Last updated: January 2026

What Is Zeffy?

Nonprofit organizations pour resources into missions that matter—feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, protecting the environment, advancing education. The last thing they need is payment processors skimming 3% off every donation. Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform built specifically for nonprofits, offering donation processing, event ticketing, membership management, and peer-to-peer fundraising without taking a single cent in platform fees.

Yes, truly free. Zeffy covers its costs through optional donor tips rather than charging nonprofits. When someone donates $100, the nonprofit receives $100—not $97 after processing fees. For organizations where every dollar counts, this difference compounds into thousands saved annually.

The platform handles the full spectrum of nonprofit fundraising needs: online donation forms, recurring giving programs, event registration, membership renewals, and crowdfunding campaigns. All built on a sustainable model that aligns platform success with nonprofit success.

Key Features Explained

Donation Forms

Create customizable donation forms that embed on websites or share as standalone links. Forms support one-time and recurring donations, custom amounts or preset levels, tribute gifts, and donor-covered fees. Mobile-optimized design ensures donations complete smoothly on any device.

Form customization includes branding colors, images, and messaging. Different forms can serve different campaigns or appeals, each with unique styling and suggested amounts.

Event Ticketing

Sell tickets for galas, concerts, runs, auctions, and any fundraising event. Set up multiple ticket types, early bird pricing, discount codes, and capacity limits. Attendees receive digital tickets; organizers get check-in tools and attendee management.

Event pages include descriptions, images, schedules, and venue details. Registration forms collect needed information—dietary restrictions, t-shirt sizes, table assignments—customized per event.

Membership Management

Recurring membership programs with automatic renewals, member directories, and benefit tracking. Organizations offering tiered memberships can define different levels with associated perks and pricing. Members manage their own subscriptions through donor portals.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Empower supporters to fundraise on behalf of your organization. Individuals create personal fundraising pages linked to your campaign, set goals, share with networks, and track progress. Your reach multiplies through supporter networks.

Crowdfunding Campaigns

Campaign pages with progress bars, donor lists, and social proof. Goal tracking motivates donors; public fundraising creates community momentum. Campaigns can be time-limited or ongoing.

Donor Management

Built-in CRM tracks donor history, communication preferences, and giving patterns. Automated receipts and thank-you messages maintain relationships. Export capabilities integrate with existing donor databases.

The "100% Free" Model

Zeffy's revolutionary model deserves explanation. Traditional processors charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction—unavoidable costs that add up. A nonprofit processing $100,000 annually loses $3,200+ to fees.

Zeffy covers payment processing costs through optional donor tips. When completing donations, donors see an option to add a contribution supporting Zeffy's free platform. Many choose to tip; enough do that Zeffy operates sustainably.

The key insight: donors often prefer their contribution supporting the platform rather than having fees reduce their donation's impact. It's a voluntary choice, not an added fee—and nonprofits receive 100% of intended donations regardless.

Pricing

Free forever — $0 platform fees, $0 monthly fees, $0 setup fees. Zeffy truly costs nonprofits nothing. Payment processing is covered by optional donor tips.

The only costs are standard credit card processing fees if donors choose not to tip—and even these are lower than traditional processors because Zeffy negotiated nonprofit rates.

No feature limitations. No contact limits. No transaction caps. Full platform access at no cost.

Who Uses Zeffy?

Small Nonprofits

Organizations with limited budgets gain access to professional fundraising tools without software costs. Money saved on fees funds mission directly.

Churches and Religious Organizations

Congregations collect tithes, donations, and event registrations. The giving-focused model resonates with faith-based giving culture.

Schools and PTAs

Educational organizations run fundraisers, collect dues, and manage events. Parent organizations especially benefit from zero-fee donation collection.

Sports Leagues and Clubs

Youth sports teams, running clubs, and recreational organizations handle registrations, membership dues, and fundraising through one platform.

Arts and Cultural Organizations

Theaters, museums, music groups, and cultural institutions sell tickets, manage memberships, and accept donations.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

Genuinely 100% free for nonprofits—no hidden costs

Complete feature set: donations, events, memberships, peer-to-peer

Sustainable model through donor tips rather than nonprofit fees

Clean, modern interface easy for donors and administrators

No contract or commitment—leave anytime

Built-in donor CRM and communication tools

What Could Be Better

Some donors may not understand or want to tip

Fewer integrations than enterprise platforms

Reporting less sophisticated than dedicated nonprofit CRMs

Brand recognition still growing vs established players

Limited customization for complex membership structures

Zeffy vs. Alternatives

vs. PayPal/Stripe: Generic payment processors charge fees and lack nonprofit-specific features. Zeffy provides specialized tools at lower cost.

vs. Bloomerang: Bloomerang offers deeper donor management but charges subscription fees. Zeffy suits organizations prioritizing cost savings over advanced CRM.

vs. Donorbox: Donorbox charges platform fees above free tier limits. Zeffy remains free at any volume.

vs. GiveButter: GiveButter also uses donor-tip model. Compare feature sets and user experience for your specific needs.

vs. Network for Good: Enterprise solution with enterprise pricing. Zeffy serves organizations who can't justify thousands annually in software costs.

Tips for Success

Explain the model: Help donors understand that tips support the free platform—transparency builds trust and tip rates.

Use all features: Combining donations, events, and memberships in one platform maximizes efficiency.

Brand your forms: Customized forms with your logo and colors create professional, trustworthy experience.

Enable recurring: Monthly giving programs provide predictable revenue; Zeffy makes setup simple.

FAQ

Is it really free?

Yes. Zeffy charges nonprofits nothing—no fees, no subscriptions, no limits. The platform is funded by optional donor tips.

Do donors have to tip?

No. Tips are optional. Donors can set tip to $0 and complete donations with no additional cost. Nonprofits receive the full donation amount either way.

What payment methods are accepted?

Credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers (ACH). Standard payment options for online giving.

Is Zeffy secure?

Yes. PCI-compliant payment processing, SSL encryption, and standard security practices protect donor information.

Can I migrate from another platform?

Zeffy supports data import for donor records. Migration assistance is available for organizations switching from other platforms.

Final Verdict

Zeffy delivers on its remarkable promise: professional nonprofit fundraising tools at genuinely zero cost. The donor-tip model creates sustainable economics while keeping nonprofit interests aligned with platform success.

For small and medium nonprofits where every dollar matters, Zeffy represents potentially thousands in annual savings. Larger organizations may need enterprise features Zeffy lacks, but most nonprofits will find the platform comprehensive enough for their needs.

The platform proves that innovation in pricing models can benefit everyone. Donors support the mission they chose; nonprofits receive full donations; Zeffy operates sustainably. That's a rare win-win-win worth celebrating.

Rating: 4.7/5