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For a nonprofit, accepting online donations should be simple for supporters and manageable for staff. A reliable giving page can help people donate from a phone, set up recurring gifts, and receive a receipt. Before choosing a provider, compare the actual costs and the work involved in managing donations.
For executive directors, development teams, and nonprofit board members: The best online giving system is the one your donors can use confidently and your staff can operate consistently. Use this guide to shortlist a platform, evaluate the full cost, and launch a dependable giving experience.
Quick comparison: Donorbox vs. Zeffy
| Decision factor | Donorbox | Zeffy |
|---|---|---|
| Best starting point | Organizations seeking configurable donation forms and fundraising features | Eligible nonprofits prioritizing a no-mandatory-platform-fee model |
| Pricing approach | Free-to-start software tier; platform and payment fees may apply, with paid plans available | Supported by optional donor contributions; confirm eligibility and current terms |
| Recurring gifts | Supported | Check current options and donor experience |
| What to test | Form customization, reporting, integrations, total fees | Donor tip presentation, reporting, eligibility, payout process |
Explore the platforms: Review Donorbox or Review Zeffy. Verify current pricing and features on each provider’s website before deciding.
1. Decide how supporters will give
Start with a secure donation form on your nonprofit website or a hosted donation page. Offer clear amounts, an option to give a custom amount, and an understandable choice between one-time and recurring contributions. Make sure the form works on mobile devices and that donors know which organization receives the funds.
2. Compare fees rather than the word “free”
Online fundraising can involve a monthly software subscription, a platform fee calculated as a percentage of donations, payment processing charges, and optional donor contributions to cover costs. A platform advertised as free may still have payment processing costs or rely on optional tips. Review current terms, including refunds, chargebacks, settlement timing, and any fee differences by payment method.
3. Consider Donorbox
Donorbox provides customizable donation forms and fundraising pages, recurring donations, and reporting tools. Its Standard plan has no monthly subscription fee; its Pro plan offers additional features for a monthly charge. Features and pricing may change, so review the provider’s current plan details before signing up.
Explore Donorbox fundraising tools
4. Consider Zeffy
Zeffy is another fundraising platform for eligible nonprofit organizations. Its model emphasizes no platform fees for nonprofits and is supported by optional contributions from donors. Organizations should verify eligibility, available payment methods, any unavoidable third-party costs, and how the donor-facing checkout appears.
5. Questions to ask before selecting a platform
- Who is eligible to open an account, and what verification is required?
- What fees apply to a $25 gift, a $250 gift, and a recurring monthly gift?
- Can donors opt out of any suggested platform contribution?
- Can we export donor and transaction records?
- How quickly are donations deposited, and what happens with refunds?
- Does the platform support the payment methods our donors actually use?
6. Launch with a simple checklist
Confirm your organization’s legal and tax information, connect the correct bank account, publish a clear donation page, test the form with a small transaction, check the receipt language, and establish who will reconcile payouts and respond to donor questions. Never describe a donation as tax-deductible unless the receiving organization and contribution qualify.
Frequently asked questions from nonprofit leaders
Can a nonprofit accept donations online without a monthly subscription?
Some fundraising providers offer a free-to-start plan or a model without a required monthly platform subscription. That does not automatically mean every transaction or feature is free. Check current payment processing, optional contributions, and paid upgrades.
Should we ask donors to cover processing costs?
It can be an option, but keep it transparent and voluntary where offered. Test the checkout carefully so donors understand the total amount they are authorizing.
What matters more: low fees or recurring donations?
Both matter. A lower fee can help retain more of each gift, while a smooth recurring-gift experience can reduce repeated fundraising effort. Compare the net proceeds and staff workload using your own donation patterns.
How do we know whether a platform is right for our organization?
Have the person responsible for fundraising and the person responsible for finance jointly test a small gift, a recurring gift, a refund, the donor receipt, and a payout report before adopting a platform.
Recommended next step
Choose two providers, confirm your eligibility and current pricing, and run the same test donation on both. For a flexible fundraising toolkit, explore Donorbox. For an eligible nonprofit evaluating a donor-supported fee model, explore Zeffy.
Editorial content by Donated.com Editorial Team. Published by American Foundation Funding, Inc. Photo: Cherrydeck / Unsplash. Affiliate relationships are disclosed above.
Bottom line
For a small nonprofit, ease of use and transparent costs may matter more than advanced features. For a growing organization, reporting, integrations, recurring giving, and additional donation methods may justify a paid plan. Compare Donorbox and Zeffy against your organization’s needs rather than assuming one platform fits every charity.