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According to a CCS Fundraising Report, 65% of primary and secondary schools describe their reporting and analytics capabilities as being at a leading level or of higher sophistication. This success is largely due to the proliferation of user-friendly fundraising software for schools, making it easy to plan fundraising campaigns and events and track success.
However, researching the best school fundraising platforms can take a while, especially if you don’t know where to start. Below, we’ve compiled a list of top fundraising software for schools, along with a few key details you should consider when investing in these tools:
School fundraising software Q&A
Before diving into our top fundraising software options for schools, let’s clarify some frequently asked questions about these platforms.
What fundraising platforms are best for schools?
The best fundraising platforms include all the features your school needs to easily and effectively manage fundraising under one roof.
Using multiple disconnected platforms can slow fundraising and lead to inefficiencies or lost data. In contrast, an all-in-one fundraising platform helps your school achieve its fundraising goals and maintain long-term donor relationships.
With this in mind, you should search for a fundraising platform that offers features like:
- Simple, user-friendly setup
- Customizable donation forms
- Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities
- Donor management features
- Recurring donations
- Flexible payment options
- Communications features
- Reporting and analytics functionality
Are there free fundraising apps for schools?
Yes! Most of the platforms on this list are free or affordable for schools of all sizes.
However, keep in mind that free solutions may not offer the robust functionality you need to manage and scale up your fundraisers effectively. For example, they may not offer donation tracking or donor management features, making it challenging to identify and follow up with donors after they give.
Your school can test out free platforms to see if they suit your needs and upgrade to a paid platform later. You can also always get a free trial of a paid solution you’re interested in to test it and see if it fits your needs.
Best fundraising sites for schools
- Qgiv by Bloomerang | Best fundraising software for schools
- BetterWorld | Crowdfunding platform for education
- 99Pledges | Pledge drive software for schools
- Bonfire | T-shirt fundraising platform for schools
- DonorsChoose | Crowdfunding platform for education
- Fundly | Social fundraising software for schools
- Jotform | Online form builder for schools
- OneCause | Awareness campaign software for schools
- Classy | Community fundraising software for schools
- PledgeCents | Personal pledge drive software for schools
- ShopRaise | Online shopping app for school fundraisers
- Funds2Orgs | Shoe drive fundraiser platform for schools
- Double the Donation | Matching gifts software for education
Qgiv by Bloomerang | Best fundraising software for schools
Qgiv by Bloomerang is a comprehensive software solution that can manage all your fundraising needs in one platform. From hosting an annual holiday fundraiser to raising scholarship money, Qgiv equips you and your team with the right tools. With Qgiv, you can:
- Customize and set up online donation forms.
- Register students and parents for events and field trips.
- Create unique forms for different departments or clubs.
- Access peer-to-peer fundraising tools.
- Host and manage events for all to enjoy.
- Offer restricted donations so donors can choose where their funds go.
- Facilitate text fundraising for an easily added revenue stream.
Qgiv’s school fundraising tools are built to streamline fundraising processes and engage constituents.
When to consider Qgiv
Qgiv serves all types of educational nonprofits and school organizations. Whether you’re a member of the fundraising team for an elementary school, university, private school, or alumni group, you can use this fundraising platform.
With Qgiv, you can host all types of fundraising events to reach as many students and supporters as possible. Qgiv’s software is effective because the Qgiv team understands the needs of an education-based fundraiser. Here are examples of ways to use Qgiv’s tools:
- Fundraising for a club. Build unique forms for your club using your school’s branding, colors, and logo. You can also easily set up restricted gift options on unlimited pages to better track progress for individual clubs and groups.
- Giving Tuesday campaign. Elevate your Giving Tuesday campaign by using peer-to-peer tools to give students the power to raise money on your behalf. This way, they can fundraise among their family and neighbors, reaching an exponentially wider audience.
- Live fundraising event for parents and supporters. Easily plan and manage your fundraising events using a variety of registration options. Qgiv has specific tools to help run auctions, including a mobile bidding tool. Watch real-time progress with a live screencast of incoming gifts.
No matter the type of campaign you want to host, Qgiv can empower better fundraising with the right tools.
How much does this platform cost?
Qgiv’s price depends on the type of plan you want. Plans start as low as $25 per month. You can choose a specific functionality Qgiv offers or use the most comprehensive platform to maximize your fundraising success.
Check out the pricing page to learn which plan and package is best for your educational organization.
2. BetterWorld | Crowdfunding platform for education
BetterWorld is a fundraising and event management platform designed to help organizations raise money, engage supporters, and create fundraising campaigns. Offering tools for peer-to-peer fundraising, event ticketing, auctions, and donor engagement, BetterWorld can help schools connect with their supporters in a meaningful way.
With a robust social media integration, BetterWorld can help schools expand their reach and raise funds. The platform also features analytics to track donations and participant engagement, allowing schools to make data-driven decisions about future campaigns.
When to consider BetterWorld
BetterWorld is helpful for a variety of use cases, including:
- Annual galas
- Student-led fundraising
- Back-to-school campaigns
- Booster programs
- Alumni engagement
- Classroom projects
- Monthly giving
How much does this platform cost?
BetterWorld is free to use but does have a credit card fee of 2.9% + $0.30 (often covered by donors).
3. 99Pledges | Pledge drive software for schools
99Pledges is a pledge drive fundraising platform that helps schools create personalized fundraising pages and reach out to their communities for donations. With social media and email integrations, 99Pledges facilitates the spread of fundraising efforts quickly.
The platform also supports event registration, donation tracking, and leaderboard features to gamify campaigns and encourage participant competition. Schools can use 99Pledges to raise funds through walkathons, readathons, or other community-driven events.
When to consider 99Pledges
99Pledges is particularly useful if your school wants to host “a-thon” style events, such as a walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon, or read-a-thon. 99Pledges prioritizes making these events as simple to set up as possible.
How much does this platform cost?
99Pledges is free to use but has a transaction fee of 3.49% + $0.49.
4. Bonfire | T-shirt fundraising platform for schools
Bonfire is a platform that enables schools to raise funds by selling custom-designed t-shirts. With no upfront costs, users can launch fundraising campaigns where the t-shirts are printed and shipped to customers once the campaign ends.
Bonfire also handles fulfillment, allowing organizations to focus on promoting their campaigns and maximizing support.
When to consider Bonfire
If your school’s audience has shown interest in or willingness to purchase merchandise in the past, Bonfire is one of the best platforms for easily managing these sales. Schools with robust art programs are also well-suited to running Bonfire campaigns, as they can recruit students and teachers to help design merchandise for the online store.
How much does this platform cost?
Bonfire charges no upfront fees for creating or running a campaign, but the platform does charge an 8% processing fee. Use their T-shirt pricing calculator to estimate potential fundraising revenue.
5. DonorsChoose | Crowdfunding platform for education
DonorsChoose is a crowdfunding platform where teachers can post project requests for supplies, technology, books, and other resources, and donors can choose which projects they wish to support.
DonorsChoose makes it easy for individuals to directly support specific teachers and classrooms, creating a personalized giving experience. The platform also provides transparency by showing exactly how donations are used.
When to consider DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is an excellent choice for schools that need to fund both classroom supplies and projects. The more specifically you can define your fundraising needs, the more money you’ll be able to raise because donors can fund your exact projects and supplies.
How much does this platform cost?
DonorsChoose is free for teachers to use to create and share projects.
6. Fundly | Social fundraising software for schools
Fundly is a crowdfunding platform that helps schools raise money for different causes, events, and charitable initiatives. Fundly allows users to create customized fundraising pages, share them on social media, and accept donations online.
The platform offers donor tracking, campaign analytics, and mobile compatibility features, allowing users to run campaigns from anywhere. Fundly’s flexible payment options help provide choices for fundraising efforts of all sizes.
When to consider Fundly
Fundly is perfect for schools interested in crowdfunding but want more nonprofit-specific features than GoFundMe offers.
How much does this platform cost?
Fundly is free to use but has payment processing fees for each donation.
7. Jotform | Online form builder for schools
JotForm is an online form builder that allows schools to create custom forms for various purposes, including surveys, event registrations, applications, and donations. The platform offers a drag-and-drop interface for non-technical users to design professional forms without coding.
JotForm integrates with popular apps like PayPal, Google Sheets, and Mailchimp to streamline data collection and automation processes. With its online form builder, JotForm provides a versatile solution for all your form-building needs.
When to consider Jotform
Jotform is helpful for organizations looking to track form completions and data in a centralized location. Jotform also offers robust form security, with FERPA and PCI compliance features. Your school can rest assured that sensitive student and donor payment information will remain as secure as possible.
How much does this platform cost?
JotForm offers a free plan with limited features and several paid plans based on the number of forms and submissions required.
8. OneCause | Awareness campaign software for schools
OneCause is a fundraising software solution that helps organizations raise money through events, auctions, and awareness campaigns. It offers tools for mobile bidding, ticketing, and capital campaigns for educators to use while raising funds.
OneCause also includes features for peer-to-peer fundraising, online donations, and event registration for different types of campaigns.
When to consider OneCause
OneCause is a useful tool for more extensive school fundraising campaigns, such as galas, giving days, and ambassador fundraising. It can help you spread greater awareness of your fundraising efforts among your community, driving long-term support.
How much does this platform cost?
OneCause offers different packages based on your organization’s fundraising needs.
9. Classy | Community fundraising software for schools
Classy is a crowdfunding platform from GoFundMe that helps organizations manage their fundraising efforts. With tools for peer-to-peer fundraising, event ticketing, recurring donations, and donor engagement, Classy provides options for users to raise money and build supporter relationships.
The platform also offers analytics and reporting tools to track donor behavior and campaign performance.
When to consider Classy
Classy is a great option if you’re looking for a tool that takes GoFundMe’s fundraising functionality to the next level. Its reporting, integrations, and donor dashboard tools make it easier to track fundraising progress from a bird’s-eye view and stay in touch with donors.
How much does this platform cost?
Classy offers custom pricing options based on an organization’s needs.
10. PledgeCents | Personal pledge drive software for schools
PledgeCents is a fundraising platform tailored for schools and educators looking to raise money for classroom projects, supplies, and educational initiatives. Teachers and school administrators can create fundraising pages for specific needs, and donors can choose to support projects directly.
PledgeCents offers social media integration, donor tracking, and personalized campaign tools to help schools promote their efforts and engage with their communities.
When to consider PledgeCents
If you need to set up a crowdfunding campaign quickly, PledgeCents is an excellent solution. They’ve made it simple to set up a personalized fundraising page and reach a broader audience through email and social media.
How much does this platform cost?
PledgeCents is free to use but has a 3% payment processing fee.
11. ShopRaise | Online shopping app for school fundraisers
ShopRaise is an online shopping app that helps schools raise funds. Supporters download the app and use the mobile version or browser extension while making online purchases at popular retailers. Your school can raise up to 10% on each transaction.
When to consider ShopRaise
ShopRaise is a useful tool not only for schools but also for teams and clubs. Brand your fundraising page with your school, team, or club logo to spread awareness of your mission.
How much does this platform cost?
ShopRaise is free for charities and supporters. Retailers pay a small fee to send traffic to their stores.
12. Funds2Orgs | Shoe drive fundraiser platform for schools
Funds2Orgs is a platform that facilitates shoe drive fundraisers. Schools collect gently worn, used and new shoes and send them to the organization. In return, your organization receives a check for the value of the shoes. Funds2Orgs works with individuals worldwide who have created micro-businesses selling donated shoes.
When to consider Funds2Orgs
A shoe drive fundraiser is worthwhile for all grade levels since kids quickly grow out of shoes. Your organization can also partner with the wider community to accept donated shoes from a broader audience, increasing your fundraising potential.
How much does this platform cost?
There are no upfront costs to start a fundraiser.
13. Double the Donation | Matching gifts software for education
Double the Donation is the top matching gift automation software for nonprofits. With access to one of the largest and most comprehensive matching gift databases, fundraising professionals can use Double the Donation to identify match-eligible donors and automate match requests with all the necessary information forms. Additionally, Double the Donation tracks submitted matches and even automates the follow-up process.
Corporate matching gift programs can be a huge revenue boost for any organization. Your donors don’t actually have to give additional money—all they have to do is submit a matching gift form to their employers!
When to consider Double the Donation
Universities, in particular, can find great value in investing in a matching gift automation tool. Many alumni and other supporters work for employers and companies with matching gift and corporate giving programs. With Double the Donation, your university can increase fundraising without asking your alumni and recent donors for more money.
Double the Donation will automatically screen your recent donors and send them relevant matching gift information. If matching gift submissions are accepted, your university can double or even triple these recent donations.
How much does this platform cost?
Plans start at $999 annually and scale up based on an organization’s annual revenue.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right fundraising software for schools is essential to maximizing your potential and achieving your goals. With a wide range of options available, it’s essential to consider your school’s unique needs and select tools that fit your objectives.
By leveraging the power of fundraising software, you can streamline your fundraising efforts, engage your community, and create effective fundraising strategies to support your goals. Whether you’re part of a K-12 school, a private institution, or a higher education facility, there’s a tool out there to help you succeed.
Additional resources
If you want to learn more about school fundraising and other general tips, check out these resources:
- 50+ Fun and Creative School Fundraising Ideas That Work. Looking for school fundraising ideas? These creative and engaging ideas will help spark your school community’s imagination.
- 25 Sports Fundraisers to Take Your Team to the Next Level. Raising money for your sports team? Take a look at these sports fundraiser ideas for inspiration.
- 10 Steps to Hosting Your Own Walkathon, Bikeathon, or Runathon Fundraiser. Interested in hosting a walkathon? Use this step-by-step guide to plan a fun, productive event.
