GoFundMe Alternatives: 15 Best Fundraising Platforms to Use
Whether you’re a nonprofit fundraising for a new program or an individual collecting donations for a business idea, there is a platform out there to support your goal. One of the most widely known websites is GoFundMe, but it may not have everything to suit your specific needs.
Fortunately, there are many popular GoFundMe alternatives that provide all the must-have fundraising features in addition to specialized tools that can enhance your campaign. To help you find your ideal fundraising platform, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top GoFundMe alternatives for you to explore.
But first, let’s go into more detail about why you should consider choosing an alternative to GoFundMe’s popular website.
Why Look for GoFundMe Alternatives?
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows users to collect donations for a variety of purposes, from medical emergencies to nonprofit campaigns. However, some downsides that come with the fundraising platform include:
- Limited countries eligible for fundraising. Currently, GoFundMe supports fundraising in only 20 countries, meaning that fundraisers in ineligible countries cannot start a campaign on the platform.
- Limited customer support. GoFundMe does not have a customer service number that you can call for immediate assistance.
- Payment delays. GoFundMe has a verification process for individual fundraisers that may take up to 10 business days or longer. Then, depending on the payment processor, payments can take between 7 to 30 days before they’re available for use. Compared to other platforms, this is a lengthy turnaround time.
Top GoFundMe Alternatives
If you’re looking for a fundraising platform with more engaging and convenient features, check out some of the popular GoFundMe alternatives on our list.
1. Fundly: The Best GoFundMe Alternative
The Basics
Fundly’s crowdfunding platform allows individuals (and nonprofits!) to raise money for nearly any cause, project, or event without raising requirements or start-up fees.
Fundly is a “Keep It All” (KiA) platform. This means fundraisers don’t have to reach their goal to receive the money they raise. Whatever donations they receive, they keep (minus any standard fees).
Fundly’s versatile fundraising tools equip fundraisers with beautiful, fully customized crowdfunding campaign pages. This platform enables users to tell campaign stories, post updates, add photos and videos, and share their page across social media.
For example, Dos Velos Images ‘Saving Lives 1 Click at a Time’ is a successful fundraising campaign hosted on Fundly. Thanks to its highly visible share buttons and the ability to add multiple explanatory videos to convey the campaign’s purpose, the campaign was easy to share across social media and build support.
Pricing
Fundly has a 0% platform fee. Our payment partner, Stripe has a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 for credit card processing.
Fundly vs. GoFundMe
So, which platform is right for you? Check out this direct comparison between Fundly and GoFundMe for more information:
Fundly
- Platform Design: Designed specifically with nonprofits in mind. The platform’s interface, features, and functionalities all cater to the needs and goals of nonprofits.
- CRM Integration: Fundly provides CRM integration which allows nonprofits to manage donors, communications, and campaigns in a central location
- Extra Features: Fundly has dedicated nonprofit-centric features such as giving levels which allow organizers to offer physical rewards based on donation amounts. It also partners with VolunteerEasy, a platform that helps nonprofits connect with passionate supporters.
GoFundMe
- Platform Design: Versatile, but initially designed with just individuals in mind rather than for nonprofit campaigns
- CRM Integration: GoFundMe can integrate with a variety of CRMs, but does not have its own dedicated CRM for nonprofits.
- Extra Features: GoFundMe has a feature that lets you explore local fundraisers to see how people in your community are fundraising for inspiration.
Although GoFundMe does offer nifty features, Fundly’s platform can help nonprofits go further in the long run. Its customizable campaign pages and network nonprofit-specific tools can help you fuel your organization’s mission.
2. Double the Donation: Platform to Extend Fundraising Impact
The Basics
Double the Donation is one of the most valuable services available to nonprofits. This fundraising platform helps nonprofit organizations easily raise more money by enabling your donors to submit employee matching gift requests.
It’s important to note that Double the Donation is not a crowdfunding tool like GoFundMe. It’s included on this list because it’s a valuable matching gift service integrated into nearly every GoFundMe alternative.
If you’re a nonprofit with a large number of donors that give either directly through your organization’s website or through a GoFundMe-like tool, you should check out Double the Donation’s services.
Pricing
Double the Donation’s pricing options range depending on the size of your organization. You can contact the Double the Donation team to get a quote for your specific organization’s needs.
3. Bonfire: The Best T-Shirt Fundraising Website
The Basics
Bonfire enables organizations to raise money and spread awareness for causes by selling high-quality t-shirts to their donors!
Fundraisers can design their own custom t-shirts in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a graphic design whiz to create awesome products. With Bonfire’s simple t-shirt design tool, anyone can be a pro at making high-quality apparel.
Not only can you sell branded t-shirts, but Bonfire also lets you additional donations on top of what you sell. More ways to give means more donations toward your fundraising efforts!
Pricing
Bonfire charges a low base price for each of its products. To calculate your price, you’ll need to subtract the base price from your sales to determine your fundraising profits. Take advantage of their price calculator tool for the best estimate. For additional donations, Bonfire only charges an 8% fee.
4. Indiegogo: GoFundMe Alternative for Innovators
The Basics
Indiegogo is a fundraising platform that enables individuals to raise money for any kind of innovative personal project, including films, product improvements, technological inventions, and more.
Indiegogo is recognized for hosting endeavors before they hit the mainstream. New projects are launched on their site every day, creating an active community where your project can go big.
Tap into a creative community of imaginative tech and innovation to earn exposure for your projects and start raising funds!
Pricing
Indiegogo’s service charges a platform fee of 5% of all funds raised and a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
5. Classy: Fundraising Platform for Larger Nonprofits
The Basics
Classy’s crowdfunding platform can be the driving force behind any crowdfunding initiative, whether it’s Giving Tuesday, recurring giving programs, capital campaigns, or any other fundraiser.
Use Classy to build unique and evergreen microsites for your supporters, allowing them to get involved with your mission.
Pricing
Contact Classy to get a custom price for your specific nonprofit size and endeavor.
6. Kickstarter: GoFundMe Alternative for Creative Projects
The Basics
Kickstarter is one of the world’s largest fundraising tools for bringing creative projects to life. Fundraisers can receive backing from donors throughout their process and share their final projects on their personalized Kickstarter pages.
Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing model, so fundraisers only receive funding if they meet their goals. This can be a strong motivator for both fundraisers and supporters to raise funds before time runs out.
Pricing
Kickstarter collects 5% of total funding for completed projects, as well as a payment processing fee of 3% + $.20 per pledge.
7. Patreon: Best Fundraising Site for Recurring Support
The Basics
If your team’s goal is to fund a long-term creative endeavor, Patreon is for you. Patreon’s crowdfunding platform hosts projects that rely on constant, modest donations.
Essentially, it’s a subscription model of fundraising rather than a traditional donation-based crowdfunding process. Your fans subscribe to a monthly membership to access exclusive content, sneak peeks of upcoming projects, and whatever else you want to share with them.
Pricing
It’s completely free to get started with Patreon. Once your organization begins earning funds, a small percentage plus an industry-standard payment processing rate from your patrons is taken out depending on which of the three packages you choose.
8. GiveSendGo: Best Platform for Faith-Based Fundraising
The Basics
GiveSendGo is an excellent option for faith-based organizations and churches. With this tool, your team can fund anything from mission projects to personal campaigns. GiveSendGo will help you raise money for your Christian endeavor by providing fundraising tools that cater specifically to churches and faith-based organizations.
Plus, GiveSendGo shows users appreciation by gifting 10% of the donations raised by the site overall to active campaigns.
Pricing
GiveSendGo doesn’t charge a platform fee but has a third-party processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction made.
9. FundRazr: GoFundMe Alternative for Specific Wishlists
The Basics
If your group is fundraising for a specific wish list of items to drive your mission forward, consider using Fundrazr. Fundrazr helps nonprofits obtain specific lists of items by launching easy-to-create crowdfunding projects.
Before using Fundrazr, determine what items your nonprofit organization would like to acquire. For example, a school might need a list of sports equipment. With Fundrazr, your team will be able to easily communicate your needs to supporters and contact contributors with announcements, thank-you letters, and updates, all from one centralized hub.
Pricing
Get started for free with Fundrazr’s platform. All you need to do is fill out this information form for a personalized experience and pricing.
10. ArtistShare: Best Fundraising Site for Musicians
The Basics
ArtistShare is a fully managed services suite that is known as the Internet’s first rewards-based crowdfunding site. This service provides musicians with multiple services to successfully start their careers in the industry.
With this platform, artists can receive not only funds but also professional project consultation, marketing tips, product manufacturing and fulfillment, and much more.
With these tools, you’ll be able to kickstart your music career with the help of dedicated supporters.
Pricing
ArtistShare is currently by invitation only. Check out their page for more details on getting involved.
11. GiveCampus: Best Platform for Educational Fundraising
The Basics
GiveCampus is a premiere fundraising platform for nonprofit educational Institutions launched in 2015 with a mission to “increase the quality, affordability, and accessibility of education”. It has facilitated more than $3 billion in charitable giving to colleges, universities, and K12 schools.
GiveCampus’ digital fundraising and volunteer management platform allows for schools to more effectively engage donors through its tailored giving experiences. Additionally, the platform provides real-time reporting, appeal-tracking, and analytics, so your team can easily understand its current performance.
Pricing
GiveCampus offers plans starting as low as $1,000 per year based on your platform needs. You can book a demo to learn how GiveCampus can help you streamline your fundraising workflows.
12. Kiva: Best Fundraising Site for Microlending
The Basics
With Kiva, your supporters can lend as little as $25, and as much as they please to support your cause. This platform works successfully when you attract attention to your Kiva campaign through your marketing outreach methods.
Then, your supporters can lend you money to support your mission. Once your team is able, they repay the donor when funds are available. With a few simple steps, you’ll have the funds to get started with your next endeavor. It’s that simple!
Pricing
With Kiva’s platform, your team can borrow up to $15,000 at 0% interest over 36 months. Here’s where to apply to get started with your Kiva crowdfunding project.
13. Experiment: GoFundMe Alternative for Scientific Research
The Basics
From biology to paleontology to physics, Experiment’s crowdfunding platform helps raise money for science-related projects. Your supporters can stay updated on your progress with both lab note updates and your own fundraising page.
Here’s how it works: Once your team defines a research goal and gains colleague endorsement, you’ll be reviewed by the Experiment team for approval. Then, you’ll be granted access to your fundraising page, allowing you to get started sharing it with your supporters. When your goal is reached, your team receives the funds raised.
Pricing
Experiment is an all-or-nothing model, which incentivizes hosts to raise their funds by the end of the timeline. Once the goal is hit, your team is charged 8% platform fees + 2.9% + 30¢ in payment processing fees.
14. Onevest: GoFundMe Alternative for Entrepreneurs
The Basics
Onevest’s crowdfunding tool helps investors, entrepreneurs, and organizations seeking resources for starting their business endeavors. This tool can benefit anyone from new entrepreneurs, to seasoned investors looking to grow their portfolios with the help of their supporters.
This platform is unique because it offers specific project advisor support, as well as access to the CoFoundersLab Learning Center for users looking to maximize their impact with money raised.
Pricing
Discover your pricing options with Onevest by reaching out for a cofounder or team support through their website.
15. Snowball: Best Platform for Mobile Fundraising
The Basics
With Snowball’s fundraising platform, you can tap into the popularity of mobile phones by creating compelling, mobile-optimized campaign pages. Whether you’re launching a nonprofit capital campaign or collecting funds alongside a fundraising event, Snowball has the tools to streamline your efforts.
On your campaign page, you can add custom fields, a fundraising thermometer, and recurring giving options. Plus, you can simplify giving on the go by setting up text-to-give.
Pricing
Snowball has a free Essential plan that comes with a mobile donation page, recurring donation capabilities, and basic event registration—though there is a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee.
For more advanced plans starting at $549 a year, you can tap into more features such as text-to-give, after-hours customer support, auction management, and more.
