Top 7 PayPal Alternatives for Alumni Groups (2026)

Most alumni associations run on volunteer boards that rotate every few years, tight budgets where every dollar counts toward scholarships, and a patchwork of tools that don't talk to each other. This guide breaks down the platforms that can replace PayPal for collecting dues, managing reunions, and running class campaigns—with a clear look at what each one actually costs and which features matter most when you're juggling multiple roles with limited time.

Reasons We Win

• Zero fees: You keep every dollar you raise
• All-in-one: Dues, events, and donations in a single dashboard
• Low setup: Get started in minutes, no technical background needed
• Mobile-first and QR code support: Collect payments and check in attendees with your phone—works on Android and iOS
• No monthly or hidden charges: 100% free, always

Table of Contents

1. Why Alumni Groups Seek PayPal Alternatives
2. How Zeffy Solves What PayPal Can't for Alumni Associations
3. Best PayPal Alternatives for Alumni Groups
4. PayPal Alternatives for Alumni Groups Compared
5. How to Choose a PayPal Alternative for Alumni Dues and Events
6. Cost Comparison: How Much Do PayPal Alternatives Really Cost Alumni Groups?
7. Which PayPal Alternative Should Alumni Groups Use?
8. Frequently Asked Questions

Why Alumni Groups Seek PayPal Alternatives

PayPal works for basic transactions, but it wasn't built for the way alumni groups actually fundraise. You're collecting annual dues from 200 members, selling reunion tickets, running class gift campaigns, and tracking engagement across graduating years—all while volunteer board members rotate in and out.

The problem isn't just fees. You're manually tracking who paid dues in spreadsheets, copying donor information between systems, and missing features like class year segmentation or automated reunion reminders. Every transaction chips away at scholarship funds, and there's no easy way to run a class giving competition or see who's engaged over multiple years.

Here's what those fees actually cost for a typical alumni group collecting $20,000 in annual dues:

That $496 could fund half a scholarship. Add reunion tickets and class gifts, and you're losing over $1,000 annually to a platform that doesn't provide the alumni-specific tools you need.

What drives alumni groups away from PayPal:

• Transaction fees eating scholarships: Every donation loses 1.99% + $0.49 (nonprofit rate) or 2.89% + $0.49 (business accounts)
• No alumni features: Missing membership tracking, class year segmentation, and reunion tools
• Manual reconciliation: Exporting transactions to spreadsheets, then matching to your alumni database
• Poor donor experience: No automatic tax receipts, confusing checkout, mobile friction

How Zeffy Solves What PayPal Can't for Alumni Associations

We know running an alumni association means wearing many hats, often with little time and less budget. Zeffy is designed for you. It's the only zero-fee platform built for the full alumni engagement lifecycle—annual dues, reunion galas, capital campaigns, and more. You don’t have to worry about fees eating into your scholarships or programs.

Instead of juggling five different tools, Zeffy gives you everything in one place: membership management with class year tracking, event ticketing for reunions, automated tax receipts, and a donor database that any volunteer board member can use with confidence.

Here’s how Zeffy makes your life easier:

• Zero-fee guarantee: No platform fees, no transaction fees, no monthly fees. Every dollar raised goes straight to your mission. Learn how Zeffy stays free.
• Alumni-specific tools: Track members by class year, set up recurring annual dues, and run class giving competitions—all from your dashboard.
• All-in-one simplicity: Replace PayPal, Eventbrite, spreadsheets, and email tools with a unified platform.
• Mobile-first for volunteers: QR codes for event check-in, Tap to Pay for in-person donations at homecoming, and optimized for Android and iOS so you can manage on the go.

Unlike PayPal, which only handles basic payments and charges 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction, Zeffy gives you integrated events and memberships, automatic reporting, and a zero-fee experience. You save, on average, over $1,000 a year—enough for at least one full scholarship.

Want a closer look? See our Zeffy vs PayPal breakdown and discover how much your alumni association could redirect to students.

"With Zeffy, 100% of our funds raised online or in person via credit cards makes it easier for us to support our district more." — Chastity Townsend, Dearborn Educational Foundation

Best PayPal Alternatives for Alumni Groups

These 11 platforms offer solutions ranging from simple payment processing to full engagement suites. Only Zeffy eliminates fees entirely while providing alumni-specific features.

PayPal Alternatives for Alumni Groups Compared

*1.99% + $0.49 for registered 501(c)(3) charities; 2.89% + $0.49 for business accounts

1. Zeffy — Zero-Fee All-in-One Platform for Alumni Programs

Zeffy brings together membership management, event ticketing, and donation processing—all with zero fees. It’s powered entirely by optional donor tips, so you never pay out of your scholarship funds. For alumni groups watching every dollar, Zeffy is built to help you keep more for your mission.

Zeffy provides a unified dashboard for managing alumni dues, events, and donations without fees.

What you get:

• Zero platform and transaction fees: Saves $2,000+ annually for typical alumni groups
• Built-in membership management: Class year tracking and automated renewal reminders
• Event ticketing: Reunions and galas with reserved seating and QR check-in - Learn more about ticketing features
• Automated tax receipts: Donor acknowledgments sent immediately
• Mobile check-in and Tap to Pay: For homecoming events and in-person giving, fully optimized for Android and iOS

"Switching to Zeffy helped us save over $4,000 last year—enough to fund four additional scholarships for our alumni program." — Alex Chen, Toronto Alumni Network

"We love that Zeffy is easy enough for our rotating board to pick up quickly. The QR code check-in at our spring reunion saved us at least 8 hours of manual entry." — Jamie Lee, Carleton College Alumni Association

2. Stripe — Developer-Friendly Payment Processing

Stripe offers robust payment infrastructure with extensive API capabilities. It's ideal for alumni associations with technical resources to build custom solutions. If you have a developer on your board or staff who can integrate payment processing into your existing website, Stripe provides the flexibility to create exactly what you need.

Stripe provides robust tools for developers, though setting it up often requires technical expertise.

See how Zeffy compares to Stripe

What you get:

• 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (no monthly fees)
• Powerful API: Custom integrations with your alumni database
• Recurring billing: Annual dues with smart retry logic
• Global payment support: For international alumni
• Requires technical setup and ongoing maintenance

Compare Zeffy vs Stripe to see which platform maximizes your scholarship funds without requiring technical expertise.

3. Donorbox — Simple Donation Forms for Websites

Donorbox specializes in embeddable donation forms that integrate with existing alumni websites. It lacks event and membership features. If you already have a website and just need to add donation capability, Donorbox makes that straightforward.

What you get:

• 1.75% platform fee + 2.9% processing: 4.65% total unless donors cover fees
• Website embedding: Seamless integration with your alumni site
• Recurring donation options: For annual fund campaigns
• Multi-currency support: For international alumni giving
• No event ticketing or membership management tools

Donorbox provides embeddable forms for simple donation collection but lacks broader alumni engagement tools.

View our detailed comparison with Donorbox

Our Zeffy vs Donorbox comparison breaks down the platform fee difference for alumni giving campaigns. For a $15,000 annual fund drive, Donorbox's 4.65% fees cost you $697.50 that Zeffy saves.

4. Qgiv — Event and Auction Tools for Galas

Qgiv provides professional event pages and auction capabilities for large reunion galas. Fees can quickly add up for regular use. If your alumni association hosts a major annual gala with silent auctions, Qgiv's mobile bidding tools create an engaging experience.

Qgiv specializes in event and auction management for large galas.

See how Zeffy compares to Qgiv

What you get:

• 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction: Plus monthly fees starting at $0-259+
• Event registration and ticketing: With customizable pages
• Mobile bidding: For silent auctions at reunion galas
• Text-to-give campaigns: For class giving days
• Professional branding options for high-end events

See our Zeffy vs Qgiv comparison to calculate which platform saves more for annual reunion galas. For a 200-person event raising $20,000, Qgiv's fees cost $848 that could fund another scholarship.

5. Donately — Modern Donation Pages

Donately offers clean, modern donation forms with social sharing features. The 4.4% total fees are among the highest. The platform works well for simple class gift campaigns where you want a polished donation page quickly.

What you get:

• 4.4% total fees: Platform + processing combined
• Mobile-optimized forms: Work well on smartphones
• Social media integration: For sharing class campaigns
• Basic recurring donations: For monthly giving programs
• Limited event or membership features

Donately specializes in creating modern, mobile-optimized donation forms.

Read our full Donately comparison

Donately's 4.4% combined fees are among the highest for nonprofit platforms. See our Zeffy vs Donately comparison to understand how much more your alumni group could save with zero-fee fundraising.

6. Square — In-Person Payment Processing

Square excels at in-person payment collection with its POS system. It's useful for reunion check-ins and merchandise sales. If you're selling alumni gear at homecoming or collecting dues at in-person events, Square's card readers make that simple.

What you get:

• 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction: For in-person payments
• Physical card readers: Available for purchase
• Invoice capabilities: For billing annual dues
• Inventory tracking: For alumni merchandise and apparel
• No nonprofit-specific features or tax receipt automation

Both PayPal and Square offer in-person payment options for reunion check-ins and merchandise sales. Compare their nonprofit features and fee structures in our PayPal vs Square comparison.

Read our Zeffy vs Square comparison for in-person reunion ticketing and dues collection. Zeffy's Tap to Pay offers the same convenience without the 2.6% fees.

7. Venmo — Peer-to-Peer for Small Groups

Venmo works for informal, small alumni groups collecting dues or splitting costs. It lacks professional features and tax receipt capabilities. For unofficial class groups just coordinating happy hours or small gatherings, Venmo's social payment features work fine.

What you get:

• 1.9% + $0.10 for business accounts: Personal accounts free but not for organizations
• Social payment feed: Showing who contributed
• Easy peer-to-peer transfers: Familiar to most alumni
• Mobile-first interface: Everyone already uses
• Not suitable for official 501(c)(3) operations or tax-deductible giving

Venmo provides a familiar mobile experience for informal groups but lacks essential nonprofit tools.

Read our full Venmo comparison

Not sure whether to use PayPal or Venmo for class dues? Check our PayPal vs Venmo comparison for nonprofit use cases. For registered alumni foundations, neither provides the tax receipts and donor management you need.

8. Wild Apricot — Membership Management Platform

The Zeffy vs Wild Apricot comparison shows how the dominant membership platform stacks up for associations, including alumni groups. It provides a complete member database with class year tracking, automated renewal reminders, member directory, event registration, website builder, email campaigns, and an online store for merchandise.

What you get:

• $60-$350/month: Based on contact count, plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing
• Complete member database: Custom fields for class year and engagement tracking
• Automated renewal reminders: For annual dues
• Member portal: Where alumni can update their own information
• Website builder: With member-only content areas
• Email marketing: Integrated with your member database

Wild Apricot offers a comprehensive backend for managing member databases and website content.

Read our full Wild Apricot comparison

While Wild Apricot offers comprehensive membership features, the combined monthly and transaction fees significantly impact scholarship funds. Monthly fees alone add $720-$4,200 annually on top of payment processing costs. For alumni groups primarily focused on fundraising rather than a full membership website, platforms like Zeffy provide the essential features without the monthly overhead.

9. Eventbrite — Reunion and Event Ticketing

Eventbrite dominates event ticketing and works well for large reunion events and homecoming gatherings. The platform excels at event marketing with professional event pages, mobile ticketing, QR check-in, attendee management, social sharing, and promotional tools.

Eventbrite offers professional event pages but adds significant fees to paid tickets.

See how Zeffy compares to Eventbrite

What you get:

• Free for free events; 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket: Plus 2.9% processing
• Professional event pages: With registration forms and event details
• Mobile ticketing: And QR code check-in for smooth entry
• Attendee management: And communication tools
• Social sharing: And discovery on Eventbrite's platform
• No donation tools or membership management

Eventbrite excels at event marketing, but the per-ticket fees quickly add up for alumni reunions. For a 200-person reunion at $75/ticket, Eventbrite's fees cost $1,098—enough for a full scholarship. Our Zeffy vs Eventbrite comparison shows how much your association could save on a typical reunion event.

10. Network for Good — Donor Management Platform

Network for Good provides comprehensive donor management tools designed for nonprofits. The combined platform and processing fees (roughly 5.2% total) significantly reduce what reaches your alumni programs and scholarships. The platform works well if donor relationship management is your primary focus.

Network for Good provides donor management tools but charges platform fees.

See how Zeffy compares to Network for Good

What you get:

• 3% platform fee + 2.2% + $0.30 processing: 5.2% total
• Donor CRM: With giving history and engagement tracking
• Customizable donation forms: And campaign pages
• Automated tax receipts: And donor acknowledgments
• Email marketing tools: For class communications
• Grant resources: And fundraising coaching
• No event ticketing or membership features

Network for Good's combined 5.2% fees eat heavily into contributions. See our Zeffy vs Network for Good comparison for the full cost breakdown. For $20,000 in annual fund donations, you'd lose $1,040 to fees.

11. Givelify — Mobile-First Donation App

Givelify focuses on mobile-first giving experiences with a user-friendly app interface. It makes it easy for alumni to donate on-the-go during homecoming events or spontaneous class campaigns. The 2.9% + $0.30 standard nonprofit rate is competitive, though still reduces scholarship funding compared to zero-fee alternatives.

Givelify offers a mobile-first donation experience suitable for alumni events.

See how Zeffy compares to Givelify

What you get:

• 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction: Standard nonprofit rate
• Mobile app: With simple, intuitive donation interface
• Text-to-donate: Functionality for campaigns
• Recurring giving options: Through the app
• Social feed: Showing donor activity (optional privacy settings)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay: Support
• No event ticketing or membership management

Compare mobile-first giving platforms in our Zeffy vs Givelify comparison to see which better supports class campaigns. Zeffy offers the same mobile convenience with zero fees.

How to Choose a PayPal Alternative for Alumni Dues and Events

Choosing the right platform comes down to understanding what you actually need versus what sounds impressive in a sales demo. Most alumni groups need three core capabilities: collecting recurring dues, managing reunion events, and running class giving campaigns—all without losing chunks of scholarship funds to fees.

Start by mapping your actual workflow. If you're currently using PayPal for dues, Eventbrite for reunions, and spreadsheets to track everything, exploring PayPal alternatives could help you escape those fees and the hours spent copying data between systems.

Consider these factors:

• Pricing and fee structure: Calculate total cost including monthly fees, platform fees, and transaction fees. Project annual impact on scholarship funds (a typical alumni group processing $46,250 annually loses $1,165-$2,794 depending on platform). Consider donor experience with fee coverage options.
• Alumni-specific features: Look for membership management with class year tracking and segmentation for targeted campaigns. You need reunion ticketing and registration with table assignments and dietary preferences. Recurring dues collection with automated renewal reminders and lapsed member follow-up. Class giving competitions with leaderboards and progress tracking.
• Ease of use for volunteers: Simple setup without technical expertise (volunteer boards rotate, so complexity kills adoption). Mobile-friendly for board members managing tasks on phones between meetings. Intuitive donor experience that doesn't require instructions or support calls.
• Integration capabilities: Website embedding options for donation forms and event registration. Email marketing connections for class communications and reunion invitations. Donor database sync to avoid manual data entry and reconciliation.
• Support and reliability: Customer service availability when you're setting up your reunion two weeks out. Platform uptime and security so donations don't fail during giving campaigns. Training resources for new board members taking over next year.

Cost Comparison: How Much Do PayPal Alternatives Really Cost Alumni Groups?

Let's calculate the real impact for a typical alumni association. These numbers show what you're actually losing to fees versus investing in scholarships and programs.

Typical alumni group annual processing:

• 200 annual dues at $100 each = $20,000
• 150 reunion tickets at $75 each = $11,250
• $15,000 in class gift donations (avg $150 × 100 donors)
• Total annual processing: $46,250

*Based on typical $1,000 scholarship award

Over 5 years, an alumni group using PayPal loses $5,825—enough for 5-6 student scholarships. With Zeffy, that money stays with students instead of disappearing to transaction fees.

Which PayPal Alternative Should Alumni Groups Use?

The right platform depends on your alumni association's specific needs, but for most groups, the answer is straightforward. You need something that handles dues, events, and donations without eating into scholarship funds—and that volunteer board members can actually use.

For most alumni associations: Zeffy eliminates all fees while providing the complete toolkit—membership management, event ticketing, and donation processing—that alumni groups need. You're not choosing between features and affordability. You get class year tracking, reunion ticketing, automated tax receipts, and donor management in one platform that costs nothing.

For tech-savvy groups with developers: Stripe offers powerful customization if you have resources to build and maintain custom solutions. You'll pay 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, but you can create exactly the integration you want with your existing alumni database.

For basic donation collection only: Donorbox works if you only need simple donation forms embedded on your website. You'll pay 4.65% in combined fees, but setup is quick and straightforward.

Still weighing your options? Our comparison hub shows side-by-side breakdowns of features, fees, and total costs for alumni associations.

Stop losing scholarship funds to payment processing fees. Every dollar saved on transaction costs is another dollar supporting students and programs. Sign up free to start collecting dues and donations with zero fees.

Frequently Asked Questions