KindLink

KindLink is a charity-focused platform that combines supporter records with online fundraising and impact reporting. It is best suited to registered charities, nonprofits and CICs seeking one system for those jobs. Its strongest case is the permanent Free plan’s generous record-keeping; the main trade-off is that core donation and payment options sit behind paid tiers.

Overview

KindLink brings donor and supporter records, donation history, volunteer records and beneficiary records together with fundraising tools. Organisations can run peer-to-peer campaigns, take one-off and recurring donations, manage events, memberships and ticketing, and sell online. That range suits groups coordinating several kinds of fundraising and records in one place, but may be more than an organisation needs if its only requirement is a straightforward donation page.

Project dashboards and geolocated impact updates are included on Free, allowing organisations to report on their work without upgrading. An embedded donation flow for websites and HMRC Gift Aid integration extend the platform’s reach, though automated Gift Aid submission is a Premium feature.

Key features

Fundraising and records

Fundraising page building, team fundraising, event registration, sponsor tracking and social sharing support campaigns involving groups and events, not just individual appeals. The CRM keeps supporter, donor, volunteer and beneficiary records alongside donation history, which can help organisations maintain a broader picture of their relationships in one system.

Payments and compliance

KindLink says it charges no percentage of donations. UK card processing is 1.4% + 15p, while UK Direct Debit is 1.25%, capped at £4. Direct Debit is restricted to Expert, so organisations on Free or Premium cannot use that payment route through the plan. Expert also supports collection in 135+ currencies, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, Sofort and bank transfer.

KindLink states that it is GDPR compliant and PCI DSS compliant, and that Stripe holds payment card data rather than KindLink. It also says it is a certified HMRC Gift Aid software vendor, registered with the ICO, and holds a Cyber Essentials certificate.

Pricing

The permanent Free plan costs nothing and is available after charity-number verification to registered charities, nonprofits and CICs. It includes unlimited supporter and donor records, beneficiary records and transaction history, plus a 0% platform fee. Project dashboards and geolocated impact updates are also included. The record limits are generous, but Free does not include website donation forms or automated Gift Aid submission.

Premium costs £25 a month, billed monthly, and can be cancelled any time. The annual option is £20 /month, billed annually as £240. It includes everything in Free, plus website donation forms, automated Gift Aid submission to HMRC, events and memberships, multi-user access, live chat, webinars, personal onboarding and email support with a 24-hour response. It is the natural step up for organisations that need those fundraising functions and support; it does not add Direct Debit or contactless fundraising.

Expert costs £45 a month, billed monthly, and can be cancelled any time. The annual option is £36 /month, billed annually as £432. It includes everything in Premium, plus UK Direct Debit, 135+ currencies, Apple Pay and Google Pay, contactless fundraising and a dedicated account manager. This tier is for organisations that need those payment methods or contactless collection, but its higher price is harder to justify if Premium already covers their needs.

The contactless fundraising app is currently available exclusively on Google Play, and charities receiving funds through it need an Expert subscription. That restriction matters to organisations choosing their mobile devices or planning contactless campaigns.

Platforms

KindLink is available on Android and the web. Its contactless fundraising app is Google Play-only.

Who it's for

KindLink is a strong fit for eligible charities, nonprofits and CICs that want donor and beneficiary records, fundraising, and impact reporting under one roof. Free is particularly useful for organisations that need substantial record-keeping without a subscription. Premium suits those ready to add donation forms and automated Gift Aid, while Expert is aimed at groups requiring Direct Debit, broader payment support or contactless fundraising.

It is less suitable for organisations that need contactless fundraising but cannot use Google Play, or for those that only want a simple donation page and do not need the wider CRM and campaign tools.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free includes unlimited supporter and donor records, beneficiary records and transaction history, making it useful for eligible organisations with substantial record-keeping needs.
• Pros: Fundraising, CRM and impact reporting sit together, with dashboards and geolocated updates available even on Free.
• Pros: KindLink takes no percentage of donations, and its stated UK card and Direct Debit processing charges are clear.
• Cons: Website donation forms and automated Gift Aid submission require Premium, so Free is not a complete option for organisations needing those tools.
• Cons: Direct Debit and contactless fundraising require Expert, and charities receiving contactless funds need that subscription.
• Cons: The contactless app is limited to Google Play, which rules it out for organisations relying on other mobile platforms.

Alternatives

For a wider set of peer-to-peer options, browse Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software.

• GivenGain is worth considering if a charity wants a free fundraising platform with no subscription or setup fees.
• Funraise may suit organisations raising under $1 million annually that want a free plan, or those seeking peer-to-peer fundraising through its custom-priced Premium Plans.
• Raised offers a free service with unlimited campaigns and products, but its 5% platform fee on credit card donations contrasts with KindLink’s 0% platform fee.
• RallyUp offers a free plan with no platform fee, donor tipping and core fundraising components.
• Tiltify may fit teams focused on community engagement and individual fundraising pages, with donation reports on its free Basic plan.
• Bonfire is an option for organisations prioritising a branded online store and selling their own inventory.
• Enthuse offers a Mass Participation plan at £0.00/month with a 0% platform fee, alongside a paid Fundraising plan.
• FundRazr may appeal to organisations seeking a no-platform-fee option with payment processing charges and donor fee recovery.

Verdict

Choose KindLink if your registered charity, nonprofit or CIC needs donor and beneficiary records alongside fundraising and impact reporting, and especially if its permanent Free plan covers your record-keeping needs. Upgrade to Premium for website donation forms and automated Gift Aid; choose Expert only when its additional payment methods, contactless fundraising or account manager matter. Look elsewhere if you need contactless collection outside Google Play or only want a basic donation tool.