Choosing the right fundraising platform is crucial for any nonprofit, charity, or cause-based organization looking to raise money online. With so many options out there, how do you know which one is the best fit for your organization? In this comprehensive guide, we will compare the most popular fundraising platforms based on features, pricing, ease-of-use, and more to help you make an informed decision.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing a Fundraising Platform
When evaluating fundraising platforms, here are some of the key factors to consider:
- Features – What tools and capabilities does the platform offer to help you fundraise? Look for key features like peer-to-peer fundraising, donation forms, email marketing, reporting, etc.
- Pricing – What fees and transaction costs does the platform charge? Make sure the pricing aligns with your fundraising budget.
- Reputation & Reviews – What do other nonprofits and charities say about the platform? Look for positive reviews and feedback.
- Customer Support – How responsive is the company’s customer support? You want to choose a platform with excellent support.
- Ease-of-Use – Is the platform intuitive and easy to navigate? It should be simple for your team to start using right away.
- Integrations – Does the platform integrate with tools you already use like CRMs, email marketing software, etc? Integrations can streamline your processes.
- Customization – Can you customize the branding, donation pages, emails, etc. to match your nonprofit? More customization gives a more cohesive experience.
Keeping these factors in mind will help you objectively evaluate different fundraising platforms and find the right solution. Now let’s compare some of the top options.
Fundraising Platform Comparison
1. NeonCRM
NeonCRM is an all-in-one nonprofit CRM and fundraising platform designed specifically for charities and nonprofits.
Key Features
- Donation forms
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Event registration
- Email marketing
- Membership management
- Donor management
- Robust reporting
- Integrates with QuickBooks
Pricing
NeonCRM uses a tiered pricing model based on number of contacts, starting at $159/month for up to 5,000 contacts. Higher tiers are available.
Ease of Use
The platform uses a drag-and-drop form builder making it simple for non-technical users. The interface is clean and intuitive.
Customization
You can fully customize branding, pages, and automations. Flexible API also allows for advanced customization.
Reviews
NeonCRM is highly rated by users on third-party sites like Capterra and G2Crowd. They receive praise for excellent customer support and device optimization.
2. Give Lively
Give Lively is a donation management platform built for modern nonprofits.
Key Features
- Donation forms
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Text-to-Give campaigns
- Giving day capabilities
- Integrated payment processing
- Donor management
Pricing
Give Lively has a flat monthly fee starting at $99/month. Transaction fees are 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. Higher pricing tiers are available.
Ease of Use
The drag-and-drop interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Limited customizations though.
Customization
Branding, forms, and emails can be customized. But overall customization is more limited compared to other platforms.
Reviews
Give Lively earns positive reviews for their excellent customer service, clean interface, and text-to-give capabilities. One drawback mentioned is the limited integration capabilities.
3. Classy
Classy is a cloud-based fundraising platform designed for nonprofits. They focus on modern and innovative fundraising.
Key Features
- Online donation forms
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Event registration and ticketing
- E-commerce
- Email marketing
- CRM and donor management
Pricing
Classy uses a percentage fee model. Plans start at 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Higher tiers available with volume discounts.
Ease of Use
The interface is intuitive with drag-and-drop, and extensive help documentation.
Customization
Highly customizable branding, pages, and automation. Flexible API for customization.
Reviews
Many positive reviews praise Classy’s excellent analytics and reporting. Complaints mention the high transaction fees.
4. Raiser’s Edge
Raiser’s Edge is a longtime industry-leading fundraising CRM geared for larger nonprofits. Now offered as a cloud platform.
Key Features
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Online forms
- Event management
- Email marketing
- Comprehensive CRM and donor management
- Robust analytics and reporting
- Integrates with accounting software
Pricing
Contact for pricing. Scales based on number of users and features needed. Significant investment likely required.
Ease of Use
The interface can be overwhelming for casual users. Significant training required to utilize all features.
Customization
Highly customizable to match brand, but requires technical expertise. Open API for systems integration.
Reviews
The depth of features and analytics is matched by poor usability. Pricing is seen as high, aimed at larger nonprofits.
5. DonorPerfect
DonorPerfect is an integrated platform combining fundraising software with CRM and marketing automation.
Key Features
- Online donation forms
- Event management
- Email marketing
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
- Membership management
- Robust donor management
Pricing
Starts at $99/month with a 100 donation limit. Transaction fees are 2.2% + $0.30.Expensive compared to other platforms.
Ease of Use
Dated interface with some navigational challenges. Significant learning curve.
Customization
Fully customizable branding and templates, but requires technical skills.
Reviews
Many reviews cite difficulty using the platform without extensive training. But depth of features and donation management capabilities are positives.
Conclusions
When reviewing the top fundraising platforms, a few key themes emerge:
- NeonCRM stands out as the most well-rounded platform offering a full suite of modern fundraising tools combined with CRM and marketing automation.
- Give Lively is ideal for nonprofits focused on online donations and peer-to-peer fundraising with their innovative text-to-give capabilities.
- Classy shines when it comes to event management and fundraising campaigns with excellent reporting built-in.
- Raiser’s Edge is the enterprise-level choice offering maximum features and customization aimed at large organizations.
- DonorPerfect can manage all donation processes but lags behind on ease-of-use and user experience.
The right solution depends on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and technical expertise. Defining your must-have features and ideal workflow will help you determine which platform is the best fit to help you achieve fundraising success. Reach out to the company for demos and utilize free trials to experience the platform firsthand before making your final selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important fundraising platform features?
Some of the most important features to look for include: easy donation setup with custom forms, peer-to-peer fundraising tools, email marketing capabilities, comprehensive reporting and analytics, CRM and donor management, mobile optimization, and flexibility to integrate with other software platforms.
How much do fundraising platforms cost?
Pricing can range from $50/month up to $500+/month depending on features, number of users, and number of contacts/donors managed. Some charge flat monthly fees while others charge percentage + transaction fees. Many offer discounts for annual subscriptions and nonprofits.
Are fundraising platforms worth it for small nonprofits?
Yes, fundraising platforms level the playing field allowing smaller nonprofits to utilize the same tools and automation as larger organizations. Just be sure to choose a platform aligned with your budget and needs. Many offer discounted pricing for smaller nonprofits.
What is unique about NeonCRM?
NeonCRM stands out by offering an all-in-one platform combining CRM, fundraising, email marketing, and automation specifically designed for nonprofits. The level of baked-in best practices and processes for managing donors and fundraising makes it user-friendly.
What is Give Lively best for?
Give Lively excels at peer-to-peer and social fundraising. For organizations that do “fun-raisers”, walks, galas, and want easy text-to-give campaigns – Give Lively integrates these seamlessly.
When should you consider Classy?
Classy shines for nonprofits that host events/fundraisers and want beautiful event pages and ticketing built-in. The fundraising campaign focus and real-time reporting also appeals to data-driven organizations.
Who is Raiser’s Edge designed for?
Raiser’s Edge is optimized for much larger, enterprise nonprofits with big budgets and teams. The extensive features and customization capabilities provide maximum flexibility but also more complexity.
Why choose DonorPerfect?
Great for established nonprofits with a focus on donor relations and retention. Provides comprehensive tools to nurture and communicate with existing recurring donors and grow those relationships.
In Conclusion
Picking the right fundraising platform is an important decision that can have a big impact on your nonprofit’s success. Defining your needs, researching options, reading reviews, and trying free trials will help you determine the best choice. Factoring in capabilities, ease-of-use, and pricing will ensure the platform aligns with your resources. Investing in the right technology provides fundraising efficiency allowing you to focus on your mission.