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Many small nonprofits are rethinking their fundraising strategy, hitting a wall with tools like DonorPerfect that pack a punch but feel totally overwhelming to use. Not to mention, many fundraising software options are pricey and built for larger organizations.
In this deep dive, we break down what DonorPerfect gets right, where it falls short for small teams, and why platforms like Zeffy are stepping up to give nonprofits a simple, zero-fee fundraising solution.
There’s no doubt that DonorPerfect is full of features and capabilities. At the same time, what works well for large organizations with dedicated teams for all fundraising functions (marketing, donor relations, programming, etc.) can feel overwhelming and time-consuming for smaller scrappy teams.
Anyone managing fundraising alone or under constant pressure to do more with fewer resources might also feel the squeeze of DonorPerfect’s pricing model. For example, let’s compare it to platforms like Zeffy, which were built specifically for small nonprofits:
Zeffy
DonorPerfect
Platform cost
$0
Starts at $99/mo
Transaction fees
$0
Not available online, but the average transaction fee is between 2–3%
Every organization is different, so we put together this guide to help you determine the best choice for your team.
DonorPerfect Reviews (2025): What Nonprofits Are Saying
What is DonorPerfect?
DonorPerfect is donor management software designed to help nonprofits that need to organize a large volume of supporter data and donations, run in-depth fundraising campaigns, and generate intricate reports. It’s been around for decades and is known for its wide range of features, especially for larger organizations with complex needs.
DonorPerfect’s features received a 4.3 /5 rating on Capterra, and dive deep in several areas of fundraising like:
Donor management
Fundraising campaigns
Reporting & analytics
Mobile accessibility
Automated workflows
Integration options
Customizable dashboards
Payment processing
Event management
What are the pros and cons of DonorPerfect?
DonorPerfect pros for small nonprofits
Customer service
“The customer service is amazing. Whenever I need a complicated report, the support staff are able to walk me through until I've got what I need” - Heather S.
Robust features
“We love using DonorPerfect at the Calvert Marine Museum Development Office! It has transformed how we manage donor relationships, making it easier to track contributions, manage campaigns, and analyze our fundraising efforts.” - Lisa H.
Scalability
“The capabilities to keep up with ALL of our donors money interactions (i.e., donations, tributes, purchases, etc). Able to run reports so all departments I interact with know how much money has been raised for their department and how much for each event.” - Elaine R.
DonorPerfect cons for small nonprofits
Reporting
“There are a few aspects we like less about the software. The reporting features, though comprehensive, can be a bit tricky to customize, and we’ve found that it takes some time and practice to fully master them.” - Lisa H.
Learning curve
“There are a number of issues that seem to be systemic. For example, you cannot open two windows to look at/compare two donors, and the batch gift entry screen is hard-coded to only show you 10 rows at a time, when the window is much larger than that (and the header fields don't stay in place when you scroll down). Additi
User experience
“There is a lot to learn and typically not a lot of time to get up to speed for a new user, and a lot of 3rd-parties (partner apps/integrations) to keep track of, which feels a bit overwhelming at first.” - Corrie M.
Cost for smaller nonprofits
“We are a small non profit that does not use the majority of Donor Perfect features–It would be nice to have a streamlined version of Donor Perfect available with fewer features for a lower cost.” - Matt D.
Lack of personalization
“The receipting feature isn't as customizable, I can't edit individual messages like I can through gift profiles, but we have found a workaround that fits our gift load.” - Elizabeth O.
DonorPerfect Pricing Breakdown
For small organizations with limited budgets, it’s worth carefully weighing the platform’s features against your fundraising goals.
How much does DonorPerfect cost per month?
DonorPerfect offers several pricing plans, with monthly subscriptions starting at $99. While this entry-level plan may work for some small nonprofits, custom quotes are typically required as your needs grow.
Additionally, transaction fees apply. Though not publicly listed, you can expect to pay an average of 2–3% per donation.
This is a big reason small nonprofits feel the most impact from zero-fee fundraising. They not only use all fundraising features for free, but also gain back the money that would have gone to fees with other platforms (even those claiming to be “free”).
DonorPerfect vs Zeffy: Which Is Better for Small Teams?
Zeffy
Zeffy stands out as the top alternative to DonorPerfect for small nonprofits watching every dollar. Zeffy is built to be simple and serve the needs of smaller teams, at absolutely no cost to nonprofits.
Zeffy’s features are available without tiers or forced upgrades, and it covers all transaction fees, meaning every dollar your donors give goes directly to your mission. You still get all the features you need to grow, but nothing too complicated to even know where to begin.
Zeffy empowers small organizations to run donor-forward campaigns without sacrificing budget or impact.
More Low-Cost DonorPerfect Alternatives for Small Teams
Outside of Zeffy, finding a free alternative to DonorPerfect is challenging. However, there are a few options that may be more affordable and are worth looking at as you make your decision.
Tool
Best for
Cost
Zeffy
Small nonprofits, new fundraisers, and anyone looking to maximize fundraising budgets with 100% free fundraising
$0
DonorPerfect
Mid-size or larger organizations with complex reporting and donor management needs
Starts at $99/month + 2-3% in transaction fees
Bloomerang
Nonprofits focused on donor retention, relationship-building, and analytics with a budget for fundraising software
Starts at $125/month + 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Flipcause
Small to mid-size nonprofits with a budget for fundraising looking for an all-in-one solution with a concierge support team
Starts at $125/month + 1.5% per transaction (unless covered by donors)
Neon One
Growing nonprofits that need customizable tools and strong CRM functionality and are willing to pay a low cost
Custom platform fee quote required + up to 2.2% + $01.25 in transaction fees
Bloomerang is a donor management platform focused on increasing retention and donor engagement with organized donor records. Nonprofits looking for actionable insights to build lasting relationships enjoy the platform with user-friendly dashboards.
Key features:
Track and analyze donor behavior in a donor database
Customizable and mobile-friendly donation forms
Integrations with popular tools like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Classy
Pricing:
Core CRM plans start from $125/month up to $775/month additional features range from $40/month to $199/month + transaction fees
Flipcause is an all-in-one fundraising and donor management platform specifically built for small nonprofits. It is known for its hands-on customer support and ease of use to increase engagement and run other fundraisers. The platform includes concierge-style setup assistance and a suite of fundraising tools for a flat fee.
Key features:
Peer-to-peer fundraising
Event and campaign management
Volunteer and donor tracking for informed decisions
Website integration and hosted pages
Pricing:
Starts at $125/month (flat-rate pricing includes all features + payment processing)
Neon One’s CRM provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing donors, events, and campaigns. It’s designed for growing nonprofits and offers extensive customization options and integrations to fit unique needs that help you make more informed decisions. The cost depends on your size and the features you want to use.
Key features:
Customizable donation forms
Membership management
Event management
Pricing:
Custom quote required for platform fees + transaction fees
Finding a fundraising platform built for small nonprofits
Allegiance Color Guard switched from a solution that didn’t truly align with their needs or budget to Zeffy, the only 100% free platform for nonprofits. Not only did they raise $108,504 with full access to free features for fundraising, but they saved an additional $5K in fees their previous platform took.
Feeling the pain of a system that doesn’t consider their needs
Before switching to Zeffy, the nonprofit spent over $5,400 yearly on fundraising software. That’s money their Executive Director knew could be better spent supporting members. The tools were expensive, complex, and lacked the support small nonprofits need.
“The platforms we used didn’t talk to each other and weren’t easy for non-technical volunteers to use.” – Kirsten Miller, Executive Director
Saving $5,425 to reach more children and grow their mission
Since switching in 2023, Allegiance has moved all fundraising operations to Zeffy, saving thousands and eliminating the need to raise membership fees. Best of all, their team and supporters love it.
It depends on what you need right now. DonorPerfect has many great features, but it starts at $99/month, before you factor in transaction fees. That cost (plus the learning curve) can feel like a lot for new or smaller nonprofits.
If you’re just getting started and want something simple, affordable, and easy for your team to use, other platforms like Zeffy might be a better fit for where you are today.
Hands down, Zeffy is the best (and only) 100% free option. It’s the only platform that won’t charge transaction fees, platform fees, or costs to upgrade for features.
You still get all the fundraising essentials, such as donation forms, event registration, donor management, and email tools, but without any monthly costs.
Yes, DonorPerfect is a legitimate and trusted fundraising and donor management software used by nearly 11,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide.
DonorPerfect's pricing ranges based on the features you want to use. The pricing page can help you find the best solutions and quotes for your nonprofit.
Yes, DonorPerfect prioritizes security to protect nonprofit and donor data. The platform safeguards sensitive information through protocols, secure data storage, and compliance with data privacy regulations for safety.
Explore honest GoFundMe reviews from users and nonprofits, uncovering pros and cons, fee structures, and the best alternatives to assess your fundraising strategy.
