Many nonprofits have begun to include crowdfunding in their nonprofit fundraising efforts. Crowdfunding is an effective way for organizations to generate funding as well as reach new donors.
Fortunately, crowdfunding platforms have evolved to better serve nonprofits, offering features and benefits tailored to help them reach a larger audience, engage with supporters, and secure financial support. This article explores the seven best crowdfunding platforms for nonprofits, examining their unique features, pricing, and success stories to help you choose the right one for your organization.
Top Nonprofit Crowdfunding Platforms
Crowdfunding has revolutionized the way nonprofits raise money, allowing them to reach a wider audience, inspire supporters, and secure funds to make a difference. This article takes a closer look at the top nonprofit crowdfunding platforms, examining their key features, pricing, and success stories. By exploring platforms that cater to nonprofits, you’ll gain a better understanding of the crowdfunding landscape and be equipped to choose the right platform for your nonprofit’s unique needs and goals.
- GoFundMe: Best Crowdfunding Platform Overall
- CauseVox: Best Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Features
- Fundly: Best for Event Fundraising
- FundRazr: Best for Large Nonprofits
- Classy: Most Advanced Platform
- Donorbox: Best Donor Management Features
- Givebutter: Best Free Fundraising Tool
1. GoFundMe
GoFundMe is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms, known for its ease of use and wide reach. While it’s not designed specifically for nonprofits, many organizations use GoFundMe to raise money for their causes. The platform allows you to create simple, yet effective, campaign pages and offers built-in social sharing tools to help you promote your fundraiser. GoFundMe also offers a mobile app, making it easy for supporters to donate on the go.
Key Features
- Simple, user-friendly campaign pages
- Built-in social sharing tools to help expand your reach
- Mobile app for easy on-the-go donations
- Ability to withdraw funds quickly and easily
Pricing
GoFundMe charges a 2.9% + $0.30 fee for each donation processed. There are no monthly or setup fees.
2. CauseVox
CauseVox is a fundraising platform designed for nonprofits of all sizes. It offers a range of tools to help you create and manage your fundraising campaigns, engage with supporters, and analyze your results. CauseVox allows you to create custom, branded campaign pages and offers various fundraising options, including one-time donations, recurring contributions, and peer-to-peer fundraising. The platform also provides comprehensive reporting and analytics tools to help you track your progress and make informed decisions.
Key Features
- Customizable, branded campaign pages
- Flexible fundraising options, including recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics tools
- Integration with popular CRM and email marketing platforms
Pricing
CauseVox offers a free basic plan for small nonprofits with 2.2% + $0.30 payment processing fees per transaction. The platform also offers two paid plans: Basic ($200 per month) and Plus ($315 per month) with matching payment processing fees.
3. Fundly
Fundly is another well-known crowdfunding platform that is popular among nonprofits. The platform is designed to help organizations reach a wide audience and offers a range of tools to promote your fundraising campaigns. Fundly users can create personalized fundraising pages, complete with photos, videos, and compelling stories about your cause. Plus, Fundly offers robust social media integrations, making it easy to share your campaign across various platforms
Key Features
- Customizable fundraising pages with multimedia support
- Social media integration to help expand your reach
- Team fundraising pages to encourage supporters to create their own campaigns
- Mobile-friendly pages that look great on any device
Pricing
Fundly doesn’t charge a platform fee, however, the platform charges a 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee for each donation.
4. FundRazr
FundRazr is a versatile crowdfunding platform that caters to a wide range of nonprofits and causes. It offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create and manage your fundraising campaigns. FundRazr allows you to tell your story through custom campaign pages, complete with images, videos, and updates. The platform also offers a variety of fundraising options, including one-time donations, recurring contributions, and team fundraising.
Key Features
- Customizable campaign pages with multimedia support
- Easy social sharing to help spread the word about your campaign
- Offline donation options for supporters who prefer to give by cash or check
- Sponsorship opportunities to help you partner with businesses and organizations
Pricing
FundRazr is free to use but does charge 2.9% + $0.30 in payment processing fees per donation. Plus, donors are promoted to tip the platform, however, it isn’t required.
5. Classy
Classy is a comprehensive crowdfunding platform designed specifically for nonprofits. It offers a wide range of features to help you manage your fundraising efforts, engage with supporters, and analyze your campaign’s performance. Classy allows you to create custom, branded campaign pages and offers flexible fundraising options, including one-time donations, recurring contributions, and peer-to-peer fundraising. The platform also provides robust data and analytics tools to help you track your progress and make data-driven decisions.
Key Features
- Customizable, branded campaign pages
- Flexible fundraising options, including recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising
- Comprehensive data and analytics tools to track campaign performance
- Integration with popular CRM and marketing platforms
Pricing
Classy offers custom pricing for its three packages, you must reach out to the company directly to obtain pricing information.
6. Donorbox
Donorbox is a popular crowdfunding platform that many nonprofits use to accept donations online. It’s easy to set up and allows you to seamlessly integrate a donation form into your existing website. Donorbox offers a wide range of features, including customizable donation forms, recurring donations, and donor management tools. It’s a great choice for nonprofits that want a simple, yet powerful, crowdfunding solution.
Key Features
- Customizable donation forms that can be embedded on your website
- Recurring donation options to encourage long-term support
- Donor management tools to help you keep track of your supporters
- Integration with popular payment processors like Stripe and PayPal
Pricing
Donorbox has a free plan that includes most of its features, making it accessible to nonprofits of all sizes. However, the free plan does incur payment processing fees starting at 1.99% + $0.49 as well as platform fees between 1.75-2.95% depending on the transaction type. For organizations that need advanced features, paid plans start at $139 per month for the Pro plan and custom pricing for the Premium plan.
7. Givebutter
Givebutter is a modern, all-in-one fundraising platform that offers a wide range of features for nonprofits. It allows you to create custom, branded campaign pages, and offers various fundraising options, including one-time donations, recurring contributions, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Givebutter also offers unique features like live streaming, text-to-donate, and a supporter feed that allows donors to engage with your campaign in real-time.
Key Features
- Customizable, branded campaign pages
- Flexible fundraising options, including recurring donations and peer-to-peer fundraising
- Unique features like live streaming, text-to-donate, and supporter feed
- Integration with popular payment processors like Stripe and PayPal
Pricing
Givebutter is free to use, only charging a small platform fee or tips from donors.
How to Choose the Best Crowdfunding Platform for Your Nonprofit
With so many crowdfunding platforms available, it can be challenging to decide which one is right for your nonprofit. Here are some factors to consider and tips for matching platform features to your organization’s needs.
Pricing
Look for a platform that offers transparent, affordable pricing that fits your budget. Consider monthly fees, transaction fees, and any additional costs.
Customizability
Choose a platform that allows you to create branded, customizable campaign pages that align with your nonprofit’s mission and values.
Fundraising Options
Consider the types of fundraising campaigns you want to run, such as one-time donations, recurring contributions, or peer-to-peer fundraising, and ensure the platform supports those options.
Ease of Use
Select a platform with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for you to create and manage campaigns and for your supporters to donate.
Conclusion
Crowdfunding can be an effective way for nonprofits to raise money for their causes. When choosing a crowdfunding platform, consider factors like pricing, customization, fundraising options, ease of use, and integration. Different platforms offer various features and benefits, so it’s essential to select one that aligns with your nonprofit’s specific needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can nonprofits use crowdfunding?
Yes, nonprofits can use crowdfunding to raise money for their causes. Many crowdfunding platforms are designed specifically for nonprofits or offer features tailored to their needs.
What are the best crowdfunding platforms for nonprofits?
The best crowdfunding platform for your nonprofit depends on your specific needs and goals. Some of the top platforms for nonprofits include Donorbox, Fundly, Classy, FundRazr, GoFundMe, CauseVox, and Givebutter.
How do you set up a crowdfunding page?
To set up a crowdfunding page, first select a platform that meets your needs. Then, create an account and follow the platform’s instructions to set up your campaign page. Customize your page with your nonprofit’s branding, storytelling, and fundraising goals. Finally, promote your campaign to your supporters and beyond.
Is there a free crowdfunding platform for nonprofits?
Yes, several crowdfunding platforms, such as Donorbox, GoFundMe, and Givebutter, offer free plans for nonprofits. These plans may have limited features or charge transaction fees, but they can be a good option for smaller nonprofits just starting with crowdfunding.