9 best fundraising sites for nonprofits and individuals
Zeffy: Best for nonprofit fundraising
Zeffy is a cutting-edge free fundraising site that helps nonprofits raise money and make a lasting impact with world-class fundraising tools — for free (plus no hidden fees).
From completely free donor management to comprehensive marketing and engagement tools, Zeffy never charges a cent. That means that nonprofits can create an online fundraiser, manage event registration, create raffles and lotteries, host events, and even collect donations all from one place, without ever having to pay a platform or processing fee.
User-friendly, simple, and effective, Zeffy gives nonprofits all the tools they need to start raising money — whether through crowdfunding campaigns, matching donations, or using a simple online donation form.
Beloved by thousands of nonprofits around the globe for its dedication to helping make more impact, for less, Zeffy is the only online fundraising platform that will never charge you a penny.
Why Zeffy is best for fundraising:
- Sell and manage event tickets
- Create customizable donation forms
- Engage and manage donors
- Create an online store
- Manage and sell memberships
- Host raffles and lotteries
- Accept multiple payment types
- Host peer-to-peer campaigns
Pricing & fees:
While every other donation platform takes fees away from your mission, Zeffy delivers 100% of it to your nonprofit. That means you can raise money and run successful campaigns all for free.
Here’s how it works: When someone makes a donation on your fundraising form, they have the option (but are never obliged) to give to Zeffy. Not everyone gives every time and that's okay. Enough donors, though, leave a contribution that covers overhead and fees, so nonprofits never pay anything.
In short: Nonprofits never have to worry about paying for a feature or transaction with Zeffy—ever. A free account with Zeffy is a free account for life.
GoFundMe: Best for emergency relief efforts
GoFundMe is a popular and widely recognized crowdfunding site. Unlike other fundraising softwares, GoFundMe is designed to help individuals raise funds for both personal and charitable needs. With its extensive reach and social sharing tools, it has become a go-to platform for people seeking financial support during times of crisis or hardship.
Why choose GoFundMe for fundraising:
- Simple campaign setup process
- Mobile app for easy campaign management on the go
- Option to withdraw funds quickly via bank transfer or debit card
- Simple social sharing
Pricing & fees:
While launching a fundraiser is free, donations are subject to transaction fees of up to 2.9% + $0.30.
→ Check out these GofundMe alternatives here.
Fundly: Best for crowdfunding
Fundly is a versatile fundraising platform that caters to both individuals and nonprofits, offering a wide range of features to support various fundraising initiatives. From customizable campaign pages to built-in social sharing tools, Fundly empowers users to create engaging and impactful fundraising campaigns with ease.
Why choose Fundly or fundraising:
- Customizable campaign pages
- Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities
- Integration with popular social media platforms
- Dedicated support and resources for nonprofits
Pricing:
0% platform fee, 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee
Givebutter: Best for social fundraising
Givebutter is a modern fundraising website designed to simplify the process of organizing and managing fundraising events and campaigns. With its easy-to-use event ticketing and online management system, Givebutter makes it easy for nonprofit organizations and individuals to engage supporters and raise funds for their causes.
Why choose Givebutter for fundraising:
- Social media style supporter feeds
- Peer-to-peer gamification tools
- Donors can cover fees
- Seamless event ticketing and registration tools
- Real-time donation tracking and reporting
- Integration with popular payment gateways
Pricing:
0% platform fee plus up to 2.9% + 30¢ in processing fees
> Zeffy vs. Givebutter: Find Out Which Fundraising Site is Best for Your Nonprofit
Donorbox: Best for recurring donations
Donorbox is a user-friendly donation platform that caters specifically to nonprofits, offering a suite of tools to streamline the donation process and maximize fundraising efforts. From customizable donation forms to robust donor management features, Donorbox provides nonprofits with everything they need to raise funds online.
Why choose Donorbox for fundraising:
- Self-managed recurring donations
- Custom donation forms
- Donor management tools for tracking and engaging supporters
- Integration with popular CRMs and email marketing platforms
Pricing & fees:
$0–$139+/month, 1.5% platform fee, and up to 2.2% + 49¢ in processing fees
Classy: Best for event fundraising
Classy is a comprehensive fundraising platform that caters exclusively to nonprofits, providing them with the tools and resources needed to drive sustainable growth and impact. From peer-to-peer fundraising to event management, Classy offers a range of features to help nonprofits raise more effectively online.
Why choose Classy for fundraising:
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Built-in event management tools
- Donor management and engagement tools
- Crowdfunding tools
Pricing:
Custom quote required, and up to 2.5% + $0.30 in processing fees.
Kickstarter: Best for startup businesses
Kickstarter is a leading crowdfunding platform known for its focus on creative projects and innovative ideas. Whether you're an artist, inventor, or entrepreneur, Kickstarter provides a platform to showcase your vision and raise funds from a global community of backers who are passionate about supporting creativity and innovation.
Why choose Kickstarter for fundraising:
- Easy to launch
- Access to a large community of backers and supporters
- Project verification process to ensure quality and authenticity
Pricing & fees:
Up to 5% of total funds raised, plus processing fees between 3% and 5%
FundRazr: Best for personal fundraising
FundRazr is a versatile crowdfunding platform that caters to individuals, nonprofits, and community organizations seeking to raise funds for a variety of causes. With its easy-to-use interface and robust fundraising tools, FundRazr empowers users to create impactful campaigns and mobilize support from their networks.
Why choose FundRazr for fundraising:
- Social sharing tools for maximizing campaign visibility
- Integration with popular payment gateways
- Dedicated support and resources for campaign organizers
Pricing & fees:
0% platform fees plus up to 2.9% + $0.30 in processing fees
Bonfire: Best for apparel fundraising
Bonfire is a unique fundraising platform that enables individuals to raise funds by selling custom apparel and merchandise. Whether you're raising funds for a personal cause or supporting a charitable organization, Bonfire provides a hassle-free way to design and sell custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise to your supporters
Why choose Bonfire for fundraising:
- Easy-to-use design tool for creating custom apparel
- No upfront costs or inventory management required
- Dedicated support for campaign organizers
- Integration with popular social media platforms
Pricing & fees:
Up to 8% to 3.5% in processing fees
How to compare different fundraising websites
Before jumping into feature comparisons, you'll first need to consider your goals and target audience when determining the right fundraising site:
- Identify your fundraising goals: Determine whether you're raising funds for personal needs, charitable causes, creative projects, or nonprofit initiatives.
- Consider your target audience: Some platforms may have a niche audience or specialize in particular types of fundraising campaigns. Choose a platform that aligns with the interests and preferences of your potential donors or backers.
The top features to look at when choosing a fundraising site
When choosing the best fundraising software you’ll want to assess features, ease of use, support, and costs.
Features and functionality
- Customization: Look for platforms that offer customizable campaign pages, allowing you to tell your story effectively and engage supporters.
- Fundraising tools: Evaluate the platform's fundraising tools, such as peer-to-peer fundraising, event management, crowdfunding, recurring donations, and social sharing capabilities, to determine if they meet your needs. Plus, be sure the platform can handle multiple campaigns, too.
- Donor management: Consider platforms that provide robust donor management features, including donor data tracking, communication tools, and reporting analytics, to help you cultivate relationships with your supporters.
- Payment processing: Check the platform's payment processing options, fees, and security measures to ensure seamless and secure online fundraising.
- Reporting and analytics: Look for platforms that offer robust reporting and analytics features to track fundraising performance, donor demographics, donation trends, and campaign outcomes. Access to actionable insights empowers you to optimize your fundraising strategies and measure success effectively.
- Event fundraising: Assess whether the platform offers tools for organizing and managing fundraising events, such as ticket sales, RSVP tracking, event promotion, and attendee management. (Check out awesome fundraising ideas here)
- Donor engagement: Look for platforms that offer built-in communication tools, such as email templates, newsletters, and personalized messaging capabilities. Effective communication tools enable you to engage donors, share updates about your organization's impact, and express gratitude for their support.
- Extra bells and whistles: The best online fundraising software offers lots of extra tools and gadgets, so you never have to leave the platform. Consider using a solution that offers raffle and lottery software, membership management, and even an online store for nonprofits.
Ease of use
- User interface: Assess the platform's user interface and ease of navigation, ensuring that it's intuitive and user-friendly for both campaign organizers and donors.
- Campaign setup process: Look for platforms with straightforward campaign setup processes, allowing you to create and launch your fundraising campaign quickly and efficiently.
- Integrations: Choose platforms that offer integration with popular social media platforms, enabling you to leverage your social networks and amplify your campaign's reach.
Support and resources
- Customer support: Evaluate the platform's customer support options, including email, phone, and live chat support, as well as online resources such as FAQs, tutorials, and guides.
- Educational resources: Look for platforms that provide educational resources, fundraising tips, best practices, and success stories to help you optimize your fundraising efforts.
Cost and fees
- Platform/monthly fees: Compare the platform's fees, including platform fees, and any additional charges, to ensure that they align with your budget and fundraising goals.
- Payment processing fees: Consider the platform's credit card payment processing fees, including transaction fees and processing rates, to understand the total cost of fundraising on the platform.
Learn how this nonprofit saved $10,000 in fees by switching from Eventbrite to Zeffy
The University of Ottawa’s Annual Campaign plays an important role in the effective stewardship of the University of Ottawa.
The organization’s goal is to raise $2.5M every year and even reach $4M in 2025 through their “Re-imagine Campaign.” But with such an enormous fundraising goal, this nonprofit needed to find a fundraising solution that would help them easily raise money, and avoid paying thousands of dollars in fees. Though their current solution, Eventbrite, was great for organizing fundraising events, they found the platform to be limited and expensive.
The solution? Zeffy — the only completely fee-free fundraising platform for nonprofits,
Zeffy replaced Eventbrite’s event tools with an even more robust ticketing and event management solution. With Zeffy, uOttawa was able to save over $10k in fees and has raised more than $200,000 through more than 30 campaigns since 2021.
From peer-to-peer campaigns, donation campaigns, and donation forms, Zeffy has helped uOttawa skyrocket into success.
Which fundraising site is best?
When choosing fundraising software, it’s important to consider your goals, the cost, and the features available—plus customer support and user-friendliness.
Unlike other software solutions, Zeffy is the only true, 100% free donation platform that lets nonprofits centralize all of their fundraising efforts into one place. With customizable donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities, and an online store for nonprofits—and so much more—Zeffy is designed to help anyone make more impact, for less.
Did we mention we’re 100% free?
