Comparing the Top Charity Fundraising Sites

May 1, 2025 | 7 min read Fundraising Strategy

You wouldn’t be alone if you’d like to raise money for a charity but aren’t sure how to do so. Some of us feel called to give back to a cause that is very close to our hearts, but don’t know where to start. Which are the best charities to donate to? Does old-school fundraising still work? To help, we’ve put together this list of the best donation sites for charity fundraising. Giving back just got a whole lot easier.

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Why online fundraising for charity is the way to go

It’s no surprise that one of the best ways to raise money for charity these days is through crowdfunding. An online fundraiser has no overhead and is something you can send to others to share far and wide with just a couple of clicks through TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and beyond. Below, we share what makes an online fundraiser successful.

What takes an online fundraising site from good to great?

Regular charity donation sites will offer all the basic features, like an easy setup and low fees. But the top charity fundraising sites will charm you with extras, like customizable donation pages, real-time donor data tracking, a help desk that can answer questions, and resources on how to do your best online fundraising.

There is a lot to consider when looking to start charity fundraising. You should have a decent fundraising strategy going in for the most success. Is it crucial to receive the funds as quickly as possible? How much are the transaction fees? And is a team fundraising feature also high on your list of priorities? Here are some of the key details to watch for:

Platform Fee: Fees can be unreasonably high on some sites, so you should pay attention to the platform fees and payment processing fees when picking your charity fundraising site.
Customer Support: A reliable customer support team is essential. Fast responses, not automated ones, can mean all the difference when you need help with donation processing or a page update. If you run into technical trouble, will you need to wait over 24 hours for a reply, or will a real person respond within an hour?
Mobile App and Functionality: Make sure the fundraising software you use offers a user-friendly mobile app to manage your fundraiser and collect donations on the go. Most of us use our phones for everything, after all.
Team Fundraising and CRM Integration: Sharing fundraising responsibilities with colleagues, close friends, or family members can ease stress and make the experience more collaborative, but not all fundraising platforms offer a team feature. With peer fundraising, more hands mean additional ways to raise more.

Which fundraising site is right for you?

There are so many crowdfunding platforms online that it can get quite confusing selecting the right one for your needs. Here are some of the best charity fundraising platforms:

GoFundMe
Classy
Facebook
Donorbox
Fundly
FundRazr
JustGiving

Fundraising software to boost your Impact

Great fundraising software will come with functionalities such as custom donation forms, the ability to integrate with your current CRM, and automation to simplify the way you fundraise. The right fundraising software can result in a boost to performance and streamline your fundraising efforts.

The best online fundraising platforms

1. GoFundMe

With over $15 billion raised, GoFundMe is one of the most well-known and trusted personal fundraising websites in crowdfunding. A significant advantage of the GoFundMe platform is that individuals can raise money for a charity, or a charity can raise money and create its own donation site. Some other fundraising sites are primarily geared toward outreach for nonprofits. Find out how it works:

Customizable fundraising pages: Create a personalized fundraiser page and share it easily on social media platforms. The number of times you share your fundraiser with the community can directly impact your fundraising success, so we make spreading the word about your cause simple. Raising awareness of your fundraiser will encourage more supporters to donate online to charity. When you plan on sharing through Instagram, Facebook, or other social platforms, it’s just a click of a button.
Seamless payment options: PayPal, credit card, Stripe, and bank donations are popular choices for seamless payment acceptance.
Fundraising resources and real-time tracking: Access a hub of fundraising tips and templates, and track your donations and performance in real-time. Maybe you’re looking for information about understanding tax deductions for charitable donations online. Or maybe you’re simply looking for creative ways to raise money with a charity walk.
Donor management and CRM tools: Easily manage your donor database and fundraising activities.
Customer service every step of the way: You would be hard-pressed to find a customer support team that rivals GoFundMe’s crew. With personalized customer service, GoFundMe’s Customer Care team will make sure you’re in good hands any time you contact them.

2. Classy

For nonprofit fundraising in particular, Classy is popular, with features including sophisticated event ticketing and automation.

Recurring donations: Classy allows nonprofits to set up online recurring donations directly through their donation platform.
Flexible payment processing: They have multiple payment methods as options. Classy accepts payments via PayPal, credit card, and Classy Pay.
CRM integration and donor management: Manage donor data seamlessly with built-in CRM functionality.
Event management: Nonprofits have used Classy to organize thousands of fundraising events. The site offers features that help nonprofits build and manage large events, like enabling automatic emails and duplicating events.

3. Facebook

Facebook’s built-in tools make it a convenient donation platform:

Fundraising eligibility: Nonprofits have to qualify to be able to use Facebook’s fundraising tools. It’s important to note that Facebook can refuse access to fundraising tools for any nonprofit. Personal fundraisers are no longer supported.
Donation processing: Donations used to be processed without fees for eligible nonprofits. However, relatively inexpensive payment processor fees are now deducted from donations.
Fundraiser insights dashboard: Access insights and real-time data for projects once enrolled in Facebook’s charitable giving tools.

Key features to compare

When comparing donation platforms, focus on:

Pricing: Look at both platform fees and donation processing fees.
Functionality: Prioritize customizable fundraising pages, donor management, and CRM functionality.

Online Giving and Accessibility: Ensure the platform allows easy online donations and has an accessible, mobile-friendly setup.

Boost your fundraiser with auctions and partnerships

Incorporating auctions or working with local companies can help add some dynamism to your fundraiser. Whether that’s an online auction or finding a local business to sponsor your in-person event’s ticketing, partnering up can lead to more exposure and a bigger turnout.

Have you found the best fundraising site for your needs?

Unlike many other fundraising and donation sites, GoFundMe has the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee that protects donations and donors. Our Customer Care team also offers customer service through our Help Center. GoFundMe has an Act hub that houses verified fundraisers in response to a crisis, offering trusted ways for people to make charitable donations online. Plus, GoFundMe has a smart mobile app and a blog full of fundraising tips and educational resources to help you raise even more money.

Here are just a few fundraising ideas that can help you set up a donation page and reach your fundraising goals:

Start raising funds for your charity with GoFundMe

No matter if you are raising for a non-profit organization, a startup, a project, or personal reasons, GoFundMe is the best site with a fundraiser page builder for you. The platform offers donation forms, credit card, and PayPal payments, and real-time donor tracking to ensure your fundraising is both successful and a breeze.

Begin your charity fundraiser today, and see what a difference the right online fundraising platform can make!

Start a charity fundraiser