The Best 14 Fundraising Software
Expert fundraising software for savvy organizations.
Fundraising Software: Expert Tools for Smart Nonprofits
- Fundraising Software Navigation
- Best Comprehensive Fundraising Software
- Types of Fundraising Software
- Types of Nonprofit Software
Best Comprehensive Fundraising Software
Salsa
Salsa offers large nonprofits a suite of fundraising software, including digital marketing, online fundraising, online advocacy, and peer-to-peer fundraising, but their primary product is an incredibly expansive CRM.
Beyond Salsa CRM’s robust donor profiles, you’ll get powerful built-in communications, form building tools, grant management features, and more.
MobileCause
MobileCause has a full suite of tools for nonprofits, including mobile-optimized online donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising events, and live fundraising tools to help organizations maximize their fundraising efforts.
With the online donation tools available at MobileCause, your organization will be able to capture donor information to transfer to your nonprofit CRM.
Fundly
Fundly offers comprehensive fundraising software for organizations of all shapes and sizes. From crowdfunding to peer-to-peer fundraising to CRM tools, Fundly has everything nonprofits need to raise money and build better donor relationships.
Plus, Fundly has helped raise over $330 million for practically every cause, so they have the expertise to help your mission succeed.
@Pay
Though @Pay is known mostly for its stellar text-to-give software, not many people know just how extensive this platform really is!
Along with mobile giving services, @Pay’s basic fundraising software package offers email button and online donation form integrations, as well as donor data collection and comprehensive customer support. The premium package offers even more useful features!
Types of Fundraising Software
Online Donation Software
Starting Prices
$ $ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Online donations are one the most common ways for nonprofits to raise money for projects, campaigns, and events.
Moreover, online donation platforms are perfect for everyday fundraising, as nonprofits can set up a freely accessible online donation page and promote it to donors.
With numerous online donation page providers available to nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, there is a wide range of features and customizable options.
Top Tips for Online Donation Software
- Only ask for information that is required.
- Make sure your donation form is PCI compliant.
- Don’t require your donors to create an account or profile to give.
- Keep your form simple, easy to understand, and user-friendly.
- Promote your donation page across digital and traditional channels.
- Remember to thank donors after they make an online donation.
Matching Gift Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Matching gift programs are corporate giving programs that encourage employee giving.
After an employee has donated to an eligible nonprofit, a business will match the gift by donating the same amount (and sometimes more!) to the nonprofit.
Matching gift software makes it easy for donors to quickly look up their employer’s matching gift program during the donation process or when researching ways to give to a nonprofit.
Nonprofits can use matching gift software to inform more donors about matching gifts and potentially double their revenue.
Top Tips for Matching Gift Software
- Use matching gift software to inform donors of matching gifts during the donation process.
- Send out information about matching gifts in emailed acknowledgements.
- Use your nonprofit newsletters to highlight matching gifts and increase the chances that donors will have their donations matched.
- Promote matching gifts on social media sites.
- Don’t forget to thank donors for submitting matching gift paperwork to their employers.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Peer-to-peer fundraising software harnesses the power of social media and empowers donors to fundraise for their favorite nonprofit.
Using individual or team donation pages, donors can share their own stories, ask for donations, and show their fundraising progress.
Peer-to-peer fundraising pages also tend to have comprehensive social sharing options that donors can use to spread the word about the campaign and raise more money.
Top Tips for P2P Fundraising Software
- Make sure that individual and team fundraisers have the right tools for effective fundraising (i.e., email and social media templates, training, comprehensive support, etc.).
- Use fundraising thermometers and leadership boards to increase friendly competition between fundraisers.
- Set both an organizational goal and individual goals to hold fundraisers accountable.
Crowdfunding Software
Starting Prices
$
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Crowdfunding websites are most commonly used by individuals or families looking to raise money for a specific cause or project.
Crowdfunding can be used to fund efforts ranging from entrepreneurial endeavors to medical expenses to school projects.
Crowdfunding has a social sharing component to it, meaning that individuals can link their campaign’s page to their social media accounts to raise even more money.
Top Tips for Crowdfunding Software
- Make use of the social sharing components of crowdfunding. These tools are what will give your campaign the boost it needs. The more people that view your campaign, the better!
- Include images and videos to give donors context around what they’re giving to. You can even post weekly updates!
- Choose a great crowdfunding tool with multiple capabilities and low credit card and platform fees.
Text-to-Give Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Text-to-give fundraising software is a relatively new way for nonprofits to raise money from donors who prefer to give on-the-go.
There are multiple kinds of text-to-give software, but the most common involves donors texting a keyword to a specified number and then receiving a reply text with a link to an online donation page.
There are variations on this process, but the underlying principle is that donors are able to give from anywhere they have cell service.
Top Tips for Text-to-Give Software
- Promote text-to-give in both your digital communications and in your traditional marketing materials. Direct mail recipients can text-to-give, too!
- Ask donors to use text-to-give at an event. Not only will you teach them how to use the technology, but it allows your nonprofit to raise a lot of money at once.
- Make sure that the text-to-give provider you choose doesn’t place a cap on donations. You don’t want to limit donors to $5 or $10 contributions!
Prospect Research Tools
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Prospect research can help nonprofits find major and planned giving prospects. It allows nonprofits to analyze their existing database to see who could be a good candidate for the aforementioned giving programs.
Prospect research examines a donor’s willingness and capacity to give a sizable donation.
Without it, nonprofits have to play a guessing game to determine which donors might be ready to give at a greater level.
Top Tips for Prospect Research Software
- There are in-depth prospect research tools that cost money and there are free options that are a bit more limiting. If your nonprofit wants to perform a simple search, use the latter approach. If you are looking for a more comprehensive view of your donor database, use the former approach.
- You might think that wealth screening might be the way to go for your organization. But it has its limits. Prospect research takes both wealth and willingness to give into account.
Nonprofit Marketing Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fundraising Software Overview
Nonprofit marketing software is a way for nonprofits to successfully promote their organization, expanding their donor bases and donations.
It helps nonprofits optimize their outreaches through email, social media, and more.
By organizing up-to-date donor profiles, nonprofits can determine proper communication, whether it be through an old-fashioned letter or phone call, a tweet, or an email blast.
Top Tips for Nonprofit Marketing Software
- Look for a software that can assist with a variety of marketing channels, from social media comments to in-person meetings.
- Some marketing software can provide email and social media marketing as well as direct mail marketing, while others focus specifically on online marketing.
- You can even look to your marketing software to help with website design. After all, it’s all part of your nonprofit’s branding!
Types of Nonprofit Software
Event Fundraising Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Event fundraising software is a broad term that can encompass a wide variety of fundraising solutions.
Whether you’re hosting an auction and need mobile bidding software or planning a walkathon and require a peer-to-peer platform, event fundraising software can help your organization raise more money and acquire more donors.
Additionally, event fundraising software can help streamline the planning process. For instance, many solutions offer registration forms, allowing you to keep track of the current count of attendees. Software vendors also provide tools like donation kiosks, to make collecting donations in person quick and easy.
Top Tips for Event Fundraising Software
- Use the software that best fits the event you’re hosting. For example, mobile bidding software is a great way to enhance a silent auction.
- If the software is meant to be used by donors or attendees, make sure that they know how to use it. Moreover, choose software that has a user-friendly interface. The more intuitive the process, the quicker guests can give and get back to enjoying your event.
- If you’re using multiple pieces of software during an event, make sure that each person responsible for the software communicates with the rest of the team.
Donor Management Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓
Nonprofit Fundraising Overview
Donor management software is designed to keep your nonprofit on top of your donor base in order to develop the most successful and beneficial strategies.
When searching for donor management software, you should look for features that allow you to enter unique fields in your constituent profiles so that you can track data points that are specific to your nonprofit’s needs.
With many donor management software providers, you’ll be able to track essential data and automate communication efforts. Your software will spend the time collecting and organizing donor data so you can spend time on what really matters: strengthening donor relationships.
Top Tips for Donor Management Software
- Before looking at outside solutions, see if your current nonprofit software has modules or expansions that can assist with managing your donor data.
- Use the software that has features catered to your specific needs to get the most out of your donor management tool.
- Make sure to transfer any donor data to your new software before you begin. Some vendors will even provide migration assistance so that your existing information transfers over smoothly.
- Take time to properly set up your new software and train your staff on how to use it. Many vendors provide training free of charge!
Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Starting Prices
$ $ $
Ease of Use
* * *
Popularity
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Constituent relationship management (CRM) software is a way for nonprofits to track their interactions with donors and volunteers.
It helps nonprofits make informed decisions regarding communication methods, solicitation strategies, and follow-up tactics.
By keeping up-to-date information about how supporters are being engaged, a nonprofit can better predict their future giving patterns and track or project growth.
Top Tips for CRM Software
- Track all donor interactions with your nonprofit, from social media comments to face-to-face meetings.
- Some CRM systems have built-in donation pages while others are able to integrate with your existing online donation software.
- Start from a place of strength and clean up your database before migrating to a new CRM system. It will save you a world of hassle in the long run.
Nonprofit Accounting Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Nonprofit accounting software helps charitable organizations keep track of employee payroll and other outgoing expenses.
Some nonprofit accounting software can even help organizations keep track of pledges, donations, membership dues, volunteer hours, and more!
Plus, with cash tracking dashboards and extensive financial reports, your nonprofit will have an easier time projecting future event budgets and project fundraising goals.
Top Tips for Nonprofit Accounting Software
- Pick an accounting software that is specifically targeted to charitable organizations.
- Make sure that the accounting software you choose can be easily integrated with any other fundraising software your organization currently uses.
- Look for accounting tools that keep your sensitive information secure.
Nonprofit Membership Management Software
Starting Prices
$ $ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Nonprofit membership software allows charitable organizations to track memberships, renew memberships, and plan events specifically for members.
Membership software splits into three main categories: nonprofits, universities, and churches.
Each type of organization requires different membership needs, so it’s important to find the software that’s right for your particular organization.
Top Tips for Nonprofit Membership Management Software
- Find membership software that can keep up with your organization’s growing member list.
- If your nonprofit regularly hosts events like volunteer days, make sure that your membership software has effective communication options that you can use to invite members to events.
- Membership programs can vary based on specific organization needs so make sure to understand what features you’re looking for ahead of time.
Charity Auction Software
Starting Prices
$ $ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Charity auction fundraising software helps nonprofits manage their auction-based fundraising events.
There are different software solutions for live and silent auctions, but most software providers offer options for both types.
Silent auction software allows nonprofits to upload images and information about the items being auctioned off. Donors then use an app or a website to bid on items without going through the hassle of paper auction sheets.
Live auction software is typically more geared toward helping the auctioneer and his or her staff run the event more smoothly.
Top Tips for Charity Auction Software
- Choose the right software for your event. Silent auctions and live auctions have the same purpose, but the format is different for each type.
- Don’t rely too heavily on charity auction software. Auctions (whether silent or live) are exciting events that can greatly strengthen a nonprofit’s relationship with its donors. So, make sure that you are still interacting with your auction attendees.
- If your organization needs it, make sure that the charity auction software you choose has integration options and shipping features.
Volunteer Management Software
Starting Prices
$ $
Ease of Use
* *
Popularity
✓ ✓
Nonprofit Software Overview
Volunteer management software is the perfect solution for nonprofits that heavily rely on supporters’ time and energy.
Nonprofits who need to schedule a multitude of volunteers can use volunteer management software to send out communications and invitations to volunteers.
Volunteer management software also assists charitable organizations in keeping track of volunteer hours and making note of volunteer preferences.
Top Tips for Volunteer Management Software
- If your nonprofit is volunteer-based, you’ll definitely need volunteer management software. If your volunteer program is not as comprehensive, consider tracking your volunteers in your CRM.
- If you know that a volunteer works for a company that offers volunteer grants, notify them as they reach the minimum required number of hours. That way, they can apply for a volunteer grant and your organization receives volunteer time and donations.
Additional Nonprofit Software Resources
Top 9 Free Fundraising Software Providers for Nonprofits
Looking for a great fundraising software that won’t break the bank?
Getting a quality nonprofit software solution doesn’t always mean spending a lot of money!
Check out this resource from our friends over at @Pay to learn more about to top free and low-cost fundraising software solutions.
Beginner’s Guide to Online Fundraising
Online fundraising is a growing trend in the nonprofit industry that can help your organization reach more supporters and raise more funds.
With this guide from Double the Donation, you’ll learn how to promote online fundraising as well as the tools you need to get started. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about fundraising with this comprehensive guide.
113 Amazing Fundraising Ideas
So you’ve picked out your perfect fundraising software. Now it’s time to put it to the test!
Need a little help figuring out exactly what kind of fundraiser would be best for your organization?
Check out our list of proven fundraising activities to get your creative juices flowing!
