Givebutter

Overview

Givebutter is a fundraising and donor-management platform for nonprofit organizations that want campaign activity and supporter records in one place. It is especially well suited to teams that can make use of its generous free CRM and campaign tools; Plus is a more considered choice once contact-based pricing enters the picture.

Donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns cover varied fundraising needs, while the CRM retains donor histories and other contact details. Givebutter began in 2016 after its founders helped a nonprofit raise money for a food truck.

Key features

• Fundraising campaigns: Donation forms, pages, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer fundraising let organizations run several types of appeals in one platform. Recurring gifts and campaign reporting support ongoing fundraising as well as one-time drives.
• Donor CRM: The free CRM includes unlimited contacts, donor histories, custom fields, notes, tags, and reporting. Unlimited contacts make it practical for organizations with growing donor records that do not need paid automation.
• Engagement and Plus tools: Plus adds automated workflows, task management, an advanced email editor, texting, custom reports, expanded data visualizations, file uploads, data hygiene, and discounted direct mail. These tools may suit teams coordinating more complex supporter communications, though the subscription cost rises with contact count.
• Integrations: Givebutter says it connects with more than 1,000 third-party applications through native integrations and Zapier automations. Named integrations include Mailchimp, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Stripe; QuickBooks Online is available with Plus.
• Payments and security: Stripe processes payments as Givebutter's PCI-compliant partner. Givebutter also offers two-factor authentication and campaign reviews for fraud prevention. Its fee structure depends on whether optional tips are enabled, so organizations should consider that setting alongside separate processing charges.
• Mobile app: The free iOS and Android app supports tasks including donations, event management, and campaign tracking, but requires a Givebutter account. Tap to Pay requires iPhone XS or later with iOS 16.0+, or an Android 11+ device with NFC.
• Support: Givebutter says free support is available 24/7 for all users.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, donor management, and marketing and engagement tools. Another free plan description specifies unlimited users, contacts, email blasts, and fundraising campaigns. That combination makes the free tier a strong starting point for organizations that can work without Plus features.

Givebutter Plus starts at $29 a month, billed annually, with a 30-day commitment-free trial. Its contact-based pricing includes tiers of $29 a month for up to 250 contacts, $79 a month for up to 1,000, and $129 a month for up to 2,500; higher tiers extend through 50,000+ contacts. Plus is suited to teams that need its additional workflow, reporting, and engagement tools, but the contact-based model means the price can grow as a donor list expands. The free plan gives up those Plus features while retaining unlimited CRM contacts.

With optional tips enabled, Givebutter lists 0% platform fees. With tips disabled, it lists a 3% platform fee plus 2.9% + 30¢ processing fees. Payment processing is separate, so organizations should account for the applicable fee setting when estimating donation costs.

Platforms

Givebutter is available on web, iOS, and Android. The mobile app requires a Givebutter account, and Tap to Pay has device and operating-system requirements.

Who it's for

Givebutter is a good fit for nonprofits seeking a single service for campaigns, donor records, and supporter engagement, particularly those that want unlimited contacts without paying for Plus. It is less compelling for organizations that need Plus capabilities but have large contact lists and want to avoid a price that scales with contacts.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The free CRM has unlimited contacts and includes donor histories, custom fields, notes, tags, and reporting, avoiding a contact cap on the free tier.
• Pro: Fundraising options span donations, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns, with recurring gifts supported.
• Pro: Free 24/7 support and a mobile app extend help and campaign tasks beyond the web platform.
• Con: Plus pricing is contact-based, so teams with larger donor records face higher subscription tiers.
• Con: When optional tips are disabled, the listed 3% platform fee is added to payment processing fees of 2.9% + 30¢.

Alternatives

For churches seeking a free giving tier with unlimited donations and a separate Giving + Church Management plan at $72 a month, consider Tithely Giving. Donorbox may suit teams looking for a free Standard plan with five team members and platform fees of 2.95%–3.95%, plus payment processing fees.

Funraise is worth comparing for organizations raising under $1 million annually that want its free plan; Premium Plans use custom pricing. Givelify is another option for organizations considering a free donor app and a free-to-use service without a free trial.

For event-focused needs, The Events Calendar offers an Essentials plan at $259 a year with unlimited events, tickets, and RSVPs. Zeffy is a free alternative spanning donation forms, recurring gifts, event fundraising, peer-to-peer campaigns, CRM, and email tools. BetterWorld has a free plan with 0% platform fees, while standard payment processing fees still apply.

Charitable is a WordPress plugin alternative whose free Lite plan includes unlimited campaigns and donations. For broader comparisons, browse Nonprofit Online Donation Software, Nonprofit Payment Processing Software, Nonprofit Matching Gift Software, Donation Management, Nonprofit Fundraising Software, and Nonprofit Text-to-Give Software.

Verdict

Choose Givebutter if your nonprofit wants fundraising campaigns and a detailed, unlimited-contact CRM together, especially if the free tier covers your needs. Its main advantage is the breadth of those free tools; look elsewhere if Plus features are essential and contact-based pricing makes the likely subscription cost unattractive.