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.
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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.
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.
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.
K-12 school groups (including PTAs, booster clubs, athletic funds, etc.).
Start a Free Trial of FutureFund here.
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.
Cheddar Up has a free tier, though groups and teams will want to upgrade to one of their paid tiers.
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.
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.
GoFundMe doesn’t cost anything to set up and use—but donors pay a 2.9% fee plus $0.30 per donation.
Individuals seeking funds for personal causes.
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.
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.
FutureFund is FREE for schools, PTAs, and school groups. Start your fundraiser today!
Get StartedIndiegogo 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.
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.
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.
Professional associations looking to launch projects with clear goals and timelines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives looking for a steady income through direct support from their audience.
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.
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.
Artists, community groups, and nonprofits looking for a risk-free way to raise funds through merchandise sales.
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.
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Create genuine and effective thank-you letters for business donors to your school fundraisers. Use this template from FutureFund to get started, then send it out using our platform’s built-in messaging system.
Create genuine and effective thank-you letters for your school fundraiser’s volunteers. Use this template from FutureFund to get started, then send it out using our platform’s built-in messaging system.
It’s easier than ever for students to sign up for your school fundraiser activities, thanks to this participation waiver form template for schools and PTAs! Download it here, then use the instructions provided to upload it to your FutureFund campaigns.
