Design is essential for any mission-driven organization, but paying for tools like Canva Pro can add up. The good news? Adobe Express offers a completely free premium plan for nonprofits and it includes many of the same (and sometimes better) features.

If you’re looking to elevate your storytelling without stretching your budget, here’s why Adobe Express is worth trying.

1. It’s Actually Free for Eligible Nonprofits

Adobe Express partners with TechSoup to offer free access to its premium plan for verified nonprofits. That means you get access to thousands of templates, premium fonts, stock photos, and brand tools at no cost.

To qualify, you just need to register your organization with TechSoup and apply for Adobe’s nonprofit program. It usually takes a few days to get approved, and once you’re in, you’ll have full access to the premium version.

2. It Works Just Like Canva

If you’re already familiar with Canva, you’ll feel right at home. Adobe Express uses drag-and-drop design tools and has templates for everything from social posts and event flyers to presentations and fundraising materials.

The interface is intuitive and built for people without design backgrounds, making it easy to create professional-looking content quickly.

3. Built-In Brand Tools Help You Stay Consistent

Consistency helps people recognize and trust your organization. Adobe Express lets you upload your logo, set your colors, and save your fonts so every design stays on-brand.

This is especially helpful if you have multiple team members creating content or volunteers helping out. No more guessing which blue to use or which logo file to upload.

4. Seamless Integration with Other Adobe Tools

If your organization already uses Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, or Illustrator, Adobe Express integrates smoothly with those tools. You can import assets, make quick edits, and export your final designs easily.

Even if you don’t use the full Adobe suite, Express makes it simple to download your files in the formats you need for print or web.

5. Great for Social Media and Campaigns

Adobe Express includes a social media scheduler, resizing tools, and ready-to-go templates for major platforms. You can create a single graphic and quickly adapt it for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or your newsletter.

This makes it perfect for campaigns where you need to communicate your message across multiple channels quickly.

How to Get Started

1. Visit adobe.com/express/nonprofits

2. Register or verify your organization through TechSoup

3. Get access to the free premium plan and start designing

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a big budget to create strong visuals for your mission. With Adobe Express’s free nonprofit plan, you can make your storytelling more impactful, consistent, and professional without paying for Canva Pro.

If you want your designs to match the quality of your work, Adobe Express is a great place to start.