Websites using GiveSmart

Okay, let s break down GiveSmart, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care details.

GiveSmart Overview

• What it is: GiveSmart, owned by Community Brands, is a fundraising software platform designed primarily for nonprofits and schools. It helps organizations manage and execute fundraising events (both in-person, virtual, and hybrid), online giving campaigns, auctions (silent, live, mobile bidding), peer-to-peer fundraising, text-to-give, and donor management. It aims to streamline the fundraising process, increase engagement, and ultimately raise more money.

• Key Features:

  • Event Management: Registration, ticketing, seating charts, check-in/check-out, guest management.
  • Online Giving: Donation pages, recurring giving options, matching gifts.
  • Auction Management: Mobile bidding, item catalog, automated notifications, auction closing tools.
  • Text-to-Give: Enable donations via SMS text messages.
  • Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Empower supporters to fundraise on your behalf.
  • Data & Reporting: Real-time analytics, customizable reports, donor insights.
  • Payment Processing: Secure payment gateway integration.
  • CRM Integration: Integrates with popular CRMs (Salesforce, Raiser s Edge, etc.) to streamline donor management.

• Target Audience: Nonprofits of all sizes, schools, religious organizations, and other community-based organizations.

Revenue

• GiveSmart does not publicly disclose its exact revenue figures. As a product of Community Brands, its financial performance is rolled into the larger company s overall results.

• Estimates vary, but industry sources suggest GiveSmart s revenue is likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually, given its market position and customer base. Community Brands, as a whole, generates significant revenue from its suite of software solutions for associations, nonprofits, and schools.

Alternatives

Here are some popular alternatives to GiveSmart, categorized by focus and feature set:

• Comprehensive Fundraising Platforms (Similar in Scope):

  • OneCause: A direct competitor, often considered a strong alternative, especially for larger organizations. Offers similar features for event management, online giving, auctions, and peer-to-peer.
  • Greater Giving: A well-established platform, particularly known for its event management and auction capabilities.
  • Blackbaud Raiser s Edge NXT (with add-ons): While primarily a CRM, Raiser s Edge NXT can be extended with modules to handle event management and online giving. Suitable if you already use Raiser s Edge.

• Event-Focused Platforms:

  • Eventbrite: A general-purpose event platform that can be used for fundraising events, particularly for simpler events. Less specialized for fundraising-specific needs.
  • Accelevents: All-in-one event platform with marketing automation, ticketing, live streaming, and more.
  • Bizzabo: Geared towards professional conferences and corporate events, but can be adapted for fundraising events with a focus on attendee experience.

• Online Giving Platforms:

  • Classy: Focuses on online giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, and crowdfunding. Strong storytelling and donor engagement features.
  • Donorbox: A more affordable and user-friendly option for online giving, with customizable donation forms and recurring giving options.
  • Network for Good: Provides tools for online giving, donor management, and fundraising coaching.

• Auction-Specific Platforms:

  • BiddingOwl: An affordable platform specifically designed for online auctions.
  • Auctria: Another auction-focused platform with features for item management, bidding, and reporting.

Pricing

• GiveSmart s pricing is not publicly listed. They typically use a custom pricing model based on:

  • Number of events: The more events you run, the higher the cost.
  • Number of attendees/users: Pricing may scale with the size of your organization and the number of people using the platform.
  • Features required: More advanced features (e.g., CRM integration, dedicated support) will increase the price.
  • Contract length: Longer-term contracts may offer discounts.

• Expect a significant setup fee and ongoing subscription costs. It s essential to get a detailed quote from GiveSmart based on your specific needs.

• Consider transaction fees: Most fundraising platforms, including GiveSmart, charge a percentage-based transaction fee on donations processed through the platform. Be sure to factor this into your overall cost calculation.

• Request a demo and a detailed quote: The best way to understand the cost is to contact GiveSmart directly.

Customer Care Details

• Support Channels: GiveSmart offers a range of customer support options:

  • Phone Support: They provide phone support during business hours (specific hours may vary).
  • Email Support: You can submit support requests via email.
  • Online Knowledge Base/Help Center: A library of articles, FAQs, and tutorials to help you troubleshoot issues and learn how to use the platform.
  • Live Chat: May be available for quick questions.
  • Training and Onboarding: GiveSmart typically provides training and onboarding services to help new customers get started with the platform.
  • Dedicated Account Manager: Larger organizations may be assigned a dedicated account manager for personalized support.
  • Community Forums: Community Brands offers a general Community where users can share tips and tricks, as well as solve common issues.

• Reputation: Customer reviews of GiveSmart s customer service are mixed. Some users praise the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, while others report long response times or difficulty resolving complex issues. It s a good idea to read recent reviews and ask for references to get a sense of the current support experience.

• Key Considerations:

  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Ask about SLAs for response times and issue resolution.
  • Support Hours: Confirm the hours of operation for phone and chat support.
  • Onboarding Process: Understand the onboarding process and the level of support you ll receive during implementation.

In Summary

GiveSmart is a powerful fundraising platform with a comprehensive feature set. However, it s not the only option. Carefully evaluate your organization s needs, budget, and technical capabilities before making a decision. Be sure to get detailed quotes from multiple vendors and compare their features, pricing, and customer support offerings.