Givebutter vs Fundly for DIY Fundraising Campaigns

Thinking of DIY fundraising? Givebutter offers near-zero costs (0.5%) and comprehensive tools including CRM and auction platforms, while Fundly charges standard 2.9%+$0.30 fees with more basic functionality. Givebutter excels for organizations needing all-in-one solutions; Fundly better suits individual fundraisers with simpler needs.

Key Takeaways

• Givebutter offers a near-zero cost fundraising platform (~0.5%) while Fundly charges standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fees

• Givebutter provides a comprehensive suite of tools including CRM, auction platform, and full event management while Fundly offers more basic functionality

• The mobile experience differs significantly with Givebutter offering a modern full-featured app versus Fundly's older, more limited application

• Givebutter excels for organizations seeking all-in-one functionality while Fundly works better for individual fundraisers with simpler needs

• Lifestyle Fundraiser offers an innovative membership-based approach that transforms traditional fundraising into sustainable, engagement-driven revenue

Why Givebutter Outperforms Fundly for Most DIY Fundraising Campaigns

Choosing the wrong fundraising platform can cost you thousands in unnecessary fees and limit your campaign's potential. Between Givebutter and Fundly, significant differences impact which organizations they serve best.

LifeStyle Fundraiser, a pioneer in membership-driven fundraising solutions, regularly analyzes platform capabilities to help organizations maximize their fundraising efforts. Their research reveals important distinctions that affect your bottom line and overall campaign success.

Platform Costs and Fee Structures

1. Givebutter's Innovative Fee Model

Givebutter has changed fundraising economics with its donor-supported model. The platform achieves an effective cost of approximately 0.5% because 95% of donors voluntarily cover the standard 2.9% + $0.30 processing fees.

When donors opt to cover fees (the default setting), organizations pay nothing to use the platform's comprehensive features. Even when tips are disabled, Givebutter's fees remain competitive:

• 1% for basic donation forms

• 3% for fundraising pages

• 5% for complex events

This innovative approach keeps more money flowing to your cause rather than platform overhead.

2. Fundly's Traditional Pricing Approach

Fundly takes a more conventional approach to pricing. While they advertise a 0% platform fee, they maintain a mandatory 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction processing fee. Unlike Givebutter, where most donors cover these costs, with Fundly these fees always impact either the organization or the donor.

This pricing structure is straightforward but significantly reduces net proceeds, especially for campaigns with numerous small-dollar donations where the $0.30 flat fee per transaction adds up quickly.

3. Real-World Cost Comparison

To put these fee structures into perspective, consider a campaign raising $10,000 through 200 donations averaging $50 each:

• With Givebutter: Approximately $50 in total fees (0.5%) if donors cover costs

• With Fundly: Approximately $350 in processing fees (3.5%) that cannot be avoided

For larger campaigns, this difference becomes even more pronounced. A $100,000 fundraiser could save over $3,000 by using Givebutter instead of Fundly – money that goes directly to your cause rather than platform fees.

Core Feature Comparison

1. Donor Management Capabilities

Effective donor management directly impacts donor retention and lifetime giving value. The difference between these platforms' CRM capabilities is substantial.

Givebutter provides a comprehensive built-in CRM system with unlimited contacts included at no additional cost. Organizations can:

• Create custom donor fields for detailed segmentation

• Build automated communication sequences

• Track complete donor history and interactions

• Generate detailed analytics and reports

• Manage relationships at scale without hitting contact limits

Fundly offers only basic donor tracking in its standard package. For advanced CRM capabilities, organizations must subscribe to NonProfitEasy, Fundly's separate CRM solution, which costs between $60-$250+ monthly depending on required features. This significantly increases total cost for organizations needing robust donor management.

2. Event Management Tools

The digital tools supporting your fundraising events can dramatically impact attendance, donor experience, and revenue generation.

Givebutter excels with comprehensive event management including ticket sales, RSVPs, hybrid/virtual events, live display features, QR code donations, and text-to-donate functionality. The platform supports unlimited event types with seamless integration between fundraising and event management.

Fundly provides basic event creation and ticketing but lacks advanced features like live display, QR codes, or comprehensive virtual event support. Their event capabilities are more limited, potentially requiring organizations to use additional tools for more complex events.

3. Mobile App Functionality

With over 55% of website traffic now coming from mobile devices, robust mobile functionality is essential for modern fundraising campaigns.

Givebutter's mobile app delivers full platform functionality including:

• In-person donation processing with Tap to Pay

• Event ticket scanning and check-in

• Real-time auction management and bidding

• Live campaign monitoring and reporting

Fundly's mobile app, launched in 2013, provides basic campaign management, donor notifications, and social sharing but lacks modern features like in-person payment processing or advanced event management. The app has not received significant updates in recent years, creating limitations for organizations needing comprehensive mobile capabilities.

4. Auction and Fundraising Features

Auction events typically generate 30-40% higher revenue than standard fundraising events, making integrated auction functionality valuable for many campaigns.

Givebutter includes a built-in auction platform with mobile bidding, automated notifications, QR code bid sheets, and comprehensive auction management. This functionality is fully integrated with the fundraising platform at no additional cost.

Fundly does not offer built-in auction features, requiring organizations to use separate platforms for auction fundraising. This creates additional costs, complexity, and potential integration challenges for organizations wanting to incorporate auctions into their fundraising strategy.

Best Use Cases for Each Platform

1. When Givebutter Shines

Givebutter stands out as the superior choice for:

• Nonprofits seeking comprehensive, cost-effective fundraising solutions

• Schools and educational institutions needing robust event management

• Sports teams requiring peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities

• Organizations wanting all-in-one functionality without juggling multiple subscriptions

• Fundraisers incorporating auction elements into their campaigns

The platform particularly excels for organizations that plan to scale their fundraising efforts over time, as Givebutter's pricing model remains advantageous regardless of campaign size.

2. When Fundly Makes More Sense

Fundly may be the better option for:

• Individual fundraisers preferring simple campaign setup

• Small organizations with basic fundraising needs and limited growth plans

• Users prioritizing Facebook integration and social sharing capabilities

• Campaigns focused on crowdfunding rather than comprehensive donor management

• Fundraisers who prefer predictable fee structures over tip-based models

Fundly's straightforward approach works well for simpler campaigns where advanced features aren't necessary and social sharing is the primary distribution method.

User Experience and Support

1. Customer Support Availability

When technical issues arise mid-campaign, responsive support becomes critical to maintaining momentum and donor confidence.

Givebutter provides 24/7 live chat support with consistently high satisfaction ratings exceeding 98%. Their support team is available around the clock to help with technical issues, strategic questions, or campaign optimization. User reviews frequently highlight the platform's responsive, helpful, and human-centered approach to customer service.

Fundly offers standard customer support during business hours but without the comprehensive 24/7 availability that Givebutter provides. This can create challenges for organizations running time-sensitive campaigns or dealing with urgent technical issues outside normal business hours.

2. Platform Usability and Design

Platform design directly impacts donor conversion rates, with studies showing that optimized donation forms can increase conversions by 50-150%.

Givebutter features a clean, contemporary interface that balances powerful functionality with ease of use. Their customization options allow organizations to:

• Maintain consistent branding across all fundraising activities

• Create mobile-optimized donation forms with minimal friction

• Design visually appealing campaign pages without design expertise

• Implement multi-step forms that increase completion rates

Fundly offers a straightforward interface that emphasizes simplicity. While this approach works well for basic campaigns, it sometimes limits customization options and advanced functionality. Their design is functional but lacks some of the modern elements and flexibility found in Givebutter's interface.

3. Technology and Innovation

The fundraising technology field changes rapidly, making ongoing platform innovation essential for maintaining competitive advantage.

Givebutter consistently adds new features based on user feedback and industry trends. Recent additions include:

• Tap to Pay for in-person donations

• Livestream integration for virtual events

• Canva design tools for campaign materials

• Expanded API capabilities for custom integrations

Fundly provides a stable, proven platform with reliable functionality and strong Facebook integration. However, the platform has seen fewer significant additions or feature updates in recent years compared to Givebutter's rapid development cycle.

Making the Right Choice for Your Fundraising Needs

When selecting between Givebutter and Fundly for your DIY fundraising campaign, several key factors should guide your decision:

1. Cost Efficiency: If maximizing your net proceeds is a priority, Givebutter's innovative fee model typically results in significantly lower costs, especially as donation volume increases.

2. Feature Requirements: Assess your specific needs around donor management, events, mobile functionality, and auction capabilities. Givebutter offers a more comprehensive feature set, while Fundly focuses on simplicity for basic campaigns.

3. Growth Trajectory: Consider your organization's future plans. Givebutter scales more effectively for growing organizations, while Fundly works well for smaller entities with simpler, consistent needs.

4. Technical Capacity: Assess your team's technical comfort level. While both platforms are designed for DIY campaigns, Givebutter offers more advanced capabilities that benefit from some technical familiarity.

5. Support Needs: If responsive support is essential, particularly outside standard business hours, Givebutter's 24/7 availability provides greater peace of mind.

For most organizations, Givebutter offers superior value through its combination of lower effective costs, comprehensive features, excellent support, and ongoing innovation. The platform particularly excels for organizations with long-term fundraising strategies.

However, Fundly remains a solid option for individual fundraisers, small organizations with basic needs, and campaigns where social sharing is the primary distribution strategy. Their straightforward approach works well for simple use cases where advanced features aren't required. Want to learn the easiest way to raise funds for your organization? Watch this free presentation.