Free Tools & Resources for Church Leaders
At Clarkston UMC, we believe in supporting the broader church community. Here are some free tools and resources we use and recommend to help churches of all sizes operate more effectively.
Technology We Use
HEIC to JPG Converter
One practical challenge we face regularly: iPhone photos come in HEIC format, which doesn't always work in bulletins, email newsletters, or older systems. We use FastHEIC to quickly convert photos—it works right in your browser, so your photos stay private and never get uploaded to a server. Essential for volunteer photographers and communications teams.
Google Workspace for Nonprofits
We use the free Google Workspace grant, which gives us access to Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and more—all with custom @clarkstonumc.org email addresses. This has been invaluable for collaboration among staff and ministry teams. Eligible nonprofits get this completely free (normally $6-12/user/month).
Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits
We also utilize Microsoft's nonprofit program for discounted access to Office apps, Teams, and cloud storage. Between Google and Microsoft's offerings, churches can get enterprise-level productivity tools at little to no cost.
Church Management & Communication Tools
Running a church requires juggling many moving parts—member databases, event planning, volunteer coordination, communications, and more. Beyond the productivity suites we use, there are dozens of other free and discounted software solutions available to churches and nonprofits, from worship planning tools to donor management systems.
For a comprehensive list of 84+ free software resources, technology grants, and tools specifically for churches and nonprofits, visit Church Software Directory. Categories include:
- Church Management Software (ChMS)
- Volunteer Management
- Fundraising & Donor Management
- Website Builders
- Communication Tools
- Worship & Media Tools
- Technology Grants (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon AWS, and more)
Why We're Sharing This
Every dollar saved on software is a dollar that can go toward ministry. These tools have helped us serve our community more effectively, and we hope they'll do the same for your church.
