What Percentage Does Vertical Raise Take? 20%+ vs Zeffy's $0
On a $10K fundraiser, that's $2,000+ lost to fees. Compare pricing, features, and tools below.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS Vertical Raise
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Keep 100% of what you raise, not 80%
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Keep every dollar your supporters give
Vertical Raise takes 5% plus processing fees from every donation. With Zeffy, 100% goes directly to your cause — no commissions, no platform fees, no surprises.
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Skip the product sales, focus on your mission
Your team shouldn't have to sell popcorn to fund programs. Zeffy's direct donation tools let supporters give what they want, when they want — no product overhead required.
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Get help from people who understand nonprofits
Vertical Raise offers basic FAQ support during business hours. Zeffy gives you unlimited access to nonprofit fundraising experts with 2-6 hour response times and 93% satisfaction.
Frequently asked questions
How does Zeffy's zero-fee model compare to Vertical Raise's pricing?
Vertical Raise charges 14-20% platform fees plus 3-4% processing fees on every donation. Zeffy charges zero platform fees, so 100% of donations go to your mission. Donors can leave a voluntary contribution to support our platform.
Can I use Zeffy for more than just fundraising campaigns?
Yes. Vertical Raise focuses on school product sales and pledge campaigns. Zeffy gives you donation forms, event ticketing, membership management, raffles, CRM tools, and email marketing in one platform built for nonprofits.
Do I need technical expertise to set up Zeffy?
No. Vertical Raise requires setup calls and campaign planning before you can launch. Zeffy lets you create donation forms, sell tickets, and send emails in minutes without training or technical knowledge.
Does Zeffy support recurring donations and memberships?
Yes. Vertical Raise is built for one-time campaigns. Zeffy lets you collect recurring donations, manage memberships, and build ongoing relationships with supporters — all without platform fees eating into monthly gifts.
Does Vertical Raise have a minimum fundraising requirement?
Yes. Vertical Raise typically requires groups to meet minimum fundraising thresholds to participate. Zeffy has no minimums, so you can launch a campaign of any size and keep 100% of what you raise.
How much would my school lose to fees on a $10,000 Vertical Raise fundraiser?
With Vertical Raise's 14-20% service fees plus 3-4% processing fees, you could lose $1,400 to $2,400 on a $10,000 fundraiser. With Zeffy, you'd keep the full $10,000.
Is Vertical Raise only for schools and sports teams?
Vertical Raise primarily focuses on schools and athletic programs. Zeffy works for all registered nonprofits, including PTAs, youth sports, community organizations, and more.
What's the catch with Zeffy being free?
No catch. Zeffy covers all platform and processing fees. Donors can leave an optional tip to support the platform, but it's never required, and your organization always keeps 100% of donations.
Can I get help if I run into issues with Zeffy?
Yes. Zeffy offers unlimited customer support from nonprofit experts at no extra cost. You won't pay for premium support tiers or wait for callbacks like with some platforms.
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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