Zeffy VS Vertical Raise
How Much Does Vertical Raise Actually Cost? A Full Breakdown vs Zeffy
Zeffy VS Vertical Raise
Build custom fundraising experiences that keep 100% of donations while Vertical Raise's API fees eat into your mission funding.
Zeffy is trusted by 50,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS Vertical Raise
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Keep 100% of what you raise, not 80%
💰
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.
🎯
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.
🤝
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
Why should nonprofits choose Zeffy over Vertical Raise for fundraising?
Zeffy keeps 100% of donations with zero platform fees, while Vertical Raise takes 14-20% service fees plus processing costs. You get comprehensive fundraising tools without sacrificing mission funding to platform commissions.
How do Zeffy's fees compare to Vertical Raise's pricing structure?
Zeffy charges zero platform fees - donors can leave voluntary contributions. Vertical Raise charges 14-20% service fees plus 3-4% processing fees, significantly reducing your fundraising impact and available program funding.
Can Zeffy handle the same fundraising campaigns as Vertical Raise?
Yes, Zeffy supports peer-to-peer campaigns, online stores, events, and direct donations. Unlike Vertical Raise's school-focused approach, Zeffy serves all nonprofit types with comprehensive fundraising and donor management tools.
How does Zeffy's API infrastructure compare to Vertical Raise for custom fundraising builds?
Zeffy provides flexible APIs and integrations without charging platform fees on transactions. Vertical Raise's infrastructure takes 14-20% of every donation, making custom builds expensive for your organization's bottom line.
What makes Zeffy better than Vertical Raise for nonprofit donor management?
Zeffy offers unified donor management with zero fees, tracking all supporter interactions across campaigns. Vertical Raise focuses on school fundraising only, limiting nonprofit relationship building and charging fees that reduce donor impact.
Is Zeffy really free or are there hidden costs?
Zeffy is 100% free with no platform fees, processing fees, or monthly charges. Organizations keep 100% of donations, and donors can optionally leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy's operations.
How much does Vertical Raise take from donations?
Vertical Raise charges 14-20% service fees plus 3-4% processing fees, totaling 17-24% in fees. On a $10,000 fundraiser, you'd lose $1,400-$2,400 to fees compared to keeping 100% with Zeffy.
Can nonprofits outside of schools use Zeffy instead of Vertical Raise?
Yes, Zeffy serves all nonprofit types with comprehensive fundraising tools, while Vertical Raise focuses only on schools and sports teams. Zeffy offers more flexibility for churches, animal rescues, community organizations, and other causes.
Does Zeffy require technical setup or a developer like Vertical Raise?
No, Zeffy is an all-in-one platform that requires no developer or technical setup. You can launch campaigns immediately without coding, unlike Vertical Raise which requires developer assistance.
What's the minimum fundraising amount to use Zeffy vs Vertical Raise?
Zeffy has no minimum threshold, making it ideal for campaigns of any size. Vertical Raise requires a $150 minimum, which can be restrictive for smaller fundraising efforts.
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.
50,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
For 7+ years, Zeffy has supported nonprofits with free, user-friendly fundraising tools.
.webp)
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.
%20(1).webp){kind=avatar}
%20(1).webp)
.webp){kind=avatar}
.webp)
%20(1).webp)
.webp)
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
© 2025 Zeffy, inc. All rights reserved.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4
Heading 5
Heading 6
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
Unordered list
- Item A
- Item B
- Item C
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4
Heading 5
Heading 6
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
Unordered list
- Item A
- Item B
- Item C
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript