You wouldn’t be alone if you’d like to raise money for a charity but aren’t sure how to do so. Many of us feel called to give back to a cause 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 the best donation sites for charity fundraising. Giving back just got a whole lot easier.
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 allows you to share your cause with anyone with just a few clicks of the mouse through TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and beyond. Below, we share what makes an online fundraiser successful.
What takes an online fundraising site from good to great?
Regular 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 and resources on how to do your best online fundraising.
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 want to compare the different fundraising platforms and their payment processing fees when choosing the right charity fundraising site for you.
Does it offer real customer support?
Nothing is worse than an automated response when a problem 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 within an hour?
Are team fundraising projects an option?
Sharing fundraising responsibilities with colleagues, close friends, or family members can ease stress and make the experience more collaborative, but not all fundraising platforms offer a team feature.
Do the fundraising platforms have a mobile app?
Since most of us own mobile phones, it’s key that your chosen fundraising platform has an excellent mobile app—it 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, choosing the right crowdfunding platform for your needs can be overwhelming. Below is a list of various charity fundraising sites.
- GoFundMe
- Classy
- Donorbox
- Fundly
- FundRazr
- JustGiving
The best online fundraising sites
1. GoFundMe
With over $15 billion raised, GoFundMe is one of the most well-known and trusted personal fundraising websites in crowdfunding. A significant advantage of the GoFundMe platform is that individuals can raise money for a charity, or a charity can raise money and create their own donation site. Some other fundraising sites are primarily geared toward nonprofits.
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 create their own personal fundraising websites and for donors 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—a benefit of using one of the best donation sites.
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.
EASY SOCIAL SHARING
The number of times you share your fundraiser with the community can directly impact your fundraising success, so we make spreading the word about your cause simple. Raising awareness of your fundraiser will encourage more supporters to donate online to charity. When you plan on sharing through Instagram, 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
One of the other popular fundraising websites is Classy, 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 fundraiser 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 used social networking platforms and also, one of the most popular donation sites—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
To use Facebook’s fundraising tools, a charitable organization must meet specific eligibility requirements and fill out an application. Additionally, fundraising must be available in the country/region where your nonprofit is located. It’s important to note that Facebook can refuse access to Fundraising Tools for any nonprofit. Personal fundraisers are no longer supported.
FUNDRAISER INSIGHTS DASHBOARD AND TOOLS
The Insights Dashboard provides stats on fundraisers created for your nonprofit and donations made to your charity. However, the Fundraiser Insights Dashboard is only available for charities enrolled in Facebook’s Charitable Giving tools. If your charity is not enrolled, you cannot access a dashboard. Charities must apply to use Facebook’s Charitable Giving tools.
Have you found the best fundraising site for your needs?
Unlike many other fundraising and donation sites, GoFundMe has the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee that protects donations and donors. 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.
