What's on Your List?

Things you should look for when choosing a vendor partner

There is no shortage of options when it comes to fundraising and donor management software. As online fundraising has been a growing technology for some time, an overlap in some basic features is expected.

As a result, it can be hard to determine what platform and services will best support you and your team as you work tirelessly for your mission. You deserve not only the tools to inspire and engage your donors, but also a partner that is invested in your future success.

Use this buyer’s guide for tips on what to look for and questions you need to ask as you evaluate your fundraising and donor management platform options.

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Ease of Use

We know you are powered by creative, hard-working fundraisers and inspiring volunteers. You’re funded by dedicated supporters.

It shouldn’t feel like you need an advanced degree to set up an on-brand fundraising campaign. Your donors should be able to give with ease. Give everyone the user experience they deserve with a modern platform.

Here are a few things you should look for when searching for the right solution:

Easily customizable online donation forms, that can be fully embedded directly onto your website
Displays that wow with minimum set-up time
Customizable colors and malleable design blocks on fundraising webpages
Unique keywords and pre-loaded templates for text-to-donate campaigns, that make it easier to get started
Single sign-on for access to all your fundraising (peer-to-peer, annual campaigns, auctions, and more) and donor management
Engaging auctions where users can bid from anywhere
Real-time progress thermometers and leaderboards to increase engagement and inspire giving
Options for your donors to make and share ‘in honor of’ gifts
Learning library, personal training options, and support that fuel your success

A Good Relationship

Some vendors require you to contract separately with their credit card processing vendor and a separate auction provider, in addition to their fundraising platform. Your CRM, in this instance, is likely its own set of administrative work, too. That is multiple demos, contracts, reviews with legal, contacts, payments, and wasted time.

Look for a vendor that streamlines the purchasing and set up processes. As a partner in your success, the vendor you choose should make things easier for you, not harder.

With GiveSmart, all of that is centralized into one contract, contact, support team, and bill. One. And, you can actually get someone on the phone or via chat, morning, noon, and night.

Give yourself easy and modern, from demo to event day with GiveSmart.

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You don’t have to stick with the same old system or systems that might be holding you back.

Regular Innovation and Development

Some fundraising and donor management providers make only annual bi-annual updates. How innovative can you be if you’re only introducing new features every six months?

GiveSmart makes updates bi-monthly, adding improvements and innovation regularly for your mission.

Access from Anywhere

Look for a tool that is securely hosted in the cloud. Nonprofit staff are always on the move, and you deserve tools that you can use from anywhere on any device.

You shouldn’t have to download an app to get your work done, and your donors shouldn't have to either. Cloud-based software does more for your future growth and stability.

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People Who are Your Partners

As you evaluate fundraising systems, don’t discount the people who power the solution.

Your organization should look for the best pre-event training, Help Center, day-to-day consultation, customer support, and day-of-event support person.

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