E-signatures for non-profits

Non-profits need e-signatures but usually have tight budgets. Here's how to make it work.

Document types

• Grant agreements (from foundations/government)
• Board consents and resolutions
• Volunteer agreements and waivers
• Employment agreements
• Vendor contracts
• Fundraising pledge forms
• Major donor acknowledgments
• Partnership agreements with other nonprofits
• IRS Form 990 authorizations

Budget-conscious approach

Most nonprofits can run entirely on:

• SignBolt Free (5 envelopes/mo) — enough for many small nonprofits
• SignBolt Pro ($9/mo) — unlimited for one user
• SignBolt Business Bundle ($79/mo) — entire staff covered

Compared to DocuSign ($45+/mo/user), the savings add up fast for teams of 5+.

Discounted pricing for nonprofits

Many platforms offer nonprofit discounts:

• DocuSign: up to 30% off for 501(c)(3)s
• HelloSign: 50% off for qualifying nonprofits
• SignBolt: 40% off all tiers for registered 501(c)(3) and Australian DGR nonprofits (apply via sales@signbolt.au)

Workflow: grant management

1. Foundation emails grant agreement 2. ED reviews, drafts counter or accepts 3. E-sign via SignBolt; countersigned by foundation 4. Funds disbursed; reporting obligations tracked 5. All documents retained per IRS requirements (typically 3-7 years)

Board governance

Quarterly board meetings generate:

• Meeting minutes (signed by secretary)
• Resolutions (signed by board chair)
• Consent-in-lieu-of-meeting documents (signed by all directors)

SignBolt's sequential signing workflow handles board consents cleanly.

Volunteer management

Volunteer agreements + waivers:

• Bulk send to all volunteers annually
• Mobile signing for quick turnaround at events
• Audit trail for liability protection

Compliance

• IRS 501(c)(3) record keeping — Form 990 supporting records
• State charitable solicitation registration — state-by-state
• Donor privacy — fundraising ethics codes

Next

• Non-profit board consent workflow
• Volunteer waiver templates