Comparing the 2 User-Friendliest Online Donation Tools

According to GivingTuesday’s official 2023 Impact Report, approximately 63% of Giving Tuesday donations were made online, so how easy you make it for donors to give is a big deal. There’s a lot of emphasis on getting donors to give on Giving Tuesday, but how their experience is when they land on your website can make it easy or difficult for them to actually give.

Choosing the Right Online Donation Tool for Your Nonprofit

Choosing the right online giving platform can make or break your donors’ giving experience, but can also make or break your fundraisers’ experience, too! You need a tool that’s user-friendly on the back-end, integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, and offers a great donor experience. Two platforms that stand out for their ease of use and effectiveness are Fundraise Up and Givebutter.

But how does an online donation tool differ from a CRM?

While both are essential for nonprofit operations, an online donation tool is specifically designed to streamline and facilitate the act of giving by offering easy-to-use forms, automating thank-you emails, and processing transactions.

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management system), on the other hand, is built to track and manage all your donor interactions, from first engagement to long-term stewardship.

While some CRMs include donation forms, online giving tools like Fundraise Up and Givebutter focus on optimizing the donation process itself, making it as frictionless as possible for your supporters, especially during big events like Giving Tuesday.

Here’s why Fundraise Up and Givebutter are ideal online platforms for Giving Tuesday:

• Quick Setup: Both Fundraise Up and Givebutter integrate smoothly with popular website platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress. With just one installation code, you can get started quickly and without hassle.
• Designated Campaigns: Create a dedicated Giving Tuesday campaign with personalized branding, images, and automated emails. Learn how to customize the Giving Tuesday logo to fit your nonprofit’s branding.
• Optimized Giving Forms: Both platforms offer intuitive forms that make the giving experience simple and frictionless for donors. Fundraise Up even uses AI-powered features to optimize donation amounts based on user data.
• Automation: Automate thank-you emails and receipts, freeing up your time while ensuring a seamless donor experience.
• Donor Data: Easily visualize, segment and download donor information, allowing you to personalize follow-up communications and strengthen relationships before year-end.

While there are some differences between the two platforms, I’ve used both extensively and highly recommend them to clients who don’t already have an online giving tool. However, if you’re using a platform like Classy or one that’s integrated with your CRM, be cautious about switching platforms before the giving season unless you’ve done thorough testing!

Comparing My Favorites: Fundraise Up and Givebutter

Fundraise Up

Fundraise Up is designed to optimize your donor’s online giving experience. The form is built for accessibility and includes incredible AI-powered features—all without the need for coding expertise. It integrates seamlessly with existing nonprofit websites and offers a frictionless donation process that’s ideal for Giving Tuesday.

Key Fundraise Up features:

• Smart donation forms: Fundraise Up uses AI-powered forms to suggest donation amounts based on geographic location and past giving data, increasing the average donation.
• Recurring giving options: Easily set up monthly giving prompts, helping you convert Giving Tuesday donors into long-term supporters.
• One-click donation: With integrations like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, Fundraise Up offers a smooth, one-click donation process.
• Multichannel support: Integrates with email and social media, making it easy to promote your campaign across different platforms.
• Seamless setup: Fundraise Up is straightforward to implement, and their customer support is excellent.

As a certified Fundraise Up Partner, I love how easy this platform is to set up and use. If you’re considering Fundraise Up, schedule a call and I’d be happy to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your organization.

Givebutter

Givebutter is known for its simplicity, versatility, and engaging features. It allows nonprofits to create customized giving pages with tailored branding, making it another fantastic option for Giving Tuesday.

Key Givebutter features:

• Customizable giving pages: Create branded campaign pages that reflect your nonprofit’s style and messaging.
• Social media integration: Share your Giving Tuesday campaign easily across social platforms with built-in sharing tools.
• Live donation tracking: Boost engagement by displaying real-time donation progress during your campaign.
• Peer-to-peer fundraising: Let your supporters create their own fundraising pages to rally friends and family.
• Simple setup: GiveButter’s setup process is quick and doesn’t require technical expertise.

As a Givebutter Expert, I’ve helped many clients integrate and style their forms to fit their refreshed branding. If you’re currently using Givebutter and need help styling it to better align with your brand, I’d be happy to help you get things polished before Giving Tuesday.