Blackbaud's Hidden Fees vs. Zeffy's $0 Pricing: The Full Breakdown
Compare 2.99% + $99/mo and IT setup requirements against zero fees and 30-minute launch.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS Blackbaud
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
You don't need enterprise software to run a small nonprofit
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Built for enterprise budgets, not grassroots teams
Blackbaud charges processing fees on every donation and requires enterprise contracts for full support — Zeffy is 100% free with help included for everyone.
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You shouldn't need IT support to launch a campaign
Blackbaud's tools are sold separately and built for large organizations with technical staff — Zeffy gives you donations, ticketing, CRM, and email in one simple platform.
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Get started in minutes, not months
Blackbaud requires implementation timelines and technical onboarding — Zeffy works right away, with free support from nonprofit fundraising experts who speak your language.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Zeffy cost compared to Blackbaud?
Zeffy is 100% free with no platform fees, monthly charges, or processing fees. Blackbaud charges 2.99% to 3.5% on every transaction plus merchant account fees. That means on $10,000 raised, you keep everything with Zeffy versus losing $300+ with Blackbaud.
Can I use Zeffy without a technical team or IT support?
Zeffy works right out of the box with no implementation required. Create donation forms, sell tickets, and send emails in minutes without technical knowledge. Blackbaud requires setup timelines, IT staff, and often paid consultants to get started.
Does Zeffy work for small nonprofits or just large organizations?
Zeffy was built specifically for small nonprofits and grassroots teams. You get all the tools you need in one platform with free support from fundraising experts. Blackbaud was designed for hospitals and universities with enterprise budgets and dedicated staff.
Can I accept all payment types without extra fees or hardware costs?
Zeffy accepts credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay at zero cost to your organization. Blackbaud requires their merchant services with 2.99% to 3.5% fees, plus hardware purchases for in-person payments.
Is Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT worth it for small nonprofits?
For most small nonprofits, Raiser's Edge NXT is overkill. It starts at $99/month minimum plus 2.99% to 3.5% transaction fees, requires technical setup, and often needs paid consultants. Zeffy gives you donations, CRM, ticketing, and email in one platform with zero fees and no learning curve.
How long does it take to switch from Blackbaud to Zeffy?
You can set up Zeffy and start accepting donations in under 30 minutes. There's no implementation timeline, no IT staff required, and free support from fundraising experts if you need help migrating.
Does Zeffy have a CRM like Blackbaud?
Yes. Zeffy includes built-in donor management with giving history, contact tracking, and automated tax receipts. Unlike Blackbaud, you don't pay extra for CRM features or need separate products to get full functionality.
What are Blackbaud's hidden costs beyond processing fees?
Beyond the 2.99% to 3.5% transaction fees, Blackbaud can charge $99/month minimums, setup fees, and additional costs for training. Some users report spending thousands annually just learning to use the features.
Is Zeffy really free or is there a catch?
Zeffy is funded by optional donor tips, never required. Your nonprofit keeps 100% of every donation with zero platform, processing, or credit card fees. Over 100,000 nonprofits have raised $2B+ this way.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
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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