Givebutter

Overview

Givebutter is a fundraising and donor-management platform for nonprofits, particularly those that want campaigns and supporter records in one service. Its broad free plan is a strong starting point; organizations that need Plus tools should weigh the contact-based subscription against separate payment fees.

Fundraising options span donation forms, pages, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns, while the CRM keeps donor histories and other contact information alongside that work. The company traces its origins to 2016, when its founders helped a nonprofit raise money for a food truck.

Key features

• Campaign fundraising: Donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, and peer-to-peer fundraising cover several common nonprofit approaches in one platform. Recurring donations and campaign reporting are supported, useful for organizations managing ongoing giving as well as specific appeals.
• Free CRM: Unlimited contacts, donor histories, custom fields, notes, tags, and reporting make the free plan suitable for building a substantial donor record without hitting a contact quota. That is a meaningful advantage for organizations that need contact management but not Plus automation.
• Plus tools: Automated workflows, task management, an advanced email editor, texting, custom reports, expanded data visualizations, file uploads, data hygiene, and discounted direct mail extend the platform beyond basic campaign and contact management. These additions are most relevant to teams that need more structured communications and reporting; the subscription price rises with contact volume.
• Integrations and security: Givebutter says it connects to more than 1,000 third-party applications through native integrations and Zapier. Named integrations include Mailchimp, Salesforce, HubSpot, Stripe, and QuickBooks Online, which is available with Plus. Stripe processes payments as Givebutter’s PCI-compliant partner; the service also offers two-factor authentication and campaign reviews for fraud prevention.
• Mobile fundraising: The free iOS and Android app supports tasks including donations, event management, and campaign tracking, but requires a Givebutter account. Tap to Pay requires an iPhone XS or later running iOS 16.0+ or an Android 11+ device with NFC.
• Support: Givebutter says free support is available 24/7 to all users, including those on the free plan.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and is described as Free forever. It includes donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, donor management, and marketing and engagement. The broader free-plan terms include unlimited users, contacts, email blasts, and fundraising campaigns, making it a capable option for organizations that can work without Plus features.

Givebutter Plus starts at $29 a month, billed annually, for up to 250 contacts. The listed monthly tiers rise to $79 a month for up to 1,000 contacts and $129 a month for up to 2,500 contacts; pricing is contact-based, with tiers extending through 50,000+ contacts. Plus includes the advanced features described above, and a 30-day commitment-free trial is offered. Choose a tier based on the number of contacts the organization manages, not its number of users: the free plan allows unlimited users and contacts, while Plus pricing is tied to contacts.

Payment processing is separate from the subscription. With optional tips enabled, Givebutter lists 0% platform fees; with tips disabled, it lists a 3% platform fee and 2.9% + 30¢ processing fees. Organizations should account for both the platform-fee setting and transaction processing when estimating the cost of fundraising.

Platforms

Givebutter is available on the web, iOS, and Android. The mobile app requires a Givebutter account, and Tap to Pay has specific device and operating-system requirements, so older phones may not support that payment option.

Who it's for

Givebutter is a good fit for nonprofits that want fundraising campaigns, donor records, and supporter engagement tools together, especially those that can stay on the free plan or need Plus features at a defined contact tier. Organizations that need unlimited free contact management may find the free CRM particularly useful. Those with growing contact lists should compare Plus tiers against their budget, and groups focused chiefly on payment processing rather than fundraising and donor management may prefer a more specialized option.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The free plan combines core fundraising formats with unlimited users, contacts, email blasts, and campaigns, allowing organizations to grow their records without a free-plan contact cap.
• Pro: The CRM includes donor histories, custom fields, notes, tags, and reporting at no subscription cost.
• Pro: The mobile app supports donations, event management, and campaign tracking on iOS and Android.
• Con: Plus pricing increases by contact tier, so organizations with larger databases face higher monthly subscription costs even if their user count stays the same.
• Con: Payment processing is separate, and disabling optional tips brings a 3% platform fee in addition to 2.9% + 30¢ processing fees.
• Con: Tap to Pay is limited to newer iPhones or Android 11+ devices with NFC.

Alternatives

Consider Donation Management or Nonprofit Fundraising Software to compare tools across those categories. Nonprofit Payment Processing Software is a relevant category for organizations prioritizing transaction handling, while Fundraising Event Software may suit groups focused on event campaigns. For matching gifts or text-to-give, see Nonprofit Matching Gift Software and Nonprofit Text-to-Give Software.

• Tithely Giving offers a free giving plan with unlimited donations and transaction fees, plus a Giving + Church Management plan at $72 a month; consider it when that giving-plan structure better fits your needs.
• Donorbox has a free Standard plan for five team members with platform fees of 2.95%–3.95% and payment processing fees, and a Pro plan at $150 a month; it may suit organizations that prefer a five-member free tier or the paid Pro plan.
• Funraise offers a free plan for organizations raising under $1 million annually and custom-priced Premium Plans; consider it if that free-plan qualification or custom pricing is a better fit.
• Zeffy is a free alternative for organizations seeking a free fundraising platform.
• Raisely offers a free fundraising platform with unlimited fundraising websites and campaigns, no monthly or setup fees, and optional donor tips; consider it if those terms suit your organization.
• GoFundMe Pro may be worth considering as another nonprofit fundraising option.
• RallyUp offers a free plan with no platform fee, optional donor tipping at checkout, and core fundraising components; consider it if that fee structure appeals.
• CharityEngine may be worth considering as another fundraising platform.

Verdict

Givebutter is a strong choice for nonprofits that want a broad fundraising toolkit and unlimited free CRM contacts in one place. Its free tier keeps core campaign and donor-management work accessible, while Plus adds useful workflow and communications tools. Look elsewhere if contact-based Plus pricing or separate processing fees make the total cost a poor fit.