From medical bill fundraisers to entrepreneurial kickstarting campaigns, it seems as though everyone has set up a GoFundMe at some point. Over the years, the site has made quite a name for itself as the go-to fundraising platform on the internet.
Since the birth of the site, many other online fundraising platforms have popped up, and some offer the same product for a better price. For example, BetterWorld offers an impressive arsenal of tools, gorgeously designed templates, and more — all for a much lower price than GoFundMe – free.
In addition to BetterWorld, there are a variety of excellent online fundraising platforms that could provide your nonprofit with a more profitable alternative to GoFundMe.
How Does GoFundMe Work?
Established in 2010, GoFundMe quickly revolutionized online fundraising. The site positions itself as the go-to fundraising platform for nonprofits, groups, businesses, and individuals.
Almost anyone can set up a donation page for reasons ranging from medical bills or school tuition to business assistance or emergency support. Once GoFundMe approves the page, the user adds their story, including pictures or videos, and sets a fundraising goal.
At that point, they can then start to share their GoFundMe page through email, text, or social media. The goal is to get people to donate to their cause. GoFundMe holds onto the money until the user requests a withdrawal.
Why Should You Consider a GoFundMe Alternative?
With so many online donation platforms seemingly providing the same end result, you might wonder why you should look into finding a GoFundMe alternative.
GoFundMe Fees
GoFundMe fees are slightly higher than average. While it’s free to set up a donation page, the site does ask donors to make an optional GoFundMe donor contribution to help with the backend operations of the site. They also charge a processing fee of 2.9% of the donation plus $0.30.
When raising money for a nonprofit or other organization, you need every penny you can get; those little fees can add up!
Site Limitations
GoFundMe is fairly limited in terms of what the platform can do. For example, crowdfunding is the only style of campaign offered. While crowdfunding is still a popular way to raise money, people are looking for more interactive ways to raise money. GoFundMe simply doesn’t offer that capability.
If you want to host a more engaging and interactive event, such as an online auction or ticketed event, you’ll need to find another fundraising website.
Some of the Top GoFundMe Alternatives
When exploring your options, we suggest taking a look at the following online fundraising platforms.
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BetterWorld
BetterWorld tops the list of GoFundMe alternatives for several reasons. The first reason is its flexibility. In addition to hosting a crowdfunding campaign, you can also do a variety of other fundraisers, including online auctions, giveaways, peer-to-peer fundraising events, and monthly giving arrangements.
You also have more creative input when it comes to the design of your donation page. With GoFundMe, you’re stuck with their standard GoFundMe branded page. With BetterWorld, you can take your pick of a variety of expertly designed templates that will better match the branding of your own organization.
The platform is run entirely through outside donations, which means that the fees for BetterWorld are also lower than GoFundMe fees. It never asks for a donor contribution, optional or otherwise, and the majority of donors on this platform will also donate to cover the credit card fees associated with the platform.
GiveButter
GiveButter is another online fundraising platform that can be used as a successful GoFundMe alternative.
Much like BetterWorld, GiveButter also offers more functionality than GoFundMe. Although crowdfunding is popular on this platform, you can also host interactive fundraising events like auctions and peer-to-peer fundraising.
You can customize your GiveButter donation page to be more consistent with your organization’s standard branding. The platform allows you to embed videos, graphics, and other interactive touchpoints designed to make your donors feel more connected to your organization.
The only downside to GiveButter is that it can be more expensive than some other online fundraising platforms. The site operates on what they call “tips.” The user can decide whether or not to accept “tips” from their donors. If they decide not to accept them, the fundraising organization is responsible for the platform fees – 1% for a donation page, 3% for a fundraising page, and 5% for an event or auction.
These platform fees are in addition to the standard 2.9% + $0.30 fee per donation transaction that GiveButter also collects.
Fundly
Another good alternative to GoFundMe is Fundly. Fundly is available to all individuals and nonprofits. Other organizations are not eligible for a Fundly site.
Fundly is strictly a crowdfunding platform, much like GoFundMe. The site uses a standard template for each campaign, giving the fundraiser space to tell their story, embed videos, or upload photos.
Once the page is ready, social media integrations make it easy to share with the world. The biggest highlight of Fundly is that it is fully mobile-friendly. It meets your donor where they are – right on their mobile device.
One downside to Fundly is the cost. The fees for this platform are higher than the GoFundMe fees. From each donation, Fundly will deduct a 4.9% platform fee in addition to the standard credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30. Large campaigns are eligible for discounts so this could be something to look into.
Finding the Right Online Fundraising Platform For Your Organization
There are many online fundraising platforms that you can use as an alternative to GoFundMe but you won’t find a better option than BetterWorld. From online auctions to in-person ticketing for galas, parties, and other events, we have all of the tools you need to organize and produce a successful fundraising effort. The best part? It’s all 100% free for nonprofits, schools, PTOs, and other organizations!
If you’re looking for an easy-to-navigate online fundraising platform that offers the biggest capacity for customization with the best tools and event options, reach out to BetterWorld today! Schedule a free demo where you will see firsthand why we are one of the best fundraising sites on the Internet.
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