Zeffy for Nonprofits: 100% Free Fundraising Platform
Tired of watching 3-5% of every donation disappear into platform and transaction fees? Zeffy is the only fundraising platform that lets nonprofits keep 100% of what they raise—with no platform fees, no transaction fees, and no monthly subscriptions. Over 70,000 nonprofits have raised $2 billion through Zeffy while saving over $50 million in fees they would have paid elsewhere. Get donation forms, event ticketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, and a built-in CRM—all completely free.
What It Does
Frustrated by fundraising platforms that take a cut of every dollar your donors give? Wondering why your organization has to choose between paying platform fees or asking donors to cover them?
Zeffy eliminates that choice entirely. It's the only fundraising platform where nonprofits keep 100% of every donation—no platform fees, no transaction fees, no hidden costs. Whether someone gives $10 or $10,000, your organization receives the full amount.
How does Zeffy sustain itself? Through optional tips from donors. When someone donates through your Zeffy form, they see a prompt suggesting they support Zeffy's mission to keep nonprofits fee-free. About 2 out of 3 donors choose to contribute, but it's entirely voluntary—donors can set it to $0, and your nonprofit still gets 100% of their gift.
Beyond donation forms, Zeffy provides an all-in-one fundraising toolkit: event ticketing with door scanning, peer-to-peer campaigns with leaderboards, online auctions, membership management, an online store, and a built-in donor CRM with email capabilities. With 70,000+ nonprofits having raised over $2 billion on the platform, Zeffy has proven that fee-free fundraising works at scale.
Best For
Organization Size
- Small nonprofits and grassroots organizations with tight budgets
- Mid-sized nonprofits wanting to eliminate fee overhead
- Churches, schools, and community groups
Best Use Cases
- Organizations where every dollar matters and fees cut into impact
- Nonprofits running events, galas, and ticketed fundraisers
- Teams launching peer-to-peer or membership campaigns
- Organizations that value donor transparency (100% goes to cause)
Ideal For
- Executive Directors at small nonprofits wearing multiple hats
- Development Directors managing donor relationships
- Event coordinators organizing fundraising events
Key Features for Nonprofits
Donation Forms
Customizable giving experiences with zero fees
- One-time and recurring donations: Set up monthly, quarterly, or annual giving programs with auto-renewal
- Multiple payment methods: Accept credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH bank transfers
- Customizable branding: Match forms to your organization's look and feel
- Automatic tax receipts: Donors receive instant receipts for their records
Event Ticketing & Management
Professional event management without ticketing fees
- E-ticket generation: Automatic ticket delivery with QR codes for easy check-in
- Door scanning app: Check in attendees quickly with mobile scanning
- Multiple ticket types: Create VIP, early bird, and general admission tiers
- Attendee management: Track RSVPs and manage guest lists in one place
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Empower supporters to fundraise on your behalf
- Personal fundraising pages: Supporters create their own branded pages to share
- Leaderboards: Gamify fundraising with real-time progress tracking
- Team campaigns: Allow groups to fundraise together toward shared goals
- Social sharing: Easy sharing to social media to expand reach
Auctions, Raffles & More
Comprehensive fundraising toolkit beyond donations
- Online auctions: Real-time bidding with automated payment collection
- Raffles and lotteries: Ticket bundles and participant tracking for prize drawings
- Membership management: Tiered subscriptions with auto-renewal and member perks
- Online store: Sell merchandise with inventory management and discount codes
Built-in Donor CRM
Manage donor relationships without separate software
- Centralized donor database: All donation and event data synced automatically
- Giving history tracking: See complete donor history at a glance
- Segmentation: Group donors by giving level, interests, or engagement
- Email communications: Send newsletters, thank-you messages, and updates directly from Zeffy
How the "100% Free" Model Works
Zeffy's fee-free model is genuinely unique in the fundraising space. Here's exactly how it works and why it's sustainable:
The Donor Tip Model
When a donor gives through your Zeffy form, they see an optional prompt to support Zeffy's mission. The default suggestion is 17% for donations under $100 and 15% for larger gifts—but donors can change this to any amount or $0.
Key point: If a donor opts out, your nonprofit still receives 100% of their donation. The tip is between the donor and Zeffy—it doesn't affect what you receive.
Why It's Sustainable
On average, 2 out of 3 donors leave a tip to Zeffy. Not everyone tips every time, and that's okay—enough donors contribute to cover Zeffy's operating costs.
This model has worked for 7+ years, serving 70,000+ nonprofits who've raised $2 billion without paying fees. The math works because donors like knowing their full gift goes to the cause.
Potential Donor Confusion
Some nonprofits report that the tip prompt can confuse donors who think it's a required fee. If this concerns you, consider adding a note to your donation page explaining that the Zeffy contribution is optional. Most donors understand once it's explained, and many appreciate that Zeffy keeps nonprofits fee-free.
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A regional youth mentoring organization with a $200,000 annual fundraising budget was losing nearly $8,000 per year to platform and transaction fees. They ran two annual galas, a peer-to-peer campaign, and monthly giving—each with its own fee structure eating into donations.
After switching to Zeffy, they consolidated all fundraising onto one platform and eliminated fees entirely. Their gala ticket sales, silent auctions, and donation forms all fed into the same donor CRM. In the first year, they kept the full $200,000 instead of losing $8,000 to fees—funds that directly supported three additional mentoring matches.
The development director noted that about 60% of their donors chose to leave a tip to Zeffy, but the organization never had to ask donors to cover fees or absorb them from their budget. Monthly donors especially appreciated knowing every dollar went directly to mentoring youth.
Pricing
100% Free for Nonprofits
No platform fees. No transaction fees. No monthly subscriptions. Ever.
What's Included (Free):
- Unlimited donation forms
- Event ticketing and management
- Peer-to-peer campaigns
- Online auctions and raffles
- Membership management
Also Included:
- Online store functionality
- Built-in donor CRM
- Email and newsletter tools
- Tap to Pay mobile app
- Reporting and analytics
There are no premium tiers. Every Zeffy feature is available to every nonprofit for free. You don't need to upgrade, pay more for advanced features, or hit a certain fundraising threshold.
Payment processing: Credit card fees are covered by Zeffy. Donors have the option to tip Zeffy, but whether they do or not, your nonprofit receives 100% of the donation amount.
Note: Zeffy is available primarily in North America (US and Canada). Availability may vary by region.
Learning Curve
Zeffy is designed for nonprofit teams without dedicated technical staff. The interface is intuitive, and most users can create their first campaign within an hour of signing up.
Time to First Value
- Initial setup: 30-60 minutes (create account, customize branding)
- First donation form: 15-30 minutes
- First event: 30-45 minutes
- Full proficiency: 1-2 weeks of regular use
Support Available
- Responsive email support (praised in reviews)
- Comprehensive help documentation
- Video tutorials and guides
Integration & Compatibility
Connects With (via Zapier)
- Email platforms: Mailchimp, Brevo (Sendinblue), Constant Contact
- Spreadsheets: Google Sheets, Airtable
- CRMs: Salesforce, HubSpot (via Zapier middleware)
- 1,000+ apps through Zapier integration
Note: Zapier integration uses a custom invitation link from Zeffy. Zapier offers nonprofit pricing (~$25/month).
Platform Availability
- Web-based: Works in all modern browsers
- Mobile app: Tap to Pay for in-person donations
- Geographic availability: Primarily North America (US and Canada)
Integration Limitation
Zeffy does not have a native API, so direct integrations with enterprise CRMs like Salesforce require Zapier as middleware. For organizations with complex integration needs or existing Salesforce workflows, platforms like Donorbox offer native Salesforce integration (though with platform fees).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Truly 100% free: No platform fees, no transaction fees, no monthly costs—unprecedented in the industry
- Comprehensive toolkit: Donations, events, P2P, auctions, memberships, and CRM all in one platform
- Donor transparency: Supporters know 100% goes to your cause, which can increase giving
- Intuitive interface: Non-technical staff can launch campaigns in minutes
- Responsive support: Highly rated customer service (4.8/5 across review platforms)
- Proven at scale: 70,000+ nonprofits, $2B+ raised, 7+ years in operation
Cons
- Donor tip confusion: Some donors may be confused by the optional tip prompt
- Limited payout options: Bank payouts only on Mondays or monthly (no daily/weekly flexibility)
- No native API: Advanced integrations require Zapier middleware
- Geographic restrictions: Primarily serves North America (US and Canada)
- Limited form customization: Less design flexibility than some premium platforms
- Basic CRM: May not meet complex donor management needs of large organizations
Alternatives to Consider
If Zeffy doesn't feel like the right fit, here are alternatives worth exploring:
Donorbox
If you need more payment options (22+ including cryptocurrency), AI-powered features (Jay·AI), or native Salesforce integration, Donorbox offers a more feature-rich platform. However, it has platform fees (2.95% on free plan, lower on paid plans). Best for organizations prioritizing payment flexibility and AI capabilities over zero fees.
Key difference: More features and integrations, but with fees | Pricing: Free tier with 2.95% platform fee; Pro from $139/month
Funraise
For organizations wanting AI-powered donation optimization and smart ask amounts, Funraise offers AppealAI content generation and 50% conversion optimization. It's more sophisticated than Zeffy but comes with monthly fees. Best for growth-focused nonprofits willing to pay for AI-driven fundraising tools.
Key difference: AI-powered optimization and content generation | Pricing: Free tier available; Premium from $99/month
CauseVox
Another platform with a free tier (0% platform fees on basic plan), CauseVox offers peer-to-peer campaigns, event ticketing, and a more polished design experience. It's a middle ground between Zeffy's simplicity and enterprise platforms. Best for organizations wanting design flexibility with low/no fees.
Key difference: Better design customization with free tier available | Pricing: Free tier; Paid from $200/month
Why choose Zeffy instead: If your priority is keeping 100% of donations with zero fees and you can work within Zeffy's limitations (North America focus, basic CRM, Zapier-only integrations), no other platform matches its value proposition. The tip model works, and 70,000+ nonprofits prove it's sustainable.
Getting Started
Create Your Free Account (15 minutes)
Visit zeffy.com and sign up with your nonprofit's information. You'll need your organization name, EIN/charity number, and bank details for payouts. No credit card required—it's genuinely free.
Customize Your Branding (30 minutes)
Upload your logo, set your organization colors, and customize the look of your donation pages. This branding carries across all your campaigns—donations, events, memberships, and more.
Launch Your First Campaign (30 minutes)
Start with a simple donation form. Set suggested amounts, add a compelling description, and enable recurring giving. Test it yourself, then share with your board or a small group before going live.
Explore Additional Features (ongoing)
Once your donation form is live, explore event ticketing for your next gala, set up a peer-to-peer campaign, or create a membership program. All features are available from day one—no upgrades needed.
Need Help with Implementation?
While Zeffy is designed to be self-service, setting up a comprehensive fundraising strategy—migrating from another platform, integrating with your existing tools, or training your team—can take time you don't have. We can help you get up and running faster.
Get Implementation SupportFrequently Asked Questions
Is Zeffy really 100% free for nonprofits?
Yes, Zeffy is completely free for nonprofits with no platform fees, no transaction fees, and no monthly subscriptions. Nonprofits keep 100% of every donation. Zeffy sustains itself through optional tips from donors—about 2 out of 3 donors choose to contribute to Zeffy, but it's entirely voluntary. If a donor opts out, the nonprofit still receives the full donation amount.
How does Zeffy make money if it's free for nonprofits?
Zeffy's business model relies on voluntary contributions from donors. When someone donates through your Zeffy form, they see an optional prompt to support Zeffy (defaulting to 17% for donations up to $99.49 and 15% for larger donations). Donors can reduce this to any amount or $0. On average, 2 out of 3 donors leave a tip, which covers Zeffy's operating costs. This model has proven sustainable—Zeffy has served nonprofits for over 7 years.
What features does Zeffy include for free?
Zeffy's free platform includes: customizable donation forms (one-time and recurring), event ticketing with e-tickets and door scanning, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, online auctions with real-time bidding, membership management with auto-renewal, an online store, built-in donor CRM with email tools, Tap to Pay mobile app for in-person donations, and real-time reporting and analytics. There are no premium tiers—all features are included for free.
Does Zeffy integrate with other tools like Salesforce or Mailchimp?
Zeffy integrates with 1,000+ apps through Zapier, including Mailchimp, Brevo (Sendinblue), and other email platforms. However, Zeffy does not have a native API, so direct integrations with CRMs like Salesforce require using Zapier as middleware. For nonprofits with basic needs, Zeffy's built-in CRM and email tools may be sufficient without external integrations.
What are the limitations of using Zeffy?
Zeffy has some limitations: it's primarily available in North America, bank payouts are limited to weekly (Mondays) or monthly, there's no native API (Zapier only), limited form customization compared to premium platforms, no text-to-give functionality, and the donor tip prompt can occasionally confuse donors. For organizations needing advanced CRM capabilities, cryptocurrency donations, or more payment method variety, alternatives like Donorbox may be more suitable.
Is Zeffy good for small nonprofits?
Zeffy is excellent for small nonprofits and grassroots organizations. The completely free pricing eliminates financial barriers, the intuitive interface requires no technical expertise, and campaigns can be launched in minutes. Organizations of any size—from startup charities to established nonprofits—benefit from keeping 100% of donations. Over 70,000 nonprofits use Zeffy, with many reporting significant savings (e.g., Kids Cancer Care saved $195,000 in fees).