How to Understand Digital Giving Platforms and Prices

Since lockdown many charities have been looking for ways to fundraise using digital platforms as well as text giving. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which platform is right for your organisation.

Here are four key tips for evaluating digital giving platforms effectively.

1. Integration Compatibility

Charities should assess whether a platform integrates easily with existing systems. Platforms serve different purposes - whether for a one-off event such as a raffle or a virtual fundraising event such as a sports challenge, or for a longer term campaign - so integration capability matters significantly.

Ask yourself: does this platform connect with your CRM, your email marketing system, or your website? The more seamlessly a platform integrates with your existing tools, the less administrative burden it will create for your team.

2. Return on Investment Evaluation

"Most digital giving providers will have more or less the same fees, whether it is monthly or annual," and cost alone should not determine selection since fees are relatively standardised across the industry.

Instead of focusing solely on price, evaluate the platform based on the features it provides, the level of support offered, and the quality of donor experience. A slightly higher fee is easily justified if the platform helps you raise significantly more.

3. Hidden Costs Assessment

Beyond visible fees, charities should consider administrative burdens. These include collecting Gift Aid, managing GDPR risk, or trying to integrate data extracts with other systems.

The article recommends selecting platforms that handle Gift Aid, GDPR compliance, and real-time reporting automatically - reducing the hidden cost of staff time and complexity.

4. Integrated Solutions

The final recommendation is to find a platform that can integrate text, web and contactless giving to streamline operations and reduce technical demands on charity staff.

An integrated solution means your supporters can give however is most convenient for them - whether they're in the crowd at a live event, reading an email at home, or walking past your collection point - all feeding into the same campaign and reporting dashboard.

DONATE™ offers exactly this kind of integrated approach, with no setup or monthly fees, making it accessible for charities of all sizes.