Give Lively VS GiveSmart
Give Lively passes processing fees to donors. GiveSmart charges $3,000 annually plus 3.5% fees — $6,500 gone on every $100,000 raised before your mission sees a dollar.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Give Lively VS GiveSmart
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Why choose Zeffy over Give Lively and GiveSmart if you're a nonprofit
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GiveSmart and Give Lively charge for the platform or pass fees to donors
Give Lively passes processing fees to donors at checkout. GiveSmart charges $3,000/year plus 3.5% card fees. Zeffy covers all fees so 100% of every donation goes to your mission.
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You need one tool that works year-round, not just at your gala
Give Lively requires separate platforms for auctions and raffles. GiveSmart is built for big events, not everyday fundraising. Zeffy gives you donations, ticketing, raffles, auctions, and memberships in one place with zero fees.
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Small teams can't afford enterprise onboarding or tiered support
Give Lively offers email support that slows down when you need it most. GiveSmart gates priority help behind enterprise plans. Zeffy gives every nonprofit free, unlimited support from fundraising experts who respond fast.
Frequently asked questions
How does Zeffy cover all fees when Give Lively and GiveSmart charge processing fees?
Give Lively passes processing fees to donors at checkout, while GiveSmart charges 3.5% on every transaction. Zeffy covers all credit card and transaction fees, so 100% of every donation goes to your mission. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy.
Can I run events, raffles, and auctions without paying subscription fees or adding more tools?
Give Lively requires separate platforms for auctions and raffles, while GiveSmart charges $3,000+ annually for event tools. Zeffy includes donation forms, event ticketing, raffles, auctions, and peer-to-peer campaigns in one place — all completely free.
What kind of support can I get without paying for premium tiers?
Give Lively offers limited email and chat support, while GiveSmart gates phone support behind higher-tier plans. Zeffy provides free, unlimited support to all nonprofits — live chat, email, and phone support from nonprofit fundraising experts.
Can I manage memberships and sell merchandise without paying extra fees?
Give Lively only offers recurring donations, while GiveSmart has no membership or store features. Zeffy includes full membership management with tiers and self-service portals, plus an online store for merchandise — all fee-free.
How quickly can I get my nonprofit set up and fundraising?
GiveSmart requires enterprise onboarding calls and complex setup, while Give Lively offers limited self-service resources. Zeffy gets you fundraising in under 30 minutes with no training required — just create your form and go.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
Related content
Zeffy was built for nonprofits like yours
focus on what matters
Built for small teams with big missions.
Zeffy is the fundraising platform that cuts out the fees, clears up your tech mess, and puts your cause first — so your team, even if you're a small team wearing many hats or a one-person show, can focus on what really matters.
ZERO-FEE
Keep 100% of every dollar.
No platform fees. No processing fees. No catch. We know it sounds too good to be true, but it's not. Every penny goes straight to your mission, while competitors take 2-3% off every donation.
ALL-IN-ONE PLatform
Ditch the tech mess.
Stop bouncing between MailChimp, Eventbrite, and all those spreadsheets. Now you can handle donations, ticket sales, memberships, raffles, and all your donor info in one spot.
plug-and-play
Get going, fast.
Built for teams like yours — whether you're volunteer-led or have limited staff. Set up donation forms, sell tickets, and launch campaigns without needing a tech wizard. It's super easy, and you'll be up and running in minutes.
mobile-first
Fundraise from every device, anywhere.
From QR codes on flyers to Tap-to-Pay on a phone, Zeffy makes it easy to accept donations on the go. Mobile-optimized and offline-ready, so no donor slips through the cracks.
No turnover
Never lose a donor to volunteer transition.
Centralize supporter relationships, automate thank-you messages, and preserve institutional knowledge when board members rotate out.
100,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
For 7+ years, Zeffy has supported nonprofits with free, user-friendly fundraising tools.
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As a startup nonprofit with only two members, and no funding (yet) we’d need something with low (or no) fees. Zeffy was a dream come true.
Masey, Loose Ends.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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