Best Fundraising Websites for Nonprofits and Individuals

Digital fundraising platforms exist for all kinds of different uses. FutureFund provides free fundraising tools for school groups, but other websites exist that can help in other cases—whether you’re an individual, a business, or a different kind of nonprofit.

No matter what important cause you’re raising money for, we’re here to help. Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular fundraising platforms we know of (in addition to our own) and explained what each one is best for and why.

Best For School Groups: FutureFund

FutureFund is specifically designed to help K-12 school groups streamline fundraising while saving time for parent volunteers and staff.

Administer all your different groups (booster clubs, athletic funds, etc.) from a single platform—which also comes with built-in e-commerce, financial reporting, and messaging tools.

You’ll also get a dedicated account manager to help you plan and run campaigns. Our team is made up of parents and former teachers who understand the problems school groups face every day and provide specific tools geared toward solving them.

Price

FutureFund is free for school groups. Donors pay small fees as a percentage of each donation to help fund the operating costs of the platform.

Notable Features

• Custom fundraising campaigns developed with a dedicated account manager.
• eCommerce tools to sell spirit wear and other items through a custom online store.
• Automatic registration, donation receipts, and one-click financial reporting.
• Parent engagement tools include a built-in messaging system with custom filters.

Best For

K-12 school groups (including PTAs, booster clubs, athletic funds, etc.).

Start a Free Trial of FutureFund here.

Runner Up: Cheddar Up

Cheddar Up also lets you quickly sign up and collect money online, but it has a more general focus on nonprofits and social enterprises. While these can certainly include school groups, you won’t get a platform dedicated specifically to the needs of educators. Still, there are some useful features to be found.

Price

Cheddar Up has a free tier, though groups and teams will want to upgrade to one of their paid tiers.

Notable Features

• The free version is limited to a single form or sign-up page.
• Must upgrade to $30/m team package in order to sell tickets, use waitlists, and make use of enhanced reconciliation (which your treasurer will thank you for).

Best For

Cheddar Up can be used for school groups, but it’s honestly best for other nonprofits and social enterprises with the budget to spend on its upper-tier features.

Learn more about using Cheddar Up vs. FutureFund for school fundraising.

Visit Cheddar Up

Best for Individuals: GoFundMe

GoFundMe is one of the best-known fundraising platforms out there, and that’s a benefit in and of itself. People recognize the name, which sometimes lends an air of legitimacy to smaller campaigns—making it ideal for individuals and personal causes.

Price

GoFundMe doesn’t cost anything to set up and use—but donors pay a 2.9% fee plus $0.30 per donation.

Notable Features

• Easy tracking via a donation thermometer.
• Section for donor comments.
• Name recognition.

Best For

Individuals seeking funds for personal causes.

Visit GoFundMe

Runner Up: Indiegogo

Indiegogo offers a flexible platform that’s ideal for individuals who are looking to fund projects that may include innovations, creative works, or community projects. Unlike many other fundraising sites, Indiegogo provides the option to choose between fixed (all-or-nothing) and flexible (keep-what-you-raise) funding models, which can be crucial depending on the nature of the project.

Price

Indiegogo charges a 5% platform fee on all funds raised for both of its funding models. Additionally, there are standard transaction fees of approximately 3% + $0.30 per donation.

Notable Features

• Flexible Funding Options: Choose between fixed or flexible funding to better suit the risk profile and goals of your project.
• InDemand: Once your initial campaign goal is met, transition to InDemand to continue raising funds without a set endpoint.
• Marketplace Exposure: Products that do well can be featured in Indiegogo’s marketplace, providing additional visibility beyond the campaign itself.

Best For

Indiegogo is particularly useful for entrepreneurs and innovators looking to fund new products or projects, especially those who can benefit from ongoing funding after reaching their initial goals.

Visit Indiegogo

Best for Business Leagues: Kickstarter

Kickstarter provides a project-based platform ideal for businesses looking to launch new projects with the support of a crowd. The platform operates on an all-or-nothing funding model, which means funds are only collected if the project reaches its set goal, encouraging a strong marketing push from project creators.

Price

Kickstarter charges a 5% fee on the total amount raised through its platform, in addition to payment processing fees, which typically range from 3% + $0.20 to 5% per transaction.

Notable Features

• All-or-Nothing Funding: Reduces risk for backers (but increases it for campaigns).
• Project-Based Campaigns: Tailored for product launches and creative projects, with tools specifically designed to showcase the uniqueness of these initiatives.
• Creator Community: Access to a supportive community and resources that help new creators navigate the process of a successful campaign.

Best For

Professional associations looking to launch projects with clear goals and timelines.

Visit Kickstarter

Runner Up: SignUpGenius

SignUpGenius works for business leagues but can also be used for schools, nonprofits, and other organizations. It focuses on organizing events and managing sign-ups.

Price

SignUpGenius offers several pricing tiers, starting with a free basic plan. Premium plans begin at $8.99 per month, offering additional features such as more administrators, advanced customization, and ad-free options. Enterprise solutions are also available with custom pricing.

Notable Features

• Customizable Sign-Up Pages: Options for multiple administrators and more.
• Communication Tools: Email and text message integration.
• Integrated Payment Collection: Allows admins to record event fees and donations.

Best For

Organizations and business leagues managing multiple events or large-scale activities. It can be used for schools as well, but isn’t specifically built to handle their unique challenges.

Learn more about how SignUpGenius compares to FutureFund here.

Visit SignUpGenius

Best for Artists & Creatives: Patreon

Patreon is a subscription-based platform that allows artists and creatives to receive funding directly from their fans or patrons on a recurring basis. This model provides financial stability and the freedom to focus more on the creative process rather than project-specific fundraising.

Price

Patreon charges a commission of 5% to 12% of the monthly income earned on the platform, depending on the plan selected, plus payment processing fees.

Notable Features

• Membership Levels: Creators can set up different tiers of membership, offering exclusive content or experiences in return for patron support.
• Direct Fan Engagement: Tools that facilitate interaction between creators and their patrons, enhancing community building.
• Flexible Payouts: Creators can withdraw their earnings at any time with flexible payout options.

Best For

Artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives looking for a steady income through direct support from their audience.

Visit Patreon

Runner Up: Bonfire

Bonfire caters to artists, nonprofits, and communities by offering a unique platform for selling custom-designed merchandise as a means of fundraising. It removes the hassle of inventory and production, allowing creators to focus on design and promotion.

Price

Bonfire does not charge an upfront fee. Instead, it deducts a base cost from each item sold, allowing the rest to be kept as profit or donated.

Notable Features

• No Upfront Costs: Creators can launch campaigns without any initial investment, reducing the financial barrier to entry.
• Custom Apparel and Products: Wide range of products that can be customized, from t-shirts to tote bags.
• User-Friendly Design Tools: Simple design tools that make it easy to create professional-looking merchandise.

Best For

Artists, community groups, and nonprofits looking for a risk-free way to raise funds through merchandise sales.

Visit Bonfire

Find the Right Fundraising Platform for Your Cause

FutureFund is ideal for school groups, but there are plenty of other platforms out there that can help you raise money for different organizations. Use the list above to find the solution that helps you meet your financial targets.

Not a FutureFund user yet? Get started today with a free trial and find powerful tools that will help you improve your school community.