Best Software for Infrastructure Organisations in 2026

Infrastructure organisations juggle an unusually wide range of functions -- service directories, grant distribution, impact measurement, volunteer brokerage, member engagement, and sector representation -- typically with small teams and tight budgets. Choosing the right software is not about finding one tool that does everything perfectly, but about finding the combination that covers the most ground with the least complexity.

TL;DR: Integrated platforms like Plinth cover the largest footprint for infrastructure organisations, combining service directories, grant management, impact measurement, and partner CRM in one system. Specialist tools excel individually but create data silos. The cost of maintaining 5-7 disconnected tools often exceeds the cost of one integrated platform.

What you'll learn: What software categories matter most for infrastructure organisations, how the leading options compare, and how to evaluate platforms for your specific needs.

Who this is for: CEOs, data officers, and digital leads at infrastructure organisations evaluating software platforms.

The Software Challenge for Infrastructure Organisations

Infrastructure organisations have a distinctive technology profile. They are not frontline service delivery charities (where case management dominates) or grantmaking foundations (where grant management dominates). They need breadth across multiple functions, each of which has its own specialist software market.

A typical infrastructure organisation needs technology for:

1. Service directory -- maintaining an up-to-date, searchable directory of local VCSE organisations and services
2. Grant management -- distributing grants on behalf of local authorities or funders
3. Impact measurement -- aggregating outcome data across member organisations
4. Partner/member CRM -- managing relationships with hundreds of local organisations
5. Volunteer brokerage -- matching volunteers with opportunities
6. Communications -- newsletters, event promotion, sector bulletins
7. Room and event bookings -- if operating a community venue

NAVCA's digital survey found that the average infrastructure organisation used 6-8 different software tools, with significant duplication of data entry and limited integration between systems. Approximately 45% reported that their service directory was maintained in a spreadsheet rather than a searchable online platform.

The cost of fragmentation is measured in staff time: hours spent copying data between systems, reconciling inconsistent records, and manually compiling reports that an integrated system would generate automatically.

Platform Categories and Options

1. Integrated VCSE Platforms

Platforms designed to serve multiple infrastructure functions in a single system.

Example: Plinth

What it covers:

• AI-powered service directory with plain-language search
• Grant management with AI-assisted due diligence and application review
• Collective impact measurement across member organisations
• Partner engagement CRM
• Volunteer brokerage
• Room and event booking system
• Monitoring and reporting with AI-generated summaries

Strengths:

• Single system for most infrastructure functions
• Data flows between modules (a grant recipient automatically appears in the partner CRM; their impact data feeds into collective reporting)
• AI capabilities reduce manual work (due diligence, impact summarisation, service matching)
• Designed for the UK VCSE sector, not adapted from commercial software
• Shared platform allows member organisations to report directly

Considerations:

• Requires adoption across the organisation (not just one team)
• Member organisations need to engage with the platform for maximum value

Pricing: Accessible for infrastructure organisations; contact for details.

Best for: Infrastructure organisations wanting to consolidate multiple tools into one platform.

2. Service Directory Platforms

Dedicated platforms for maintaining searchable directories of local services.

Examples: Open Objects (now part of Access Group), ALISS (Scotland), bespoke council directories

What it covers:

• Organisation and service listings
• Category-based search
• Map-based views
• Basic reporting on directory usage

Strengths:

• Purpose-built for service listing and search
• Some integrate with NHS and social prescribing systems
• Established in the directory space with council contracts

Considerations:

• Directory-only; no grant management, impact measurement, or CRM
• Often require manual data maintenance (organisations must update their own listings or staff must do it for them)
• Search is typically category-based rather than AI-powered natural language
• Annual maintenance costs can be significant for keeping data current
• Sector experience suggests that up to 30% of directory entries become outdated within 12 months without active maintenance

Pricing: Typically £5,000-£20,000 per year depending on the area covered and contract scope.

Best for: Infrastructure organisations whose primary funded function is maintaining a local service directory, especially where there is a council contract.

3. Grant Management Systems

Platforms designed for grantmaking, relevant for infrastructure organisations that distribute funds.

Examples: Plinth, Flexi-Grant, SmartSimple, Blackbaud Grantmaking

What it covers:

• Application forms and eligibility screening
• Reviewer workflows and panel management
• Due diligence checks
• Grant agreements and payment scheduling
• Monitoring and reporting collection
• Portfolio dashboards

Strengths:

• Mature workflows for the full grant lifecycle
• Strong compliance and audit trail features
• Reporting tools for funder accountability

Considerations:

• Grant-only; do not cover service directories, CRM, or impact measurement
• May be over-engineered for small infrastructure grant programmes
• Pricing often based on application volume or grant value, which can be expensive
• Require separate tools for other infrastructure functions

Pricing: £3,000-£30,000+ per year depending on programme size and platform.

Best for: Infrastructure organisations whose primary or sole funded function is grant distribution, especially larger programmes.

4. CRM Systems

Customer relationship management platforms adapted for the VCSE sector.

Examples: Beacon, Salesforce Nonprofit, HubSpot (free tier), Microsoft Dynamics

What it covers:

• Contact and organisation management
• Interaction tracking
• Email campaigns and communications
• Event management
• Basic reporting and dashboards

Strengths:

• Strong contact management and communication tools
• Large ecosystems with integrations (especially Salesforce)
• Familiar CRM paradigm for staff with private sector experience

Considerations:

• Designed for donor/supporter relationships, not infrastructure support relationships
• Significant configuration needed for infrastructure use cases
• No service directory, grant management, or impact measurement functionality
• Salesforce Nonprofit requires specialist configuration (and often consultants)
• HubSpot free tier has limitations that quickly become apparent

Pricing: Free (HubSpot basic) to £10,000+ per year (Salesforce Nonprofit with configuration).

Best for: Infrastructure organisations primarily focused on member engagement and communications, with other functions covered by separate tools.

5. Volunteer Management Platforms

Dedicated platforms for volunteer brokerage and management.

Examples: Assemble, Better Impact, Volunteero, TeamKinetic

What it covers:

• Volunteer registration and profile management
• Opportunity listing and matching
• Hours tracking and reporting
• DBS check management
• Volunteer communications

Strengths:

• Purpose-built for volunteer management workflows
• Skills-based matching between volunteers and opportunities
• Hours tracking for corporate volunteering reporting
• Some integrate with wider systems

Considerations:

• Volunteer-only; no service directory, grant management, or CRM
• Many are designed for single-organisation volunteer management, not brokerage across a network
• Can be expensive relative to infrastructure organisation budgets
• NCVO data suggests that approximately 72% of local volunteer centres still use spreadsheets for at least some volunteer matching

Pricing: £2,000-£10,000 per year depending on volunteer volume and features.

Best for: Infrastructure organisations with a significant funded volunteer brokerage function, especially those with corporate volunteering contracts.

Feature Comparison Table

Cost of Multi-Tool Approaches

Infrastructure organisations often accumulate tools incrementally as new functions are funded. The total cost can be surprising:

This excludes the staff time spent on data entry duplication, manual reporting, and managing multiple vendor relationships. An integrated platform covering most of these functions typically costs significantly less than the sum of its parts.

Evaluation Criteria for Infrastructure Organisations

When assessing platforms, prioritise criteria that reflect infrastructure-specific needs:

Essential:

• Covers at least 3-4 of your core functions in a single platform
• UK data residency and GDPR compliance
• Accessible pricing for VCSE sector organisations
• Member/partner organisations can access the system (not just your team)
• Reporting that aggregates data across your network

Important:

• AI features that reduce manual data entry and analysis
• Service directory with natural language search (not just categories)
• Mobile-friendly for partner organisations and volunteers
• Data export for funder reporting
• Training and onboarding support

Desirable:

• Integration with existing tools (email, finance, social media)
• Customisable branding for your local area
• API access for data sharing with council systems
• Community of practice with other infrastructure organisations using the same platform

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to implement a new platform?

For an integrated platform like Plinth, expect 4-8 weeks from sign-up to operational use. This includes data migration from existing systems, staff training, and initial setup of service directory listings, grant programmes, and partner profiles. Phased rollout (starting with the most critical function) is recommended.

How do we get member organisations to use a new platform?

Start with value. If the platform makes it easier for members to find funding opportunities, report their impact, or list their services, they have a reason to engage. Mandating use without demonstrating value typically fails. Provide training, offer support during the transition, and celebrate early adopters.

Can we migrate data from our existing tools?

Most platforms support data import from CSV/Excel files. Service directory listings, member contact details, grant records, and volunteer databases can typically be migrated. Clean your data before migration -- duplicates and outdated records are easier to fix before import than after.

What if we only need a service directory?

If your funded function is solely to maintain a local service directory, a dedicated directory platform may be sufficient. However, if you also distribute grants, measure impact, or manage volunteers -- even on a small scale -- an integrated platform will save time and improve data quality.

Is there funding available for technology?

Several funders support digital transformation in the VCSE sector. The National Lottery Community Fund, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation have all funded technology adoption. Some local authorities include technology costs in infrastructure contracts. The Charity Digital Skills Report 2024 found that only a quarter of charities were able to access funding that covered any digital costs, suggesting this is an area of underinvestment.

Recommended Next Pages

• What Is a Local Infrastructure Organisation? -- The definitive guide to infrastructure organisations.

• How Infrastructure Organisations Can Track Collective Impact -- Measuring outcomes across your network.

• How to Coordinate a Network of Local Charities -- Practical strategies for network coordination.

• Infrastructure Organisations Use Case -- See how Plinth supports infrastructure organisations.

• Plinth for Infrastructure Organisations -- Tailored platform features for LIOs.

Last updated: February 2026

For a demonstration of Plinth for infrastructure organisations, contact our team or schedule a demo.