GoFundMe vs Stripe: Which Is Better for Collecting Nonprofit Donations? (2026)
Setting up online donations for your nonprofit? GoFundMe runs a crowdfunding platform for individuals and GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy) for nonprofits. Stripe is a payment processor — you'll need to build the donation experience yourself. Here's how all three compare to Zeffy, the 100% free fundraising platform trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
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Why nonprofits choose Zeffy over GoFundMe and Stripe
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Keep more of every donation
GoFundMe Pro charges 2.4–2.5% + $0.30 per transaction. GoFundMe (standard) charges 2.9% + $0.30, or 2.2% + $0.30 for verified 501(c)(3) charities. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 at its nonprofit rate. Zeffy gives you 100% — even when donors skip the optional tip. We cover processing fees.
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One platform for everything you need
Stripe is a payment processor — it handles transactions but you still need donation forms, tax receipts, donor tracking, and email tools elsewhere. GoFundMe is built for crowdfunding campaigns; GoFundMe Pro adds a nonprofit suite at 2.4–2.5% + $0.30. Zeffy gives you donations, events, raffles, memberships, an online store, and donor management in one place — all free.
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Get real help when you need it
Stripe support is built for developers and businesses, not nonprofits. GoFundMe Pro offers phone support only on its Custom Pricing plan. Zeffy gives every nonprofit free phone support, 2–6 hour email responses, and office hours calls — no paid tier required.
Frequently asked questions
How does Zeffy's pricing compare to GoFundMe and Stripe for nonprofit donations?
GoFundMe has two products with different pricing: GoFundMe Pro (pro.gofundme.com, formerly Classy): 2.4–2.5% + $0.30 per transaction, plus 1% for American Express. GoFundMe (gofundme.com): 2.9% + $0.30 per donation, or 2.2% + $0.30 for verified 501(c)(3) charities. Stripe charges 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction at its nonprofit rate (standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30); ACH is 0.8% capped at $5. Fees may vary by plan and contract. Zeffy charges no platform fees, no transaction fees, no credit card fees — 100% of every donation reaches your nonprofit.
Can I manage donors and send emails with GoFundMe or Stripe?
It depends on which product you're using. Stripe is a payment processor — it doesn't include donor management, CRM, or email tools; you'd need to build or buy those separately. GoFundMe (standard) gives campaign creators a basic donor list with contact info. GoFundMe Pro includes a donor dashboard, self-serve donor portals, giving history, year-end statements, and integrations with Salesforce and EveryAction. With Zeffy, donor management is built in for every nonprofit at no cost — donor profiles, segmentation, engagement tracking, and unlimited team members.
Does GoFundMe or Stripe support events, memberships, and raffles?
GoFundMe (standard) handles crowdfunding only — no events, memberships, raffles, or auctions. GoFundMe Pro adds event ticketing, memberships, and recurring giving at 2.4–2.5% + $0.30 per transaction (+1% Amex), but doesn't include raffles or auctions. Stripe processes payments but provides no event, membership, or raffle functionality — you'd need separate tools. Zeffy includes donation forms, event ticketing, peer-to-peer, auctions, raffles, memberships, an online store, and donor management — all in one free platform.
Does Zeffy really charge zero fees for nonprofits?
Yes. Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits. There are no platform fees, monthly fees, or transaction fees. Donors have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy, so you keep everything you raise.
Can I move my donor data from other platforms to Zeffy?
Yes. You can export your donor and transaction data from platforms like GoFundMe or Stripe and import it into Zeffy's donor management system. Our team can help you get set up and answer questions along the way.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
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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.
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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.
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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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