77% of all Americans can be found staring into a tiny computer and clicking around on apps everyday. With that many people using smartphones — and smartphone apps — why not incorporate them into your nonprofit’s digital fundraising?
Leveraging the right tools can significantly amplify your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. At Whole Whale, we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with digital fundraising. That’s why we’ve curated a list of our favorite fundraising apps for 2024—each one tested and proven to enhance your campaigns and engage your donors effectively.
There are tons of easy-to-use fundraising apps already out there to help you reach your goals and engage your donors. The only question is: Which one should you use? Check out these fundraising apps, with our advice on how to choose the right one for your goals.
“The right fundraising app should seamlessly integrate with an organization’s existing strategies, amplifying impact without compromising integrity. Favorite for us means apps that prioritize user experience, data security, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring that every donated dollar goes further in making a difference. Ultimately, the most powerful tools are those that connect donors to causes on a deeper level, creating ripples of change that extend far beyond the digital realm.”
– George Weiner, Chief Whaler
1. GiveLively
This platform offers FREE donation buttons, event ticketing, fundraising pages, text-to-give and peer-to-peer fundraising solutions for progressive nonprofits. Again, this platform is seriously free, the organization charge ZERO fees because they are funded by the Soros Foundation, the only costs are those that come from Credit Card processors. GiveLively allows organizations to collect donations from text (SMS) messages. So far, they’ve helped over 4,000 nonprofits raise money at $0 charge to their members. Why not become one of them?
2. Meta Facebook Fundraisers & Instagram Donation Stickers
Facebook Fundraiser allows you to grant your followers permission to crowdsource on your behalf. It’s like franchising your fundraising campaign — and right now Facebook is promoting fundraisers in its algorithm. Facebook also allows you to add a donate button to your page so users can easily donate directly to your organization. In 2019, Instagram entered the donation game with donation stickers that supporters can now add to their stories. Grab out Facebook Donor template.
3. Double Good
Double Good fundraising, is a fast simple way to run a 4-day popcorn fundraiser through their very popular app. The app allows a nonprofit’s supporters to sell amazing popcorn (we know, we tried it) to their friends with half of every purchase going to the nonprofit. Whole Whale was proud to have Double Good as a past sponsor of the Whole Whale Podcast.
4. Prizeo
Another Whole Whale client past and present, Prizeo is a fundraising app that partners with charities and their celebrity partners to create once-in-a-lifetime sweepstakes for experiences that users can win for small donations. Have a celebrity endorser or a connection with someone in film, music, or sports? You can work with Prizeo to set up a sweepstake that people can enter by donating directly to your cause.
5. GOODBIDS.org
GOODBIDS is a new project from the mind of Seth Godin that aims to reimagine charity auctions by ensuring every bid is a non-refundable donation to the featured cause. It connects worthy causes with people who want to support them through auctions where the highest bidder wins a prize. The platform is free for users, with charities paying a 10% fee of all bid money. In 2024 Taylor Swift auction went for $710, raising $22,140 for Charity:Water.
6. Pledgeling
Corporate giving made easy, Pledgeling connects brands and consumers to their favorite causes. They help for-profit organizations give back to nonprofits that align with their mission and their customers’ interests. Learn how to join their database and start raising money here.
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7. RoundUp App
The RoundUp App allows your supporters to round up the change from credit card purchases they make every month. Once you register your nonprofit for $0 upfront cost, this app is a great way to encourage monthly giving around $20 for supporters. This was such a fun idea that we actually did a podcast with the founder of this app:
8. PayPal
Hosting an event and know you’ll be running around all day? PayPal, the payment system best known for being an easy way to transfer money, has a donation app. PayPal will send you a card reader to take credit or debit payments, but be prepared for a 2.7% transaction fee.
9. Budge
Who doesn’t love a friendly competition for a good cause? Budge is a fundraising app that allows users to challenge their friends to anything — a game of chess, a donut-eating competition — and the person that doesn’t win donates to a pre-selected charity. Note that there are no losers here. Everyone wins!
10. Charity Miles
A former Whole Whale client, Charity Miles helps people donate to their favorite organizations while getting active. Like a Turkey Trot, but everyday. Users choose the charity they want to support, and then for every mile they move (walking, running, bike-riding, you name it), they earn money for the organization from corporate sponsors. Find out how to join their charity roster here.
11. Omaze
Omaze is another fundraising app that partners with celebrities to auction off exclusive experiences in exchange for micro-donations. Just $10 for a chance to show up on your favorite tv series or a sweet ride? Count us in.
12. Fundly
Fundly is a mobile crowdfunding app that feels like a social network. Organizations can easily share Facebook posts, YouTube videos, and images to bring their campaigns to life. Fundly also makes it easy to thank your donors directly on the platform. Emily Post would be proud.
Have a favorite fundraising app we didn’t mention? Share it with us by tweeting @WholeWhale.
13. Givebutter
Givebutter is a transparent, low-cost, all-in-one fundraising platform that helps people raise more money for good causes. They offer text-to-donate, scan-to-donate, event ticketing and registration, in-page (native) donation widgets, peer-to-peer fundraising, livestream fundraising, and contact management. They also offer alternative forms of payments for donors including Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH transfers. Fees are 2.9% + .30 cents per transaction with no platform fees, no setup costs and no subscription fees.
14. The Giving Block
The Giving Block is the leading way for your nonprofit to accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and even Dogecoin (among many others) from crypto donors on your site. Learn more about what goes into accepting cryptocurrency donations.