprofits connect with supporters in meaningful ways. Use social media carousel posts to break down information into bite-sized bits, create short form videos such as Reels to draw audiences in and display key data in a well-designed infographic. Design tools like Canva can help elevate your visual presence while maintaining brand consistency, making it easier to attract attention and keep audiences engaged.

We appreciated the opportunity to step out of our usual roles and share some insights with the community. We look forward to seeing how local nonprofits use Canva’s tools to create strong brands that break through the noise.