For small nonprofits, every donation matters, and so does every fee taken from it. Many fundraising platforms deduct a percentage from each gift, plus payment processing costs. Across a year of campaigns, events, and memberships, those deductions can add up to a meaningful amount that never reaches the programs donors intended to support.
Zeffy is a fundraising platform for nonprofits that does not charge platform or payment processing fees to the organization. Instead, donors are invited to leave an optional contribution to Zeffy at checkout. The platform includes donation forms, peer-to-peer campaigns, event ticketing, memberships, online auctions, raffles where permitted, a simple donor database, and tax receipts. It is available to eligible nonprofits in the United States and Canada.
The connection to Impact is where the money goes. The Method holds that impact depends on resources reaching the work. A fundraising tool that lets more of each gift reach programs strengthens the link between a donor’s intention and the result on the ground.
What Zeffy Does Differently
The main difference is the business model. Because Zeffy is funded by optional donor contributions rather than deductions from the nonprofit, the organization receives the full amount of each gift. For small organizations with tight budgets, that difference can be significant over a year.
The second difference is breadth for small teams. Donations, events, memberships, and a basic donor list are managed in one free tool, which reduces the number of paid services a small nonprofit needs to run its fundraising.
The Honest Part
Donors see the optional contribution at checkout. It can be adjusted or set to zero, but some donors may find the prompt confusing if they do not expect it. A short explanation on your campaign page helps maintain trust.
Zeffy is available only to eligible nonprofits in the United States and Canada, so organizations elsewhere cannot use it directly. Its donor management features are simpler than dedicated CRMs, so larger organizations may still need another system. Check Zeffy’s site for current eligibility and features.
Three Principles Worth Keeping in Mind
- Explain the model to donors. A clear sentence about how Zeffy is funded prevents confusion at checkout.
- Thank donors quickly. Use automatic receipts, then add a personal thank-you for meaningful gifts.
- Export and review your data. Keep donor records organized so relationships can grow beyond single campaigns.
Where This Fits in the Bigger Picture
Fundraising efficiency is not only about raising more. It is also about keeping more of what is raised for the work itself.
For eligible nonprofits, Zeffy removes one of the quiet costs of fundraising. Used with transparency toward donors, it supports the Continuity of funding and ensures more resources turn into Impact.
FAQ
Is Zeffy really free for nonprofits?
Zeffy does not charge platform or payment processing fees to the nonprofit. It is funded by optional contributions from donors.
Can nonprofits outside the US and Canada use Zeffy?
No. Zeffy is currently available only to eligible nonprofits in the United States and Canada.
