Top Event Management Tools for Nonprofits to Boost Your Fundraising Efforts

Whatever the size of your organization, nonprofit event management software maximizes the benefits you’ll receive from hosting fundraising events, encouraging donations, and providing your organization with the opportunity to stay in contact with your supporters. Nonprofit event management software helps resolve the challenges of hosting fundraising events and promotes lasting connections between your organization and your donors. The first step in choosing the right event management software is recognizing your nonprofit’s unique needs. Before you make your selection, consider the following top event management tools for nonprofits to boost your fundraising efforts.

Key Takeaways

• Snowball: A comprehensive event fundraising software that helps maximize donations and manage donor relationships.

• Bonfire: Best for event merchandising, offering tools to create and sell custom apparel for fundraising events.

• Eventbrite: A widely-used platform that simplifies event registration and ticketing for nonprofit events.

• OneCause: Provides robust tools for event management, including mobile bidding and auction management.

• GiveSmart: Integrates secure donation collection tools and offers features for communication and mobile accessibility.

Snowball

Supercharge your fundraising events with Snowball's nonprofit event software. Designed with the user experience in mind, this platform aims to streamline the donation process and make giving as seamless as possible. It has everything your nonprofit needs to connect with donors and take your event to the next level, whether it's in-person or virtual.

Why We Love This Fundraising Event Software

Snowball gives you plenty of fundraising tools in one spot so you can do more for your cause. This fundraising event software prioritizes ease-of-use and was designed with speed, simplicity, and affordability in mind. Here are a few tools to test out at your next event:

• Auctions

• Accept Donations

• Donation Forms

Pricing

Best for: Small and medium nonprofits.

Featured Services

• Overview

• Auctions

• Donor Engagement

• Fundraising Campaigns

• Secure Payments

• Text-to-Give Fundraising

Bonfire

Bonfire offers a merchandise fundraising platform for nonprofits, making it incredibly easy to design and customize apparel and other event merchandise. If you want to design and sell or offer event merchandise as part of the ticket price, Bonfire is a user-friendly option.

Stand-out Features

• Intuitive Editing Tools: Start from scratch, upload your own artwork, or kickstart your design with Bonfire's library of thousands of free fonts and graphics. If you need some extra guidance, their team is filled with design experts who can help.

• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Tools: Hosting a peer-to-peer campaign in connection with your event? Bonfire offers a new way to connect with your community. Your supporters can launch apparel-based fundraisers on your behalf, and team captains can design their own merchandise.

Pricing

Recommended For

Nonprofits that want to expand into online merchandise fundraising. Bonfire empowers nonprofits everywhere to create all types of merchandise, including t-shirts, mugs, hats, and more. With no platform fees or required inventory, it's completely risk-free.

Eventbrite

Eventbrite is an online event management software that provides tools to create, promote, and sell tickets for events of all types and sizes. This software features event pages, customized registration forms, and ticketing management. Eventbrite’s promotional tools include social media integration, email campaigns, and Eventbrite ads to reach wider audiences. This platform also provides insights into attendee demographics and event performance.

Key Features

• Create, manage, and publicize events online with ads and marketing tools

• Sell tickets from customized event pages for each event

• Use an Organizer App to manage check-in, ticket sales, and attendance data for in-person events

Pricing

You can host small events for free, but only up to 25 tickets. For larger events, you can either pay a per-event fee or a monthly cost.

Why Choose Eventbrite?

OneCause

OneCause is well-known for its robust charity auction software. With this fundraising event software on your side, your bidders will experience quick registration and check-in, unparalleled competitive bidding with outbid notifications, streamlined checkout, and more. Plus, OneCause offers more general event management software that makes it easy to capture registrations, promote your event, provide a seamless guest experience, and recognize sponsors at any events you plan.

OneCause offers an online fundraising platform with helpful tools for all aspects of fundraising, from in-person and virtual events to peer-to-peer fundraising and text-to-give. This platform is recommended for nonprofits looking to optimize their online fundraising while taking on new opportunities like auction fundraising.

Favorite Features

• Tools needed to manage fundraising

• Resources and educational materials to execute campaigns as strategically as possible

• eBooks, webinars, studies, and podcasts appealing to all types of learning styles

Why We Love This Fundraising Event Software

OneCause's versatile event fundraising software is designed to ease the administrative burden and save time for any type of event. If you're looking to host an auction in particular, here are some of the features you'll benefit from:

• Quick registration and check-in

• Competitive bidding with outbid notifications

• Streamlined checkout

Pricing

Contact for pricing.

GiveSmart

GiveSmart by Community Brands is a nonprofit CRM designed to help organizations save time and raise money with simple, accessible tools. GiveSmart's platform allows organizations to engage donors and maximize impact. One key functionality is its complete matching gift integration.

Matching Gifts

Knowing the potential of corporate matching opportunities, GiveSmart prioritizes matching gifts among their CRM functions by working with Double the Donation. This technical partnership allows nonprofit users to incorporate matching gift outreach within their typical supporter relations strategies, resulting in increased engagement and revenue.

Mobile Bidding

GiveSmart's mobile bidding feature is a standout, enabling nonprofits to host silent auctions and other fundraising events seamlessly. This tool allows donors to bid on items directly from their smartphones, making the process more engaging and accessible.

Online Donation Management

The platform also excels in online donation management, providing tools to track and manage donations efficiently. This ensures that nonprofits can focus more on their mission and less on administrative tasks.

Classy

Classy is an online fundraising platform that helps nonprofits create donation websites, set up recurring giving programs, sell fundraising event tickets, and more. It is recommended for nonprofits that are ready to invest in a robust and comprehensive online fundraising platform. With Classy, you get fundraising solutions for website donations, fundraising events, peer-to-peer campaigns, crowdfunding, and more.

Key Features

• Mobile-friendly and customizable online donation pages.

• Support for recurring giving programs.

• Tools for selling fundraising event tickets.

• Peer-to-peer and crowdfunding campaign support.

Pricing

Recommended For

Nonprofits that are ready to invest in a robust and comprehensive online fundraising platform.

Favorite Feature

Classy’s online donation pages are mobile-friendly and customizable.

Qgiv

Qgiv Events is a versatile online platform that streamlines event management and fundraising efforts. With a user-friendly interface and robust functionality, it caters to diverse event needs.

Key Features

• Customizable Event Pages: Create a uniform look and experience for your donors.

• Simplified Registration: Make it easy for attendees to sign up.

• Guest Management: Keep track of your attendees effortlessly.

• Reporting Tools: Gain insights into your event's performance.

Benefits

Qgiv provides a one-stop solution for your nonprofit to efficiently plan your event and collect donations. With Qgiv’s event management software, you have all you need to manage your next event, as well as an entire fundraising platform to utilize.

Pricing

Qgiv offers various pricing plans to suit different needs. Contact their support team for detailed pricing information.

Support

Here to help:

• Monday - Friday

• 9am - 7pm EST

• 888.855.9595

• info@qgiv.com

Handbid

Handbid specializes in auction software designed specifically for nonprofits. They provide everything you need to plan a mobile-friendly charity auction from start to finish, so you can focus on creating a lucrative and engaging event that your supporters won't forget. They place a heavy focus on online access, so bidders all around the world can join in on the fun. Plus, they even offer crowdfunding and peer-to-peer tools that you can combine with your events to expand your fundraising potential.

Mobile Bidding

Handbid's mobile bidding app offers an experience that's as seamless as the desktop interface. Bidders can easily browse the catalog, bid on items, and enable push notifications to know the moment they've been outbid. Widen your audience with Handbid's mobile bidding app.

Live Streaming

Stay connected with remote attendees using Handbid's native live streaming tools. Stream directly to bidders through the bidding app or site and promote items directly under the stream, perfect for inciting bidding wars.

Gamification

Nothing drives participation quite like some friendly competition. Use leaderboards to showcase top bidders, a live thermometer to showcase donations, and a countdown timer with winning bids, purchases, and donations.

BidPal

BidPal is a comprehensive event management tool designed to streamline the fundraising efforts of nonprofits. OneCause has a complete suite of tools to make event management and fundraising a breeze.

Key Features

• Mobile Bidding: BidPal offers a mobile bidding app that allows supporters to bid on auction items from anywhere, increasing participation and revenue.

• Event Management: The platform provides tools to manage every aspect of your event, from ticketing to check-in and check-out processes.

• Fundraising Tools: With features like donation forms, text-to-give, and peer-to-peer fundraising, BidPal ensures you have all the tools needed to maximize your fundraising potential.

Benefits

• Increased Engagement: Mobile bidding and live streaming features keep your audience engaged, whether they are attending in person or virtually.

• Ease of Use: The user-friendly interface makes it easy for both organizers and participants to navigate the platform.

• Comprehensive Reporting: Detailed analytics and reporting tools help you measure the success of your events and make data-driven decisions.

Auctria

Auctria is an easy to use web-based platform to enable you to run your fundraising events and auctions easily & smoothly. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage auction items and bids in a single location.

Key Features

• Auction Management: Keep records of all auction items, track bids, and manage payments seamlessly.

• Ticketing and Table Management: Sell tickets, manage seating arrangements, and offer VIP tables for special guests.

• Reporting and Analytics: Utilize detailed dashboards and analytics to monitor event performance and make data-driven decisions.

Benefits

• Ease of Use: The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for nonprofits of all sizes.

• Comprehensive Tools: From ticketing to auction management, Auctria covers all aspects of event planning.

• Scalability: Suitable for both small and large events, offering flexibility as your organization grows.

Pricing

Auctria offers various pricing plans to fit different budgets. Whether you're hosting a small local event or a large-scale gala, there's a plan that suits your needs. Pricing details can be found on their official website.

Conclusion

No matter the size of your organization, nonprofit event management software can significantly enhance your fundraising efforts. These tools not only streamline the planning and execution of events but also foster stronger connections with your supporters. By integrating features such as secure donation collection, communication tools, and mobile accessibility, these platforms ensure that your events run smoothly and effectively. As you explore the various options available, consider your nonprofit's unique needs to select the best tool for your organization. With the right event management software, you can create memorable experiences that inspire continued support and drive your mission forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nonprofit event management software?

Nonprofit event management software maximizes the benefits you’ll receive from hosting fundraising events, encouraging donations, and providing your organization with the opportunity to stay in contact with your supporters.

Why should nonprofits use event management software?

Nonprofit event management software helps resolve the challenges of hosting fundraising events and promotes lasting connections between your organization and your donors.

What factors should be considered when choosing event management software?

Before making your selection, consider your nonprofit’s unique needs, including secure donation collection tools, communication tools, and mobile accessibility tools.

How does event management software benefit fundraising events?

The right event management tool will cut administrative hours, minimize the event planning workload, and provide key insights about your attendees to attract sponsors.

Can event management software help with event merchandising?

Yes, some event management software like Bonfire is specifically designed to support event merchandising.

What are some top nonprofit event management software providers?

Some top providers include Snowball, Bonfire, Eventbrite, OneCause, GiveSmart, Classy, Qgiv, Handbid, BidPal, and Auctria.