Zeffy Alternatives for Nonprofits: 10 Best Platforms to Consider in 2026

Zeffy Alternatives for Nonprofits: 10 Best Platforms to Consider in 2026
TL;DR

Best Zeffy Alternatives Worth Considering in 2026

When evaluating Zeffy alternatives, prioritize fee transparency, donor experience at checkout, event tooling depth, CRM integrations, and how much control your organization actually has over the giving process.

  1. DoJiggy – All-in-one fundraising platform
  2. Donorbox
  3. Fundraise Up
  4. GoFundMe Pro
  5. Givebutter
  6. Bloomerang
  7. OneCause
  8. Handbid
  9. BetterWorld
  10. DonorPerfect

Most nonprofits looking at fundraising platforms run into Zeffy early on. If you’re here, you’re probably wondering what else is worth a look.

To be fair, Zeffy is a solid pick for small nonprofits getting started with online fundraising. The setup is simple, the donor-facing pages look clean, and you get the basics like donations, ticketing, peer-to-peer, and memberships.

However, Zeffy is built for breadth rather than depth. The moment your fundraising grows into bigger events, real CRM needs, and deeper integrations with your stack, it starts to feel limiting.

That’s why the conversation around Zeffy alternatives has grown.

This guide covers 10 platforms worth considering – what each one costs in reality, where it performs, and where it doesn’t.

Zeffy alternatives at a glance

PlatformBest forFee modelDonor tip promptFree plan
DoJiggy – All-in-one fundraising platformEvent fundraising – golf, auctions, raffles, P2PTip-based (0%) or 4.9-6.9% platform fee without tippingOptional – nonprofit controls itYes
DonorboxOnline donation forms and recurring giving% of transactionNoneNo
Fundraise UpHigh-volume online giving with AI optimization4% per transactionNoneNo
GoFundMe ProAccess to GoFundMe’s donor networkCustom annual subscriptionNoneNo
GivebutterMixed campaigns on a tight budgetTip-based or 3% flatOptional Yes
BloomerangDonor retention and CRM-first organizationsCustom quoteNoneNo
OneCauseIn-person events with mobile bidding% of funds raisedNoneNo
HandbidAuction-heavy events with mobile biddingPer-event flat feeNoneNo
BetterWorldBasic auctions and donations on a zero budgetTip-based or 2.2%-5%OptionalYes
DonorPerfectComprehensive donor management & CRMCustom quoteNoneNo

What is Zeffy?

Zeffy is a nonprofit fundraising platform. It started in Quebec back in 2017 with one core promise – nonprofits would never pay a dime to use the platform. For a lot of small nonprofits running tight budgets, that was enough to sign up.

Zeffy is a nonprofit fundraising platform

What most of them didn’t fully clock at the time was where the Zeffy fundraising platform’s revenue actually comes from – donor tips.

How does it make money?

Zeffy makes its money through optional tips that donors leave at checkout. Additionally, as they are a nonprofit themselves, they rely heavily on donations made to Zeffy. That’s how the platform stays free for nonprofits.

The tip is set as the default, and donors need to consciously opt out to lower it or set it to zero. That extra step is what creates the friction.

Why do nonprofits seek Zeffy alternatives?

Switching platforms is rarely just about features. Here’s what’s actually pushing organizations to look for better nonprofit fundraising tools:

  • Basic ticketing options: If you run charity golf tournaments or live auctions, you’ll notice the gaps – no bidder tracking, text-to-give, or other advanced event fundraising tools available.
  • Limited reporting: You get donation totals. Building anything custom around your org’s actual reporting needs is a different story.
  • Your brand stays on a short leash: Logo and colors are in. Anything deeper – form design, layouts – Zeffy decides that.
  • “Free” gets complicated with integrations: No open API means everything runs through Zapier. That’s a paid subscription; people don’t account for it when they sign up.
  • Bigger teams run into walls: There’s no way to restrict campaign access by department, which becomes a real headache once you have multiple teams.
  • Tip prompts are a board-level issue: When a major donor hits a tip screen mid-checkout and calls you about it, there’s nothing you can do.

Most of these gaps trace back to one thing – Zeffy wasn’t built for complex fundraising.

10 best Zeffy alternatives for nonprofits in 2026

If you’re searching for the best Zeffy alternatives for nonprofit fundraising platforms, every option below was picked for a specific reason.

Here’s what you actually need to know about each.

1. DoJiggy – All-in-one fundraising platform

Best for: Nonprofits running events – golf tournaments, auctions, galas, P2P campaigns, raffles, A-thons, event ticketing, online stores, donations, sweepstakes, and more.

DoJiggy has been built around event fundraising since 2003 – and that focus is what separates it from general-purpose donation platforms that treat events as an add-on.

The event tooling runs deep, the pricing is transparent, and there are no locked features behind an upgrade wall.

As one of the best fundraising platforms for event-heavy nonprofits, it covers everything from golf tournaments to charity auctions with purpose-built tools for each format.

DoJiggy - All-in-one fundraising platform

Key Features of DoJiggy:

  • Full charity auction platform with text-to-bid, proxy bidding, and automated bidder alerts
  • Purpose-built golf tournament software with team pairing, sponsor management, and foursome registration
  • Raffle fundraising with automated winner draws and peer-to-peer ticket selling
  • Livestreaming is built in for virtual and hybrid events
  • Free text-to-donate and scan-to-donate on every campaign
  • Custom branding – your logo, colors, domain, fonts, and emails
  • P2P crowdfunding with personal fundraising pages, leaderboards, and gamification
  • Stripe and PayPal with Apple Pay and Google Pay support
  • No subscription fees, no contracts, no locked features

DoJiggy pricing:

Campaign typePercentage planFree plan
Donations1.9%Free with donor tips
P2P crowdfunding, simple stores, golf tournaments, charity auctions, event ticketing4.9%Free with donor tips
A-thons, fundraising raffles, sweepstakes6.9%Free with donor tips
All-in-one6.9%Free with donor tips

Note: Stripe/PayPal processing fee applies.

Limitation:

  • Newer admins may need a session or two to get oriented with the advanced tools

2. Donorbox

Best for: Nonprofits that primarily run online donation campaigns and need recurring giving management.

Donorbox launched in 2014. It handles donation forms, recurring giving, peer-to-peer campaigns, event ticketing, and memberships. Organizations embed their forms directly on their website and manage donor relationships from a central dashboard.

For those weighing Donorbox vs. Zeffy, the key difference is pricing transparency.

Nonprofits that primarily run online donation campaigns

Key Features:

  • Embeddable donation forms that go live on any website fast
  • Recurring donations
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising pages
  • Event ticketing and membership campaigns
  • Donor portal for self-managed giving
  • Available in 15 languages and 52+ currencies
  • Integrations with Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Zapier (Pro and above)

Pricing:

PlanMonthly costPlatform fee
Standard$02.95% on donations & crowdfunding / 3.95% on events & memberships
Pro$150/month1.75% on donations & crowdfunding / 2% on events & memberships
PremiumCustom1.6%-2% across campaign types

Processing fees (on top of the platform fee):

  • Stripe (cards/digital wallets): 2.2% + $0.30
  • Stripe ACH: 0.8% capped at $5
  • PayPal: 1.99% + $0.49
  • Crypto & Stock: 3.95% total

Add-ons: Text-to-give starts at $19/month

Limitations (as per users):

  • Fees add up quickly on Standard – on $50K raised, you’re looking at $1,475 to $1,975 in platform fees alone before processing costs
  • Event and auction tooling is basic compared to dedicated event platforms
  • Zapier integrations are only available on the Pro ($150/month) and most Premium plans, or $17/mo as an add-on
  • CRM depth is limited – works better paired with a dedicated donor database

3. Fundraise Up

Best for: Organizations fundraising internationally across multiple currencies, languages, and regions.

Fundraise Up is an online fundraising platform that uses AI to optimize donation checkouts and retain recurring donors. It supports campaigns across 135+ currencies and 23 languages.

Organizations fundraising internationally across multiple currencies

Key Features:

  • AI-optimized checkout with personalized donation ask amounts
  • Peer-to-peer fundraisers with a donor self-management portal
  • Company matching, crypto giving, and 100+ integrations, including Salesforce and HubSpot
  • REST API, white label, and subaccount support for chapters

Pricing:

Fee typeAmount
Platform fee4% per transaction
Stripe processing2.2% + $0.30

Limitations (as per users):

  • At 4%, the platform fee is on the higher end compared to others on this list
  • No built-in event ticketing for galas, golf tournaments, or in-person events
  • No self-serve signup – requires a sales call to get started

4. GoFundMe Pro

Best for: Nonprofits that want access to GoFundMe’s donor network alongside a full fundraising platform.

GoFundMe Pro is the rebranded version of Classy, now operating under GoFundMe. It covers donation forms, events, auctions, peer-to-peer, recurring giving, and crowdfunding – with an added channel of nonprofit pages visible to GoFundMe’s community.

Nonprofits that want access to GoFundMe's donor network

Key Features:

  • Donation forms, pages, and crowdfunding campaigns
  • Event ticketing, registration, check-in, and live auctions
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with supporter pages
  • Recurring giving with AI-driven optimization
  • Nonprofit Pages on GoFundMe for broader donor discovery
  • Integrations hub with CRM and marketing tools

Pricing:

Fee typeAmount
SubscriptionCustom annual – contact sales
Credit card processing2.4% + $0.30 per transaction
AmEx transactionsAdditional 1%
PayPal/Venmo processingStarts at 2.5% + $0.30

Limitations (as per users):

  • No live phone support – issues get resolved over back-and-forth email
  • Since the Classy-to-GoFundMe Pro transition, several users have reported slower product development and unresolved feature requests
  • Email receipts come from a GoFundMe/Classy address rather than your organization’s own email, which can land in donor spam folders

5. Givebutter

Best for: Nonprofits running a mix of donation campaigns, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising on a tight budget.

Givebutter is a fundraising platform that covers donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, and a built-in donor CRM. Like Zeffy’s fundraising model, it operates on donor tips.

The answer to the Givebutter vs. Zeffy question is: Givebutter offers more campaign flexibility and a built-in CRM, while Zeffy keeps things simpler but thinner.

Givebutter is a fundraising platform that covers donation forms

Key Features:

  • Donation forms, fundraising pages, and event ticketing in one platform
  • Built-in auctions with mobile bidding
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with team pages
  • Nonprofit CRM with donor profiles, segments, and email/text outreach
  • Integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and more

Pricing:

ScenarioPlatform feeProcessing fee
Tips enabled0%0% (Givebutter Guarantee covers it)
Tip disabled3%2.9% + $0.30 (cards)/1.9 + $0.30 (ACH)
Givebutter PlusFrom $29/month (under 250 contacts)Standard rates apply

*Givebutter Plus unlocks advanced CRM features and marketing automation.

Limitations (as per users):

  • In-app reporting is limited; users flag difficulty filtering and exporting data
  • CRM functionality is basic compared to dedicated donor management platforms
  • Data export can be slow – users report not being able to export specific data columns consistently

6. Bloomerang

Best for: Nonprofits that want donor retention and CRM features as their primary focus, with fundraising tools built around that.

Bloomerang is a donor management and fundraising platform. It started as a CRM and has since added fundraising, volunteer management, and payment processing under one platform. The CRM side is where it runs deepest.

Bloomerang is a donor management and fundraising platform

Key Features:

  • Donor CRM with engagement and retention tracking built into the dashboard
  • Online fundraising forms, donation pages, and peer-to-peer campaigns
  • Volunteer management tools
  • Built-in email outreach and donor communication
  • Reporting and custom filters for donor segmentation

Pricing:

PlanCost
FundraisingFrom $40/month
CRMFrom $125/month (billed annually)
Volunteer managementFrom $119/month
Full bundleCustom pricing

Processing fee: 

  • Visa/MC/Discover: 3.95% + $0.30
  • AmEx: 4.95% + $0.30
  • ACH: 1.95% + $0.95 (+ $0.50 on first monthly eCheck)
  • P2P transactions: Additional 1%

Limitations (as per users):

  • Email templates are inflexible – limited formatting, no way to pre-load brand guidelines like logo, colors, or fonts
  • Event setup is time-consuming, with users flagging it as overly complex for what it delivers
  • Cancellation terms have frustrated some users – contracts auto-renew and early exit fees apply

7. OneCause

Best for: Nonprofits that run in-person fundraising events and need mobile bidding and auction tools.

OneCause is an event-focused fundraising platform now operating under Bonterra. It covers auctions, ticketing, peer-to-peer, and text-to-give – with mobile bidding as its most recognized capability.

OneCause is an event-focused fundraising platform now operating under Bonterra

Key Features:

  • Mobile bidding and silent/live auction management
  • Event ticketing, check-in, and sponsorship management
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with ambassador and leaderboard tools
  • Text2Give® for real-time event donations
  • Supports ACH, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and DAF

Pricing:

PlanCost
Pay-As-You-Go (≤$50K/year)$200 upfront + 5% of funds raised
Professional (≤$50K/year)$2,995/year flat
Text-to-Give$495/year
Enterprise/NationalsCustom pricing
Peer-to-PeerDemo required for pricing
Online Fundraising & Text2Give®Demo required for pricing

Processing fee:

  • Credit cards (via Stripe or Deluxe): Starting at 2.0%

ACH, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and DAF are also accepted.

Limitations (as per users):

  • Pricier than most alternatives
  • Some users report platform glitches during events, particularly around database errors and image formatting
  • Limited customization options on pages

8. Handbid

Best for: Nonprofits and schools that run auction-heavy events and need mobile bidding as a core part of the experience.

Handbid is an auction and event fundraising platform built around mobile bidding. It handles silent auctions, live auctions, ticketing, check-in, peer-to-peer campaigns, and text-to-give – all under one platform.

Handbid is an auction and event fundraising platform built around mobile bidding

Key Features:

  • Mobile bidding for silent, live, and hybrid auctions – available via app or browser
  • Event ticketing, guest check-in, and QR code scanning
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with personal pages and leaderboards
  • Text-to-give for real-time in-event donations
  • Full white-label experience – your brand on every screen, your URLs throughout

Pricing:

PlanCost
The Big Event plan$1,396/year
The Big Event+ plan$1,999/year
The Whole Shebang$2,499/year
The Whole Shebang+$2,999/year
Single and multi-event packagesAvailable
Strategy, setup, and coachingOptional add-ons

Processing fee per transaction: 3.5% + $0.30

Limitations (as per users):

  • Pricing plans are out of reach for smaller organizations or those running frequent, low-budget events
  • Some users report that the platform feels glitchy and clunky, particularly for guests logging in for the first time

9. BetterWorld

Best for: Nonprofits and schools running auctions, giveaways, or basic donation campaigns on a tight or zero budget.

BetterWorld is a nonprofit fundraising platform covering auctions, donation forms, ticketing, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, and giveaways. The free plan is its main draw for fundraising for nonprofits on minimal budgets.

BetterWorld is a nonprofit fundraising platform covering auctions, donation forms, ticketing, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, and giveaways

Key Features:

  • Auctions, giveaways, donation forms, ticketing, and crowdfunding in one platform
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising with goal tracking
  • Recurring donation support with one-click checkout
  • Donor profiles and campaign tracking on a unified dashboard
  • Campaign automation for receipts, notifications, and follow-ups

Pricing:

PlanPlatform feeNotes
Free Forever0%Optional donor contribution prompt at checkout
Flex2.2%-5% per transactionNo donor tip prompt
Partner1% per transaction$1,550/year flat subscription
EnterpriseCustomFor orgs processing over $2M annually

Processing fee:

  • Cards (Stripe): 2.9% + $0.30
  • ACH: 1.5% + $0.30
  • DAFpay: 2.9% + 1% (verified nonprofits only)

Limitations (as per users):

  • Membership pricing has jumped significantly
  • No bulk import option for auction item photos – adding them manually is time-consuming for larger events
  • Mobile sign-up flow has caused issues for bidders during live events, with unclear fee prompts at checkout

10. DonorPerfect

Best for: Nonprofits that need a dedicated donor management system and want CRM, reporting, and email marketing under one roof.

DonorPerfect has been around for over 40 years, developed by SofterWare. It’s primarily a donor management CRM with fundraising tools built around it – covering donation tracking, reporting, email outreach, and online forms.

DonorPerfect has been around for over 40 years, developed by SofterWare

Key Features:

  • Donor CRM with complete giving history, engagement tracking, and relationship management
  • Customizable reporting and dashboards for real-time fundraising insights
  • Constant Contact email marketing built into every plan
  • Online donation forms with an optional “donors cover costs” setting
  • Automated workflows for receipts, acknowledgments, and donor follow-ups

Pricing:

PlanCostWhat it covers
CoreCustom quoteDonor management basics, outreach, stewardship, and automated admin workflows
PlusCustom quoteDonor engagement, retention tools, and organizational growth features
ProCustom quoteEverything in Plus, with data-driven targeting and filtering for larger teams

All plans require a personalized quote based on your organization’s size and needs.

Processing fee:

  • Payment processing fees apply across all plans
  • Donor Cover Costs lets donors absorb processing fees at checkout

Limitations (as per users):

  • Pricing is not publicly listed – you need to go through a sales conversation before knowing what you’ll pay
  • The interface is dated – multiple users flag it as not the most modern-looking platform to work in day-to-day
  • Reporting and segmenting data can feel clunky – users note the dashboard count is limited, making real-time data harder to pull quickly

How to switch fundraising platforms without losing donors or data?

If you’ve decided one of these Zeffy alternatives is a better fit, the actual switch needs a plan. Jumping platforms mid-campaign or failing to secure your donor data first can cause real damage.

Best nonprofit fundraising tools deliver value when the transition to them is handled cleanly. Here’s how to do it:

1. Export your donor data

Pull a full export of donor records, giving history, contact information, and communication logs. Save at least two places.

This is your safety net if anything goes wrong during the transition.

2. Identify all recurring donors and get re-consent

Recurring gifts don’t automatically transfer to a new processor. Please reach out to recurring donors directly, explain the change, and kindly request them to re-enter their payment details.

Don’t assume they’ll figure it out – most won’t, and you’ll lose the gift silently.

3. Reconcile any pending pledges or open campaigns

Before going live on the new platform, close out or manually reconcile any outstanding pledges, open fundraising campaigns, or pending payouts.

Switching mid-campaign creates reporting gaps that are difficult to fix later.

4. Plan your brand and URL transitions

If donors have bookmarked your donation page or you’ve shared campaign links widely, a URL change will break those paths. Redirect old URLs where possible and update any links in email templates, social bios, or your website.

This matters especially for peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns where individual fundraisers may have shared personal pages.

5. Test with a small campaign before going all in

Don’t launch your biggest event fundraising campaign of the year on a platform you’ve never used in production. Run a smaller campaign first – a simple donation form or a low-stakes charity auction – to catch any issues before they affect a major fundraiser.

The right fundraising platform for nonprofits is here

No platform on this list is perfect – Zeffy included.

The question is which tradeoffs you can live with. For many organizations, donor tip prompts that they can’t control and event tooling that stops at basic forms are the two that eventually become dealbreakers.

If that’s where you are, DoJiggy – the all-in-one fundraising platform, is worth a serious look.

It is built specifically around event fundraising – golf tournaments, charity auctions, raffles, peer-to-peer campaigns – with no locked features sitting behind an upgrade wall.

You can get in, explore the platform, and have a campaign live without talking to a salesperson first.

If you run events and want a platform that was actually built for them, come see what DoJiggy, a full-stack fundraising platform, can do for your organization.

FAQs on Zeffy alternatives

1. What is the best donation platform for nonprofits?

For event-heavy nonprofits, DoJiggy, an all-in-one fundraising solution, leads the pack of best nonprofit fundraising platforms 2026. For recurring giving and donation forms, Donorbox and Givebutter are worth considering.

2. What are Zeffy’s disadvantages?

Donor tip prompts with no nonprofit control, thin event tooling, no open API, limited reporting, basic branding, and no team-level campaign access.

3. Is Zeffy really free to use?

Free for nonprofits, but donors pay through checkout tip prompts. Platforms like DoJiggy offer more transparent, nonprofit-controlled alternatives.

4. Is Zeffy better than GoFundMe?

Zeffy suits basic nonprofit donation forms. GoFundMe Pro offers broader tools but costs more. Neither is universally better – it depends on your needs.

5. Is Zeffy a good platform for nonprofits?

Yes, it works for small nonprofits running simple donation campaigns. Limitations surface when event tooling, integrations, or donor experience become priorities.

Lisa Bennett

About Lisa Bennett

I’ve been part of the DoJiggy Sales team since 2006, and I genuinely love helping organizations raise more with less stress. Before joining DoJiggy, I worked in the nonprofit world managing special event fundraising, so I understand the challenges (and rewards) that come with it.When I’m not talking fundraising strategy, you’ll usually find me spending time with my teenage son or recharging on my yoga mat.

See other posts from Lisa Bennett

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