In recent years, fundraising has expanded to online spaces more than ever before. Fundraisers have recognized the potential that comes with raising money online. Individuals and organizations can capitalize on their online networks and amplify their reach to increase donations and support for causes.
To find the best fundraising website for you and your needs, check out our list of the top fundraising websites:
- Bonfire: Best for T-shirt Fundraisers
- Classy: Best for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
- Fundly: Best for Crowdfunding Campaigns
- Double the Donation: Best for Gift Matching Programs
- Bloomerang: Best for Donor Management
- Fundable: Best for Business Fundraisers
- Indiegogo: Best for Innovative Technology
- Kickstarter: Best for Creative Project Fundraising
- Kiva: Best for Crowdfunding Loans
- Experiment: Best for Scientific Research Crowdfunding
- DonorsChoose: Best for Teacher and Classroom Fundraisers
- DoJiggy: Best for Fundraising Events
New to fundraising, or, not really sure what you should be looking for? Let’s walk through what you should be evaluated on these sites so you end up with the best one for your mission.
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How to Select the Right Fundraising Site
Before diving into our top picks, let’s take a look at what you should keep in mind as you narrow down your choices. Ask these key questions to help analyze each site and select the right option for your needs.
What are the startup costs for using the fundraising platform?
The fees associated with your chosen fundraising site can make or break your efforts. High fees will detract from the donations you receive, which means less money for your cause. To optimize your fundraising, you’ll likely want to use a low-cost or risk-free service. If you’re trying to figure out which fundraising sites have the lowest platform prices and payment processing fees, this article lays out all your options.
What are some key qualities to look for?
The features you need in your fundraising platform will depend on your unique situation and needs. For example, nonprofits and individuals will have different needs when it comes to collecting donor data. However, some qualities are beneficial for all types of fundraisers
These traits can signal that a fundraising site is reliable and high-quality:
- Easy setup
- Free or low-cost to use
- Quick fund disbursement
- Stringent security measures
- Friendly, skilled customer support
For nonprofits, you’ll want a service partner that is up to date with the latest in compliance, especially with recent developments in commercial co-ventures and cause marketing. Finding a platform designed with nonprofit organizations in mind will ensure you have the tools you need for a smooth fundraiser.
Who will own your donors’ data?
A huge concern with going digital is the level of security. Anytime technology is involved, there’s an inherent risk of handling personal information like credit card numbers and personal addresses. People won’t feel comfortable donating if there’s a chance their data will be compromised, so ask about security from your fundraising site provider to protect your donors’ information.
What level of customer support is available?
Nothing is worse than an automated response (or no response at all) when you’re faced with a high-priority problem. Look for a reliable customer support team when narrowing down your options. If you’re faced with a technical issue, will you have to wait several days for a response, or can you expect a speedy reply? Readily available support can make all the difference when raising money for your cause online.
1. Bonfire: Best for T-Shirt Fundraisers
- No platform or inventory fees
- Great for nonprofits & individuals
- Amazing customer service
- 4.9 stars on Trustpilot
Fundraising Site Features
Bonfire is the industry leader in custom t-shirt and apparel fundraising. Their free fundraising site gives individuals and nonprofits an easy, risk-free way to raise money online. Best of all, you keep 100% of the campaign profits, and they handle all of the logistics like processing, printing, and shipping the apparel.
Getting started with Bonfire is free. They handle everything from payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer service so you can focus on connecting with your community. Simply design your products, launch your fundraiser, and Bonfire handles the rest.
Whether you’re an individual, an organization, or a nonprofit, Bonfire offers several ways to raise money through its fundraising site with custom apparel:
- If you’re looking to raise funds directly for yourself or a personal cause, you can launch a fundraising campaign.
- If you’d like to raise funds for a specific nonprofit, Bonfire offers Giving Campaigns, which send the money you raise directly to the nonprofit of your choice.
- If you are a nonprofit organization, Bonfire allows you to run fundraising campaigns for your org, or launch peer-to-peer t-shirt fundraisers for upcoming events or special occasions.
Additionally, when you verify your nonprofit on Bonfire, you’ll get access to a suite of special fundraising tools and features designed specifically for nonprofits. These features include reduced donation fees from 8% to 3.5%, access to their Classy Integration, customizable organization profile pages, chapter-based fundraising, and downloadable supporter lists that contain your campaign supporters’ contact information.
Bonfire Pricing and Fees
Bonfire’s fundraising platform is free for anyone to use, which means you keep 100% of the money you raise. The only fee Bonfire will ever collect is an 8% processing fee on additional donations. For verified nonprofits on Bonfire, the processing fee is reduced to 3.5%.
Ready to start a t-shirt fundraiser with Bonfire?
2. Classy: Best for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
- Branded campaign pages
- Event management
- Donor insights
- International fundraising
Fundraising Site Features
Classy is a leading fundraising platform that empowers nonprofits, healthcare systems, churches, and more to raise more money online and maximize impact through world-class fundraising tools. The innovators behind this platform work to modernize the giving experience and accelerate social impact for worthy causes.
Their robust fundraising platform provides everything your nonprofit needs to tap into social campaigns, online events, international fundraising, and so much more.
Create multiple streams of revenue to fund your cause. Collect one-time and recurring donations on your website with customized, mobile-responsive donation forms. Manage and promote your fundraising events with ease, too. You can collect registrations, accept discount codes, and engage guests with various marketing tools. If you want to try different fundraising avenues, run branded crowdfunding and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Classy also enables cross-currency international fundraising, giving you access to a world of potential supporters. Across all campaigns, eliminate barriers and grow your movement by empowering supporters to fundraise and donate using their local currencies.
As part of their initiative to influence social change, Classy’s team actively builds out their platform’s functionality, which integrates with leading providers in the nonprofit space, including Bonfire.
Classy Pricing and Fees
Classy offers three plans: Essentials, Professional, and Advanced. Reach out to Classy to get custom pricing.
3. Fundly: Best for Crowdfunding Campaigns
- Free iOS app
- Great customer service
- Low platform fees
- Secure payment processing
Fundraising Site Features
Fundly is an affordable fundraising website loaded with dozens of helpful features. Make your fundraising page stand out by featuring impactful photos and videos front and center, then customize the description to share your story. Your supporters can then visualize the reason you’re raising money, inspiring them to give.
With Fundly, there’s no minimum amount you have to raise to keep your funds. Payments are processed quickly and will be transferred as soon as they are available within Stripe, Fundly’s payment processing tool.
Your mobile-friendly donation page will look great and be fully functional on any device. Built-in social sharing tools make it easy for supporters to share your cause with their network. Share progress updates directly on your fundraising page, keeping your donors in the loop with how much you’ve raised and how close you are to meeting your goal.
Plus, when your campaign begins, you’ll receive email updates and alerts that will help direct you through the starting stages. These updates are an easy way to keep track of your progress and keep supporters in the know.
Fundly Pricing and Fees
Fundly has a 0% platform fee for organizers, relying on tips from donors to fund the service. Stripe, Fundly’s payment partner, charges a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
4. Double the Donation: Best for Gift Matching Programs
- Quick & easy setup
- 100+ integrations & partners
- Customization options
- Great customer service
Fundraising Site Features
Double the Donation empowers charitable organizations to harness the power of corporate philanthropy to boost fundraising campaigns. Backed by the world’s largest and most up-to-date matching gift database, they’re the leading provider of corporate giving information. Their core product, 360MatchPro, makes it easy to locate match-eligible donations by doing all the research for you.
While Double the Donation is not a standalone fundraising site, their 360MatchPro platform easily integrates with many leading providers, making it easy to multiply your donations. Their embed code makes it easy to add the searchable database to any page on your website, such as your donation page or your ‘Ways to Give’ page.
To maximize matching gift revenue, Double the Donation partners with its workplace-giving software providers to streamline and automate the submission process. In this process, 360MatchPro checks whether online donations are eligible to be auto-submitted. If the donor works for a company with a matching gift program, they will be asked to provide a few pieces of additional information. Then, they will check a box authorizing Double the Donation to submit a matching gift request on their behalf.
Double the Donation Pricing and Fees
Double the Donation offers three 360MatchPro plans starting at $999 per year. To learn more or get enterprise-level pricing, reach out to Double the Donation.
5. Bloomerang: Best for Donor Management
- Extensive fundraising tools
- Unlimited fundraising pages
- Donor management capabilities
- Free integrations
Fundraising Site Features
Bloomerang offers robust nonprofit CRM and a suite of fundraising and donor management tools that help nonprofits build stronger relationships with their communities, improve their donation processes, and raise awareness for worthy causes.
Their platform comes fully equipped with a range of tools to supercharge your fundraising efforts. Take advantage of popular features like unlimited fundraising pages, embeddable donation buttons, recurring giving, event registration, crowdfunding, and text-to-give. The donor data you gather from these fundraising tools will flow directly into their robust donor management system.
Gain a holistic view of your supporters and locate opportunities to boost engagement with must-need features like donor life cycle analytics, list segmentation, donor accounts, unlimited admin users, and relationship tracking. Bloomerang empowers all-sized organizations to easily track fundraising efforts and communications from one central location.
Their platform integrates with a variety of top software providers including other leading fundraising websites and apps, like Classy, Hubspot, and Double the Donation.
Bloomerang Pricing and Fees
Pricing starts at $99 per month with a variety of add-ons to choose from.
6. Fundable: Best for Business Fundraisers
- Great customer support
- Quick and easy setup
- Straightforward pricing
- Free resources & guides
Fundraising Site Features
While most large crowdfunding sites focus on charitable causes, Fundable is all business. Fundable is a powerful fundraising site that enables startups to navigate the fundraising process and engage a large network of backers. From profile creation to marketing, they’ll be there to help every step of the way during your fundraising campaign.
They give users the choice of launching a self-managed or guided fundraising campaign. Here’s a quick overview of these options:
- Self-managed: Fundable hosts the fundraiser, helping the startup collect investor commitments.
- Guided: The Fundable team creates a pitch deck, researches potential investors, and supports users through the process.
With many helpful resources available and a team with tons of first-hand experience, Fundable will empower you with a positive, successful campaign.
Fundable Pricing and Fees
Reach out to Fundable for pricing.
7. Indiegogo: Best for Innovative Technology
- Complete customizability
- Built by experienced fundraisers
- Free resources & guides
- Access to their existing donor network
Fundraising Site Features
As a fundraising platform that’s supported entrepreneurs, creators, and creative communities since 2008, Indiegogo is where groundbreaking products and projects take flight. Indiegogo is a leading fundraising site for verticals like tech, social innovation, and design marketing.
If you’ve created a unique product, the sooner you rally support, the better. Indiegogo’s fundraising platform allows you to attain a high-profile reach, so you can connect to the funders necessary to launch your creative ideas forward.
When designing your crowdfunding page, you gain complete control and will be able to:
- Fully customize it with videos and photos that convey your mission, project, or product.
- Add compelling text to portray the importance of your efforts.
- Easily share your fundraising page on your favorite social media sites.
- Offer unique, limited-time perks and pricing for the earliest backers.
Then, watch as you connect with supporters to bring your innovative ideas to life! Between these beneficial features and the fundraising platform’s millions of backers, your campaign is sure to succeed.
Indiegogo Pricing and Fees
Indiegogo charges varying platform fees depending on which of its services you use. Explore pricing details to learn more.
8. Kickstarter: Best for Creative Project Fundraising
- Available to individuals and nonprofits
- Accessible worldwide
- Low fees
- Access to their existing donor network
Fundraising Site Features
Kickstarter is one of the most well-known fundraising websites. Worthwhile causes turn to this platform to share creative visions with a community that will come together to fund them. No need to deal with extensive grant applications or donors asking you to modify your campaign’s message to their preferences.
Kickstarter gives people the tools they need to pursue daring ideas on their own terms, helping creative projects gain momentum.
From art and music to design and tech, Kickstarter empowers creators to make a lasting impact on society, culture, and the economy. Available across the globe, people anywhere in the world can fund your campaign using this fundraising site. While nonprofits are welcome to launch projects on Kickstarter, they can’t promise to donate to a charity or cause. Instead, funds must go toward facilitating the project outlined on the page.
Kickstarter Pricing and Fees
Kickstarter takes 5% of total funds raised plus 3% + $0.30 per pledge for payment processing.
If funding isn’t successful, there are no fees.
9. Kiva: Best for Crowdfunding Loans
- Customizable fundraising pages
- Access to their existing donor network
- Minimal fees
- Widely accessible
Fundraising Site Features
Founded in 2005, Kiva has a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities improve their lives. Through micro-lending fundraising websites like Kiva, your friends, family, and people around the world can play a special part in your story.
Kiva’s fundraising platform works on a loan system for microfinance organizations. When individuals donate to your cause or mission, they’re helping fund small loans provided by one of Kiva’s lending partners. As your projects earn more, you’ll repay those contributions.
When you apply for a loan, local nonprofits or lending institutions monitored by Kiva will review your application. Once approved, it’s then posted to Kiva for lenders to support. You can set your loan goal, explain your cause, and add imagery to stand out amongst other listings.
Kiva Pricing and Fees
The only fee you’ll encounter is an interest rate on your loans. Interest fees vary by project, with some loans for U.S.-based entrepreneurs offering 0% interest.
10. Experiment: Best for Scientific Research Crowdfunding
- Built specifically for scientific projects
- Run by industry experts
- No charges if goal isn’t met
- All-or-nothing fundraising model
Fundraising Site Features
Just like any other nonprofit, research institutions need adequate funding to continue working and impacting society. Often, generic fundraising sites don’t help these institutions connect with the right audiences. That’s why Experiment designed the ideal fundraising site for scientific projects.
Run by a team of scientists, designers, and technologists, Experiment helps “fund the next wave of scientific research” by offering a straightforward fundraising approach for scientists and research projects. Campaigns operate on an all-or-nothing model, meaning your campaign must reach its fundraising goal in order for your supporters’ pledges to be charged. If it doesn’t, all pledges are returned, making it much more appealing for funders to pledge in the first place.
With more than $11.7 million pledged to nearly 1,300 projects, your campaign is sure to receive funding! Plus, there’s no overhead involved. Backers directly fund the project scientists and help push the boundaries of scientific knowledge.
Experiment Pricing and Fees
Experiment charges an 8% platform fee and its payment process takes 2.9% + $0.30 on each transaction. If fundraising is unsuccessful, there are no fees.
11. DonorsChoose: Best for Teachers and Classroom Fundraisers
- Built specifically for schools
- Customizable fundraising pages
- Extensive Security
- 100% free to use
Fundraising Site Features
Founded in 2000 by a Bronx public high school teacher, DonorsChoose is a popular fundraising site for teachers in need of supplies and materials for their classrooms. It connects teachers with philanthropic donors across the country, so they can collect much-needed materials and provide an enriching learning experience for students.
Start by browsing their directory of approved providers, and request the items your classroom needs. Share pictures and tell your story. Spread the word about the campaign so your friends and family can lend a hand. Then, the donor community at DonorsChoose will take care of the rest. DonorsChoose will order everything for you and ship it directly to you.
From vetting every project request to sending resources instead of money, financial transparency and accountability are the core of this fundraising site’s model.
With help from more than 6.2 million donors, DonorsChoose has funded 3 million projects and improved more than 900,000 teachers’ classrooms. By creating a project on this fundraising site, you become part of a trusted network of educators, donors, foundations, and corporate partners who share a passion for education.
DonorsChoose Pricing and Fees
Since teachers request classroom materials instead of monetary donations, DonorsChoose is free for teachers around the U.S.! Payment processing and shipping costs vary based on the vendor.
12. DoJiggy: Best for Fundraising Events
- Large selection of fundraising tools
- Secure payment processing
- Several packages to choose from
- Mobile-responsive fundraising pages
Fundraising Site Features
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to boost your charitable efforts, DoJiggy may be the fundraising platform for you. Since 2003, this platform has empowered nonprofits and schools to gain funding for their initiatives with tech-based solutions.
Gain access to powerful fundraising software like their online donation tools, crowdfunding and peer-to-peer campaigns, and online storefronts to sell merchandise. Backed by their event management platform, you can also pull off standout fundraising events. Take advantage of specialized tools for managing:
- A-thons
- Golfing fundraisers
- Charity auctions
- Raffles
- eCommerce stores
The experts at DoJiggy are constantly looking for innovative ways to grow philanthropic communities and streamline the administrative work of fundraising campaigns. Backed by this robust fundraising platform, you’ll have access to everything you need to raise funds online and build brand awareness for your cause.
DoJiggy Pricing and Fees
DoJiggy has no startup or subscription fees, instead relying on tips from donors to power the platform. Each product has a set fee, which you can view on the pricing page.
When it comes to raising money for your cause, the fundraising website you choose plays an instrumental role in your success. With so many options available, it can be challenging to narrow down your options. Whether you’re fundraising for a nonprofit, school, or a loved one, this list is a great starting point.
All that’s left to do is select a provider, launch and market your campaign, and raise money to support your cause!
Ready to launch your own t-shirt fundraiser on Bonfire?