Best Fundraising Software

Fundraising can be an intricate and time-intensive undertaking for not-for-profit entities. Nevertheless, with the assistance of contemporary technology, these entities can optimize their fundraising efforts and maximize their potential for accomplishment.

Fundraising software has emerged as a progressively prevalent tool for not-for-profit entities, providing a broad spectrum of characteristics and functionalities that facilitate and enrich the fundraising experience.

In this composition, we shall scrutinize the benefits of utilizing fundraising software, specifically concentrating on DonorPerfect, a comprehensive cloud-based software program for managing donors.

What Is Fundraising Software?     

Fundraising software is specialized software intended to aid not-for-profit organizations and other groups to solicit funds more efficiently. It typically encompasses benefactor administration, contribution tracking, digital fundraising resources, and reporting and analysis.

Employing fundraising software can rationalize and automate numerous tasks involved in fundraising, such as disseminating contribution acknowledgments, managing benefactor information, and monitoring campaign advancement.

This can economize on time and augment the efficiency of not-for-profit personnel and volunteers, enabling them to devote their attention to other essential facets of their duties.

Many disparate fundraising software variants exist, extending from simplistic online contribution platforms to more all-inclusive solutions that proffer an array of attributes and integrations. A few familiar examples comprise DonorPerfect, Bloomerang, and Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud.

Different Types of Fundraising Software

Fundraising technology has transformed how nonprofit organizations gather funds. These software tools use advanced technology to help nonprofits streamline fundraising, broaden their reach, and connect with potential donors. 

There are various fundraising software, each offering distinctive characteristics and advantages.

1. Auction Software

This software type facilitates online fundraising auctions for organizations. It enables nonprofits to create and manage auctions, monitor bids, and process payments. It also allows donors to bid on items from any location and time, resulting in a more extensive audience.

2. Peer-to-peer Fundraising Software

Nonprofits use this software to leverage social networks' power to broaden their audience. This software enables supporters to create fundraising pages and request donations from their networks. In turn, nonprofits can expand their reach and entice new donors.

3. Volunteer Management Software

This software helps nonprofits manage their volunteers effectively. It enables organizations to track volunteer hours, communicate with volunteers, and manage volunteer schedules. Thus, ensuring that events and campaigns run smoothly.

4. Crowdfunding Software

Nonprofits can use this software to raise funds by appealing to many individuals online. With this software, organizations can create crowdfunding campaigns, set fundraising goals, and monitor donations in real time.

5. Donor Management Software

This online fundraising software for small nonprofits helps nonprofits manage donor data more efficiently. It enables organizations to track donor information, create donor profiles, and segment donors based on their giving history and preferences.

6. Event Fundraising Software

This software assists nonprofits in managing and promoting fundraising events. It enables organizations to create event pages, sell tickets, monitor attendance, and process donations. It simplifies planning and executing successful fundraising events.

Benefits You Get From Fundraising Software

Fundraising software has transformed the way nonprofit organizations collect funds through technological advancements.

Utilizing this software offers many advantages that aid in streamlining the fundraising process, broadening the organization's scope and connection to potential contributors. Here are a few noteworthy benefits organizations can acquire from utilizing fundraising software.

1. Improved Volunteer Management

A fundamental benefit of fundraising system is enhanced volunteer management, which facilitates tracking volunteer hours, communication with volunteers, and effective management of volunteer schedules. With automated reminders, shift scheduling, and volunteer hour tracking, organizations can ensure that events and campaigns run smoothly, allowing them to focus more on accomplishing their fundraising goals.

2. Amplified Presence And Each

The fundraising software empowers nonprofits to expand their reach by harnessing the power of technology. It allows them to initiate crowdfunding campaigns, set fundraising goals, and track donations in real-time. By collecting donations from many people online, organizations can reach a broader audience and attract new donors to their cause.

3. Donor Acquisition

Another significant benefit of utilizing fundraising software is donor acquisition. Nonprofit organizations can efficiently manage their donor data by using donor management software, which helps them track donor information, create donor profiles, and segment donors based on their giving history and preferences. By efficiently managing their donor data, nonprofits can focus on developing relationships with their donors and attracting new donors to their cause.

4. Campaign Management

Fundraising software enables nonprofits to manage their fundraising campaigns more effectively. Organizations can create and manage campaigns that meet their unique fundraising needs by utilizing auction management, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event fundraising features.

The software allows organizations to set fundraising goals, track progress, and communicate with donors and supporters in real-time.

5. Reduction in Campaign Costs

Lastly, fundraising software solutions can aid nonprofits in reducing their campaign costs. Organizations can save time and money by automating many of the fundraising tasks and reducing the need for manual labor. The software also allows nonprofits to segment their donors and create targeted campaigns, ensuring their fundraising efforts are more efficient and effective.

Top Features of Fundraising Software

Fundraising software is a robust software nonprofit entities can utilize to streamline their fundraising operations and establish connections with potential benefactors.

This software offers various characteristics that provide manifold benefits to organizations. Below are some of the most critical features of fundraising software.

1. Donor Management 

Donor management represents a pivotal characteristic of fundraising software. This feature helps organizations manage their benefactor data more efficiently by monitoring donor data, generating donor profiles, and segmenting donors based on their giving history and preferences. 

This aspect allows nonprofit organizations to build relationships with their benefactors and allure new contributors to their noble cause.

2. Marketing And Communication

Marketing and communication are other crucial aspects of fundraising software. It empowers organizations to create and dispatch targeted email campaigns to their benefactors and supporters.

This element enables nonprofit organizations to communicate with their benefactors and inform them about upcoming events, drives, and other relevant news.

3. Event Planning

Event planning is an attribute that helps nonprofit organizations plan and execute their fundraising events more effectively. This feature allows organizations to create and manage events, monitor attendance, and communicate with event attendees in real-time.

By utilizing event planning tools, nonprofits can ensure that their events run seamlessly and accomplish their fundraising objectives.

4. Interaction Tracking

Interaction tracking is a feature that enables organizations to track their exchanges with benefactors and supporters. This aspect allows nonprofits to monitor their conversations with benefactors, such as emails, phone calls, and other interactions. It aids organizations in identifying the most committed benefactors and supporters and customizing their conversations based on their interests and preferences.

5. Recurring Donation Management

Recurring donation management is a feature that empowers nonprofits to accept and manage recurring donations from benefactors. This feature enables donors to establish automatic donations, which can help organizations develop a more consistent support base and plan their fundraising efforts with greater efficiency.

6. Reporting And Analytics

Reporting and analytics represent a feature that provides nonprofit organizations valuable insights into their fundraising efforts.

This feature enables organizations to monitor fundraising progress, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. With reporting and analytics tools, nonprofits can optimize their fundraising efforts and achieve their goals more effectively.

Considerations In Selecting a Fundraising Software for Nonprofits

With technological advancements, these organizations can use fundraising tracking software to streamline their fundraising efforts, manage donor data and contributions, and maximize their fundraising potential.

However, choosing the right online fundraising software solutions can be overwhelming due to the many available options. Consider various factors before selecting the appropriate fundraising software solutions for not-for-profit organizations.

1. Managing Data with Ease

Donor information management is pivotal for not-for-profit organizations to personalize their fundraising efforts and foster long-lasting relationships with donors. Thus, choosing user-friendly fundraising software that enables effortless data entry, retrieval, and analysis is imperative. The software should also possess strong reporting features that provide valuable insights into donor behavior, giving patterns, and campaign performance.

2. Diverse Donation Options

Donors have different preferences when it comes to donating to not-for-profit organizations. Hence, selecting fundraising software that offers multiple donation options, such as online, mobile, peer-to-peer, recurring, and crowdfunding, is imperative. The software should also provide customizable donation forms that align with the branding and messaging of the not-for-profit organization.

3. Type of Solution

Fundraising software comes in various types: standalone, cloud-based, and integrated. Standalone software is installed on a local server, while cloud-based software is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

Integrated software is typically part of a larger not-for-profit management system, including customer relationship management (CRM), accounting, and communication features. Not-for-profit organizations should consider their specific needs and budget before selecting the type of fundraising software that suits them best.

4. Cost

Not-for-profit organizations operate on tight budgets, and selecting the right fundraising software is no exception. Choosing fundraising software that aligns with the not-for-profit organization's budget is essential while providing the necessary features for effective fundraising. Factors such as pricing models, licensing fees, and additional costs like transaction fees should also be considered.

5. Mobile Application

With the increasing use of mobile devices, choosing fundraising software that offers a mobile application is crucial. The mobile application should provide donors with a seamless and secure way to donate while enabling not-for-profit organizations to manage their fundraising efforts on-the-go. The mobile application should also integrate with other fundraising software features like data management and reporting.

Top 5 Fundraising Software

Fundraising software has become an indispensable tool for nonprofit organizations to raise funds and manage donor information in a streamlined and effective manner.

With the advancement of technology, there are numerous fundraising software options available to nonprofit organizations to choose from

1. Donorbox

Donorbox is one of the top fundraising software for nonprofits. It represents a cloud-centric fundraising software that enables charitable organizations to obtain donations securely and straightforwardly by utilizing their website.

This user-friendly interface provides a range of options for organizations to personalize their donation forms, regulate recurring donations, and integrate with various other third-party tools.

In addition, Donorbox extends numerous payment possibilities, such as credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Donorbox remains a viable option for smaller to medium-sized charities seeking to streamline their donation management operations.

Features

• Customizable donation forms
• Payment processing
• Donor management
• Automated receipting
• Team Fundraising
• Campaigns tracking
• Integrations
• Multi-currency and language support

Pros

• Easy to use
• Customizable forms
• Payment processing
• Donor management
• Automated receipting
• Analytics and tracking
• Multi-currency and language support

Cons

• Integrated limitations
• High transactions fees
• Limited features
• Limited customer support

Pricing

• Standard: $ 0/mo
• Pro: $ 139/mo
• Premium: Custom pricing

2. DonorSnap

DonorSnap, is one of the best online fundraising software specially designed for non-profit organizations, is developed to optimize their fundraising operations. The software offers many features, including donor management, donation tracking, email marketing, analytics and reporting, and much more.

DonorSnap is a user-friendly software that allows organizations to effortlessly track donor data and handle donations without hindrance. DonorSnap is a remarkable option for affordable and efficient donor management solutions for small and medium-sized non-profits.

Features

• Online donations forms
• Donor management
• Fundraising campaign management
• Email marketing
• Reporting and analytics
• Integration
• Mobile app
• Volunteer Management

Pros

• Comprehensive feature
• Customer support
• User-defined fields 
• Easy to navigate

Cons

• QuickBooks integration 
• Very expensive 
• Difficult to implement in the beginning
• Technical issues are prevalent 

Pricing

• Up to 1,000 Contacts: $39/per month
• Up to 2,500 Contacts: $59/per month
• Up to 5,000 Contacts:  $79/per month
• Up to 10,000 Contacts:  $99/per month
• Up to 30,000 Contacts:  $199/per month

3. Fundly

Fundly, a highly favored platform for crowdfunding, grants individuals and entities the capacity to curate online campaigns for a diverse range of causes, including medical expenses, education, and community-based projects.

This platform's modus operandi involves proffering an interface that is affable to users, enabling social media integration and endowing them with features that facilitate the tracking of donations and communication with donors. 

Features

• Volunteer interest form widget
• Donation widget
• Social sharing
• Pledge campaigns (add-on)
• Sterling volunteers integration
• Volunteer interest form widget

Pros

• Seamless donation tracking
• Easy to use
• Great customer support
• Centralized contacts

Cons

• Interface is confusing
• Pricing is very high
• Importing and exporting is complex

Pricing

• Custom pricing

4. Bloomerang

Bloomerang is one of the top fundraising software companies engineered for donor management. It provides potent and robust tools and features tailored to nonprofit organizations to enhance and streamline their fundraising endeavors.

This groundbreaking software has been meticulously crafted to simplify donor management tasks. It furnishes nonprofit organizations with an exhaustive and comprehensive suite of features that will ultimately optimize their fundraising potential. 

Features

• Volunteer management
• Mobile App
• Marketing & engagement
• Reporting & analytics
• Bloomerang payments
• Data management

Pros

• Intuitive and easy to deploy
• Clear graphic
• Easy data entry
• Excellent customer support 
• User friendly

Cons

• Report functionality
• Confusing
• Limited integration
• Dashboard views

Pricing

• Bloomerang grow: $79
• Standard: $119
• Standard: $239
• Standard: $349

5. DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is an all-encompassing and user-friendly cloud-based software for managing donors. It furnishes nonprofit organizations with sophisticated tools and features, simplifying and refining their fundraising endeavors.

The platform offers state-of-the-art reporting capabilities, tracks donors, facilitates online giving, manages events, and can be seamlessly integrated with other software platforms. DonorPerfect is a dependable and secure platform that empowers nonprofit organizations to optimize their fundraising potential and realize their aspirations.

Features

• Reporting interaction
• Fundraising
• Campaign management
• Online donation
• Donations
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• Mobile capabilities
• Email marketing

Pros

• Personalize donor communications
• Seamless chat feature
• Provide complex reports

Cons

• Customer support is not good
• Outdated features

Pricing

• Lite, 1000 constituent records: $99 per month
• Express, 2500 constituent records: $179 per month
• Essentials, 7500 constituent records: $299 per month
• Premier, 25000 constituent records: $499 per month
• Enterprise,75000 constituent records: $799 per month

Latest Market Trends In Fundraising Software

Fundraising software has evolved into an indispensable tool for non-profit organizations in recent times to collect donations and manage donor information efficiently.

As technology advances, new fundraising software trends are emerging, revolutionizing how non-profits interact with donors and raise funds. In this regard, let's delve into some of the latest market trends in fundraising platform.

1. Mobile Payments

With the rise of mobile devices, mobile payments have become a prominent trend in fundraising software. Non-profits can now receive donations from donors through their mobile devices, making it easier and more convenient for donors to contribute to their favorite causes.

This trend has led to a significant increase in mobile donations, making it an essential feature for fundraising software.

2. Integration With Social Media

Social media platforms have become crucial for non-profits to engage with their supporters and reach a wider audience. Online fundraising tools are now being integrated with social media platforms to allow non-profits to promote their fundraising campaigns and receive donations directly from social media platforms.

This trend has made it easier for non-profits to use social media to reach new donors and expand their fundraising potential.

3. Donor Base Shift

The donor base is changing, with more millennials and younger generations becoming active donors. Fundraising software adapts to this trend by providing features that appeal to younger donors, such as mobile giving, gamification, and social media integration. This shift in the donor base is forcing non-profits to adapt their fundraising strategies to meet the evolving needs of their donors.

4. Virtual Events

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend of virtual events in fundraising software. Non-profits now use virtual events to interact with donors and raise funds online. Fundraising software now provides features enabling non-profits to host virtual events, such as webinars, online auctions, and virtual galas. This trend has opened up new opportunities for non-profits to reach donors globally and increase their fundraising potential.

5. Chatbots in Fundraising Software

Chatbots are becoming popular in nonprofit fundraising software, providing non-profits an automated way to engage with their donors and provide support. Chatbots can answer frequently asked questions, collect donations from donation pages, and provide personalized recommendations to donors. This trend has made it easier for non-profits to provide their donors with a seamless and personalized experience while reducing their workload. 

Conclusion

Fundraising software has become an indispensable tool enabling nonprofit organizations to collect donations and manage donor information effectively. With the advancement of technology, the landscape of fundraising software has been changing dramatically, bringing forth new trends that revolutionize how nonprofits interact with their supporters and raise funds. 

By embracing these transformative trends and harnessing the power of technology, nonprofits can continue to make a far-reaching impact on their communities and the wider world.