You're planning a charity event. How do you decide which fundraising platform to use?

A monthly subscription works less well if your likely total will be low, fixed fees per transaction work less well for lots of small donations and a percentage works less well for large donations. But also think about things like ease of use, both for yourself and your donors, and whether the reports it gives you give you the data you need.

A key to fundraising is one-click. When evaluating the different platforms it's key to view it from the customer perspective. How user-friendly is it? Can they donate in one click? Can they easily send the link to their network? Of course we want to evaluate the fees and all costs associated with the campaign, but more often than not the cheapest option is not the best.

To save on fees, use your in-house platform/website for bulk/all of fundraising campaigns or build a landing page for individual campaigns. For example, list your website direct donations link on all invitations, promotional materials and ask to donate generously. Most of your donors and friends are already familiar with it, which will make donation process seamless. It will also help with keeping master records, provide analysis and reports, and generate "thank you" letters.

When choosing a fundraising platform you should look at which ones allow you to set milestone fundraising goals, and which ones allow you to set extension goals if your original goal is met. If you have a high total fundraising goal you should set milestone goals for different thresholds. This helps your donors to see the benefit of their individual donation, even if the total goal amount needed is not raised. For instance, if you can say something like "￡X raised will allow us to do Y" it helps donors to see how their individual donation can make an impact. Additionally, if your goal is met you should update and extend the goal. With that in mind use platforms that allow for this to be done after the campaign has gone live.

If your event needs are just to register & manage guests (collect fee, send confirmations / reminders, manage arrival check-in), then your CRM/donor database should be enough. If your CRM cannont manage event registrations, then your question should be 'what CRM' should I be using?' Beyond guests, other platforms might be required: will your event have a live / silent auction (I prefer ClickBid). Will you have a FAN or other live pledging/giving? Fees matter, but be cautious of price over performance. Considerable time & effort is invested in gathering your crowd; don't let a poor performing platform harm your fundraising results. As you consider fees, look beyond the license and understand the merchant processing fees too.

Work back from (1) narrowing your target audience (age, demographic information) and (2) where they actively engage with information (ie if they are 13-25, Tik Tok). Then develop seven (7) key fundraising messages and corresponding content and schedule it for times and days where your audience is most active on that platform and include calls to action and options to re-share.

In addition our audience includes our alumni, students, clients and all professionals who seek a true sense of career fulfillment, as well as sponsored and potential donors. We communicate first via email as well as engage through social media with general and personalized posts, ads and recognition.

Make sure you know fees up front and be realistic about what can be raised online. If someone is donating $300 for example, are they required to pay a $20 fee? That's a real life experience for me from a nonprofit gala that used Eventbrite as the only way to purchase tickets. Are credit card processing fees paid by the nonprofit or is there an option to ask the donor to pay? Being clear about the needs of your donors and your org before you select software will save you headache in the long run.

In implementing my role as a disability advocate, I find flexibility in regards to a platform's integration to be key. In addition to hosting crowd-funding campaigns, platforms that offer options such as peer-to-peer fundraising events, giveaways, online auctions, and lower fees than the standard go-to platforms help in creating more thoughtful events and raising more funds.

These things are all very important. Equally important it’s ensuring that the platform easily communicates with your CRM to better track donor revenue and contact information effectively.

Based on your are desired output, determine your fundraising platform. For example: Are you looking for pre-event sales or donations, such as in an ad journal campaign? There are many effective platforms that track your progress and provide solutions as an one-stop-shop. For instance, some offer a few basic design templates which are included into your flat annual fee. You can begin creating beautiful ad pages for your journal which would pre-sell and help you determine incoming sales prior to your event.

If you chose an event fundraising platform outside of your normal donor management system, make sure there is easy integration to limit data entry errors and slow receipting following the event! The best platforms are those that will allow for the donor to engage with ease - don’t let confusion or platform difficulties be the reason you don’t reach your fundraising goals!

Our charity clients use a wide variety of platforms, but more often than not, rely on 'big names' where onboarding is easy, BUT: a) Pricing is inflexible (and often unfair to both donor and charity) b) Customer service is automated c) Customisation is restricted Smaller companies offering bespoke integrations are often the better route, so do your homework well in advance to get the best experience.

Consider what you need from a fundraising platform. Is your event a walk or other peer to peer? You need something that allows participants to make a fundraising page to ask for donations. Will you be using the fundraising page at your event, or before and after only? If at the event, you may be interested in text to give and live donation display capabilities. If you're using this to host an auction or raffle, then you need a different set of features. Extremely important - what will the software provide you for donor data? You need to be able to follow up with a thank you and ideally put their data in your CRM to track future donations.

Choose an intuitive and easy-to-use platform for both event organizers and donors. Additionally, make sure the platform offers reliable and efficient customer support to help with any issues or questions that may arise during the fundraising process. Research reviews and recommendations from other charities that have used the platform. Check the platform's reputation for reliability, effectiveness, transparency, and customer satisfaction.

I prioritize platforms that offer a high level of customization and control over our brand identity. This includes platforms that allow us to use our own domain, logo, and colors, without displaying their own branding on our page. I also look for platforms that enable us to create our own content, style, and tone, without imposing strict guidelines or restrictions. Also, the platform has to give us access to and ownership of our donor data, rather than keeping it for themselves or sharing it with third parties. By choosing platforms that respect and enhance our brand identity, we can effectively communicate our mission and values to donors and the public while maintaining control over our messaging and donor relationships.

Para mí es realmente importante que la marca y la persona líder del negocio o la empresa, tengan coherencia. En especial, cuando se trata de un profesional, es crucial que la personalidad, el logo, la forma única de prestar servicio, como se promociona tengan correlación, incluso, aunque haya más posibles clientes de otro estereotipo, no ser fiel a este concepto puede causar un impacto fuerte en las ventas del negocio Dulce Arribas

Consider the level of control over content creation, as some platforms may impose guidelines or restrictions. Additionally, prioritize platforms that grant you ownership of donor data, enhancing your ability to build relationships and plan future fundraising efforts. Evaluate whether the platform displays its own branding on your page and choose one that aligns with your desired brand image.

Choose a platform that allows you to customize your donation page to match your charity event's visual identity and message. The ability to add logos, images, videos, and custom content can help increase donor engagement.

Features and functionalities: ? Does the platform offer features necessary for your event? Consider ticketing options, parking space, ease of access, donation processing, registration forms, event management tools, analytics, and reporting functionalities. ? Is the platform user-friendly for both you and your donors? Look for an intuitive interface and a mobile-friendly platform for ease of use.

It depends on which type of event you are planning. For example for a music concert you will needs corporate sponsors and ticket sales. You will also need to try and get discounted prices for venues, food etc, if free the better. You will also need the performers to possibly waive or discount their fees. You can also do raffle sales and small businesses can come in handy with amazing prices to be won. Ultimately using online tools will work well in planning, advertising, and reporting. Each of the options above requires extensive research to ensure it's suitable for your event and will help you meet your goals.i.e. make as much money as possible whilst keeping fees/ costs at a minimum.

Finding your fundraising platform can be an intimidating process if you're not a tech savvy individual. While research is important once you identify your fundraising goals, be sure to obtain recommendations from your industry friends and colleagues. Get testimonials on ease of use, customer care/support and user friendly layout.

Evaluate your technical skills and resources before making a choice. Consider the user-friendliness of platforms – some are intuitive, while others may be complex. Look for platforms with adequate support, tutorials, and customer service, as these can be invaluable, especially if technical challenges arise. Assess your need for advanced features and integrations versus basic functionality. Remember, it's not a one-size-fits-all decision. Research and compare options, test assumptions, and choose a platform that aligns with your abilities and goals. This thoughtful approach ensures a seamless fundraising experience, increasing your chances of success in supporting your charitable cause.

This is usually how I decide. A great platform that’s difficult to use and difficult for me to explain doesn’t make us any money.

Check that the platform supports a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, among others. The more payment options you offer, the easier it will be for donors to contribute.

When deciding on a fundraising platform for a charity event, you might also want to consider: - Cost and fees associated with using the platform. - Ease of use for both organizers and donors. - Payment processing and security measures. - Customer support and service responsiveness. - Integration with social media and other marketing tools. - Mobile accessibility and user experience. - Reporting and analytics features to track donations. - Customization options to match the event's theme. - Testimonials or reviews from other charity events. - Options for donor engagement and follow-up post-event.

Something we considered was not only our brand, but the trust level of the platform. I've experimented with a few options over the years and found that bigger brand names generally have a more positive response and better engagement because they were known and trusted. That is not to say this makes a huge difference, but your donors may be more wary of online donations via an external provider they have never heard of.

I always prioritize functionality. Does the software do want you want it to do? Write out what you want and then find the platform that does that. If you don’t have clear processes and procedures in place, then the beat platform won’t help you. Don’t get distracted by bells and whistles. Know what you need and then find the platform that does that best

What features are really going to next level your fundraiser? In terms of silent auctions, we found real value in being able to include embedded videos of our lots (especially experience lots) and have our bidders see who they are bidding against. These priorities really narrowed the field for us.

Choose an intuitive and easy-to-use platform for both event organizers and donors. Additionally, make sure the platform offers reliable and efficient customer support to help with any issues or questions that may arise during the fundraising process. By considering these factors and carefully evaluating your options, you will be able to choose the most suitable fundraising platform for your charity event, helping to ensure fundraising success.