Transform Your Campaigns With These 6 GoFundMe Alternatives

There’s no doubt about it: crowdfunding is a hugely successful online fundraising method.

Crowdfunding is swiftly rising in popularity because anyone can use it. From individuals to nonprofits to religious organizations, crowdfunding gets the job done for everyone looking to raise money. These platforms allow you to harness the power of social networks and connect with your supporters.

You may have heard of a popular crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, but did you know that there are plenty of GoFundMe alternatives that can enhance your campaigns?  If you’re ready to discover which of these GoFundMe alternatives is the perfect platform for you to raise money on, let’s dive in!

Why Choose Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a fundraising method that involves collecting many small donations from individuals, typically by sharing the fundraiser online. Many nonprofit organizations and individuals leverage crowdfunding campaigns because they are:

• Fast and easy to set up
• Cost-effective
• Shareable and engaging
• Great for building awareness
• Flexible

Crowdfunding can also go hand-in-hand with peer-to-peer fundraising, which deeply engages supporters. This type of fundraising puts the responsibility on supporters to raise funds among their friends and families on behalf of a worthy cause.

4 Reasons to Consider GoFundMe Alternatives

The right technology can significantly enhance your crowdfunding efforts and help you reach your funding goals. While GoFundMe is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms, it may not be the best option for your organization. Consider researching alternative options first.

Specifically, GoFundMe might:

• Lack donor incentives. Donors are more likely to give when incentivized. This could look like offering them a gift or merchandise when they donate or simply showing them the impact of their donation. It can be difficult to manage these incentives in a simple platform like GoFundMe.
• Have site limitations. GoFundMe is designed to be simple and straightforward, but this may not be ideal for organizations with more complex needs. Consider other tools if your organization needs more specialized features.
• Not align with your needs or mission. Because GoFundMe is so popular, it has a reputation. Large nonprofits might want a more professional, polished look, but this can be hard to achieve when using a fundraising site known for individual fundraising. Carefully consider whether the platform you choose is in line with your mission and brand identity.
• Not offer enough customization. If you’re fundraising for an organization with an established brand, you’ll likely want to infuse that brand into your crowdfunding campaigns. For example, Bonfire allows you to create custom t-shirts that feature your exact colors, fonts, and logos.

Unlike other top fundraising websites, GoFundMe isn’t the most flexible way to fundraise. This means that a GoFundMe campaign may not pair well with other campaigns, like fundraising events. Software that facilitates product or merchandise fundraising, for example, can be paired with almost any other event or campaign as an added stream of revenue.

1. Bonfire

How Bonfire Works

Bonfire is a free crowdfunding site like GoFundMe that specializes in helping individuals and nonprofits raise funds through custom apparel. There are no upfront costs or platform fees, Bonfire provides all the inventory, and you keep 100% of your profits!

Getting started on Bonfire is easy. You can do it in just five quick steps:

1. Choose your products. First, select the products you want to sell with your crowdfunding campaign. Browse through our apparel catalog to decide on styles, colors, sizes, and more that supporters will love.
2. Design your shirt. You don’t have to be a graphic designer to craft a beautiful shirt! With Bonfire’s handy design tool, you’ll be able to use and customize thousands of designs from our library or even upload your own.
3. Set your selling prices. Determine your merchandise’s selling points to generate sales and maximize revenue. For example, maybe you’ll only offer an exclusive design for a few weeks.
4. Schedule your campaign. With Bonfire, your campaign can last anywhere from 7 to 21 days. When it wraps up, you’ll receive the funds.
5. Customize your page. Make your crowdfunding page look just like you! Add your branding, compelling copy, and powerful videos and imagery to tell your story and promote giving.

With Bonfire, you’ll easily gain the support you need to fund your projects and further your mission. Your supporters will love that they get a t-shirt in exchange for a donation to your cause—plus, they’ll be spreading the word about your cause each time they wear it. With steady revenue for you and merchandise for your donors, working with Bonfire is a win-win!

Raising money for nonprofits just got a lot easier
Turn your t-shirt fundraiser into a Giving Campaign, and Bonfire will send the funds you raised to the nonprofit for you. Just connect your campaign to the organization during the setup process, and they’ll receive the money once your campaign ends. Learn more >

Bonfire Platform Fees

The only fee Bonfire ever collects is an 8% processing fee on additional donations, but if you verify your organization with Bonfire, the fee is reduced to 3.5%.

2. Fundly

How Fundly Works

Fundly offers individuals and nonprofits an easy way to raise money for a cause. Their platform is centered around using photos and video to promote campaigns, which helps you emphasize why your mission or cause is worth supporting. You can upload content from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and your computer onto the platform.

You’ll also be able to convey your story through compelling copy. Fundly’s blog-like platform and mobile app make it easy to give supporters success stories, updates, and final campaign wrap-ups.

Fundly Platform Fees

Fundly has a 0% platform fee and a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

3. WeFunder

How WeFunder Works

WeFunder is a crowdfunding site for investing, making it the perfect platform for startups and entrepreneurs.

WeFunder’s platform allows you to include extensive information about your cause, mission, or project, helping educate newcomers about your work and goals. With a mission statement front and center, you can excite supporters and inspire them to contribute to your cause.

With room for testimonials, photos, financial statistics, and a Q&A section, WeFunder allows you to thoroughly explain your reason for raising money, how funding will be used, and the importance of funders’ support.

WeFunder Platform Fees

The good news is WeFunder only charges you if your fundraising is successful, which means you pay $0 upfront! They’ll simply charge a fee of 7.9% of funds successfully raised and an annual fee of 0.5%.

4. DoJiggy

How DoJiggy Works

DoJiggy is a great GoFundMe alternative for nonprofits and schools who want to put on special fundraising events. The software will help your organization raise the funds you need while managing event planning processes.

In addition to crowdfunding, DoJiggy can help manage:

• Auctions
• Online stores
• Event ticketing
• Donations
• Raffle fundraising
• A-thon fundraisers
• Sweepstakes 

Ultimately, DoJiggy gives you more time to establish and maintain your relationships with your donors and the broader community. To make these events even more successful, consider selling event t-shirts and other merchandise.

DoJiggy Pricing

DoJiggy has no startup or subscription fees. Pricing varies depending on the fundraising method you choose.

5. Kickstarter

How Kickstarter Works

Kickstarter offers a platform for projects that span various categories like arts, comics, crafts, design, tech, film, food, games, music, and more. Similar to WeFunder, this platform is designed to help small businesses and innovative ideas get the funding they need to get off the ground.

Kickstarter provides an “all-or-nothing model,” which lets you choose your overall goal and set out a timeline for your campaign. This model and timeline encourage your supporters to give and help you reach your goals—otherwise, you won’t get any funding.

Kickstarter Platform Fees

Kickstarter charges a 5% fee for collected funds and a 3% to 5% payment processing fee. If the project doesn’t reach its goal, no fees will be charged.

6. Honeyfund

How Honeyfund Works

With nearly $1 billion given on its site, Honeyfund dominates the wedding crowdfunding sector.

This crowdfunding platform helps couples-to-be and newlyweds raise money for their weddings, honeymoons, and married life. With pre-made trip registries, you can sign up and start fundraising immediately! 

You’ll even see added benefits, like discounts at select hotels and travel savings. Plus, it makes giving easy. Your guests can gift you a portion of your honeymoon, giving you a memory that will last a lifetime.

Honeyfund Platform Fees

Honeyfund is completely free to use, and it comes with a free upgrade! There’s simply a 2.8% +$0.30 fee for payment processing via WePay or PayPal.

Additional Resources

After browsing these top GoFundMe alternatives, you’re sure to find a platform stocked with the most valuable features to help you reach your fundraising goals. Remember to thoroughly research your options, browse reviews, book a demo, and ask the provider any lingering questions. 

Bonfire makes getting started and selling t-shirts fast and easy for your organization—plus, your supporters will be motivated to give as they receive an item in return! To launch your campaign, reach out to Bonfire today.

To learn more fundraising tips, explore these resources: