Charity Fundraising Sites: The Top 3 for Nonprofits

November 16, 2022 | 8 min read Fundraising Strategy

If you’d like to raise money for a charity but aren’t exactly sure how to do so you wouldn’t be alone. Many of us feel called to give back to a cause that’s close to our hearts but don’t know what steps to take. What are the best charities to donate to? Is traditional fundraising still the way to go? To help, we’ve put together this list of top charity fundraising sites. Giving back just got a whole lot easier.

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Why online fundraising for charity is the way to go

It’s no surprise that one of the best ways to raise money for charity these days is through crowdfunding. An online fundraiser has zero overhead and gives you the freedom to share your cause with anyone with just a few clicks of the mouse. Below, we share what makes an online fundraiser successful.

What takes an online fundraising site from good to great?

Decent charity donation sites will offer all the basic features, like an easy setup and low fees. But the best charity fundraising sites will blow you away with the extras, like a help desk to answer your questions every step of the way.

There is a lot to consider when looking to start charity fundraising. Is it crucial to receive the funds as quickly as possible? And is a team fundraising feature also high on your list of priorities? Below are the main features to keep an eye out for.

Does the platform have a fee?

High fees can make or break your fundraising efforts, so you’ll definitely want to consider the different platform fees and payment processing fees when choosing the fundraising site that’s right for you.

Does it offer real customer support?

Nothing is worse than an automated response when you have a problem that needs fast fixing. A reliable customer support team is an essential feature of the best fundraising sites and can mean all the difference when trying to raise money for charity online. If you run into technical trouble, will you need to wait over 24 hours for a reply, or will a real person respond to you within an hour?

Are team fundraising projects an option?

Sharing fundraising responsibilities with a group of colleagues, close friends, or family members can ease stress and make the experience more collaborative, but not all fundraising platforms offer a team feature.

Does the platform have a mobile app?

Since most of us own mobile phones, it’s key that your chosen fundraising platform has a good mobile app. This makes it easy for you to manage your fundraiser on the go.

Which fundraising site is right for you?

With countless online fundraising sites available, it can be overwhelming trying to choose the right crowdfunding platform for your needs. Below is a list of various charity fundraising sites. To help you with the selection process, we’ll breakdown the three best online charity fundraising sites from the list.

GoFundMe
Classy
Facebook
Donorbox
Fundly
FundRazr
JustGiving

The top 3 charity donation fundraising sites

1. GoFundMe

With over $15 billion raised, GoFundMe is one of the most well-known and trusted personal fundraising websites in the crowdfunding arena. A big advantage of the GoFundMe platform is that individuals can raise money for a charity or a charity can raise money for itself. Some other fundraising sites are primarily geared toward nonprofits. Find out how it works.

EASY SETUP AND STRAIGHTFORWARD DESIGN

You can start a fundraiser in a matter of minutes after following a few guided prompts. Our clean and simple design makes it easy for people to complete donations with a few clicks.

SET UP WITHDRAWALS AND TRANSFER MONEY

Setting up daily transfers of funds is easy on GoFundMe. Even if your charity hasn’t met its fundraising goal yet, you can still set up withdrawals and transfer money.

SEAMLESS TEAM FUNDRAISING

Whether your fundraising group is large or small, the GoFundMe team fundraising service allows you to boost your fundraising efforts. The team fundraising option allows the organizer to manage team members and inspire friendly competition through tracked donations.

CUSTOMER SERVICE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

You would be hard-pressed to find a customer support team that rivals GoFundMe’s crew. With personalized customer service, GoFundMe’s Customer Care team will make sure you’re in good hands any time you contact them.

The number of times you share your fundraiser with the community or even the media can directly impact your fundraising success, which is why we make it simple to spread the word about your cause. Raising awareness of your fundraiser will encourage more supporters to donate online to charity. When you plan on sharing through Twitter, Facebook, or other social platforms, it’s just a click of a button.

A HUB OF FUNDRAISING RESOURCES

We want your fundraiser to be a success, so we provide charity fundraising tips on our blog to help. Maybe you’re looking for information about understanding tax deductions for charitable donations online. Or maybe you’re simply looking for creative ways to raise money with a charity walk. For all of these questions and more, you can head to our blog.

2. Classy

Classy is a subscription fundraising site that offers a few different fundraising options for nonprofits.

ADVANCED EVENT MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Nonprofits have used Classy to organize thousands of fundraising events. The site offers features that help nonprofits build and manage large events, like enabling automatic emails and duplicating events.

FUNDRAISING TREND REPORTS

If a nonprofit better understands giving trends and donor behaviors, it’ll be able to run a more successful fundraiser. Classy provides reports on donor trends and campaign performance, among other takeaways.

RECURRING DONATIONS

Classy gives nonprofits the option to add recurring donations to donation forms to make repeat giving easier for donors.

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT

Classy makes it easy for people to donate via Classy Pay, their own payment processing technology. Classy Pay offers flexible payment options which can increase conversion rates, and it ensures that transactions are safe and secure.

3. Facebook

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking platforms, making it a convenient place to fundraise. While it has its benefits, there are some drawbacks to be aware of when raising money for a charity on Facebook.

FUNDRAISING ELIGIBILITY

In order to use Facebook’s fundraising tools, a charitable organization must meet certain eligibility requirements and fill out an application. Additionally, fundraising must be available in the country/region your nonprofit is located in. It’s important to note that Facebook can refuse access to Fundraising Tools for any nonprofit. Additionally, individuals can fundraise for a nonprofit as long as the nonprofit enables the function to allow for it.

FUNDRAISER INSIGHTS DASHBOARD AND TOOLS

The Insights Dashboard provides stats on fundraisers created for your nonprofit, as well as donations made to your charity. However, the Fundraiser Insights Dashboard is only available for charities that have enrolled for Facebook’s Charitable Giving tools. If your charity is not enrolled, you will not have access to a dashboard. Charities must apply to use Facebook’s Charitable Giving tools.

MINIMUM DONATION PAYOUT AMOUNTS

There are several different ways donations made to your fundraiser are paid out. Meta Pay and Network for Good’s Donor Advised Fund are just a couple of payout organizations. For both Meta Pay and Network for Good’s Donor Advised Fund, there are specific minimum donation payout amounts your charity must reach before it’s eligible for a payout.

Have you found the best fundraising site for your needs?

Unlike many other fundraising sites, GoFundMe has the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee that ensures that donations and donors are protected. Our Customer Care team also offers customer service through our Help Center. GoFundMe has an Act hub that houses verified fundraisers in response to a crisis, offering trusted ways for people to make charitable donations online. Plus, GoFundMe has a smart mobile app and a blog full of fundraising tips and educational resources to help you raise even more money.

Here are just a few blog posts that can help you set up a donation page and reach your fundraising goals:

Increase donations for your charity with crowdfunding

Whether you’re fundraising for a cause that’s important to you, or you’re a nonprofit looking to reach more supporters, GoFundMe allows you to bring your charity fundraising ideas to life. Take some time to discover charity fundraisers on GoFundMe for inspiration, then sign up to start a new fundraiser of your own. Are you ready to get started? Begin fundraising for what matters most to you.