Top 5 Event Fundraising Platforms for Nonprofits

In the nonprofit world, events are more than just a party; they are engagement opportunities for your donor base to support your mission. Choosing the right event fundraising platform isn't just about "taking payments", it's about creating an easy and frictionless experience for your donors and a stress-free night for your staff. 

Choosing the wrong partner could lead to long check-in lines and lost revenue; the right choice turns donor excitement into immediate impact. 

"Must Haves" Event Fundraising Checklist 

Before your nonprofit signs the contract, ensure your platform offers these five pillars of fundraising 

• Event Ticketing: Seamless registration and sponsorship sales. 
• Online Donations: Simple, mobile-friendly forms for year-round giving.
• Mobile Bidding: Real-time auction participation from any location. 
• Custom Messaging: The ability to text or email donors instantly with updates. 
• Live Event Displays: Dynamic leaderboards and progress bars to drive engagement. 
• Video Streaming Capabilities: Streaming events or speakers to at-home viewers for extra visibility. 

Top 5 Event Fundraising Platforms For Nonprofits

ClickBid 

ClickBid takes the top spot because it offers a full suite of features designed to support your team through every stage of the event lifecycle. With over 23 years of experience attending and supporting events, they have built a platform that addresses the real-world needs of nonprofits.

• Comprehensive Features: Includes everything from mobile bidding and ticketing to custom branding and messaging. 

• Seamless Integrations: Syncs with leading CRM platforms and offers a public API to ensure your event data is always where it needs to be. 

• Human-First Support: Every customer is assigned an Account Manager for onboarding, pre-event walk-throughs and post-event reconciliation.

• Top-Tier Security: ClickBid is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and PCI compliant, ensuring donor data is managed under the highest industry standards. 

• No Hidden Fees: ClickBid focuses on transparency and ease of use, making it the most reliable partner for organizations that want to focus on their mission rather than learn cumbersome software. 

Handbid

Handbid is a strong contender known for its focus on the mobile experience and native bidding app.

• Best For: Organizations that prioritize a high-tech, app-based interface for its guests.

• Key Feature: Their platform is built to conduct high engaging and exciting fundraising events. 

OneCause

OneCause is a veteran in the fundraising space, offering highly customizable solutions for complex event needs 

• Best For: Large organizations with big budgets and high-volume guest lists and complex event logistics. 

• Key Feature: Offers deep data insights and complex features for enterprise-level nonprofits.

GiveSmart

GiveSmart provides an all-in-one solution that scales with large organizations looking for multiple-campaign support. 

• Best For: Mid-to-large-sized nonprofits that run multiple types of campaigns throughout the year beyond just a single gala. 

• Key Feature: Robust reporting tools that help analyze donor behavior across different event types.

Greater Giving

Greater Giving is a long-standing player in the industry, specifically tailored for schools and mid-sized nonprofits. 

• Best For: Traditional gala events that require complex event logistics and nonprofits that have large teams to assist in back-end management. 

• Key Feature: Strong volunteer management tools and a focus on streamlining auction-specific logistics.

Research and Plan for Your Event Fundraising Needs

To help you vet your options, keep these critical questions in mind. ClickBid's Fundraising Software Buyer's Checklist helps nonprofits choose the right partner when the stakes are high. Don't get confused by the small print, look beyond fancy demos and sales tools, and get the tough questions answered about hidden fees, data ownership, and long-term support. 

• Integrations: Is there a sync between the software and your CRM for easy post-event reconciliation? Is there any fee associated with using the integration? 
• Support Access: Is day of event phone support included to assist with technical needs or troubleshooting? What does the onboarding process look like for new nonprofits? 
• Data Ownership: Who owns your data? Does the nonprofit maintain 100% ownership of your donor data and can you export it at any time for free? 
• Security Protocols: How does the software handle donor data and credit card information? 

Ready to make your next event better? Choosing a partner like ClickBid ensures your team has the tools and expert support needed to run a professional, secure and successful campaign.