One of the many things we love about WordPress is all the plugins that are available. There are some truly powerful plugins that expand the functionality of your site, including the donation process. However, when there are so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to determine what will work and what is a waste of time (and money) for your nonprofit.
That is why we tested, reviewed, and rated the top fundraising plugins on WordPress in 2022.
Before we dive into our analysis, what makes a good fundraising plugin anyways?
We looked at six important qualities that will help you determine if it is a good fit.
GiveWP
GiveWP one of the most popular fundraising plugins on WordPress. While the free version is pretty robust, upgrading to the paid version opens up so many more possibilities. One unique feature it offers is the ability to export reports, which not enough plugins do.
GiveWP Summary
This is a solid fundraising plugin for most nonprofits. While the free version would work for very small nonprofits, it would limit what a larger nonprofit could do. But by regularly upgrading, it could grow with your nonprofit.
Charitable
Charitable gets a lot of recognition for being more advanced. It offers many payment options (including offline options), unlimited campaigns and even crowdfunding, once you get to a certain tier. And while it is one of the few that doesn’t have a free version or a free trial, the first tier paid version isn’t too expensive.
Charitable Summary
Charitable’s fundraising plugin works great as an a la carte tool. Each extension will cost extra and the different tiers unlock additional capabilities. If you go into it knowing what you want out of it, Charitable is very effective. But if you’re hoping to do A/B testing or experiment outside of the box, those add-ons will add up.
PayPal Donations
Everyone knows PayPal. It has brand recognition as being a trusted method of sending money, donations included. This plugin allows people to easily donate with confidence.
PayPal Donations Summary
PayPal Donations gets the job done for a small nonprofit or an organization hosting a one-off fundraising event. It is strong in its simplicity, but it is not powerful enough for a growing or large nonprofit.
Seamless Donations
Seamless Donations is another a la carte style fundraising plugin. The basic free version accepts donations and even allows for recurring donations. Additional features are available at an additional cost.
Seamless Donations Summary
Seamless Donations offers some fun options, like highlighting the top donors, but it lacks the customization that a large nonprofit would require, or one working to build brand recognition.
Donorbox
Donorbox is different from the rest of the plugins we are reviewing. First, it isn’t just made for WordPress. It can be used on many other platforms. It is also the only one that is focused on recurring donations as opposed to adding it as a feature.
Donorbox Summary
Donorbox wants nonprofits to raise the most money they can because, while the plugin is entirely free, they take a percentage once the nonprofit starts raising above $1,000 per month. This plugin would be ideal for an organization that wants to take a slightly more passive route to fundraising – allowing Donorbox to do what it does best.
ClassyPress
Classy is the tool to use for fundraising. Over 4,000 nonprofits are already using it on their websites, and for good reason. ClassyPress is the corresponding plugin that allows you to take it to the next level.
ClassyPress Summary
ClassyPress understands that fundraising is often about connection and building relationships. That is why the fun features – like leaderboards, progress stats, and activity feeds – do more than just raise money. They offer the donor the opportunity to interact with the cause. If you are a nonprofit that already uses Classy, this plugin will certainly elevate your fundraising efforts and your website.
What now?
While every part of your website deserves detailed attention, fundraising plugins can make or break your fundraising goals. Mittun works exclusively with nonprofits, food banks and mission-based organizations, and stays on top of trends and stays involved in the changing landscape of the industry. That is how we can ensure ClassyPress is always being updated with what you need to do the most good in the world.
As we learn and grow, we are all about sharing our resources with you. Explore our blog and ask us questions. And reach out. We offer enterprise website solutions for food banks and nonprofits – marketing, design, ad management, website management and more.
We’ve got you covered.
Which fundraising plugin works best for your needs?
Contact Mittun for a free assessment today.