What are the best fundraising software?

The best fundraising software depends heavily on your **organization size, fundraising mix (online, events, major gifts), and budget**; there is no single “best,” but a small set of consistently top‑rated platforms cover most needs.

Below is a concise, up‑to‑date landscape based on recent comparison guides and review data.[1][5][6][7][9]

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### 1. Top all‑around fundraising platforms

These are strong default options for many nonprofits.

- **Givebutter** – *Best overall free / low‑cost all‑in‑one*

- Full suite: donation forms, events, peer‑to‑peer, auctions, simple CRM.[1][2]

- Tip‑based pricing (no required platform fee; donors can cover costs).[1]

- Ranked #1 fundraising, donor management, and auctions platform on G2.[2]

- Good fit for: small–mid nonprofits wanting modern fundraising tools with minimal fixed cost.

- **Funraise** – *Best for growing orgs needing automation*

- Robust online giving, peer‑to‑peer, events, automation, and integrations.[1][4]

- Designed for “growing nonprofits” with more advanced campaign needs.[1]

- Has a free tier; standard plans around $99/mo plus platform fee (often donor‑covered).[1]

- Good fit for: mid‑size orgs scaling digital campaigns and wanting workflows/automation.

- **GoFundMe Charity / Pro (formerly Classy)** – *Enterprise‑grade campaigns*

- Strong for large, multi‑campaign strategies, peer‑to‑peer, and enterprise reporting.[1][8]

- Known for large and enterprise‑level campaigns with Salesforce integration.[1][8]

- Custom, contract pricing; more expensive but very scalable.[1]

- Good fit for: larger nonprofits or universities running complex national/international campaigns.

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### 2. Best “free” or ultra‑low‑cost fundraising software

For cost‑sensitive nonprofits and smaller teams.

- **Zeffy** – *Truly 0% platform fees*

- Online donations, events, memberships, and more with **no platform fee**; revenue comes from optional donor tips.[1]

- Strong value for small–mid nonprofits prioritizing cost savings.[1]

- Good fit for: organizations where every dollar counts and volume is moderate.

- **Givebutter** (again)

- Similarly offers tip‑based pricing and broad functionality, often recommended alongside Zeffy for budget‑conscious orgs.[1][2]

- **Donorbox** – *Simple, flexible recurring giving*

- Powerful embeddable forms and recurring donations; widely used on small–mid nonprofit websites.[1][7][8]

- Praised for ease of setup and strong scalability for growing organizations.[7]

- Good fit for: nonprofits that mainly need clean donation forms and recurring giving embedded into their own site.

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### 3. Fundraising + CRM (donor management) platforms

If you want integrated fundraising and donor management rather than a standalone donation tool:

- **Bloomerang** – *Best for donor retention–focused CRM*

- Donor database plus online giving tools; strongly emphasizes donor retention and engagement.[1][6][7]

- Frequently highlighted among top fundraising platforms for retention and scalability.[6][7]

- Good fit for: orgs wanting CRM + fundraising with a strong focus on keeping donors long term.

- **DonorPerfect** – *Established donor management + fundraising*

- Donor management, gift and grant tracking, moves management, and mass mailing, plus integrated online giving.[3]

- Long‑standing product used by many mid‑size nonprofits.[3]

- Good fit for: organizations that prioritize a mature donor database and back‑office gift tracking.

- **MonkeyPod** – *All‑in‑one: fundraising, CRM, accounting*

- Combines fundraising tools, CRM, and accounting in one system.[1]

- Recommended for nonprofits that want “fundraising, CRM, and accounting combined in one platform.”[1]

- Good fit for: small–mid orgs wanting to simplify their tech stack.

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### 4. Specialized fundraising software by use case

If you have a specific type of fundraising you want to optimize:

- **Major gifts & advancement**

- **Signal by EverTrue** – Focused on major gifts and prospect intel, highlighted as a leading major gifts fundraising solution.[5]

- **K–12 / schools**

- **99Pledges** – Often recommended as best for K‑12 school fundraising (pledge‑based campaigns, fun runs).[5]

- **Higher ed & alumni**

- **Almabase** – Alumni engagement and giving platform, tailored to schools and universities.[5]

- **Events, auctions, and peer‑to‑peer**

- **OneCause** – Strong for events, auctions, and online giving, listed among top online fundraising platforms.[8]

- **Handbid** – Mobile bidding and auctions; part of multiple “best fundraising platforms” lists for events.[8]

- **Fundly / Qgiv / Bonterra Giving / Network for Good** – Frequently appear in “best online fundraising platform” roundups with strengths in events, peer‑to‑peer, and general online campaigns.[6][8][9]

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### 5. How to choose the best fundraising software for you

Across expert comparisons, the consistent guidance is: **“best” depends on size, goals, and budget.**[1][5][6][9]

Key questions to narrow it down:

1. **Budget model**

- Need **no fixed cost**? Look at **Zeffy** or **Givebutter**.[1]

- OK with subscription for more power? Consider **Funraise**, **Bloomerang**, **DonorPerfect**, or **GoFundMe Pro/Classy**.[1][3][7]

2. **Primary fundraising types**

- Mostly website donations + recurring: **Donorbox**, **Givebutter**, **Zeffy**.[1][7][8]

- Heavy on events/auctions: **OneCause**, **Givebutter**, **Handbid**.[6][8]

- Large multi‑campaign or enterprise scale: **GoFundMe Pro/Classy**, **Funraise**, some Bonterra products.[1][8][9]

3. **Do you need a full CRM?**

- Yes: **Bloomerang**, **DonorPerfect**, **MonkeyPod**, or Givebutter’s lightweight CRM.[1][2][3][6][7]

- No (already have CRM): standalone tools like **Donorbox**, **Classy/GoFundMe Pro**, **Funraise**, etc., with integrations.[1][5][8]

4. **Team capacity & ease of use**

- Small staff / volunteers: prioritize ease and support (e.g., **Givebutter**, **Zeffy**, **Donorbox**).[1][2][7]

- Larger teams with data/IT resources: enterprise platforms (e.g., **GoFundMe Pro/Classy**, **Bonterra**, **Signal by EverTrue**).[5][8][9]

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If you share your **org size, main fundraising channels (online only vs events vs major gifts), and budget range**, I can narrow this to 3–4 best‑fit options and outline a simple comparison checklist for you.