Best Donor Management Software for Australian Charities (2026)

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Donor management software helps small charities and not-for-profits stay on top of their goals, build lasting donor relationships, connect with new supporters, and retain loyal ones.

In this guide, we compare 8 donor management tools for Australian charities by cost, features, pros, and cons, with an honest look at what each platform does for the AU sector.

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In this article:

• What is donor management software?

• Why free donor management matters for small charities

• Top 8 donor management tools for Australian charities

• What to look for in donor management software

• Best donor management software for Australian charities at a glance

• 1. Zeffy: free all-in-one donor management for AU charities

• 2. Raisely

• 3. GiveNow: best AU-native option for charities that prioritise local data residency

• 4. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud

• 5. Funraisin

• 6. TidyHQ

• 7. MyCause

• 8. Bloomerang: worth considering if you already sit in the Blackbaud stack

• The best donor management software for AU charities

• Frequently asked questions

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What is donor management software?

Donor management software helps you track who your donors and supporters are, how much they have given, and what they care about. The database also supports communication by sending emails or newsletters to retain donors over time. It can help you organise events and monitor how they perform.

In short, donor management software keeps everything running smoothly across your donor engagement efforts. It saves time and helps your organisation make better decisions in every donor interaction.

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Why free donor management matters for small charities

Many donor management platforms charge significant fees, whether through monthly subscriptions, transaction fees, or additional costs for adding more users or growing your donor base. For small charities and not-for-profits, where every dollar counts, these costs add up quickly.

Free donor management software lets small not-for-profits focus on what matters most: making an impact in the community.

Most small AU charities are already stitching together three to five separate tools covering donations, event ticketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, auctions, and a CRM, all while navigating cost-of-living pressure on donor acquisition. Consolidating that stack onto a single free platform can free up both budget and staff time. If you are currently using Shout for Good, it is worth knowing that the platform is closing around August 2026, and many AU charities are actively looking for a free replacement right now.

Zeffy offers 100% free donor management tools, meaning there are no hidden fees, no extra costs as your donor base grows, and no limits on the number of users or contacts you can have.

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Top 8 donor management tools for Australian charities

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What to look for in donor management software

Effective donor management is essential for small charities, especially those with limited resources. You need a simple, organised system that lets you manage donor relationships, track contributions, and build strong connections without getting overwhelmed by complex features or costly platforms.

Here are the key features to look for.

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Core donor management and communication features

• Donor profiles and history: Track contact details, past donations, and engagement history. This helps you personalise communications and understand each supporter's journey with your organisation.

• Donation tracking (recurring and one-time): Whether a donor gives once or commits to monthly support, tracking donations is essential. It helps you understand revenue trends and plan ahead. Look for EOFY (30 June) reporting capability so you can produce consolidated annual donor statements before the end of the financial year, which runs 1 July to 30 June in Australia.

• Tags, filters, and segmentation: Segment donors by donation size, frequency, or interests. Useful AU-specific segments include regular givers (monthly supporters), lapsed donors for re-engagement, and state-based groups for federated structures like Vinnies, RSPCA, or Cancer Council state societies.

• Automated $2+ tax-deductible receipts with ABN and DGR statement: For a donation to be tax-deductible, the receipt must include your charity's name, ABN, a DGR endorsement statement (for example, "Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible"), the donation amount, and the date. Only donations to DGR-endorsed organisations qualify. ACNC registration alone does not confer tax-deductibility (ATO DGR endorsement; ACNC DGR fact sheet).

• Email outreach and basic donor communication: Stay connected with supporters through simple email communication: thank-you notes, event invites, and updates.

• Notes on donor interactions: Keep personal notes on donor interactions to support a more thoughtful approach to future stewardship.

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AU-specific must-haves

When evaluating any donor management platform for an Australian not-for-profit, check these requirements specifically:

• 1. DGR-compliant tax receipts: Your software must be able to generate receipts that include your ABN and a clear DGR endorsement statement. Donors verify DGR status via ABN Lookup. If your charity is not yet DGR-endorsed, the software should still support your workflow (ATO NFP hub).

• 2. EOFY (30 June) consolidated annual statements: Australian donors expect a consolidated statement of their donations before 30 June so they can claim their deduction in their annual tax return. Your platform should be able to produce these automatically.

• 3. GST tax invoicing for events: If your charity is GST-registered and sells event tickets or goods, you must issue a GST tax invoice that shows the price and 10% GST as separate line items. Check whether your chosen platform handles this before committing (ATO NFP hub).

• 4. Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles (APP) posture: The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) applies to not-for-profits with annual turnover above $3 million; smaller charities can opt in. Any platform you use to store donor data should have a clear data-handling policy and comply with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme (OAIC NFP privacy guidance).

• 5. AU data residency: AU-native competitors like GiveNow and TryBooking lead with "data stored in Australia" as a trust signal, and it matters to many AU charities, especially after recent high-profile data breaches. Zeffy is Canadian-built, not American, which AU adopters have noted positively (mirrored legal and cultural systems), but its data is not stored in Australia. Weigh this honestly against your organisation's risk appetite.

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Built-in fundraising tools

• Donation forms and landing pages: Create custom donation forms and landing pages that are mobile-friendly and fully integrated with your donor database.

• Peer-to-peer fundraising: Empower supporters to fundraise on your behalf, helping you reach new donors without extra administrative work.

• Event registration and ticketing: Simplify event planning with easy-to-use event registration and ticketing options built into your platform.

• Auctions and event auxiliary tools: Support for silent and live auctions at gala events, without needing a separate platform. Note that raffles and lotteries in Australia are regulated differently by each state or territory, and Zeffy does not offer raffle or lottery support in Australia.

• Tap-to-pay and mobile giving: Offer instant giving through mobile devices at in-person events. In Australia, EftPos is the domestic debit rail used for tap-to-give setups.

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Customer support, documentation, and training

• Customer support: Make sure the platform offers accessible, responsive support via chat, email, or phone.

• Documentation: A strong knowledge base will guide you through setup, troubleshooting, and optimisation.

• Training: Access to training resources, webinars, or tutorials helps your team get up to speed quickly.

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Best donor management software for Australian charities at a glance

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1. Zeffy: free all-in-one donor management for AU charities

Zeffy is the only 100% free, all-in-one donor management and fundraising platform for not-for-profits and charities. Zeffy charges no subscription fees, no platform fees, and no credit-card fees. When a donor gives $100, your charity receives $100.

Zeffy serves not-for-profits and charities in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. With over 100,000 not-for-profits on the platform and more than $2 billion raised globally, Zeffy combines a free CRM, donation forms, event ticketing, memberships, peer-to-peer fundraising, and auctions in a single platform.

For AU charities, Zeffy generates automated tax-deductible receipts with your ABN and DGR statement included. It is particularly useful if you are preparing for an EOFY appeal and want consolidated donor statements without paying platform fees.

Zeffy is designed for any not-for-profit looking to improve donor relationships, especially small and medium charities seeking a budget-friendly solution. Zeffy's free CRM is straightforward to use and effective, with prompt customer support and a full suite of fundraising tools.

How it works:

When someone donates through your Zeffy fundraising form, they have the option, but are never required, to add a contribution to Zeffy. Enough supporters choose to do this that it covers overhead costs and the fees for thousands of charities on the platform. That is how Zeffy stays 100% free for organisations.

Pros:

• 100% free, no hidden fees

• Integrates with other fundraising and event tools

• Donor and supporter management with custom data reports

• Import and export transactions and contacts

• Segment and filter contacts by giving history, frequency, or interest

• Access and resend tax receipts at any time

• Record and track offline donations

• Send emails to supporters via integrated email marketing

• Create custom email lists to segment donors

• Send pre-filled forms to regular givers

• Automate reminder emails and track fundraising progress

• Free customer support team

Cons:

• Data is not stored in Australia (Zeffy is Canadian-built)

• Does not support raffles or lotteries in Australia

• Does not provide tax, legal, accounting, or incorporation advice

Right fit when:

You want a free all-in-one not-for-profit donor management platform with DGR-compliant receipting, or you are migrating off Shout for Good and need a no-fees replacement.

Zeffy pricing:

Zeffy is 100% free. No platform fee, no transaction fee, no credit-card fee. Ever.

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2. Raisely

Raisely is a fundraising platform built specifically for charities, founded in Melbourne in 2016 and acquired by Keela (a Canadian not-for-profit CRM company) in 2023. It offers a drag-and-drop website builder, strong design tools, and a peer-to-peer fundraising module that suits small-to-mid charities.

Since the 2023 acquisition, some users report that the product roadmap has slowed and certain features are being pushed behind paid upsells (the Keela CRM and the Pro plan). For a charity that wants a well-designed donation page and P2P capability on the free tier, Raisely still performs well.

Pros:

• Modern, branded fundraising website builder

• Free tier supported by optional donor contributions at checkout (donor can opt out)

• Peer-to-peer fundraising module

• AU-based support team, regularly cited in reviews

• Good design flexibility without requiring developers

Cons:

• Roadmap has slowed since the Keela acquisition; some features require paid upsells

• Advanced CRM functionality requires the Keela add-on

• Processing fees apply on top of the platform model

• Free tier relies on optional donor contributions; if donors opt out, the charity pays the flat 4% fee

Right fit when:

You want a modern, branded donor experience and peer-to-peer capability without paying a large upfront fee, and you are comfortable with the tip-or-fee model.

Pricing:

Free tier (optional donor contribution to Raisely, or flat 4% if donor opts out) plus Stripe processing fees. Pro plan approximately A$89.50 per month (annual billing). Re-verify pricing at raisely.com/pricing before committing.

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3. GiveNow: best AU-native option for charities that prioritise local data residency

GiveNow has been Australia's all-in-one fundraising platform since 2001. It is 100% Australian-owned (operated by Our Community Foundation, itself a not-for-profit), and all data is stored in Australia. With over $230 million raised and more than 6,000 charities on the platform, GiveNow is the default choice for AU charities that want a trusted local option.

The visual design feels older than newer platforms, and customisation is more limited than Raisely, but the data-residency story and the long track record make GiveNow a credible option for charities where AU ownership and local data hosting are priorities.

Pros:

• 100% Australian-owned; data stored in Australia

• Established track record since 2001

• Lower transaction fees than most international platforms

• No lock-in contracts; no sign-up or subscription fee

• 90% of donors choose to cover the platform fee

Cons:

• Older user interface compared with newer platforms

• Less customisation depth than Raisely or international alternatives

• Not an all-in-one stack (ticketing, P2P, and auctions require separate tools)

Right fit when:

AU data residency is a priority and you want a simple, trusted local donation platform with a long track record.

Pricing:

Platform fee 1.5% to 3.5% depending on plan, plus low transaction fees. Re-verify at givenow.com.au before committing.

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4. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud

Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud (formerly Salesforce NPSP) is the enterprise CRM most AU charities move to when donor spreadsheets and siloed tools can no longer support their growth. Salesforce has a strong AU presence through Salesforce.org, with dedicated local support and an established AU not-for-profit community.

It is a powerful, highly customisable platform, but it requires dedicated technical resources to implement and maintain. It is not the right fit for small charities with lean teams.

Pros:

• Deep CRM customisation to match your workflow

• Strong AU Salesforce.org presence and local support

• Extensive integrations with third-party tools

• Advanced reporting, automation, and constituent management

• Scales from mid-size to large national organisations

Cons:

• Significant setup cost and ongoing administration

• Requires dedicated technical staff or a Salesforce implementation partner

• Not designed for small or volunteer-run charities

• Subscription pricing is material

Right fit when:

You are a mid-to-large AU charity with a dedicated digital or data team, and you need a CRM that can handle complex donor journeys, major-gift pipelines, and extensive integrations.

Pricing:

Custom quote required. Contact Salesforce.org for AU not-for-profit pricing.

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5. Funraisin

Funraisin is a Sydney-headquartered enterprise peer-to-peer fundraising platform that powers some of Australia's largest fundraising events, including the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Cure Cancer Australia, and Coastrek. The platform supports 28 of the top 30 P2P events in Australia and New Zealand.

Funraisin is purpose-built for the high-production-value, high-volume P2P event, with deep customisation and brand control. For a small charity running its first peer-to-peer campaign, it is overkill on both complexity and price.

Pros:

• Powers 28 of the top 30 P2P events in ANZ

• Deep customisation and event-branding control

• Advanced participant and team management tools

• AU-based team with strong sector relationships

• Proven at high donation volumes (e.g. $7.9 million in a single CEO Sleepout campaign)

Cons:

• Enterprise pricing, not suited to small charities

• Requires dedicated digital staff to manage campaigns

• Pricing is not publicly listed; requires a custom quote

Right fit when:

You are a mid-to-large AU charity running a flagship branded challenge event (walk, ride, sleepout, or run) and need a dedicated P2P platform with high customisation.

Pricing:

Custom quote required. Contact Funraisin directly for AU pricing.

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6. TidyHQ

TidyHQ is an Australian-built membership and event administration platform designed for community clubs, associations, and sports groups. It handles membership renewals, event ticketing, communications, and financial reporting in one place.

TidyHQ is not a fundraising-first platform. It is the right choice for a sports club, P&C, or community association that needs member management alongside basic event and financial admin, rather than a charity building a major donor program.

Pros:

• AU-built and AU-hosted

• Membership management, event admin, and communications in one platform

• Simple and accessible for volunteer-run organisations

• Useful for clubs, associations, and P&Cs

Cons:

• Not designed for charity fundraising or donor stewardship

• Limited DGR receipting capability compared with dedicated fundraising platforms

• Not suited to organisations whose primary need is donation management or EOFY receipting

Right fit when:

You run a sports club, community association, or P&C and your primary need is member management, not donation fundraising.

Pricing:

Paid plans available. Re-verify current AU pricing at tidyhq.com before committing.

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7. MyCause

MyCause is a 100% Australian-owned crowdfunding and online fundraising platform that has operated since 2009. It serves both registered charities and individuals fundraising for personal causes (medical, memorial, community), and charges no platform fee.

The dual personal-cause and charity model means MyCause is more associated with individual emergency fundraising than dedicated charity infrastructure, which can be a fit issue if you want a fully branded organisational experience.

Pros:

• 100% Australian-owned and operated

• 0% platform fee

• Supports both registered charities and individual causes

• Recognised brand in the AU fundraising community

• Simple to set up

Cons:

• Platform is associated with personal/emergency fundraising as much as charities

• Less depth than Raisely or Funraisin on advanced P2P or donor management

• Processing fees (~2.5% + GST) apply even at the 0% platform tier

• Limited donor CRM functionality

Right fit when:

You want a recognised AU-owned platform with no platform fee, and your primary use case is a straightforward donation or crowdfunding campaign.

Pricing:

0% platform fee. Processing fees approximately 2.5% + GST. Re-verify at mycause.com.au before committing.

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8. Bloomerang: worth considering if you already sit in the Blackbaud stack

Bloomerang is a US-first donor management and CRM platform focused on donor retention. It offers robust reporting, interactive dashboards, constituent timelines, a donor engagement meter, wealth screening, and volunteer management.

Bloomerang has a limited AU footprint. For most small AU charities, there is no compelling reason to choose Bloomerang over AU-native alternatives. It is worth considering only if your organisation already sits within the Blackbaud ecosystem (Bloomerang is now part of Blackbaud, which also owns JustGiving AU) and you are looking for a retention-focused CRM that integrates with that stack.

Pros:

• Strong donor retention tools and engagement meter

• Robust reporting and constituent timelines

• Wealth screening and segmentation

• Volunteer management included

• Well-regarded customer support

Cons:

• US-first product with limited AU presence

• Data is not stored in Australia

• Pricing is on the higher end, particularly for small charities

• Platform fee applies on top of subscription

• Better suited to larger organisations

Right fit when:

You are a mid-to-large AU charity already using Blackbaud products and you want a retention-focused CRM that integrates with that ecosystem.

Pricing:

Custom quote required. Starting at approximately $79 to $1,299+ per month (US pricing; verify AU pricing directly with Bloomerang). Platform fee and processing fees apply on top.

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The best donor management software for AU charities

According to the ACNC Australian Charities Report, there are approximately 60,000 registered charities in Australia, with donations and bequests totalling approximately $13.9 billion in the year to 30 June 2023. Re-verify these figures against the current ACNC report before publishing.

Most small AU charities wear a lot of hats with limited staff, tight budgets, and big goals. They are commonly stitching together separate platforms for donations, event ticketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, auctions, and CRM. Managing donors should not add to that complexity.

Zeffy was built for organisations like yours. With zero platform fees, a donor CRM, automated DGR-compliant $2 tax receipts, and built-in fundraising tools, Zeffy takes the complexity out of donor management. It is straightforward to use, easy to integrate with your existing tools, and supported by a team that understands the unique challenges small charities face. And because Zeffy is Canadian-built rather than American-owned, AU adopters consistently note the alignment in legal systems, cultural values, and approach.

If you are currently migrating off Shout for Good before its closure, or you are running an EOFY appeal and need consolidated donor statements without paying platform fees, Zeffy is worth a look.

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Frequently asked questions

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