New/Mode

New/Mode is advocacy software for nonprofits, unions and campaign organizers bringing supporters into contact with decision-makers. It is a strong fit for groups that want petitions, multi-channel outreach and fundraising in one platform. Smaller campaigns can start free, but donation fees and contact thresholds make plan economics worth checking early.

Overview

Supporters can reach decision-makers by email, phone, social media or letters to the editor. New/Mode also includes advocacy analytics, SMS messaging and fundraising, making it relevant to organizations coordinating different kinds of civic action. That breadth is useful, though groups focused on a single channel may find a broader campaign platform more than they need.

New/Mode says its database targets government decision-makers. Its published eligibility rules exclude use to promote illegal activity, restrict civil or minority rights, or promote hateful speech, among other restrictions.

Key features

Campaigns and integrations

The free Individual plan includes Smart Petitions, unlimited email blasts, email-your-rep campaigns and social media advocacy tools. This gives activists a way to try several core campaign formats without a subscription, although the free tier has a hard cap: when donations are turned off, an upgrade or add-on is required after 500 contacts; connecting a payment processor such as Stripe also triggers that requirement.

CRM integrations include Salesforce, Action Network, NationBuilder, EveryAction, HubSpot, iMIS, ActionKit, and Blackbaud & Raiser’s Edge. WordPress, Drupal and Squarespace integrations connect websites, while Mailchimp supports email marketing. The fully RESTful, OSDI-compliant API may suit organizations connecting New/Mode to other systems.

Security and support

New/Mode describes technical, administrative and physical safeguards for personal data. Its privacy policy places application and database servers with Amazon Web Services in Canada, with encrypted database backups stored with DigitalOcean in Canada. Support ranges from self-service on Individual and Grassroots to email support on Teams and priority support with a 48-hour response on Movement Builder+.

Pricing

Individual is free forever, with unlimited contacts, the core advocacy tools and self-service help. Its donation fees are 100% via Boost or 19% via Stripe Connect, so free access may be a poor fit for active fundraising. The 500-contact hard cap also matters if donations are off, and connecting Stripe triggers the upgrade-or-add-on requirement.

Grassroots costs $13 per month and includes 1,000 contacts, then $2 per 1,000, with donations charged 4% plus Stripe fees. It is aimed at small organizations; the higher contact allowance comes with ongoing list-based costs.

Teams costs $109 per month and includes 2,000 contacts, then $1.75 per 1,000, three admin users and donation fees of 2.5% plus Stripe fees. It suits groups needing multiple administrators, but its base allowance and seat count may constrain larger teams.

Movement Builder+ starts at $349+ and scales with a list of 5,000+ contacts. It includes five admin users and custom donation rates down to 0.5%, with priority support and a 48-hour response. This is the tier for medium- to large-sized organizations and nonprofits that need scale; its custom, list-dependent pricing calls for a closer fit assessment.

Platforms

New/Mode is available on the web and through an API. That combination supports browser-based campaign work and integrations, but the published platform options do not include a mobile app.

Who it's for

New/Mode is best suited to nonprofits, unions and advocacy campaigns that need supporter outreach, petitions and fundraising together, particularly when CRM connections matter. Individual is for activists testing the platform; Grassroots targets small organizations, while Movement Builder+ is intended for medium- to large-sized organizations and nonprofits. Campaigns with larger lists, several administrators or substantial donation volume should compare the relevant contact and processing charges before settling on a tier.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Individual includes petitions, unlimited email blasts, email-your-rep and social advocacy tools at no subscription cost, giving activists several campaign formats to start with.
• Pros: CRM, website and email-marketing integrations, plus a RESTful, OSDI-compliant API, support organizations connecting campaign work to other systems.
• Cons: The free tier’s 500-contact rule when donations are off, and its payment-processor trigger, can force an upgrade or add-on earlier than a free label suggests.
• Cons: Donation charges vary by plan and payment route; free Individual has a 100% Boost fee or 19% via Stripe Connect, while paid plans add percentage fees and Stripe costs.
• Cons: Teams and Movement Builder+ limit administrator seats to three and five, respectively, so organizations with larger admin groups should account for that constraint.

Alternatives

Advocacy Software is the category directory for comparing advocacy tools.

• Changemaker Lite may suit organizations seeking a self-hosted option with unlimited users and data, all 45+ campaign tools and community support.
• CORE Software is an alternative for groups that prefer an open-source solution built on WordPress and CiviCRM.
• One Click Politics offers a free bill-tracking plan for one bill, with movement alerts and calibrated odds of passage; its advocacy software is custom-priced.
• Action Network is another option for grassroots activists, with free tools and a Movement plan starting at $15 per month, billed by email usage with a $15 monthly minimum.
• DearMEP is free software from the digital-rights NGO epicenter.works, with no license fees and scalable phone-call costs covered by the operator.
• Rally Starter is a freemium alternative with a free-forever Starter Rally plan.
• Action Builder offers a free volunteer-leader tier and an $80-per-month admin-user plan, making its per-user pricing relevant to teams comparing seat costs.
• The Policy Platform has a free AUD plan for individuals and first-time advocates, including decision-maker discovery, a Government Readiness Tool and media monitoring.

Verdict

Choose New/Mode if your nonprofit, union or campaign needs several supporter-to-decision-maker channels, petitions and fundraising connected to its broader systems. Its strongest case is the range of advocacy tools and integrations, including a free starting tier. Look elsewhere if the free contact and payment rules or the paid plans’ donation charges do not fit your campaign economics.