The 8 Top Online Fundraising Platforms for Nonprofits

Online fundraising is the future of nonprofit fundraising. While the present day is more evenly split between digital giving (online, email, text) and more traditional methods (direct mail, in-person), the trend lines are clear. As the digital-native generations—that’s Millennials and Gen Z—age and enter their prime giving years, having an online fundraising platform for your nonprofit is going to be a must. 

If your organization doesn’t currently have a dedicated platform for soliciting online donations—or even if you want to find a new one—then you can sit back and relax ‘cuz we are on the case! In this article, we break down eight of the top online fundraising platforms for nonprofits, going deep into their plans and pricing as well as their pros and cons relative to other options.

Let’s get started!

1. Neon CRM

Neon CRM is a comprehensive online fundraising and donor management platform designed for nonprofit teams who do it all. It streamlines donor data management, allows for efficient fundraising campaign creation and management, and offers a whole host of tools for events, volunteers, grants, and more. With reporting and analytics features, Neon CRM enables data-driven decision-making to optimize fundraising efforts and turn first-time donors into long-term supporters. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Comprehensive CRM functionality for donor management and engagement that seamlessly integrates with other Neon products like Neon Websites and Neon Fundraise  Robust features, including customizable donation forms, grant tracking, store front, volunteer tracking, and event management Integration with popular payment gateways, plus a built-in processor, Neon Pay, that offers secure and seamless donation processing Best-in-class membership features to support associations and membership-based nonprofits  Automation and workflow tools to streamline processes and enhance efficiency Advanced reporting and analytics capabilities to track fundraising performance and donor trends Comprehensive data migration and onboarding sets nonprofits up for success

Higher pricing compared to some other online fundraising platforms Steeper learning curve, particularly for nonprofits with limited technical expertise or CRM experience Customization options may require more advanced knowledge or assistance While Neon One maintains a full network of software partners, Integration options beyond the Neon CRM ecosystem may be limited compared to some other platforms Some organizations may find certain features or modules unnecessary for their specific needs Data migration and onboarding are required. While this does help nonprofits maximize the system’s potential, it does mean higher upfront costs

Plans & Pricing

While most CRMs charge based on your number of records, Neon CRM does things a little differently. We don’t charge based on records; we charge based on revenue. That way, your costs will only begin to grow as you raise more dollars. This gives you the flexibility to try new things and focus on building relationships instead of worrying over headcount. 

Here’s how it works: Neon CRM has three different plans, each of which comes with the starting monthly cost listed below. Costs for these plans do increase as nonprofits enter higher revenue bands. For the full pricing breakdown, download our Neon CRM Pricing Guide. 

Essentials: This plan starts at $99/mo and gives you all the tools you need to hold fundraising campaigns and manage your donor database. Essentials is available for nonprofits with total annual revenue of $1 million and under. 

Essentials includes the following functionalities:

• Fundraising & donor management
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• Grant management & tracking tool
• Activity tracking & prospecting
• Unlimited records
• Unlimited donation pages
• 1 active workflow

Impact: This plan starts at $199 a month and comes with additional tools to help you automate workflows, manage volunteers and events, and integrate with QuickBooks. The plan also includes an open API and is available to nonprofits with annual revenue of $5 million or less.

In addition to the features offered in Essentials, Impact includes the following functionalities: 

• QuickBooks integration
• Volunteer management
• Events management
• Open API
• 15 active workflows

Empower: This is our full-range plan. It’s available to nonprofits of all sizes and is required for clients with annual total revenue over $5 million. 

In addition to everything offered under Essentials and Impact, Empower comes with the following functionalities:

• Live chat & phone support
• Radius search
• Priority support
• Unlimited active workflows

Transaction Fees: Neon CRM does not charge any per-transaction fees on donations made through the system. However, your chosen payment processor will charge fees on every transaction. 

Neon Pay: Our in-house payment processor, Neon Pay, allows for more flexible payouts and improved, real-time financial reporting in Neon CRM. Neon Pay charges a per-transaction fee of 3.5% + $.30. 

Want to learn more about how Neon CRM can be an all-in-one solution for online fundraising, donor management, events, and more? Join one of our regularly scheduled group demos! These 30-minute, no-pressure sessions will provide you with all the basics of the Neon CRM system. Just click the button below, find a date that works for you, and sign up!

2. Donorbox

Donorbox is a fundraising solution that helps nonprofits raise money online. It offers a variety of features, including customizable donation forms, email marketing, and text-to-give tools. While Donorbox has more limited features and options compared to some other systems, it has a low platform fee and no monthly fees for its “Standard” tier, making it a very affordable option for small or early-stage nonprofits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

User-friendly interface and easy setup process Integration with websites and popular CMS platforms Customizable donation forms to match branding and messaging Support for recurring donations, allowing for sustained support Multiple payment options, including credit cards and popular online payment systems “Standard” plan comes with no monthly fees

Limited features compared to more comprehensive fundraising platforms May require additional integrations for advanced functionality (e.g., CRM integration) Many features like integrations, text-to-give tools, analytics, in-person giving, event ticketing, and receipt rebranding are only available for an additional cost Customization options for donation forms might be relatively basic Some organizations may prefer a platform with a more extensive peer-to-peer fundraising focus

Plans & Pricing 

Donorbox operates on a transparent and flexible cost structure for nonprofits with three different pricing tiers that each include a standard platform fee as well as transaction fees for credit card processing and ACH/bank transfers. Donorbox’s lower tier, “Standard,” comes with no monthly subscription cost, but its two higher tiers do charge a monthly fee.

Standard: Donorbox’s “Standard” tier comes with a $0 monthly fee and a platform fee of 1.75%. It includes the following features:

• Customizable donation forms and pages
• One-click donations for returning supporters
• Peer-to-peer giving
• In-person giving portal for live events (additional cost) 

There is also a second “Standard” package that comes with a platform fee of 2.95% and adds the following features:

• Event ticketing
• Memberships
• Additional peer-to-peer features

Pro: DonorBox’s paid tier, “Pro,” comes with a lower 1.5% platform fee and a monthly fee of $139. In addition to the features included in the “Standard” tier, “Pro” also comes with the following features:

• “No-code” integrations through Zapier
• Analytics
• Custom-branded donation receipts
• Stock and crypto donations

Custom: For larger orgs looking for a more complex suite of features, Donorbox has a “Custom” tier with individualized pricing. In addition to all the features in Pro, clients in the Custom tier get access to premium features like priority tech support, a custom domain, a fundraising coach, and more. 

Transaction Fees: In addition to their platform fee and any monthly fees, nonprofits in the U.S. and Canada will also pay transaction fees to their payment processor. Donorbox integrates with both Stripe and PayPal.

• Stripe: 2.2% + $.30
• PayPal: 1.99% + $.49
• ACH/Bank Transfer (via Stripe): 0.8% with $5 max

Additional Fees: There are additional fees to integrate Donorbox with popular platforms like Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Mailchimp, etc. Those fees vary by platform. Text-to-give is available on both tiers for an additional cost. And many Pro features are available a la carte on the Standard tier for an added cost. 

3. Classy

Classy is a comprehensive fundraising platform with features such as peer-to-peer fundraising, event registration, and mobile giving. It provides extensive customization options, advanced reporting, and tools for donor engagement and communication.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Comprehensive fundraising platform with various features, including peer-to-peer fundraising, crowdfunding, event management, and mobile giving Customizable donation pages and branding options to maintain organizational identity Advanced reporting and analytics tools for tracking campaign performance and donor behavior Robust supporter engagement and communication features, such as email marketing and CRM integration Integration with popular social media platforms for increased visibility and reach

Higher pricing tiers for access to advanced features, potentially limiting options for smaller nonprofits with limited budgets Limited customization options for campaign pages beyond branding Some organizations may require additional integrations for specific functionalities or CRM systems not directly supported by Classy Transaction fees may be relatively high compared to other platforms, especially for organizations with high donation volumes While comprehensive, the range of features may be more than what some nonprofits require for their fundraising needs

Plans & Pricing

Classy operates on a pricing structure tailored to meet the needs of different nonprofit organizations. Here is an outline of the fees and cost structure for the Classy online fundraising platform:

Platform Fee: Classy charges a platform fee based on a percentage of the funds raised through the platform. The exact percentage varies depending on the organization’s subscription plan.

Subscription Plans: Classy offers subscription plans based on an organization’s fundraising needs, scale, and desired features. These plans include different levels of access to the many features that Classy offers such as peer-to-peer fundraising, event registration, and advanced reporting. Pricing can vary depending on the size and requirements of the nonprofit. Contact Classy directly for specific pricing details.

Payment Processing Fees: Classy utilizes payment processors like Stripe, Venmo, and PayPal for secure transaction processing. The fees charged by these payment processors typically range from 2.2% to 2.9% plus a small fixed fee per transaction. Classy does not provide any specific fees on their website. 

Additional Service Fees: Classy may offer additional services or features beyond the subscription plans, such as advanced integrations or customization options. These additional services may come with separate fees depending on the complexity and scope of the requested service.

4. Fundly 

Fundly is known for its crowdfunding capabilities that enable nonprofits to launch effective fundraising campaigns. It offers social media integration, mobile-friendly campaigns, and personalized branding options.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Specialized in crowdfunding, allowing nonprofits to launch effective and engaging fundraising campaigns User-friendly platform with intuitive campaign setup and management process Social sharing features to amplify campaign reach and engagement Visual progress tracking and campaign metrics to motivate donors and drive momentum Free to use for customers. Donors are asked to “tip” Fundly.

Primary focus on crowdfunding may limit options for other fundraising approaches Limited advanced features compared to more comprehensive fundraising platforms Integration options with external systems or CRMs may be limited Reporting and analytics capabilities may not be as robust as specialized analytics platforms Some organizations may require more sophisticated event management or ticketing features not fully supported by Fundly

Plans & Pricing

Fundly’s pricing structure helps it stand out from the competition. 

• No Platform Fee: Fundly does not charge a platform fee for nonprofits (or individuals, for that matter).

• “Tip Fundly”: Fundly’s donation forms invite donors to add a percentage “tip” to their donation to support the company’s operations. 

• Processing Fee: Fundly uses Stripe as its payment processor, and the processing fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

5. Network for Good

Network for Good’s platform provides a range of fundraising tools, including donation pages, event management, and email marketing. It offers integrations with popular CRM systems and provides support for year-round giving.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools, including donation pages, mobile giving, and email marketing Integration with popular CRM systems for efficient donor management and communication Year-round giving options to support ongoing fundraising efforts Customizable donation pages to match branding and messaging Robust reporting and analytics features for tracking campaign performance Supports various payment options, including credit cards and online payment systems

Limited integration options with external systems beyond supported CRM platforms Pricing may be higher compared to some other online fundraising platforms Advanced features may require higher pricing tiers, potentially limiting options for smaller nonprofits with limited budgets Customization options for donation forms and campaign pages may have some limitations Transaction fees may apply, which can impact fundraising revenue Learning curve for users unfamiliar with the platform and its various features

Plans & Pricing

Network for Good’s plans come with personalized pricing that varies according to the size and needs of individual customers. According to their website, all Network for Good plans come with the following functionalities:

• Donor management
• Communication
• Online fundraising
• Measurement and tracking
• Support

Network for Good’s site also mentions “Events and Auction” functionalities, but that appears to come at an additional cost. 

6. OneCause

OneCause is a comprehensive online fundraising platform that offers a number of different fundraising solutions, including event management and auction bidding, streaming events, online fundraising, and text-to-give features. OneCause empowers nonprofits to engage supporters through various channels and maximize their fundraising efforts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Comprehensive online fundraising platform with features like mobile bidding, event management, and virtual fundraising Provides a range of engagement opportunities to interact with supporters through various channels Mobile-friendly interface and optimized user experience for seamless donor participation Reporting and analytics tools to monitor campaign performance and gain valuable insights Customizable options for branding and personalizing fundraising efforts Offers tools for peer-to-peer fundraising, text-to-give, and social sharing to extend campaign reach

OneCause’s strength lies in Events Management and Auctions software, while their online fundraising plan is more limited The platform’s comprehensive features may be more suitable for larger nonprofits with complex fundraising needs Pricing isn’t transparent and could be higher than other similar platforms Learning curve for users unfamiliar with the platform and its extensive functionalities Limited customization options beyond branding, particularly for more intricate design elements Some organizations may require more specialized or specific fundraising features not fully supported by OneCause

Plans & Pricing

OneCause offers a host of different solutions, but none of them disclose pricing. For pricing details, you’ll have to contact OneCause directly. In the meantime, here are the basic types of solutions they offer:

Event Management: This is a fundraising solution that centers its event-based features including ticketing, table management, online sponsorship sales, and more. This package comes with three different tiers: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. Auction features are included with the two higher-priced tiers, but not with Essentials. 

Streaming Event: This is a solution designed for nonprofits who are holding a virtual fundraising event, especially ones that incorporate live-streamed or multimedia elements. There is only one tier available: Essentials.

Peer-to-Peer: For nonprofits whose fundraiser is based around a peer-to-peer fundraising model, this is the solution for you. Features include participant, family, and team fundraising pages; milestone badges and emails; and customizable leaderboards. There are three tiers available, with integrations for MailChimp, Salesforce, and Luminate made available only at the higher tiers. 

Online Fundraising: This is the solution that is most comparable to the other platforms and plans being compared in this article. It’s an online-first package, with unlimited campaigns, customizable and embeddable donation forms, SMS messaging, and other basic features. As the functionality here is more limited, there is only one tier available—however, that tier also includes OneCause’s Text2Give functionality. 

Text2Give: If your nonprofit is looking to make text messaging into a key fundraising channel, this is the OneCause solution for you. There is only one tier included in this package, and all of the Text2Give functionality is also included in the Online Fundraising solution. 

7. Fundraise Up

Fundraise Up is an online fundraising platform that leverages artificial intelligence and automation to create personalized donor experiences. With features like smart donation forms and automated follow-ups, Fundraise Up aims to increase donor conversion rates and streamline fundraising processes for nonprofits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Utilizes artificial intelligence and automation to create personalized donor experiences Smart donation forms that adapt to donors’ giving habits and increase conversion rates Automated follow-ups and tailored messaging to enhance donor engagement and retention Seamless integration with popular CRMs and other systems for streamlined data management Customizable branding options for donation forms to maintain organizational identity Global giving features, including 22 supported languages and dialects, make it great for international fundraising

Specialized focus on donor experience may result in a narrower range of fundraising features compared to comprehensive platforms Higher pricing tiers for access to advanced features, potentially limiting options for smaller nonprofits with limited budgets Integration options with specific CRMs or systems may be limited Some organizations may require more extensive event management or peer-to-peer fundraising features not fully supported by Fundraise Up Limited customization options beyond branding for more intricate design elements Learning curve for users unfamiliar with the platform and its unique AI-driven features

Plans & Pricing

Fundraise Up has two pricing tiers. The first charges a single per transaction fee, while the other comes with customized pricing. Here are how the two plans work:

Self-Managed: This plan has no monthly fee. Instead, it charges a per-transaction fee of 4%. The plan is recommended for nonprofits that are collecting less than $500,000 annually in online donations.

Custom: This cost of this plan is determined by the size and complexity of your organization’s fundraising operation. It is recommended for large nonprofits that are bringing in more than $500,000 annually in online donations.

Processing Fees: In addition to the fee charged by Fundraise Up, there will be fees charged by the payment processor, which can vary depending on the payment method. Payment processors that support Fundraise Up include Stripe and PayPal.

• Stripe: Stripe offers charities a custom discount on processing fees for donations
• PayPal: Qualifying nonprofits can receive a discounted processing fee of $1.99% + $.49 per transaction. 

8. Qgiv

Qgiv is a versatile online fundraising platform that provides nonprofits with tools like customizable donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event registration. Their user-friendly interface and comprehensive features make it easier for nonprofits to manage their fundraising campaigns and engage supporters.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Customizable donation forms to match branding and messaging Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities to leverage supporters’ networks Event registration and management features for seamless event fundraising Options for text-to-give providing convenient donation methods Integration with popular CRMs and other systems for efficient data management Advanced reporting and analytics tools to track campaign performance

Limited integration options with external systems beyond supported CRMs Relatively higher pricing compared to some other online fundraising platforms Customization options for campaign pages may have some limitations Additional fees for certain functionalities, such as event management, peer-to-peer, and text-to-give tools  Some organizations may require more specialized or specific fundraising features not fully supported by Qgiv

Plans & Pricing

Qgiv has a number of different tiers and packages available, with several of them focusing on a specific type of giving. Those plans are as follows: 

Qgiv Starter: This plan is free to use and includes unlimited campaigns, donors, and transactions. There is a 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction platform fee on all donations. There is a lower fee for eChecks (1.95% + $.95 per transaction) and an additional 1% (for a total of 4.95% + $0.30) fee for AMEX. 

Qgiv Giving Essentials: This plan costs $25/month and includes everything in the Starter plan plus advanced statistics, integrations with CRMs, email and accounting tools, Zapier, and FundHub aggregated thermometers. There is no setup or support fee. Processing, eCheck, and AMEX fees do not change.

Qgiv Text Fundraising: This plan costs $159/month (if paid monthly) or $387/quarter (if paid quarterly) and includes everything in the Giving Essentials plan plus text fundraising and outbound messaging. There is no setup or support fee. Processing, eCheck, and AMEX fees do not change.

Qgiv Peer-to-Peer: Similar to Text Fundraising, this plan can be charged monthly ($259/month) or quarterly ($687/quarter) and includes everything in Giving Essentials. With this plan, you get text fundraising, but you also get peer-to-peer tools including an event builder, team and individual fundraising, an online store, and more. Processing, eCheck, and AMEX fees all increase with this package.

Qgiv Advanced: This plan is custom priced and includes everything in the Text Fundraising plan plus additional features such as white-labeling, dedicated account management, and unlimited integrations.

Qgiv also offers a feature called “GiftAssist.” This feature allows nonprofits to ask their donors to cover the processing fees for their donations. If donors choose to cover the fees, that additional gift will offset processing fees.

Finding the Right Solution for Your Nonprofit

While all nonprofits need to have an online fundraising platform, finding the right platform for your nonprofit is a different matter altogether. As you can see in this article, there are lots of online fundraising solutions out there, each one with its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Before you start shopping for a platform, take the time to create a list of what your nonprofit needs in a fundraising solution, what elements you’d like but can live without, and what features you can totally skip.

Once you begin researching different solutions, make sure you check out Neon CRM. It’s the all-in-one donor management and fundraising platform that helps nonprofits create magical experiences for their donors.

If you’re interested in learning more about Neon CRM, reach out and request a free demo! Just click the button below and enter your info. We look forward to hearing from you.