Are you looking for a donation platform to help your nonprofit raise money? If so, you’re in luck! There are many different platforms to choose from, and each has its own unique set of features. So how do you know which one is right for you? Read on to learn more about what donation platforms are, how they work, and what to look for when choosing one.
What is an online donation platform?
A donation platform is an online service that allows nonprofits to collect donations from individuals or businesses. Donation platforms typically provide a way for donors to give money via credit card, debit card, or bank transfer, and they may also offer other features such as donor management, crowdfunding, and event registration.
What are the benefits of using a donation platform?
1. Convenience
Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of using a donation platform. With a platform like PayPal, donors can give money quickly and easily in person or on your website via online donation forms. This makes it easy for donors to contribute to your nonprofit no matter where they are or what time of day it is. Plus, donation platforms typically provide a variety of giving options, such as credit card, debit card, or bank transfer, so donors can choose the method that works best for them.
2. Donor management
A good donation platform will provide a way to manage donor information and giving history. This can be helpful for tracking your nonprofit’s progress and building relationships with donors. With a platform like PayPal, you can easily track your nonprofit’s progress and manage donor information. This includes contact details, giving history, and payment methods. This information can be helpful
3. Flexibility
Donation platforms offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you receive donations. For example, some platforms allow you to set up recurring donations, so donors can give money on a regular basis without having to remember to do it each month. This can be helpful for ensuring your nonprofit has a steady stream of income.
4. Crowdfunding
Some donation platforms, such as GoFundMe offer crowdfunding features. This can be helpful for raising money for specific projects or causes. With crowdfunding, donors can give money to a specific campaign, and you can set a goal for how much money you want to raise. This can be a great way to engage your donors and get them involved in your nonprofit’s work.
5. Event registration
If your nonprofit hosts events, look for a platform that offers event registration and ticketing capabilities. This can be a great way to streamline your event planning and make it easy for donors to sign up and pay for tickets. Tithe.ly offers event registration and ticketing features, so you can easily manage your events and sell tickets online.
6. Peer-to-peer fundraising
Numerous donation platforms offer peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities. This can be a great way to engage your supporters and get them involved in your nonprofit’s work. With peer-to-peer fundraising, individuals can create their own fundraising campaigns and set goals for how much money they want to raise. This can be a great way to get people invested in your nonprofit fundraising campaigns.
7. Double the Donation
If your nonprofit is looking for ways to increase donations, you may want to consider a platform that offers Double the Donation or Matching Gift fundraising. With Double the Donation, donors can easily search for companies that match their charitable donations. This can be a great way to encourage employees to give to your nonprofit and double their impact.
8. Matching Gift fundraising
Matching Gift fundraising is similar to Double the Donation, but donors can search for companies that match their charitable donations and then submit a request for the company to match their donation. This can be a great way to raise funds from businesses and encourage employees to give to your nonprofit.
9. Integrated Giving
Some donation platforms offer integrated giving, which allows donors to give money directly from your website or mobile app. This can be a great way to streamline the donation process and make it easy for donors to give.
Now that you know some of the benefits of using a donation platform, how do you choose the right one for your nonprofit?
The key features of platform for taking online donations
When choosing a donation platform, it’s important to consider what features you need and how much you’re willing to spend. Some platforms offer a basic set of features for free, while others charge a monthly fee or take a percentage of each donation. Be sure to compare prices and read reviews before making your final decision.
1. Ease of use
The donation platform should be easy to navigate, with a simple process for making donations.
2. Donation options
The platform should offer a variety of donation methods, such as credit card, debit card, or bank transfer.
3. Donor management
The platform should provide a way to manage donor information, such as contact details and giving history.
4. Crowdfunding
Some platforms offer crowdfunding features, which can be helpful for raising money for specific projects or causes.
5. Event registration
If your nonprofit organization hosts events, look for a platform that offers event registration and ticketing capabilities.
6. Pricing
Be sure to compare the cost of different platforms before making a final decision. Some charge monthly fees, while others take a percentage of online donations.
7. Security
When storing donor information, security is paramount. Make sure the platform you choose has robust security measures in place to protect your data.
8. Customer support
In case you need help using the platform or run into any problems, look for a provider with excellent customer support.
9. Integration
If your nonprofit uses other software, such as an accounting system or email marketing tool, check to see if the online donation platform you’re considering offers integration. Most importantly your donation platform should allow for website donations.
10. Mobile-friendly
In today’s world, it’s important that your donation platform is accessible on mobile devices. This makes it easy for donors to give from anywhere at any time.
Comparing several popular online donation platforms
There are many popular donation platforms, but some of the most popular include PayPal, Giveforward, and GoFundMe. Each platform has its own unique features and benefits, so be sure to compare them before making a final decision.
Fundraising with PayPal
Discounted Rates
You deserve to be competitive in today’s market, and PayPal is here for you. Their rates are the lowest of any fundraising platform – all confirmed 501(c)(3) charities get discounted transaction fees as well! No other nonprofits pay extra with PayPal; only when donations come through on your page does it cost anything at all. With no hidden costs or additional expenses like processing charges from 3rd-party vendors – you save money every time someone donates using this ‘tried and true’ method of charitable giving.
Secure Transactions
PayPal is a safe and secure way to donate money. With automatic fraud screening, PCI compliance help keep you feeling confident about using PayPal for nonprofit donations.
Easily Track Donations
The easiest way to keep up with your nonprofit donations is through PayPal. With downloadable logs, instant transaction searches and controlled access for employees you can easily manage the flow of money coming in . You can also track who has been donating over time using the search engine built into their website!
Fast Access to Funds
With fast access to funds, donations show up in your account within minutes and can be quickly transferred at no charge.
Fundraising with Tithe.ly
Tithely digital giving tools enable churches of all sizes to offer secure donations from anywhere, at any time, and our back-end administrative tools make management easy.
6 ways to give
The newest way to give is now easier than ever. Churches and ministries can provide their members with an all-inclusive, simple platform that allows them the ability not only to fundraise but also to engage in ways never before thought of!
Daily deposits
How often would you like the bank to deposit money into your account? You can choose from options including daily, weekly, or monthly.
In-depth reports
See full gift, transaction, and deposit reporting that includes all the info you need. This reporting is essential in order to maintain accurate records and monitor your organization’s finances.
Cash/check recording
With Tithe.ly, you can track your offline and online giving in one consolidated system with cash gift entry tools for a smooth experience that will get the most out of every donation!
Auto-recurring giving
With one click of a button, donors can set up recurring giving that will make it easier for them to give consistently.
Cover the Fees™
Enable your church to receive 100% of each donation by allowing donors the option for an increased gift that covers processing fees.
Text Giving
Text-to-give done right! Simply text an amount (e.g. 100) to your church’s custom number and your generous contribution has been made.
Giveforward
Giveforward is another popular donation platform that offers a variety of features, such as recurring donations, crowdfunding, and event registration. It’s easy to use and offers excellent customer support.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is a popular crowdfunding platform that can be used for donation purposes. It’s easy to use and offers a variety of features, such as recurring donations and event registration. Plus, it has a great reputation and is trusted by many people.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a donation platform for your nonprofit, there are many factors to consider. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. But, by keeping a few key things in mind, you can narrow down your options and find the right platform for your needs.
If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to choosing a donation platform, or if you’d like help setting up recurring donations or crowdfunding campaigns, we can help. Our team of experts is here to guide you through the process and make it easy for your donors to give money to your nonprofit. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started.