Top 10 Online Fundraising Tools: Features, Pros, Cons & Comparison

Introduction

Online fundraising tools are specialized software platforms designed to help nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups collect donations, manage donor relationships, and execute complex fundraising campaigns. These tools range from simple payment processors to comprehensive “all-in-one” systems that handle peer-to-peer fundraising, event management, and automated marketing. By centralizing data and streamlining the giving process, these platforms reduce administrative friction and allow organizations to focus on impact rather than technical logistics.

The importance of these tools lies in their ability to meet donors where they are: on their smartphones and social media feeds. In a world where convenience is king, an clunky checkout process can lead to high abandonment rates. Key real-world use cases include viral peer-to-peer challenges (like the modern evolutions of the Ice Bucket Challenge), annual “Giving Tuesday” blitzes, and hybrid gala events that combine in-person auctions with digital bidding. When evaluating tools, users should prioritize donor experience, mobile optimization, integration with existing CRMs, and transparent fee structures.

Best for: Registered 501(c)(3) organizations, large NGOs, university alumni associations, and community-led nonprofits that need to scale their impact through recurring donations and social sharing.

Not ideal for: Individual people seeking personal financial help (who are better served by crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe) or massive corporations that require purely transactional, custom-built payment gateways rather than donor-centric management features.

Top 10 Online Fundraising Tools

1 — Classy (by GoFundMe)

Classy is a premier, enterprise-grade fundraising platform that focuses on creating beautiful, high-converting donor experiences. Known for its sophisticated design and powerful peer-to-peer capabilities, it is a favorite among mid-to-large-sized nonprofits.

• Key features:
  • Highly customizable, mobile-responsive donation pages.
  • Industry-leading peer-to-peer fundraising modules with individual and team pages.
  • Comprehensive event management with ticket levels and registration tracking.
  • Automated recurring giving programs with “card updater” technology.
  • Deep integration with Salesforce and other major CRM platforms.
  • Advanced AI-driven insights for donor behavior prediction.
• Pros:
  • Unmatched user interface design that builds immediate trust with donors.
  • Exceptionally high conversion rates due to optimized checkout flows.
• Cons:
  • One of the more expensive options on the market, often requiring a platform fee plus transaction costs.
  • Can be overly complex for very small organizations with limited staff.
• Security & compliance: PCI Level 1 compliant, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and CCPA ready. Offers SSO for administrative access.
• Support & community: Dedicated account managers for enterprise clients, extensive “Classy Academy” training, and a massive annual “Collaborative” conference.

2 — DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a robust, all-in-one fundraising CRM that emphasizes data management and donor retention. It is designed for organizations that want their fundraising efforts to be seamlessly tied to their donor database.

• Key features:
  • Integrated CRM that tracks every donor interaction and touchpoint.
  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics with over 100 pre-built reports.
  • Constant Contact integration for automated email marketing.
  • “Monthly Giving” tools specifically designed to increase recurring revenue.
  • Grant tracking and volunteer management modules.
  • Mobile app for “on-the-go” donor lookup and gift entry.
• Pros:
  • Excellent for long-term donor stewardship and relationship building.
  • The system is highly flexible and can be customized to fit unique nonprofit workflows.
• Cons:
  • The interface, while functional, feels somewhat dated compared to modern SaaS platforms.
  • Steeper learning curve for users who are not familiar with database management.
• Security & compliance: PCI compliant, SOC 2, and supports 256-bit encryption. Multi-factor authentication is standard.
• Support & community: High-rated customer support, a vibrant user community (DPCommunity), and regional training workshops.

3 — Givebutter

Givebutter has disrupted the market by offering a “modern, fun, and transparent” platform that is accessible to organizations of all sizes. It stands out for its social-first features and “free-to-use” model supported by optional donor tips.

• Key features:
  • Social “Supporter Feeds” where donors can post pictures, GIFs, and messages.
  • Built-in Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay support.
  • Free integrated CRM and email/SMS marketing tools.
  • Interactive live-stream fundraising for virtual and hybrid events.
  • Auctions and “Text-to-Give” capabilities included.
  • Rapid setup—can be live and collecting donations in minutes.
• Pros:
  • No platform fees (if you allow donor tips), making it the most cost-effective for small groups.
  • Extremely high engagement rates due to the social, “Instagram-like” feel of the donation walls.
• Cons:
  • Some donors may find the “tipping” request confusing or off-putting.
  • CRM features are less deep than specialized databases like DonorPerfect or Raiser’s Edge.
• Security & compliance: PCI Level 1, GDPR compliant, and uses Stripe for secure payment processing.
• Support & community: Excellent self-service documentation and a very responsive chat-based support team.

4 — Bloomerang

Bloomerang is a donor management platform that focuses intensely on one metric: donor retention. It uses research-backed methods to help nonprofits keep the donors they have worked so hard to acquire.

• Key features:
  • “Donor Retention” dashboard that visually tracks how many donors return.
  • Generosity Score tool to identify high-net-worth prospects in your database.
  • Interactive “Engagement Meter” for every donor profile.
  • Automated email marketing with smart “A/B testing” built-in.
  • Integrated wealth screening (via DonorSearch).
  • Simple, clean donation forms that sync instantly with the CRM.
• Pros:
  • The most intuitive CRM for small-to-mid-sized development directors.
  • Forces best practices by highlighting donor churn and retention trends.
• Cons:
  • Not as strong in complex event management (like multi-day festivals) as other tools.
  • Add-ons (like wealth screening) can increase the base price significantly.
• Security & compliance: PCI compliant, ISO 27001 standards followed, and HIPAA compliant where applicable.
• Support & community: Outstanding customer success coaching and a huge library of educational webinars.

5 — Donorbox

Donorbox is a lightweight, powerful donation engine that can be embedded into any website. It is particularly popular for its simplicity and its support for global organizations.

• Key features:
  • Multi-currency and multi-language support (over 40 languages).
  • Ultra-fast “Quick-Donate” checkout for repeat donors.
  • Company gift matching integration (via Double the Donation).
  • Cryptocurrency donation support (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.).
  • “Memberships” module for tiered donor access.
  • Direct integrations with Zapier, Mailchimp, and Salesforce.
• Pros:
  • The lowest technical barrier to entry; works with WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and more.
  • Excellent for international organizations needing localized donation forms.
• Cons:
  • Lacks a built-in CRM for managing complex donor relationships natively.
  • High-volume organizations may find the per-transaction fee model less scalable than flat-fee plans.
• Security & compliance: PCI Level 1, SSL/TLS encryption, and GDPR compliant.
• Support & community: Strong email-based support and a very helpful blog for fundraising tips.

6 — Funraise

Funraise is a high-tech platform that markets itself as “fundraising for the future.” It uses AI and data science to help nonprofits automate their workflows and identify their best donors.

• Key features:
  • AI-powered “Ask Amounts” that change based on a donor’s wealth profile.
  • Automatic “Task Management” for development officers.
  • Sophisticated peer-to-peer fundraising with gamification (badges, leaderboards).
  • Integration with Facebook and Instagram fundraising for cross-platform tracking.
  • Real-time “Giving Intelligence” alerts for major gift opportunities.
  • Robust mobile app for managing events and scanning tickets.
• Pros:
  • Probably the most technologically advanced platform in terms of automation.
  • The peer-to-peer functionality is incredibly polished and engaging.
• Cons:
  • Can be “too much software” for a small nonprofit with simple needs.
  • The premium price tag reflects its high-end tech stack.
• Security & compliance: SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, PCI Level 1, and CCPA compliant.
• Support & community: High-touch onboarding and dedicated success managers for larger accounts.

7 — Qgiv

Qiv is a versatile platform known for its flexible pricing and comprehensive suite of “day-of” event tools, including auctions and handheld bidding.

• Key features:
  • Full auction management with mobile bidding and outbid notifications.
  • “Text-to-Give” and “Text-to-Register” capabilities.
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with personal and team pages.
  • Integrated “Store” for selling merchandise and branded items.
  • Donation kiosks support for in-person events.
  • Unlimited users and unlimited donation forms on all plans.
• Pros:
  • Outstanding for hybrid events where you need both digital and physical giving options.
  • Pricing is flexible, allowing you to “turn on” features like auctions only when you need them.
• Cons:
  • Managing multiple different “hubs” (auctions vs. donation pages) can feel fragmented.
  • CRM integrations are not as native as some all-in-one solutions.
• Security & compliance: PCI Level 1, GDPR ready, and 256-bit SSL encryption.
• Support & community: Award-winning customer support (real people on the phone!) and a deep knowledge base.

8 — CharityEngine

CharityEngine is a true “all-in-one” solution that replaces up to a dozen different tools. It is built on a single database, meaning there is never a need to sync data between your CRM and your fundraising pages.

• Key features:
  • Built-in CRM, email marketing, and automation engine.
  • Comprehensive gift management and pledge tracking.
  • Advocacy tools for petitions and social action campaigns.
  • Detailed financial accounting and audit-ready reporting.
  • Integrated direct mail management.
  • Personalized “Donor Portals” where supporters can manage their own giving history.
• Pros:
  • Eliminates “data silos” entirely; your data is always perfectly synchronized.
  • Powerful enough to run an entire multi-national NGO.
• Cons:
  • The system is vast and requires significant time to implement correctly.
  • Not suitable for organizations that prefer to use a specific, different CRM.
• Security & compliance: SOC 2, PCI Level 1, HIPAA, and GDPR compliant.
• Support & community: Extensive implementation services and personalized training for staff.

9 — Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT

Blackbaud is the “old guard” of the nonprofit world, and Raiser’s Edge NXT is their cloud-based flagship. It remains the standard for massive institutions like hospitals and universities.

• Key features:
  • Deepest database architecture for complex major gift tracking.
  • Integrated wealth intelligence and prospect research tools.
  • Advanced grant management for institutional giving.
  • Sophisticated multi-channel marketing and automation.
  • Global community of thousands of trained professionals.
  • Massive ecosystem of third-party app integrations.
• Pros:
  • If you are a large organization with a complex legacy, this is the safest choice.
  • Unmatched in its ability to manage capital campaigns and endowment funds.
• Cons:
  • Very high cost and notoriously long implementation cycles.
  • Interface is significantly more complex than modern competitors like Givebutter or Classy.
• Security & compliance: ISO 27001, SOC 1/2, PCI Level 1, GDPR, and HIPAA.
• Support & community: Comprehensive Blackbaud University, a global partner network, and 24/7 enterprise support.

10 — Network for Good (by Bonterra)

Network for Good focuses on combining a simple fundraising platform with “Personal Coaching.” It is built for small development teams who need both the software and the strategy to grow.

• Key features:
  • Simple, guided campaign builders for beginners.
  • Integrated email and video messaging (via BombBomb).
  • One-on-one personal fundraising coaching sessions.
  • Automated “Donor Thank You” sequences.
  • Pre-designed templates for Giving Tuesday and Year-End appeals.
  • Streamlined reporting focused on the “essential” metrics.
• Pros:
  • The “Coaching” element is a massive differentiator for solo fundraisers.
  • Very easy to use; you can be a fundraising “pro” without a technical background.
• Cons:
  • Feature set is not as deep as enterprise tools for complex event logic.
  • Transaction fees can be higher than others if you don’t use their built-in processor.
• Security & compliance: PCI compliant, GDPR ready, and hosted on secure AWS infrastructure.
• Support & community: Famous for their “Personal Success Coaches” and extensive webinars.

Comparison Table

Evaluation & Scoring of Online Fundraising Tools

Choosing the right tool is a balance between power and usability. For this comparison, we have scored the tools based on the following weighted criteria relevant to the 2026 fundraising market.

Which Online Fundraising Tool Is Right for You?

The “best” tool depends entirely on your current organizational stage and your goals for the next three years.

Solo Users vs SMB vs Mid-Market vs Enterprise

If you are a solo fundraiser or a very small group, Givebutter or Donorbox are the clear winners due to their low cost and ease of setup. Mid-market organizations (raising $500k to $5M) should look at Bloomerang or DonorPerfect to build a long-term donor database. Large enterprises and institutions should lean toward Classy or Blackbaud for the high-end security and complex data architecture they require.

Budget-Conscious vs Premium Solutions

If you are strictly budget-conscious, Givebutter’s “tip-based” model is unbeatable. If you are willing to pay a premium for design and conversion rates that will likely result in higher total revenue, Classy is worth the investment.

Feature Depth vs Ease of Use

Nonprofits with a dedicated IT person might appreciate the depth of CharityEngine. However, organizations where the Executive Director is also the bookkeeper and the fundraiser should prioritize the ease of use found in Network for Good.

Integration and Scalability Needs

If you already use Salesforce, a tool with a “native” integration like Classy or Funraise is vital. If you plan to grow from local to international, ensure your tool has the scalability and multi-currency support of Donorbox.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the average fee for online fundraising tools?

Most platforms charge a transaction fee between 2% and 5%, plus a processing fee (typically 2.9% + $0.30 for Stripe/PayPal). Some also have a monthly subscription “platform fee.”

2. Can donors cover the transaction fees?

Yes, most modern tools like Givebutter and Donorbox include a “Donor Cover” feature where supporters can opt to add a small percentage to their gift to cover the costs.

3. What is “Peer-to-Peer” (P2P) fundraising?

P2P allows your supporters to create their own fundraising pages on your behalf. They can then share these pages with their friends and family, effectively acting as advocates for your cause.

4. How long does it take to receive the money from donations?

For most SaaS tools using Stripe or PayPal, funds are typically deposited into your organization’s bank account within 2 to 7 business days.

5. Are these tools safe for donor data?

Yes, provided they are PCI Level 1 compliant. This is the highest level of security in the payment industry and ensures that credit card data is never stored on your own servers.

6. Do I need a website to use these tools?

Not necessarily. Tools like Givebutter and Classy provide hosted landing pages, meaning you can run a campaign even if you don’t have a primary website.

7. Can these tools handle event tickets and auctions?

Specialized tools like Qgiv and Givebutter are designed specifically for this. Others may require an add-on or a separate integration to handle physical auctions.

8. What is the benefit of a fundraising CRM?

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system tracks a donor’s history over years. It tells you when they last gave, how much, and what specific campaigns they care about, which is vital for retention.

9. Can I accept cryptocurrency donations?

Yes, tools like Donorbox and Funraise have built-in integrations with crypto-processors (like BitPay or The Giving Block) to accept Bitcoin and other digital assets.

10. What is “Giving Tuesday” and does my tool support it?

Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the largest global day of giving. All 10 tools on this list offer specific templates and features to help you maximize your success on that day.

Conclusion

In the fast-moving world of 2026 philanthropy, your fundraising software is more than a utility—it is a reflection of your brand’s credibility. While a “free” tool like Givebutter is perfect for a startup, a growing institution will eventually need the data-rich environment of DonorPerfect or the design-centric power of Classy.

The “best” tool is the one that your team will actually use and that your donors will find easiest to navigate. Before committing, take advantage of free trials and demos, and always ask about the “total cost of ownership,” including both subscription fees and transaction percentages. The right choice today will lay the foundation for a sustainable, donor-centered future.