Fundraising

Top Donor Management Software for Advancement Teams (2026)

Every modern advancement team needs a good donor management software, whether it's for solicitation or stewardship. Check out some of the best options available.

Sharada Koti

Published: 

December 12, 2025

Updated: 

May 11, 2026

Discover AI Summary

• Evaluate your current data pain points first: Before diving into software features, pinpoint where your information breaks down, like duplicate records or missing event history, to ensure any new system directly solves your biggest headaches.

• Generic CRMs often fall short for higher education: Advancement work involves complex, multi-decade alumni relationships with shifting roles, so specialized tools are crucial for tracking engagement, giving, and volunteerism all in one place.

• Seamless integration with systems like RE NXT is non-negotiable: If your team uses Raiser's Edge NXT, prioritize solutions that offer reliable, two-way data syncing to prevent records from drifting and ensure consistent stewardship and fundraising campaign tracking.

• Look for platforms that unify engagement and fundraising: The best solutions bring together events, digital interactions, and giving history into a single ecosystem, giving you a complete picture for more informed strategies.

• Consider how a new system impacts your team's workload: Factor in how much time your team currently spends on manual data cleanup or report generation; a good donor management system should significantly reduce these administrative tasks, freeing up time for relationship building.

• Explore specialized solutions designed for advancement: The post dives into specific platforms like Almabase for modern alumni engagement, or others tailored for annual giving or large-scale fundraising, helping you find a tool that truly fits your institution's unique needs.

In any competent fundraising environment today, a donor management software is often the backbone of this process, allowing organizations to streamline operations, personalize communications, and ultimately, increase donor retention. 

Donation management tools allow teams to facilitate the development of more sincere connections with supporters. Finding the best donation management software for your company is therefore essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 10 donor management software solutions that can help your institution or nonprofit thrive.

What Is Donor Management Software?

Donor Management Software (DMS) is a system that helps advancement teams keep track of supporters, their giving history, the events they attend, and the interactions your staff has with them. In a university setting, it becomes a place where alumni records, donor information, volunteer roles, and engagement activities live together, rather than being scattered across different tools.

Higher-ed data is complicated, as alumni stay connected for decades and often play several roles over time. Advancement-focused systems are built to handle that mix. They support features such as multi-decade records, college- or department-level designations, pledge schedules, soft credits, and others, which matter when teams across campus rely on the same information.

Most general CRMs aren’t designed for this kind of long-term, multi-role engagement. They usually fall short when you need to run reunion participation reports, manage major-gift portfolios, or connect across schools and student programs. That gap is why many institutions eventually look for software made specifically for advancement; it fits the realities of alumni relationships and the way higher-ed fundraising actually works.

Why Advancement teams need more than generic donor tools

Advancement work runs on long-term relationships, not short campaign cycles. Alumni stay connected for decades, and their roles shift as their lives do. That kind of relationship needs a system that understands how higher-ed engagement actually works. 

Here are the areas where generic tools usually fall short:

  • Alumni and donor lifecycles don’t follow a simple path- People move from student to alum to volunteer to parent donor to reunion chair, and a system needs to hold all of that without breaking.
  • Engagement and giving must sit in one ecosystem- Advancement teams rely on seeing event attendance, volunteer work, digital engagement, and giving decisions together—not in separate tabs or tools.
  • Reliable, real-time syncing with systems like RE NXT is a must- Without a two-way sync, records drift, stewardship misses updates, and teams end up managing spreadsheets on the side.
  • Segmentation in higher ed is deeper than basic demographics- Class year, degree, academic affiliation, athletic history, parent relationships, and household links all shape how you communicate.
  • Stewardship and data maintenance follow education-specific patterns- Think fund-based acknowledgements, pledge reminders, scholarship reporting, and alumni employment updates that happen continuously.
  • Events and giving have to talk to each other- Reunions, regional meetups, and Homecoming often lead to gifts, but only if attendance and giving data flow together.
  • Campaigns require reporting at many layers- Colleges, departments, athletics, and regional programs all expect accurate dashboards that reflect their part in the bigger picture.
  • Volunteer roles evolve- Class agents, reunion committees, student ambassadors, and advisory-board members all need clear tracking and communication tools.

Best donor management software for universities & advancement teams (2026)

Here’s a look at the donor management platforms most advancement teams should be considering in 2026, and what each one brings to the table- 

1. Almabase

https://www.almabase.com/ 

Almabase is built for institutions that want to modernize alumni engagement with a platform that feels intuitive for staff and alumni alike. It brings events, online giving pages, class-year groups, directories, and engagement tools into one ecosystem, giving advancement teams a clearer picture of how alumni stay connected over time.

Works best for:
Institutions that want a single place to run alumni engagement, manage event workflows, track participation, and gather updated alumni data without adding more manual processes. It works especially well for teams that want to deepen engagement across different alumni segments, recent grads, reunion clusters, volunteers, and mentors while keeping donor data organized and current.

Pros

  • Engagement tools (events, communities, mentorship, directories) are built specifically around how alumni interact with institutions, making it easier to track meaningful touchpoints.
  • Alumni data updates flow back into the CRM, helping institutions maintain cleaner records with far less staff effort.
  • Event registration, attendance, and giving activity are connected in one system, giving teams insight into patterns that influence fundraising readiness.
  • Segmenting alumni by class year, program, location, or affinity is straightforward, supporting more targeted communication strategies.

Cons

  • Customizing public-facing pages may require occasional technical support, depending on the institution’s needs.
  • Almabase doesn't offer a free tier or trial subsription, opting instead for personalized demos.

Price range: Custom / quote-based. Not published as a fixed package; cost depends on alumni/constituent volume and modules selected.

2. Bloomerang

https://bloomerang.com/ 

Works best for:
Smaller advancement teams or institutions establishing foundational fundraising practices and wanting a straightforward donor database with minimal training requirements.

Pros

  • Easy onboarding and a clean interface that non-technical staff can manage confidently.
  • Clear reporting and dashboards that support basic donor analysis and stewardship.
  • Streamlined acknowledgement and email workflows help teams communicate consistently.
  • A budget-friendly entry point for institutions building their development capacity.

Cons

  • Not designed for higher-ed–specific scenarios like multi-role alumni relationships, academic affiliations, or long-term engagement tracking.
  • Major-gift management and campaign reporting capabilities are more limited than enterprise systems.
  • Integration options are simpler, which may matter as advancement needs expand.

Price range: Entry plans typically start around US $125/month for small databases. The cost scales up as the contact count and features increase. 

3. Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT

https://www.blackbaud.com/products/blackbaud-crm 

Works best for:
Mid-sized and large advancement teams managing major gift pipelines, multiple gift types, stewardship programs, and unit-based fundraising. Institutions that need detailed reporting and coordinated advancement operations benefit most from its capabilities.

Pros

  • Extensive tools for portfolio and prospect management, stewardship, and donor pipeline tracking.
  • Advanced segmentation options support sophisticated annual giving and campaign strategies.
  • Dashboards and analytics help leadership monitor progress across units, funds, or campaigns.
  • Integrates with a wide ecosystem of tools commonly used in higher education.

Cons

  • Implementation and data migration require thoughtful planning and dedicated staff time.
  • Licensing and add-on modules can represent a significant investment, especially as databases grow.
  • Teams may need ongoing training to leverage the platform’s more advanced features fully.

Price range: Quote-based; licensing and cost vary depending on database size, modules chosen, and institution complexity (no publicly advertised “starting plan”).

4. Light Green Light

https://www.littlegreenlight.com/ 

Works best for:
Institutions that want to strengthen annual giving performance with more consistent, automated, and targeted outreach. It works well for teams that don’t have the capacity to manually manage segmented campaigns but still want communication that feels personal and intentional.

Pros

  • Automated, behavior-based journeys help institutions stay in touch with donors and non-donors throughout the year without heavy staff input.
  • Strong focus on converting first-time donors and improving retention rates through tailored messaging.
  • Easy to build multi-channel campaigns (email, video, digital touchpoints) that adapt to donor engagement patterns.
  • Useful dashboards that help annual giving teams measure momentum, gaps, and opportunities.

Cons

  • Best suited for annual giving, not for broader alumni engagement or multi-role relationship tracking.
  • Fundraising tools are somewhat basic and best suited to smaller organizations just moving away from spreadsheets for the first time. 

Price range: Billing starts at $486. Custom / quote-based. Public pricing isn’t available, so institutions need to request a tailored quote.

5. Graduway

https://gravyty.com/graduway/ 

Works best for:
Institutions that want a strong mentorship and networking platform to support career services, young alumni engagement, and community-building initiatives. It’s valuable for campuses prioritizing alumni-to-student support and long-term professional pathways.

Pros

  • Built-in mentoring programs make matching alumni and students easier and more scalable.
  • Career networking tools encourage meaningful interaction between alumni across industries and graduation years.
  • Offers community groups, event pages, and volunteer opportunities that foster a sense of belonging.
  • Integrations help institutions tie engagement back to advancement efforts when needed.

Cons

  • Institutions may need to invest time in onboarding users to fully activate the community.
  • Reporting is solid for engagement, but may require additional tools when institutions want deeper fundraising analytics.

Price range: Custom / quote-based. Like many alumni-engagement platforms, the cost depends on required modules, the number of alumni, and integration needs.

6. Hivebrite

https://hivebrite.io/ 

Works best for
Institutions that want a highly customizable online community with strong social features, group structures, and networking tools. It supports advancement, alumni relations, and career services teams that want a modern, branded digital hub.

Pros

  • Offers extensive customization options, enabling institutions to design a community that fits their culture and branding.
  • Strong support for sub-groups—class years, regional chapters, affinity groups, professional networks.
  • Built-in job boards, messaging, event management, and content features help institutions foster ongoing engagement.
  • Works for both alumni engagement and broader community-building beyond advancement.

Cons

  • Customization flexibility can mean more configuration time and decisions upfront.
  • Fundraising tools exist, but are not as specialized as those in donor-focused platforms.

Price range: Custom / quote-based. Final pricing depends on institution size, customization level, and modules activated.

7. GiveButter

https://givebutter.com/

Works best for
Small to mid-sized institutions or alumni groups that need an easy-to-launch giving experience for campaigns, events, and peer fundraising, especially teams that want low friction for donors and fast setup.  

Pros

  • Robust, easy-to-build donation and event pages with peer-to-peer and ticketing support.
  • Generous pricing model and fee approach public docs emphasize no platform fees on many plans and options for donors to cover processing.
  • Fast deployment and simple user experience for both staff and donors; good for time-limited campaigns (e.g., Giving Days). 

Cons

  • Best suited to fundraising and events rather than deep alumni lifecycle management; you may need an additional CRM to manage long-term alumni records.
  • Advanced customization or enterprise integrations can require vendor support or paid plans.

Price range: Free tier / standard plan widely promoted; paid/plus features and service options are quoted per account or use case.  

8. Neon CRM 

https://neonone.com/ 

Works best for
Organizations and small-to-mid advancement teams that want an all-in-one CRM with growing automation and event/volunteer features a middle ground between entry CRMs and enterprise systems.    

Pros

  • Clear tiering of features (Essentials → Impact → Empower), so teams can pick a plan that matches current needs and grow into more automation and integrations.
  • Strong event and volunteer modules alongside donor management, reducing the need for multiple point solutions.
  • Active support and an ecosystem of integrations for payments, accounting, and email. 

Cons 

  • As needs become more complex (advanced analytics, highly customized workflows), teams sometimes outgrow the out-of-the-box functionality and require custom work.
  • Some reviewers note plan limits (workflow counts, API usage) that make comparing total cost and capability important during procurement.

Price range: Public starting tiers cited around US$99/month (Essentials) up to the $400s for higher tiers; exact cost depends on features and contact volume. 

9. Keela

https://www.keela.co/ 

Works best for
Small advancement teams that want a user-friendly CRM with built-in automation and donor insight tools, and who prefer minimal external tool stitching.  

Pros

  • Strong focus on automation and donor journeys; built-in email and forms reduce the need for separate marketing tools.
  • Good support reputation and straightforward contact/donor management for teams with limited technical resources.
  • Tools for data hygiene (duplicate detection, merge suggestions) that help keep records clean as databases grow.

Cons 

  • Some users report gaps in niche integrations (e.g., certain payment processors or campus systems), so check your key integration needs during evaluation.
  • Event ticketing and some advanced features may not be as mature as in specialized event or enterprise platforms. 

Price range: entry pricing starts from roughly US$99/month for small contact bands, with step-ups as contact counts increase.  

10. Virtuous

https://virtuous.org/ 

Works best for
Mid-sized advancement teams that want a modern fundraising platform with tight marketing automation and a focus on donor experience teams that want donor journeys and responsive communications built into the CRM. 

Pros

  • Integrated marketing and fundraising workflows that reduce the need for separate marketing platforms.
  • Emphasis on automated donor journeys and data-driven stewardship which can improve retention and recurring gifts.
  • Positive industry recognition and user sentiment around usability and customer support.   

Cons 

  • Pricing and packaging can vary; teams should confirm what’s included (email volume, contact bands, users) because costs can rise with scale.
  • Organizations with highly specialized prospect research or wealth-screening needs may pair Virtuous with a dedicated intelligence tool. 

Price range: Public and partner-site references show entry plans and per-contact pricing; typical starting points in market scans land in the low hundreds per month, with higher tiers for expanded contact counts and features.

How advancement teams can evaluate the right donor management system

Choosing a donor management system starts with getting clear about where your team struggles today and what actually moves your advancement work forward. A good evaluation process makes those gaps visible to you, and here’s a practical way to approach it-

  • Map your current data pain points- List where information breaks: duplicate alumni records, missing event history, unreliable volunteer data, or gifts that don’t sync cleanly. This gives you a baseline for what the new system must fix.

  • Understand your RE NXT integration needs- If your teams depend on RE NXT, outline what a seamless, two-way sync should look like. Identify the fields, gift types, and activities that must be updated in real time.

  • Consider engagement-first platforms- Look for systems that bring events, digital engagement, volunteer roles, and giving activity into one place. Advancement decisions rely on the full picture, not just donation history.

  • Calculate manual workload savings- Estimate hours spent today on data cleanup, spreadsheet merging, reporting, and stewardship tasks. A good system should significantly reduce that load.

  • Align the choice with advancement KPIs- Match features to the metrics you report on participation, donor retention, pipeline development, reunion performance, volunteers, and campaign progress. The right DMS should make these easier to track and act on.

How Almabase serves as a modern donor management solution for advancement

Advancement work often ends up spread across too many systems, giving here, events there, engagement somewhere in between. Almabase pulls those pieces into one workflow, which is why Thomas Aquinas College found it easier to steady their digital outreach once everything lived in the same place.

A lot of the lift comes from TrueSync, the native RE NXT integration that keeps profiles, gifts, and event activity aligned without connectors. Illinois Tech leaned on this when they wanted their CRM to reflect real alumni behavior, not a version of it that needed constant cleanup.

With the data stitched together, segmentation becomes less of a project and more of a natural part of the work—class years, programs, regions, affinities, volunteer roles. It’s the kind of setup that makes targeted outreach feel less like a campaign and more like a conversation.

On the fundraising side, teams get a donor pipeline view that surfaces who’s warming up or re-engaging. It’s simple enough to use every day, and the Engagement Tile in RE NXT keeps that context right where fundraisers already spend their time.

Campaigns get the benefit of custom giving pages shaped around each audience. Loma Linda University used that flexibility during a campaign that eventually crossed $1.5M, helped by pages that matched how different groups preferred to give.

Altogether, Almabase gives advancement teams a cleaner path forward. When all these pieces sit inside one rhythm, advancement work feels less like managing systems and more like guiding relationships, which is the part of the job that matters most.

Conclusion

Advancement teams are operating in a very different landscape than they were even a few years ago. The systems we choose either add weight to that reality or make the work lighter.

The thread running through all the platforms you explored is simple: the right system should help people work smarter, not harder. It should reduce the friction around data, make segmentation feel natural, support fundraising strategy, and give teams a clearer sense of who’s ready for a conversation or a nudge.

As you evaluate donor management software, the real test isn’t the feature list. It’s whether the tool helps your team build relationships with more intention and less administrative drag. 

Thinking about how a modern DMS could fit into your institution's needs? Let’s talk through how Almabase can make the most difference for your team.

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Sharada Koti

‍Sharada is a freelance blogger and communication trainer who loves exploring the intersection of education and training. When not working, she enjoys reading and dabbling in calligraphy.

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Event planning in the education sector is no small feat. From homecoming and graduation ceremonies to parent-teacher conferences and student workshops, K-12 schools and higher education institutions juggle a dizzying array of events each year. The right event management software can be a game-changer—streamlining registrations, automating communications, and ensuring every detail runs smoothly. In this guide, we'll break down what event management software is, what features to look for, and the top solutions for 2026 that are transforming event coordination software for schools, colleges, and universities.

What Is Event Management Software?

An event management software is a digital platform designed to streamline the entire event lifecycle—from planning and promotion to registration, execution, and post-event analytics. These event planning software solutions centralize all event-related tasks, making it easier to coordinate logistics, track attendees, manage communications, and measure event success. For educational institutions, an event management tool can handle everything from classroom bookings and campus tours to large-scale conferences and alumni reunions.

Modern event management platforms often offer features such as:

  • Online registration and ticketing
  • Automated email reminders and updates
  • Attendee check-in and badge printing
  • Event website and mobile app creation
  • Payment processing and fundraising tools
  • Real-time analytics and reporting

By automating manual processes and centralizing information, these platforms help schools and universities save time, reduce errors, and deliver a seamless experience for staff, students, parents, and alumni.

What to Look For in Event Management Software

With so many event management tools on the market, it’s important to choose one that fits your institution’s specific needs. Here are key factors to consider:

  • Ease of Use: Intuitive interface for both administrators and attendees.
  • Customization: Ability to tailor event pages, registration forms, and communications to your school’s branding.
  • Integration: Compatibility with your existing Student Information System (SIS), Learning Management System (LMS), or CRM.
  • Communication Tools: Automated emails, SMS reminders, and in-app notifications.
  • Payment Processing: Secure options for ticket sales, donations, or paid programs.
  • Analytics & Reporting: Real-time dashboards and exportable reports for attendance, engagement, and ROI.
  • Mobile Access: Event apps or mobile-friendly portals for on-the-go management.
  • Support & Training: Responsive customer support and onboarding resources.

Best Event Management Software Options for K-12 & Higher Ed (2026)

Below, in no particular order, are our picks of some of the top event management software platforms making waves in the education sector this year.

1.Almabase

Almabase is an all-in-one event management platform designed specifically for educational advancement, alumni relations, and fundraising teams. It streamlines the planning and execution of complex events—whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid—while offering seamless CRM integration and a user-friendly interface.

Pros:

  • Intuitive and easy-to-use for both admins and attendees, with quick event setup and branded registration pages.
  • Seamless integration Raiser's Edge NXT, enabling real-time data sync and simplified gift reconciliation.
  • Robust automation for event communications, reminders, and reporting, reducing manual work and errors.
  • Flexible enough to handle everything from small gatherings to large, multi-day events, with strong tools for fundraising and stewardship

Cons:

  • Almabase does not offer a free trial or free tier of it’s services
  • No dedicated mobile app for on-the-go management

Pricing:

Almabase offers personialized custom pricing based on your needs, number of constituent records, etc. You can request a personalized demo here

2.Blackbaud

Blackbaud is a comprehensive solution built for large nonprofits and institutions, offering robust event planning, CRM, and analytics tools. Its event management features are deeply integrated with donor data to maximize fundraising outcomes.

Pros:

  • Purpose-built for fundraising, with robust tools to manage donor relationships, track gifts, and run complex campaigns.
  • Customizable reporting and analytics features enable organizations to tailor fundraising strategies and monitor progress toward goals.
  • Integrated event management, online registration, and ticketing designed for nonprofit needs

Cons:

  • High costs for training, support, and additional modules, which can be a barrier for smaller organizations.
  • Data migration can be a lengthy and cumbersome process depending on your institution

Pricing:

Custom pricing. Request a quote.

3. Cvent

Cvent delivers enterprise-grade solutions trusted by higher education institutions managing complex, large-scale events—from campus-wide conferences to alumni reunions.

Pros:

  • Supports mass updates and bulk communications.
  • Deep integration with CRM and marketing tools, making it ideal for institutions with existing tech stacks.
  • Advanced analytics and reporting for post-event insights.

Cons:

  • The platform’s extensive options can be confusing and require significant onboarding, especially for smaller institutions.
  • Some users report inflexible or slow support team responses at certain times

Pricing:

Custom pricing. Request a demo.

4. OneCause

OneCause is designed specifically for nonprofit fundraising events, offering features like mobile bidding, ticketing, and donor engagement tools. It helps organizations streamline auctions, galas, and peer-to-peer campaigns with ease.

Pros:

  • User-friendly platform with an intuitive interface, making it easy for admins and first-time users to set up and manage events.
  • Comprehensive fundraising toolkit, including online auctions, donation tracking, event management, and credit card processing.
  • Excellent support team, with resources like tutorials, webinars, and a dedicated help center to assist users

Cons:

  • Event website builder can be cumbersome, requiring external links for images and videos instead of direct uploads.

- Integration between different modules (e.g., Mobile Bidding Software and Virtual Event Center) is lacking, leading to duplicated processes and manual workarounds

Pricing:

Custom pricing. Request a demo.

5. idloom

Idloom is crafted specifically for universities and colleges, supporting diverse academic events from online examinations to graduation ceremonies.

Pros:

  • Flexible event structures—supports recurring sessions, multi-day events, and hybrid formats.
  • Departmental autonomy: Each department can manage its own events with custom branding and access rights.
  • Integrated communication tools for reminders, surveys, and post-event certificates.

Cons:

  • Some users report that the interface, while powerful, can be less intuitive for non-technical staff.
  • Advanced features (like custom badges or analytics) may require additional setup or training.

Pricing:

Custom pricing. Request a demo.

6. Eventbrite

Eventbrite is a versatile event management platform perfect for everything from concerts to community meetups. It offers intuitive tools for ticketing, promotion, and on-site check-ins, making it easy to manage both virtual and in-person events.

Pros:

  • Highly accessible and easy-to-use event creation and ticketing tools for both in-person and virtual events of any size.
  • Can handle donations directly through the platform, allowing organizers to create donation ticket types and collect contributions alongside ticket sales.
  • Offers a 50% discount on all Pro plans for eligible nonprofits, making it a cost-effective solution for charitable organizations.

Cons:

  • Limited customization options for event pages and registration flows.
  • Some users report a steep learning curve for advanced features and event setup.
  • Some users report occasionally slow responses from customer support as well as a lack of transaction security for attendees.

Pricing:

Pricing is 2% + $0.79 per paid ticket (Essentials) or 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket (Professional); free for free events. See pricing.

7. Eventcube

Eventcube is a white-label event management platform for K-12 schools and higher education institutions. It helps you manage all the in-person, virtual, and hybrid events with full control. This includes your branding, ticketing, and attendee engagement.

It is designed for flexibility and accessibility. This makes Eventcube reliable for day-to-day events like open days, student conferences, parent meetings, community gathering and even virtual graduation ceremonies.

Pros:

  • Fully white-labeled ticketing and registration systems so schools and institutions can showcase their activities.
  • Built-in tools for hybrid & virtual events with interactive features like Q&A, polls, breakout rooms along with HD streaming real-time captioning.
  • Tiered memberships and season passes are perfect for managing specific alumnis, clubs, and student groups.
  • Transparent, flexible pricing with instant payouts and no hidden fees.

Cons:

  • Some setup features may require la level of technical onboarding

Pricing:

Eventcube offers tiered pricing. 5% of the transaction total for the Starter package which is free. 3% of the transaction total for Pro along $99 a month. And custom Enterprise options. You can start with a demo or create a branded ticket store directly on Eventcube.

8. Giveffect

Giveffect combines event management with nonprofit automation, allowing you to handle ticketing, email campaigns, and donor records in one platform. It’s ideal for organizations looking to unify event planning with fundraising and CRM.

Pros:

  • All-in-one platform that centralizes event management, volunteer coordination, and donor tracking, reducing the need for multiple systems.
  • Seamless integration of volunteer and donation data, allowing for comprehensive supporter profiles and easy access to analytics.
  • Customizable event pages and donation forms that can reflect the nonprofit’s brand and include real-time fundraising progress bars

Cons:

  • Higher price point, which may be prohibitive for smaller nonprofits despite the robust feature set.
  • Data migration and automation can potentially be glitchy, leading to issues such as erroneous emails or incomplete data transfers during onboarding.

Pricing:

Custom pricing. Request a demo.

9. Remo

Remo, now integrated with Events.com, delivers an immersive platform for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, with unique emphasis on networking and engagement.

Pros:

  • Fast and simple check-in via app; supports QR code scanning and mobile access.
  • Customizable event spaces and real-time networking tools for interactive experiences.
  • AI-powered matchmaking and analytics for attendee engagement.

Cons:

  • Unconventional interface: The unique, interactive design can be confusing for users accustomed to traditional event tools.
  • Customization learning curve: Customizing event spaces and features requires time to learn.

Pricing:

Starts at $299 per month. See pricing.

10. Qgiv by Bloomerang

Qgiv supports nonprofits with customizable tools for event registration, peer-to-peer fundraising, and mobile giving. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to plan and promote fundraising events of all sizes.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface designed specifically for nonprofit fundraising, making it easy to set up donation forms and manage events.
  • Supports a variety of fundraising activities, including peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, and ticketed events.
  • Real-time analytics and reporting tools to monitor campaign performance and donor engagement.

Cons:

  • Qgiv may feel limited for seasoned professionals who want to organize donor and transaction data in many different ways simultaneously.
  • Advanced features, such as text-to-give and auction management, may require additional fees or higher-tier plans.

Pricing:

Plans start at $0/month with no contracts, plus a 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction fee. Learn more.

Conclusion

Choosing the right event management software can transform how your institution plans, promotes, and executes events—whether you’re managing a single school assembly or a multi-day university conference. The platforms highlighted above offer a range of solutions tailored for K-12 and higher education, each with unique strengths and a few caveats to consider. Take advantage of free demos, explore user reviews, and assess your specific needs to find the event management tool that will best support your school’s goals in 2026 and beyond.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore event ideas that raise money and connect with alumni or see how advanced event management can drive registrations and engagement for your institution.

Almabase events book demo

Best Event Management Tools for K-12 & Higher Ed (2026)

We're helping you break down what you should look in an event management software, along with some of our top picks for 2026 to power your events.

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April 30, 2025

12 minutes

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The best peer-to-peer fundraising platforms help educational institutions and nonprofits boost donor engagement through personalized giving pages, social fundraising, and CRM integration. These tools streamline campaigns with built-in analytics, gamification, and mobile optimization. While some options are completely free, others cater to large-scale fundraisers that require advanced data synchronization and scalability.

The right tools can make all the difference in modern fundraising. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the best options on the market and explore what you can expect out of them.

Key takeaways

  • Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms offer technology that enables supporters to fundraise on behalf of your nonprofit or institution.
  • Almabase is the most comprehensive, well-integrated peer-to-peer platform for higher education institutions and prioritizes donor experience and personalized communications.
  • When choosing a platform, consider its features, scalability, user experience, learning curve for adoption, pricing, support and roadmaps, security, and customer reviews.

Peer-to-peer fundraising platform basics

Peer-to-peer fundraising defined

Peer-to-peer fundraising, or P2P fundraising, is a type of crowdfunding in which your organization encourages its supporters to fundraise for your cause. Typically, these supporters will create an individual fundraising page and share it with their friends, family members, and social media followers to raise money.

A peer-to-peer fundraising site is the software that allows your supporters to create a donation page, share it with their personal network, and collect donations to support your mission. 

Key peer-to-peer fundraising site features

Typically, most fundraising tools today include features such as:

  • The ability to create both a general campaign page and individual fundraising pages
  • Seamless social sharing capabilities
  • A mobile-friendly interface
  • Quick and easy set-up
  • Multiple giving options (e.g., one-time, recurring, pledged gifts)
  • Automatic donor communications (e.g., donation receipts and thank-you emails)
  • Segmentation tools 
  • Gamification tools like leaderboards or challenges that promote engagement
  • Robust reporting and analytics
  • Integration with your constituent relationship management system (CRM) and tech stack

Peer-to-peer fundraising platform pricing

When shopping for a peer-to-peer fundraising tool, you’ll need to weigh the cost of the tool against the value it provides. However, it can be difficult to know the true cost of using the platform, depending on the software’s pricing structure. Get familiar with these common structures:

  • Subscription or flat platform fee: Pay a recurring monthly or annual fee to use the software.
  • Transaction fee: There is no upfront platform fee, but the provider takes a certain percentage of the money raised.
  • Donor tipping: Platforms that use this model are typically free, and your organization receives 100% of the funds raised. The vendor makes money by having donors leave a tip on top of their donation.
  • Tiered pricing: Some platforms offer free basic plans with limited features but require users to upgrade to higher-priced tiers to access advanced features.

To compare tools with different pricing structures, calculate what each platform will cost you, on average, for a certain period of time.

CASE Insights on Giving Days (2025 Observations)

Top 10 fundraising platforms for institutions and nonprofit donations

Whether you’re a K-12 school ,higher ed institution, or a nonprofit, in no particular order, here are some peer-to-peer fundraising platforms that you should consider:


Platform

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Almabase

Native sync with advancement CRMs

Best-in-industry sync with RE NXT

Built for donor experience and personalization

Easy to set up with 24/7 support

Less experience with nonprofits

Customer-led feedback loop may slow down new feature requests

Price is based on customer needs and alumni size.

GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy)

Easy to use

Great integration with CRMs and other fundraising platforms

Responsive support team

Usually nonprofit-centric

Relatively high pricing

GoFundMe Pro has a standard and custom plan based on your needs

Bloomerang Fundraising

Great choice for Bloomerang CRM users

Offers great gamification for donor engagement

Good auction features

Usually nonprofit-centric

Relatively high pricing, as it has a package fee on top of transaction fees

P2P fundraising module at $259 per month or $687 per quarter + 4.95% + $0.30 per transaction processing fee

Zeffy

No fees of any kind

Offers tools to brainstorm, find grants, or start a nonprofit.

Easy to use for both staff and donors

Platform monetization relies on optional tips, which may confuse donors

Usually nonprofit-centric

No fee for customers. Relies on optional tips from donors for revenue

Donorbox

Easy to set up and use

Good reporting and donor segmentation tools

Integrations require additional fees

Customer support is limited to email

Flat 1.75% platform fee for a main campaign and 2.95% for a supporter’s campaign

Bonfire

Zero inventory risk or upfront costs



Bonfire handles the logistics



Supporters receive a tangible item for their contribution



Verified nonprofits receive exclusive benefits

Merchandise may not fit every peer-to-peer campaign structure



Net funds raised per transaction may be lower than direct donations

Selling through Bonfire is free, and transaction fees are 3.5% for verified nonprofit organizations.

Givebutter

Easy to set up and navigate for staff and supporters

Allows opting for platform fees or donor tips

Good integration with payment and social platforms

Usually nonprofit-centric

Opting out of donor tips can be costly, as per reviews

Charges 1% for donation forms, 3% for pages, and 5% for events and auctions, as well as a payment processing charge of 2.9% + ¢0.30 per transaction

GiveCampus

Requires getting used to, but is easy to use after initial setup

Supports most mobile wallets and several cryptocurrencies

Specializes in giving days and fundraisers

Lack of robust digital engagement tools and CRM integration

Customer support is limited to email

One of the more expensive options in the industry

Three-tiered pricing plan depending on your needs

JustGiving

Great fit for Blackbaud native teams

Simplistic approach makes it accessible for small teams and one-off events

Mainly focuses on charities

Reviews mention that the user interface could be better

Platform and standard processing fees based on platform and location

Gravyty

Experience with both institutions and nonprofits

Offers additional solutions for community building

Host of AI-powered features

High learning curve

Requires relatively high time and monetary investment

Contact for pricing

Bonterra

Great for multiple campaigns and events at once

In-depth reporting tools

Good for social and mobile fundraising

Steep learning curve to get the full potential

Users want more customization options and say communication features look outdated

Three-tiered pricing plan depending on your needs

(Prices are based on publicly available data at the time of writing and are subject to change over time)

1. Almabase

Almabase runs on a philosophy of integrating into your CRM and existing workflows, which remains true for their peer-to-peer fundraising features. Almabase boasts native sync with most higher-ed CRMs due to their TrueSync integration, combined with superior customer support and a willingness to integrate your ideas into their long-term vision. Almabase offers customizable pages and leaderboards powered with inbuilt text and email communication features built to drive donor engagement through organic and personalized communication.

Raise funds with Almabase

Pros

  • Almabase fits seamlessly into most educational institutions’ CRMs, making transition from other solutions smooth and transparent.
  • It has the industry’s best two-way sync with Blackbaud’s RE NXT and Blackbaud CRM, eliminating the need for manual data pulls and syncs.
  • It values donor experience and personalized communication and has built its features with them in mind. These features require little to no coding and allow automation and personalization.
  • It is easy to set up, with a support team that focuses on quick response and resolution.

Cons

  • As a platform catering mostly to educational institutions, they may not be as experienced in working with nonprofits yet.
  • As Almabase’s roadmap depends largely on user feedback, new features requested by newer users may take a while to be implemented.

Pricing

Almabase’s pricing depends entirely on your needs. Learn how Almabase empowers your p2p strategy, Schedule a personalized demo and get a quote.

2. GoFundMe Pro

GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy) is a peer-to-peer fundraising platform optimized for maximum nonprofit impact. It provides ready-to-use templates for scalable, high-impact campaigns and equips supporters with intuitive tools to advocate for the cause. 

GoFundMe Pro offers features like campaign templating, embedded videos and livestreams, progress thermometers, team structures, and mobile-optimized pages. The platform also supports recurring gift options and flexible payment processing, and has a mobile- and user-friendly interface.

Pros

  • Over the past few years, GoFundMe Pro has established itself as one of the most user-friendly platforms.
  • It has great integration capacity with CRMs and other fundraising platforms.
  • It boasts a responsive and helpful customer support team.

Cons

  • GoFundMe Pro usually caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs
  • Many reviewers mention its relatively high pricing

Pricing

GoFundMe Pro offers a standard “Essentials” plan and a “Partner” custom plan.

3. Bloomerang Fundraising

Bloomerang Fundraising (formerly Qgiv) is a fundraising platform offering tools for donation management, event planning, and donor engagement. It provides features like customizable donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, and text-to-give options

Pros

  • The solution integrates seamlessly into Bloomerang’s CRM, making it an easy choice for current Bloomerang users.
  • It offers team fundraising and other gamification features for better donor engagement.
  • Many reviewers praise its auction features.

Cons

  • Bloomerang Fundraising is mostly centered around nonprofits, and its functionality for institutions may be limited.
  • Smaller nonprofits and associations might find the pricing to be a bit high, considering it requires transaction fees on top of the package fees.

Pricing

Bloomerang Fundraising starts at $40 per month if purchased as part of a bundle with Bloomerang CRM.

4. Zeffy

Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits, offering peer-to-peer fundraising, crowdfunding, donation pages, and recurring giving options. This tool generates revenue through optional tips that donors can provide in addition to their donation. It allows fundraisers to join as individuals or teams and create their own fundraising pages.  The platform is also known for being simple, intuitive, and customizable

Pros

  • Uniquely charges no fees of any kind.
  • Offers tools to brainstorm, find grants, or start a nonprofit.
  • Reviewers mention that it is easy to use for both staff and donors.

Cons

  • Some donors not aware of Zeffy’s approach may be confused by the optional tip.
  • Zeffy caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs.

Pricing

Zeffy has no fees and instead runs on optional tips from donors.

5. DonorBox

Donorbox is a fundraising platform that allows nonprofits to launch peer-to-peer fundraisers in a few steps. It provides customizable donation forms and supports recurring donations via various payment methods. 

Donorbox also offers features for managing donors, sending personalized emails, and recording donor communications. The platform provides resources like onboarding emails, courses, and templates to support nonprofits in their fundraising efforts.

Pros

  • Incredibly easy to set up and use.
  • It has good reporting and supporter segmenting features.

Cons

  • Integrations require additional fees.
  • Customer support is limited to email, according to some reviews.

Pricing

For peer-to-peer fundraisers, Donorbox charges a flat 1.75% platform fee for a main campaign and 2.95% for a supporter’s campaign.

6. Bonfire

Bonfire specializes in fundraising through custom merchandise sales. Nonprofits, schools, and even individuals can design their own custom merch and sell it via Bonfire’s free online stores

Bonfire supports peer-to-peer campaigns (which it refers to as “giving campaigns”) by allowing your supporters to create and share t-shirt fundraisers on behalf of your organization—then, all of the money they raise is sent directly to your nonprofit. 

Pros

  • Zero inventory risk or upfront costs; products are printed on demand.
  • Bonfire manages logistics, including the printing, processing, and shipping of orders.
  • Supporters receive a tangible item for their contribution and serve as "walking billboards" for your mission when they wear them.
  • Verified nonprofits receive exclusive benefits, including reduced processing fees and access to downloadable supporter contact lists.

Cons

  • The platform is focused on merchandise, which may not fit every type of peer-to-peer campaign structure.
  • The net funds raised per transaction may be lower than direct donations due to the cost of the physical product.

Pricing

Bonfire is completely free to use, and your nonprofit keeps 100% of the profits. There’s an 8% processing fee on additional donations, but if you verify your nonprofit status with Bonfire, that fee is reduced to 3.5%

7. Givebutter

Givebutter provides tools to launch peer-to-peer campaigns, complete with donation forms, fundraising pages, event management, a built-in CRM, and marketing tools to analyze your progress and streamline workflows. Their fundraiser teams offer a great choice for organizations looking to gamify their peer-to-peer fundraisers as well.

Pros

  • Easy to set up and navigate for both staff and donors.
  • A suite of free tools with monetization that allows opting for a platform fee or donor tips instead of a platform subscription.
  • Has good integration with payment and social media platforms.

Cons

  • Givebutter primarily caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs.
  • Some customers say that payment charges can be relatively costly if the organization opts out of donor tipping.

Pricing

Givebutter offers a popular “free forever” plan, as well as a paid option starting at $29/month. If your organization opts out of having donors cover fees, Givebutter charges 1% for donation forms, 3% for pages, and 5% for events and auctions, as well as a payment processing charge of 2.9% + ¢0.30 per transaction.

8. GiveCampus

GiveCampus is a fundraising platform for educational institutions, providing solutions for online giving, giving days, crowdfunding, P2P fundraising, and more. It blends peer-to-peer outreach, social media, and gamification to engage more donors and increase fundraising. The platform allows schools to execute giving days, year-end appeals, and crowdfunding campaigns. 

GiveCampus also offers features like matches and challenges to inspire donors and make them feel like their contributions are making a difference

Pros

  • While some users report a learning curve to the platform, it is known to be extremely easy to use once you get used to it.
  • GiveCampus supports most existing mobile wallets as well as several cryptocurrencies.
  • It specializes in giving days and fundraisers for educational institutions, making it a great choice if you fit the niche.

Cons

  • GiveCampus excels at Giving Days, but may not be as robust for digital engagement and CRM integration
  • Their customer support, while reportedly excellent, is limited to email at the time of writing
  • As one of the premium options within educational fundraising, it is one of the more expensive options.

Pricing

GiveCampus has three platform plans: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. Additionally, pricing will vary depending on the modules you require.

9. JustGiving

As a Blackbaud product, JustGiving is a great choice if you are used to the Blackbaud CRM environment. Compared to other platforms on this list, JustGiving is relatively simple both in its presentation and its scope. This makes it an easy choice for teams just starting out or looking for something simple for a one-off event. However, there may be better choices for teams that want a more comprehensive solution that spans multiple fundraisers and year-long campaigns.

Pros

  • Good choice for Blackbaud native teams that enjoy the CRM environment
  • Its simplistic approach makes it accessible to smaller or less experienced teams that want to plan a simple event.

Cons

  • JustGiving mainly caters to charities and similar initiatives
  • Some customers mention that the user interface can be clunky at times

Pricing

JustGiving charges platform fees and a standard payment processing fee based on your geographical location and payment platform. Crowdfunding pages are free to set up. While UK charities do not need to pay a platform fee, they do have a subscription model.

10. Gravyty

Gravyty leverages predictive AI technology to provide frontline fundraisers with personalized insights into donor behavior. This innovative approach helps organizations enhance their outreach efforts by automating email drafts tailored to individual donors while integrating seamlessly with existing CRM systems. Gravyty's focus on personalization empowers fundraisers to build stronger relationships with donors.

Pros

  • Gravyty has experience working with both educational institutions and nonprofits.
  • For customers looking for a comprehensive package, it offers complementary solutions to find, engage, and build communities for donors and alumni.
  • Gravyty boasts AI-powered features for better personalization and donor engagement.

Cons

  • An integrated and digital-engagement-driven platform naturally comes with a steeper learning curve.
  • Will require time and investment to get the most out of the suite of solutions Gravyty offers.

Pricing

While some information is available online, interested organizations will need to contact Gravyty for a custom quote.

11. Bonterra Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

Bonterra’s peer-to-peer fundraising product (formerly DonorDrive) offers smart and customizable P2P fundraising solutions that empower supporters to create personalized experiences at scale. Its features include an intuitive event builder, personalized coaching for fundraisers, gamification elements like leaderboards, social media integrations, and seamless CRM integration, which enhances supporter engagement significantly

Pros

  • Great for running multiple events and campaigns simultaneously.
  • Has great custom reporting tools that can go in-depth if set up correctly.
  • Good for mobile and social media fundraising.

Cons

  • It has a steep learning curve that requires some expertise to get the most out of it.
  • Some reviews mention that they wish Bonterra offered more customization options and note that its communication features look outdated.

Pricing

Bonterra offers three tiers—Essentials, Pro, and Enterprise—with pricing based on customer needs.

How to choose the best peer-to-peer fundraising site

With so many unique platforms out there, choosing the right one can be a little overwhelming. However, there are several key factors to consider when selecting the right peer-to-peer fundraising software for your team:

1. Features

Each platform will offer peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities, but you should dig a little deeper to find the right fit for your needs. For example, if you are a small team looking to organize a quick fundraiser, you may end up paying for features you don’t need. On the other hand, if you are looking for a long-term solution, a platform without built-in analytics would be a dealbreaker. Look for features that boost, rather than hamper, your fundraising efforts, and aim for a high return on investment.

2. Scalability

Many teams want a tool that scales up alongside them as they engage more donors and alumni, but there is often a point where their needs outgrow the platform. To avoid this, consider both your short-term and long-term goals to determine if the platform’s upgraded pricing tiers will meet your team’s requirements later on. This way, you can simply upgrade to a plan with more advanced features or storage rather than migrating to a completely new platform.

3. User experience

Your staff, fundraisers, and donors should all have positive, smooth experiences when engaging with your fundraising pages. For example, if you want to sell custom merch, both the designing process and purchasing process should be easy and intuitive for supporters. From payment processing to reporting workflows to page load times, there are many aspects you should ask about or test out during a free trial or demo to see if a platform is the right one for you.

4. Learning curve

Some solutions come with a relatively low learning curve but offer limited functionality. Some, on the other hand, can be the driving force behind all your fundraising strategies but may require in-depth technical and/or coding experience. Try to find a balance between the training time required and potential functionality to ensure high adoption.

5. Pricing

Pricing is a key consideration for any tool, but it’s also important to consider the nuances that may arise down the line. Always consider the rates associated with upfront costs, renewals, transaction fees, upgraded plans, and other relevant expenses. Additionally, switching to a new platform inevitably leads to more expenses through database transfers and staff upskilling. Consult with your database managers and other staff members before making a decision.

6. Support and roadmaps

In the event that something goes wrong, you need to be able to reach the platform provider to resolve the issue. Keep factors like response times on live chat or email support channels in mind. For the long term, you also want to support platforms that onboard customer feedback and have detailed roadmaps for upcoming features.

7. Security

Both your staff and donors need to be assured that sensitive data like payment information will be kept safe and secure. Always look out for a platform’s data encryption measures, as well as its compliance and authentication processes, to see if it inspires confidence from your donors.

8. Customer reviews

Third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra offer insight into what customers think about specific tools. Keep in mind that these reviews are subjective, but they can be a great indication of how a platform is perceived overall, highlighting positive and negative software trends.

Peer-to-peer fundraising site FAQs

Which fundraising website is the best?

There is no single “best” fundraising website, but you can find the one that is best for your organization. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals, budget, audience, and campaign type.

Can I integrate my peer-to-peer fundraising platform with my CRM?

Yes, a reputable fundraising platform should be able to integrate with your CRM to ensure donor data flows automatically into your central database. This eliminates data silos and the need for manual data transfers. 

Is there a better site than GoFundMe?

GoFundMe is a popular tool for personal crowdfunding, but it may lack the tools you need to run a full-fledged campaign. The platforms referenced in this guide offer the specialized tools mission-driven organizations need for branding, tracking donor data, and communications.

What is the difference between crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising?

Crowdfunding is a centralized process led by your organization using a single donation page. On the other hand, peer-to-peer campaigns decentralize fundraising, empowering many supporters to help you raise money. Peer-to-peer campaigns empower supporters to help you raise money, meaning there are many people fundraising for your cause. Make sure your platform has the tools to support a peer-to-peer campaign.

How can I keep peer-to-peer fundraisers engaged?

Look for platforms that include gamification features, such as fundraising thermometers, badges, and leaderboards. These tools spark friendly competition among fundraisers and help them visualize their progress to maintain momentum and engagement.

Wrapping up

We hope we’ve given you the tools you need to choose or at least consider some of the best peer-to-peer fundraising solutions out there, as well as the questions you need to ask yourself before adopting one. Whether you’re a higher ed institution optimizing your peer-to-peer fundraisers or a K-12 school just looking to get started, we hope you pick out the right solution and can make a great positive change.

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If you’ve had successful peer-to-peer fundraisers before, learn how you can build a peer-to-peer fundraising community to help you keep providing meaningful experiences

11 great peer-to-peer fundraising platforms for Institutions and Nonprofits 2026

Explore 11 of the best peer-to-peer fundraising sites for schools, higher ed, and nonprofits. Discover how to select the right one for your fundraising needs.

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February 21, 2025

12 minutes

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Alumni are one of an institution’s greatest assets and engaging them isn’t just a matter of maintaining their bond with your institution, but also strengthening it. This is where alumni management software come in to help teams reach out to an ever-increasing alumni population.

Over time, it has developed into its own market with many great choices available. In this blog, we’d like to present you with some of the best options available and what you need to consider so that you can find the best alumni management software for you.

What is an alumni management software?

First things first, let’s understand what you should expect from an alumni management software. It serves as the central hub for all alumni bookkeeping and engagement efforts.

It works with your alumni database and/or CRM to maintain an up-to-date directory of your alumni. With this data, it allows you to segment, analyze, and engage your alumni for all your fundraising, communication, and networking needs. Today, alumni management tools can automate directory updates, personalize and automate communication, manage events and programs, and serve as the main hub for all your analytics and reports for these and other efforts. Some tools focus on excelling at a specific offering, such as directory management, while others offer an integrated approach that encompasses your entire alumni relations efforts.

10 alumni management software to consider in 2026

Below, in no particular order, we’ve compiled a list of 10 alumni management software you should consider in 2026.


Platform

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Almabase

Best-in-industry sync with RE NXT

Specialized tools to run engagement programs


Easy setup and extensive CRM integration


24/7 support via chat and email
No free trial or free tier

Less experience with nonprofits and NGOs

Price is based on customer needs and alumni size.

Peoplegrove

Good platform for career advancement features


Specialized tools for mentor/mentee matching
Some reviews mention data integration issues


Can be difficult to learn for some according to reviews
No public pricing. Requires talking to sales team.

Hivebrite

Good community-building and online interaction management features


Many reviews praise customer support
Steep learning curve


One of the more expensive options

Some reviews mention limited customization outside of templates
Three pricing tiers: Connect, Scale, and Enterprise
Graduway
by Gravyty

Integrates with several CRMs

Provides fundraising solutions

Customization options may feel restrictive for some users

Some reviews mention limited customer support
No public pricing. Requires talking to sales team.

Encompass
by Encoura


Unified data across features for better analytics

Good for positive Encoura users


Steep learning curve


Can sometimes feel clunky and dated

No public pricing. Requires talking to sales team.

Evertrue


Allows Facebook interaction tracking



Provides interaction and giving history tracking


Syncs with software like Eventbrite, Emma, Thankview, etc.


Reliant on alumni using Facebook to make the most of it



Some users mention lackluster CRM integration

No public pricing. Requires talking to sales team.

360Alumni


Integrates with Blackbaud and Salesforce


Has features such as alumni maps and alumni directories


Also provides fundraising and event management features


Some users mention high pricing


Due to being a sophisticated platform, it can discourage less advanced users

Requires an initial setup cost, an annual subscription, and transaction fees.

Wild Apricot


Features website builder and online store


User-friendly for simple membership and event management.



May lack alumni-specific features


Best suited for smaller groups

Payment scheme based on payment cycle and number of contacts. Has a 60-day demo.

ToucanTech


Features activity tracker for email, website, and events


Approachable support team according to reviews


Steep learning curve to use to full potential


May take significant time and effort to switch to

No public pricing. Requires talking to sales team.

Join It


Affordable option for small teams


Integrates with a variety of tools

Easy to use and set up


Does not have fundraising or mentorship features


Limited branding and customization features

Offers a Starter, Total, and Extra payment packages. Also has custom enterprise pricing.

Has free trial.

Please note that certain features and details are subject to change over time.

1. Almabase

Almabase is an all-in-one alumni engagement and fundraising platform. Almabase offers an impressive set of features designed to seamlessly integrate with popular CRMs and help teams set up fundraisers, mentorship programs, digital engagement programs, and much more.

Pros:

  1. Offers best-in-industry sync with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT via Truesync.
  2. Almabase’s engagement platform comes with specialized tools for mentorships, job boards, alumni directories, and personalized communication.
  3. Designed for easy CRM integration and no-code setup
  4. Excellent 24/7 customer support over email and chat
Almabase alumni management software

Cons:

  1. Almabase does not offer a free trial or free tier
  2. Not as extensively experienced with nonprofits and NGOs as some others on this list

Best for: educational institutions and small to medium nonprofits

Pricing: Almabase offers friendly and personalized pricing based on user needs. Get in touch with us here to get a free personalized demo.

Book a demo with Almabase

2. PeopleGrove

PeopleGrove focuses on the career and networking aspect of alumni and students by offering tools for alumni engagement, career advancement, and mentorship among others.

Pros:

  1. Good choice for institutions that need mentorship or career advancement tools specifically.
  2. Specialized tools for training mentors and mentor/mentee matching
Source: Capterra

Cons:

  1. Some users mention difficulties with data integration
  2. Reviews mention that it can be difficult to learn for some

Best for: Institutions looking specifically for a mentor/mentee management tool

Pricing: No public pricing. You can speak to a representative to get a quote here.

3. Hivebrite

Hivebrite is an all-in-one community management platform used by universities, nonprofits, and corporate alumni networks. Hivebrite provides a customizable hub for alumni engagement. It’s often praised for combining a wide range of alumni activities – from events and groups to mentoring and fundraising – into one unified platform.

Pros:

  1. Hivebrite offers good community-building, group management, and online interaction features
  2. Many reviews praise their customer support

Cons:

  1. Comes with a steep learning curve
  2. As a well-established and extensive tool, it is one of the more expensive options
  3. Some users mention limited customization outside of templates

Best for: Large institutions looking to invest in a comprehensive engagement program

Pricing: Hivebrite has three pricing tiers: Connect, Scale, and Enterprise, with baseline pricing that varies based on each customer. Learn more here.

4. Graduway

Graduway (now part of Gravyty) specializes in helping educational institutions build exclusive online communities for their alumni, focusing mainly on alumni engagement and fundraising. 

Source: G2 reviews

                                                                     

Pros:

  1. Has integrations with Raiser’s Edge NXT, Salesforce, and Handshake among others
  2. Provides fundraising solutions as well for interested teams

Cons:

  1. Standardized framework may feel restrictive for institutions with specific customization needs
  2. Some users report limited customer support

Best for: Higher-ed institutions looking for versatile administrative tools

Pricing: Graduway’s pricing is not publicly posted. You can request a demo or contact them here.

5. Encompass by Encoura

Encompass (formerly iModules and Anthology Encompass) is a supporter engagement solution. It has a data-driven approach intended to cover each stage of alumni engagement. It is best used in combination with other other ecosystem tools such as Raise and Advance.

A snippet from Encoura Encompass’ website

Pros:

  1. A unified database across features for better analytics
  2. Good for customers used to other Encoura products

Cons:

  1. It has a steep learning curve due to its complexity
  2. Some users complain that the software feels clunky and dated

Best for: Customers who enjoy the Encoura software environment

Pricing: Encompass does not have public pricing. You can request a demo or speak to a sales representative here.

6. EverTrue

EverTrue is an advancement platform that helps alumni and development offices personalize outreach and fundraise more effectively. It’s not a traditional alumni social platform; rather, EverTrue focuses on equipping your advancement team with rich insights about alumni and donors – pulling in data from social media, career info, wealth indicators, and more.

Source: G2 reviews

Pros:

  1. Allows teams to identify and track Facebook interactions
  2. Provides extensive engagement and giving history tracking features
  3. Syncs with Eventbrite, Emma, Graduway, Thankview, and Hustle

Cons:

  1. Reliant on Facebook integration and alumni usage of the social media platform
  2. Some users mention lackluster CRM integration

Best for: Teams who want to engage alumni active on Facebook and mainly prioritize fundraising

Pricing: EverTrue’s pricing is not publicly available. You can request a demo to get a quote here.

7. 360Alumni

360Alumni is an all-in-one alumni networking, management, and fundraising platform geared towards schools and nonprofits that want to build an engaged alumni community and also facilitate giving.

From 360 alumni’s website

Pros:

  1. Integrates with Blackbaud and Salesforce
  2. Provides alumni-centric features such as the alumni map and directory which motivates alumni adoption
  3. Also provides fundraising and event management solutions

Cons:

  1. Some users mention that the pricing can be relatively high
  2. Due to the extensive features it provides, it can potentially discourage less proficient or irregular alumni from getting the most of it

Best for: Institutions with a technologically proficient alumni pool and a higher budget.

Pricing: 360Alumni requires an initial setup cost, an annual subscription, and transaction fees. You can find more information and request a demo here.

8. Wild Apricot

Wild Apricot is a membership management software used mainly by associations, clubs, and nonprofits.  It’s known for being affordable and user-friendly, essentially a one-stop system for managing contacts, collecting dues or donations, registering event attendees, and even building a basic website.

Pros:

  1. Features a website builder and online store
  2. Relatively user-friendly, especially for simple membership and event management

Cons:

  1. As a general membership solution, Wild Apricot may lack some educational alumni-specific features out-of-the-box
  2. It is best suited for smaller groups as the pricing scales exponentially with the number of contacts

Best for: Associations looking for a simple membership solution

Pricing: Wild Apricot has a transparent payment scheme based on number of contacts and billing cycle. It also has a free 60-day demo. You can find more information here.

9. ToucanTech

ToucanTech is a UK-based alumni management software built for independent schools, colleges, and alumni foundations. It offers an elegant, all-in-one alumni portal that combines a database, community news, events, fundraising, and email features.

Pros:

  1. ToucanTech offers an activity tracker that shows how alumni engage with your email, website, and events
  2. Users mention the approachability of the support team

Cons:

  1. Steep learning curve to get the most out of the wide array of features
  2. Will take time and effort to switch to if your institution already has an extensive software environment or CRM in place

Best for: Teams looking to get started with a comprehensive alumni management CRM

Pricing: ToucanTech’s pricing isn’t publicly listed. You can request a demo and get a quote here.

10. Join It

Join It is a lightweight, user-friendly membership management software. While it’s not exclusively built for alumni engagement, its affordability and ease of use make it a great option for smaller alumni groups, associations, and nonprofit networks.

Pros:

1. While not built specifically for educational institutions, it is one of the more affordable options

2. Has a wide range of integrations with popular tools

3. Users report that it is easy to use and setup

Cons:

1. Does not include fundraising or mentorship features.

2. Basic customization: The platform offers limited branding and customization features, which may not meet the specific needs of larger institutions seeking a tailored experience.

Best for: Small teams that need an affordable and simple member management only solution

Pricing: Join It offers a starter, total, and extra package as well as a custom enterprise package that can be paid monthly or yearly. It also has a free trial. You can find the exact prices here.

Why alumni management software is essential for your institution

Alumni relationships don’t maintain themselves. Without the right systems in place, institutions risk losing the interest of their alumni and missing out on valuable engagement as well as mentorship and fundraising opportunities. An alumni management software helps prevent this by:

1. Organizing and updating alumni directories

2. Building hubs and touchpoints for alumni to get in touch with each other and your institution

3. Simplifying, personalizing, and automating communication (depending on the platform)

4. Facilitating career and networking opportunities, mentorship programs, and exclusive events for alumni

5. Building a strong community online for fundraisers, reunions, and other important events

Key features to consider when opting for alumni management software

With so many alumni management platforms available, we’d like to help you refine your shortlist by highlighting some key considerations to make when choosing your next platform. Let’s get

CRM integration:

Depending on your institution, you may want a solution that comes with its own CRM or integrates seamlessly with an already existing CRM. Whatever you go with, make sure that there are as little data siloes as possible between your various solutions.

Social media integration:

Keep your alumni pool in mind and what social media platforms they historically prefer. A Facebook integration-heavy tool may not be right for you if your alumni prefer LinkedIn groups or Instagram pages. Once you identify a few tools that fit that niche, make sure the level of engagement analytics is to your liking.

Communication:

Depending on how big your alumni base is, your needs for segmentation, personalization, and automation will vary. If your team is focused on fundraising for a large institution, a platform that includes giving and engagement history may be important for you while it may be an unneeded cost for a small school only looking for simple membership management.

Pricing:

Many of the tools in alumni management offer customizable or contact-based pricing. Try to get a feel for what feels right considering both the short-term (your next three events for example) and long-term (Will the platform scale well into your third annual subscription?) needs. Also keep in mind your already existing software and what you may need to pay extra for considering additional integration costs to keep them in line with your chosen solution.

Fundraising and donation:

Most alumni management tools also offer fundraising tools as well. Depending on how the tool is set up, consider how your potential and past donors will engage with your efforts. A solution may be really intuitive for you but be clunky and hard to navigate for your donors. Some donors may prefer networking and donating from the same platform while others think it’s a hassle. Always keep your donor’s preferences in mind before making a choice.

Wrapping up

At its core, the effectiveness of alumni software comes down to how well it enables institutions to connect with alumni in meaningful ways and drive tangible outcomes—whether that’s increased participation, stronger professional networks, or higher donations

We’d love to work with you to connect and engage with your alumni better. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll be glad to give you a personalized demo!

Top Alumni Management Software in 2026

Compare the 10 best alumni engagement software for alumni relations and advancement teams in 2026. Our blog compares features, pricing, as well as pros and cons.

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March 29, 2025

12 minutes

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