Give Lively for Nonprofits
100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits with no platform fees, no subscriptions, no hidden costs. Founded and funded by philanthropists committed to supporting the nonprofit sector.
What It Does
Give Lively is a comprehensive online fundraising platform designed specifically for nonprofits, with a unique business model that makes it completely free to use. Founded in 2015 by philanthropists committed to the nonprofit sector, Give Lively eliminates the financial barriers that often prevent smaller organizations from accessing professional fundraising technology.
The platform solves a critical problem: traditional fundraising platforms typically charge 3-8% in platform fees on top of payment processing fees, which can cost nonprofits thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Give Lively removes this burden by charging no setup fees, no platform fees, no subscriptions, and no hidden costs—allowing nonprofits to keep 100% of donations (minus standard payment processor fees that everyone pays regardless of platform).
Unlike donor-tip-funded platforms, Give Lively's operating costs are covered by its founders' philanthropic commitment, ensuring the platform remains free without relying heavily on donors opting to pay additional fees. Since 2015, Give Lively has helped over 9,000 nonprofits raise $1.4 billion while saving them more than $130 million in technology fees.
Best For
Organization Size
Small to mid-sized nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and startups looking to eliminate technology costs while accessing professional fundraising tools.
Use Cases
- Online donation campaigns
- Fundraising events with ticketing
- Peer-to-peer campaigns
- Mobile giving (text-to-donate)
Ideal Roles
Development directors, fundraising coordinators, executive directors, and volunteer fundraising teams who need powerful yet affordable technology.
Key Features for Nonprofits
Donation Tools
Flexible giving options for every donor
- Customizable donation pages and embeddable widgets
- One-time, recurring, and offline donation tracking
- Anonymous giving and dedications
- Multiple payment methods (cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Mobile & Text Giving
Modern mobile-first donation experience
- Text-to-donate for instant mobile giving
- Mobile-optimized donation pages
- Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Responsive design for all devices
Event Fundraising
Complete event management toolkit
- Event ticketing with multiple ticket tiers
- Live donation displays for events
- Text-to-donate integration during live events
- Sponsorship and table management
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Empower supporters to fundraise for you
- Personal fundraising pages for supporters
- Team fundraising with leaderboards
- Social sharing tools
- Gamification with progress tracking
Analytics & Data
Comprehensive donor insights
- Real-time fundraising analytics
- Comprehensive donor data tracking
- On-demand CSV data exports
- Campaign performance reporting
Integrations
Connect with your existing tools
- Native Salesforce integration
- Zapier connection to 1,000+ apps
- Double the Donation for matching gifts
- PayPal integration
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A small environmental justice nonprofit with an annual budget of $150,000 was paying approximately $4,500 per year (3% of donations) in platform fees to their existing fundraising provider. As a growing organization, these fees represented a significant portion of their administrative budget—money that could have been directed toward programs.
After discovering Give Lively, the organization applied for membership and was approved within two business days due to their alignment with Give Lively's values (environmental justice). They migrated their donation page, set up text-to-donate for their annual benefit event, and created peer-to-peer fundraising pages for their volunteer ambassadors.
The transition was smooth—their development director completed the setup in one afternoon using Give Lively's intuitive interface. They connected their existing Salesforce CRM through Zapier to automatically sync donor data, eliminating manual data entry. During their annual fundraising gala, they used Give Lively's live donation display and text-to-donate feature, which generated 40% more donations than the previous year due to the ease of mobile giving.
In their first year with Give Lively, the nonprofit raised $156,000 through the platform and saved $4,680 in platform fees—money they redirected toward hiring a part-time program coordinator. The responsive support team answered their questions within hours, and the transparent analytics helped them better understand donor behavior and optimize their campaigns. They particularly appreciated that Give Lively's founders are philanthropically committed to keeping the platform free, giving them confidence in long-term stability.
Pricing
100% Free for Nonprofits
No setup fees, no platform fees, no subscriptions, no hidden costs
What's Included (All Free):
- Unlimited donation pages, campaigns, and forms
- Text-to-donate mobile giving
- Peer-to-peer fundraising with teams
- Event ticketing and live displays
- Real-time analytics and data exports
- CRM integrations (Salesforce, Zapier)
- Live chat and email support
Payment Processing Fees (Required by Payment Processors)
- Stripe: 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction (nonprofit rate)
- PayPal: 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction (nonprofit rate)
These are third-party fees charged by payment processors, not Give Lively. Every fundraising platform (including paid ones) has these fees.
How Give Lively Sustains Itself
Give Lively is funded by its philanthropist founders who are committed to supporting the nonprofit sector long-term. The platform also includes an optional donor tip feature, but unlike other platforms, tips are voluntary and unobtrusive—Give Lively does not rely on tips as its primary revenue model.
This philanthropic funding model ensures Give Lively remains free for nonprofits indefinitely, without dependency on donor-funded tips.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Program: 100% Free
Completely free for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits that align with Give Lively's values
Give Lively provides its complete platform at no cost to nonprofits. There are no setup fees, no platform fees, no subscriptions, no monthly charges, and no hidden costs. Nonprofits keep 100% of donations minus standard payment processor fees (which everyone pays regardless of platform).
To Apply for Give Lively:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (or equivalent in your country)
- Align with Give Lively's values: gender equality, reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and progressive social causes
- Complete the online application at givelively.org
- Give Lively reviews applications to ensure values alignment (typically approved within 2 business days)
Important: Give Lively is values-aligned and screens applications to ensure nonprofits support progressive causes. Organizations that do not align with these values may not be approved. If your organization focuses on different causes, consider alternatives like Zeffy or Donorbox.
Learning Curve
Beginner-Friendly
Intuitive interface with same-business-day support
Give Lively is designed for ease of use, with an intuitive interface that requires no technical expertise. Most users can create their first donation page within 30 minutes. The platform provides helpful tooltips, guided setup wizards, and comprehensive help documentation.
Time to Proficiency:
- Basic setup (donation page): 30-60 minutes
- Event fundraising: 1-2 hours to learn all features
- Peer-to-peer campaigns: 2-3 hours including training supporters
- Full platform mastery: 1-2 weeks of regular use
Learning Resources:
- Comprehensive knowledge base with step-by-step guides
- Video tutorials for common tasks
- Live chat support with same-business-day response (often faster)
- Email support for more complex questions
- AI chatbot for quick answers
Integration & Compatibility
Native Integrations
- Salesforce: Direct CRM integration for automatic data sync
- Zapier: Connect to 1,000+ apps including Mailchimp, HubSpot, Blackbaud, Bloomerang
- PayPal: Accept PayPal payments directly
- Double the Donation: Corporate matching gift automation
Payment Methods
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
- Bank transfers (ACH)
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Data Portability
Give Lively provides full data ownership and portability. You can export all donor data, transaction history, and campaign information anytime via CSV files. There are no data lock-in concerns—you always maintain access to your data.
- On-demand CSV exports (donor data, transactions, campaign reports)
- No export fees or restrictions
- Complete migration support if you decide to switch platforms
Platform Compatibility
- Web-based (works in any modern browser)
- Mobile-responsive donation pages (iOS, Android)
- Embeddable widgets for WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc.
- Text-to-donate via SMS (works on all mobile carriers)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Truly free: No platform fees, no subscriptions, no hidden costs—funded by philanthropists, not donor tips
- Comprehensive features: Donation pages, text-to-donate, P2P, event ticketing—all included
- Strong CRM integrations: Native Salesforce integration plus Zapier for 1,000+ apps
- Responsive support: Same-business-day response times (often faster, including weekends)
- User-friendly: Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Data privacy: Explicit commitment to never sell, rent, or lease donor data
- Proven impact: $1.4B raised, $130M+ saved for 9,000+ nonprofits since 2015
Cons
- Values-aligned screening: Not all nonprofits will be approved—platform focuses on progressive causes
- Support delays: Some users report slower response times for complex technical issues
- Event feature limitations: Occasional challenges with live displays and text-to-donate during events
- No CNAME functionality: Cannot use custom domains (yoursite.com) for donation pages
- Fewer advanced features: Lacks auctions, online stores, and membership management (available in Zeffy)
- Limited customization: Donation page design options are more limited than enterprise platforms
Alternatives to Consider
Zeffy
100% free fundraising platform with broader nonprofit eligibility and more features
Zeffy is another 100% free platform but uses a different business model (donor tips). It includes more fundraising tools like auctions, online stores, and membership management. Zeffy serves all registered nonprofits without values-based screening, making it a good alternative if your organization doesn't align with Give Lively's focus areas. However, Zeffy relies more heavily on donor tips (15-17% suggested) to sustain operations.
Learn More About ZeffyDonorbox
Affordable fundraising with powerful features and international support
Donorbox offers a free tier plus affordable paid plans starting at $139/month. It includes AI-powered features, cryptocurrency donations, text-to-give, and broader international payment support. Donorbox serves nonprofits of all types without values-based screening. Consider Donorbox if you need advanced features like crypto donations, more payment method variety, or international fundraising beyond North America.
Learn More About DonorboxClassy
Enterprise fundraising platform with advanced features (acquired by GoFundMe)
Classy (now part of GoFundMe) is an enterprise-grade fundraising platform with sophisticated campaign management, advanced analytics, and extensive customization. Pricing starts higher than free platforms but includes enterprise support, white-label branding, and advanced automation. Consider Classy if you're a larger nonprofit needing enterprise features, advanced customization, or dedicated account management.
Learn More About ClassyGetting Started
Verify Eligibility and Apply
Visit givelively.org and review Give Lively's values to ensure alignment (gender equality, reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, progressive causes). Complete the online application with your 501(c)(3) information. Give Lively typically reviews applications within 2 business days.
Set Up Your First Donation Page
Once approved, log into your Give Lively account and use the guided setup wizard to create your first donation page. Customize the page with your branding, compelling copy, and impact photos. Set up recurring giving options and suggested donation amounts. Test the page with a small test donation to ensure everything works correctly.
Connect Your CRM (Optional but Recommended)
If you use Salesforce, set up the native integration to automatically sync donor data. If you use another CRM (Blackbaud, Bloomerang, HubSpot, etc.), connect via Zapier to automate data flow. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures donor information is always up-to-date in your CRM. Also connect Double the Donation if you want to capture matching gifts.
Launch and Promote Your Campaign
Embed your donation page on your website, share the direct link via email and social media, and set up text-to-donate for mobile giving. Train your board members and volunteers on how to use peer-to-peer fundraising features if applicable. Monitor analytics in real-time to track campaign performance and optimize your messaging.
Need Help Getting Started?
Give Lively provides live chat and email support with same-business-day response times. If you need more personalized assistance with setup, campaign strategy, or migration from another platform, contact One Hundred Nights for expert consulting.
Need Help with Implementation?
Get expert guidance on setting up and optimizing Give Lively for your nonprofit
While Give Lively is user-friendly, implementing it strategically—connecting integrations, training staff, optimizing campaigns, and building a comprehensive fundraising strategy—can be challenging. One Hundred Nights offers personalized consulting to help nonprofits maximize their fundraising technology investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Give Lively really 100% free for nonprofits?
Yes, Give Lively is completely free for nonprofits with no setup fees, no platform fees, no subscriptions, and no hidden costs. Nonprofits keep 100% of donations minus standard payment processing fees (Stripe: 2.2% + $0.30, PayPal: 1.99% + $0.49). Give Lively sustains itself through philanthropic funding from its founders, who are committed to supporting the nonprofit sector long-term.
How does Give Lively make money if it's free?
Give Lively is funded by its philanthropist founders who cover operating costs. The platform also includes an optional donor tip feature, but unlike other platforms, tips are voluntary and unobtrusive. The founders' philanthropic commitment ensures the platform remains free for nonprofits indefinitely.
What features does Give Lively include for free?
Give Lively's free platform includes:
- Customizable donation pages and widgets
- Text-to-donate mobile giving
- Peer-to-peer fundraising with teams and leaderboards
- Event ticketing with live donation displays
- Recurring donation management
- Real-time analytics and on-demand data exports
- CRM integrations with Salesforce and Zapier
- Live chat and email support
Does Give Lively integrate with my existing CRM?
Give Lively integrates directly with Salesforce and connects to 1,000+ apps through Zapier (including other CRMs like Blackbaud, HubSpot, and Bloomerang). You can also download comprehensive CSV data exports anytime for manual imports. The platform includes Double the Donation integration for matching gift programs.
What are the limitations of using Give Lively?
Give Lively has some limitations: the platform screens organizations for values alignment (progressive causes like gender equality, reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice), which means not all nonprofits will be approved. Some users report slower technical support response times for complex issues and occasional challenges with event-related features. The platform also lacks CNAME functionality for custom domains.
Is Give Lively suitable for small nonprofits?
Yes, Give Lively is excellent for small nonprofits and grassroots organizations. The completely free pricing eliminates financial barriers, the intuitive interface requires no technical expertise, and all nonprofits receive identical feature access regardless of size. Over 9,000 nonprofits use Give Lively, having collectively raised $1.4 billion and saved over $130 million in technology fees since 2015.
How does Give Lively compare to Zeffy?
Both Give Lively and Zeffy are 100% free fundraising platforms, but they have different business models. Give Lively is funded by philanthropist founders, while Zeffy relies on voluntary donor tips (averaging 15-17% of donations). Give Lively focuses on values-aligned nonprofits and progressive causes, while Zeffy serves all registered nonprofits. Give Lively offers stronger CRM integrations (Salesforce native), while Zeffy provides more fundraising features (auctions, online stores, memberships).
Ready to Start Fundraising for Free?
Join 9,000+ nonprofits using Give Lively to raise money without platform fees. Get started today and keep 100% of your donations.