How to Make a Fundraising Calendar in 4 Easy Steps (+ Free Template)
We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to create a smart, organized, and effective fundraising calendar that works for your team all year round
Anwesha Kiran
Updated:
April 1, 2026
Summary
• Start by mapping out your entire fundraising year: A well-structured fundraising calendar helps you move from last-minute scrambles to strategic planning, ensuring you hit key moments like Giving Tuesday or reunion weekends effectively.
• Boost collaboration and avoid campaign overlap: When everyone on your alumni relations, events, and communications teams sees the same calendar, it prevents scheduling conflicts and ensures everyone is working towards shared goals.
• Align your campaigns with academic and institutional milestones: Strategically time your appeals around events like homecoming, graduations, or even quiet reflection periods to make your asks more relevant and increase donor engagement.
• Clearly define roles and timelines for every initiative: Assigning who’s responsible for creative, tech setup, and outreach for each campaign helps keep everyone accountable and projects on track.
• Leverage simple tools and stay flexible: Whether you use Google Sheets or a project management tool, make sure your calendar is a living document that gets reviewed quarterly and has room for unexpected opportunities or changes.
• Grab a free, customizable template to get started right away: This post offers a downloadable fundraising calendar template, so you don’t have to build one from scratch to bring clarity and purpose to your fundraising efforts.
If you're part of a school, college, or university advancement team, chances are you've heard the term fundraising calendar more than once. And if you're still managing campaigns reactively—scrambling to send an email the day before Giving Tuesday or clashing with exam weeks—you’re not alone. A well-planned fundraising calendar can be the difference between chaos and clarity, missed opportunities and record-breaking donations.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to create a smart, organized, and effective fundraising calendar that works for your team all year round. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to improve what you already have, you'll also get tips on using a calendar fundraiser template, tools to help you stay on track, and even a downloadable fundraiser calendar template you can use right away.
What is a Fundraising Calendar?
Think of a fundraising calendar as your campaign playbook for the year. It’s not just a schedule—it's a strategy. It helps you map your fundraising efforts month-by-month or even week-by-week, aligning with key moments in the academic year, holidays, awareness days, and donor behaviors. For example, you might plan your annual giving campaign around Giving Tuesday, tie alumni events to reunion weekends, or schedule stewardship emails right after a major donation push.
The best part? It brings structure and visibility to your entire fundraising year. With a calendar in place, your team isn’t just reacting to deadlines—you’re anticipating them. Everyone knows what’s coming, what needs to be done, and who’s doing it. You’re no longer guessing or winging it. You’re planning with purpose.
Beyond organization, a good fundraising calendar helps build momentum. When your team knows what’s next, your audience does too. You can create more thoughtful campaigns, align your messaging with what’s going on in your institution or the world, and, most importantly, raise more funds with less stress.
Why Your Institution Needs a Fundraising Calendar
Still wondering if it’s worth the time to create one? Here's why a fundraising calendar isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s essential.
Avoid last-minute chaos: Say goodbye to rushed emails and overlapping campaigns. Planning ahead gives your team time to create high-quality content and coordinate properly.
Improve coordination across departments: Advancement teams don’t work in silos. A shared calendar helps alumni relations, events, communications, and fundraising teams stay on the same page.
Maximize giving opportunities: Tie your campaigns to natural fundraising seasons—like Giving Tuesday, graduation, or fiscal year-end. People are more likely to give when it’s part of a larger moment.
Link campaigns to academic and community milestones: Align your asks with campus events, student activities, and alumni reunions to make your messaging more relevant.
Enhance donor stewardship: Plan thank-you emails, impact reports, and recognition events right into your calendar so no supporter feels forgotten.
A clear plan leads to better teamwork, stronger campaigns, and happier donors.
How to Create Your Own Annual Fundraising Calendar Template
1. Choose Your Campaign Types
The first step is deciding what kinds of fundraising activities you'll include in your calendar. These can range from traditional campaigns to creative digital outreach. Your mix will depend on your institution’s goals, audience, and bandwidth.
Here are a few campaign types to consider:
Peer-to-peer campaigns: These are incredibly powerful because they leverage personal networks. Think of alumni rallying their former classmates or students hosting birthday fundraisers. A great example is Colby College’s Day of Giving, where alumni, parents, and students team up to spread the word.
Email appeals: These are direct, cost-effective, and measurable. Time them well—maybe one right before calendar year-end when donors are thinking about tax-deductible contributions. Platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot make email automation easier, and tools like Almabase help personalize alumni outreach.
Events (virtual or in-person): Galas, giving days, reunions, or student-led concerts—events give you a chance to create meaningful donor moments that go beyond a simple ask. You can also combine these events with peer-to-peer efforts to multiply their reach. For example, Princeton’s Annual Giving program often leverages class reunions not just for celebration, but as powerful fundraising engines that bring alumni together around a shared cause and goal.
Social media campaigns: Social platforms offer some of the most cost-effective and wide-reaching opportunities to connect with your audience—especially younger alumni and students. Giving Tuesday is a must—#GivingTuesday happens every November and is perfect for viral, high-energy campaigns. Other times, consider themed campaigns like “March for Mental Health” or “Spring into Support.” Tools like Canva and Buffer can help small teams do big things.
Phone-a-thons: Yes, they’re still effective—especially with older donors. A warm voice and a personal ask can go a long way. To keep it fun, make it a student volunteer event with prizes for the most calls or donations.
💡Tip: Don’t try to do everything every month. Instead, spread out campaign types across the year. For example, you could run a major digital push in November, focus on alumni reunions in June, and reserve February for targeted email appeals.
2. Map Campaigns to the Academic Calendar
Once you’ve chosen your campaign types, align them with your institution’s calendar. This not only ensures better participation but also helps you avoid scheduling mishaps—like launching a campaign during finals week.
Start by plotting out key academic milestones and cultural moments, such as:
Semester starts and ends
Midterms and finals
Breaks and holidays
Homecoming, alumni weekends, or major sports events
Giving days (national or institutional)
Special anniversaries or leadership changes
For example, if your school’s homecoming is in October, that’s a great time to launch an alumni challenge campaign. Or, if seniors graduate in May, you might run a “Senior Class Gift” appeal leading up to their last day on campus—here’s a great example from NYU.
You can also tap into larger giving movements. Campaigns that align with Giving Tuesday or End-of-Year Giving see higher traction because they ride on already existing momentum.
Bonus: Consider building in quieter months for reflection and reporting. For example, use July to analyze mid-year performance and tweak your calendar for the next half.
3. Assign Internal Roles and Timelines
Even the best calendar will fall flat without clear accountability. That’s why the next step is to break each campaign down into roles, timelines, and dependencies.
Start by answering:
Who’s in charge of each campaign?
Who handles the creative (design, copy, branding)?
Who sends the emails or posts on social media?
When do drafts need to be reviewed?
What departments need to be looped in?
Let’s say you’re running a virtual reunion fundraiser in June. Your calendar might look like this:
Task
Owner
Deadline
Create campaign branding
Marketing
April 15
Set up donation page
IT
April 20
Draft email copy
Alumni Relations
April 30
Recruit student ambassadors
Advancement
May 10
Schedule social posts
Marketing
May 20
Launch campaign
-
June 1
4. Use Tools That Make It Easy
You don’t need an expensive tool to start building your fundraising calendar. Many institutions begin with what they already use. The key is to pick something collaborative, easy to update, and visually clear.
Here are a few tools that work well:
Google Sheets: Great for budget-conscious teams. You can color-code months, track campaign types, and share access with anyone.
Microsoft Excel: Offers more structure and customization, especially for larger teams who want to build dashboards.
Notion: Lets you build a drag-and-drop calendar with tagging, checklists, and campaign documentation all in one place.
Trello or Asana: Best if you’re already using project boards to plan tasks. You can assign roles, set deadlines, and track campaign progress visually.
Integrated tools: Platforms such as Almabase provide you with the tools for digital engagement, event management, and fundraising to cover all your bases if you're looking for one hub to coordiante your long-term fundraising strategy.
Don’t forget to also build in time for retrospectives. After each campaign, set aside a week to reflect: What worked? What didn’t? What can be repeated or improved?
Best Practices to Keep Your Fundraising Calendar on Track
Creating your calendar is one thing. Keeping it updated and useful is another. Here are some quick best practices to stay on course:
Leave Room for Flexibility:
Life happens. So do emergencies, new opportunities, and spontaneous campus events. Build buffer periods and leave some “wiggle room” in your calendar for changes.
Review and Update Quarterly:
Don’t just create the calendar and forget it. Set reminders to revisit your calendar at least once per quarter to adjust timelines, add new events, or shift priorities.
Include More Than Just Campaigns: Your calendar should also include:
Content cadences (monthly newsletters, social posts)
Collaborate Regularly:
Make the calendar a living document. Invite team members to suggest changes, mark progress, and keep notes. The more collaborative it is, the more likely it is to be used.
Annual Fundraising Calendar Template
Want a ready-to-use fundraiser calendar template you can customize for your institution? Here’s one you can download and edit for free right now, no strings attached:
If you’ve ever wished for more organized campaigns, less deadline stress, and better results from your fundraising efforts, a fundraising calendar is your answer. It transforms fundraising from a reactive chore into a proactive, strategic process. With the right calendar in place, you’ll communicate more clearly, plan smarter, and raise more money—all while staying sane.
Anwesha is an educator and pedagogy enthusiast, passionate about the transformative impact of education, kindness, and creativity on individuals and communities.
As an artist, she brings a unique perspective to her work and is committed to inspiring growth, empathy, and understanding
Related Blogs
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
2024 was an interesting year for fundraising professionals. Persistent and emerging challenges in the nonprofit landscape coincided with some. While some issues carried over from previous years, new dynamics reshaped the way organizations navigated their work.
2024: Highs, lows, and lessons learned
Last year was a year of highs and lows for fundraising and advancement professionals. From staffing struggles to shifts in donor behaviors, the year brought challenges that tested the resilience of nonprofits across sectors. However, these hurdles also paved the way for innovation, collaboration, and strategic rethinking, setting the stage for what 2025 might bring.
• The donor market: Fewer donors, more donations
The donor landscape in 2024 presented an interesting problem. While overall donations increased, the donor pool continued to shrink. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), there was a 2% increase in total donations but a 4.5% decline in the number of individual donors. This trend posed a significant challenge for nonprofits reliant on a broad donor base for smaller, recurring contributions.
• Staffing continues to be a tricky problem
Staffing shortages and high turnover rates continued to be among the most pressing concerns for nonprofits in 2024. According to a study by NonProfit PRO, nearly 70% of nonprofits reported struggling with staffing challenges, citing underfunding and burnout as primary drivers.
This crisis was compounded by the competitive job market, which made it difficult for nonprofits to attract and retain talent. High turnover negatively impacted team morale and operational efficiency, forcing many organizations to stretch already limited resources to achieve their goals.
• Navigating tech adoption
The rise of AI and other tech tools has been both a blessing and a challenge for nonprofits. While AI offers powerful capabilities—from predicting donor behavior to automating administrative tasks—it also requires significant investment in training and implementation. Many teams struggled to fully integrate these tools due to lacking technical expertise or financial resources.
The use of AI also brings forward some ethical concerns that increasingly became relevant throughout the year. There exists the risk of over-automating donor communication, which could lead to a loss of the personal touch that is central to alumni engagement. For smaller organizations, the hype around AI could also lead to investments in tools that did not align with their needs, diverting funds from more pressing priorities.
• Opportunities in adversity
Despite the challenges, nonprofits showcased remarkable resilience. Many embraced hybrid fundraising models, combining virtual and in-person events to engage a broader audience. Charity Digital reported that organizations leveraging digital tools for storytelling and donor engagement saw significant returns on investment.
Additionally, DonorBox emphasized how nonprofits that invested in robust donor communication tools experienced improved retention rates, especially during year-end campaigns.
2025: Building on Resilience and Innovation
As we move into 2025, nonprofits more than ever need to build on the lessons of 2024 by focusing on sustainable growth and strategic innovation.
Resilience emerged as a defining characteristic in 2024, and nonprofits should ideally look to build upon it by adopting sustainable strategies and scalable practices, to better navigate uncertainty and a world that’s throwing a lot of innovations at us without leaving us much time or resources to consider our approach to each of them. With all that being said, we’d like to explore some broad focus areas that teams and institutions alike should watch out for in 2025:
• Pragmatic tech adoption: Cutting through the hype
The excitement surrounding AI and other technologies in 2024 often led to unrealistic expectations for nonprofits. A research paper published by Lauri Goldkind, Joy Ming, and Alex Fink critically assessed AI’s role in human services, questioning whether it offered genuine value or was simply a trend driven by hype. The study concluded that while AI holds transformative potential, it requires proper alignment with an organization's size, mission, and resource constraints to be effective.
Throughout 2025, Nonprofits should be shifting focus toward scalable and budget-conscious technology solutions. For example, a hypothetical smaller team that only needs a CRM and basic analytics could leverage low-cost digital tools and achieve better outcomes if these tools are customized to their specific workflows and objectives, as opposed to trying to cover all their bases and wasting both resources and time spent on upskilling.
• A renewed focus on People
The staffing crisis doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon with 68% of organizations reporting difficulties with recruitment and retention in 2024. Common challenges include toxic work cultures, burnout, uncompetitive salaries, and insufficient training opportunities. Increased investment in professional development, equitable pay structures, and supportive workplace cultures have been big talking points for a while but now they need to become key priorities. Policies aimed at reducing burnout, such as flexible work schedules and mental health support should be a good starting point.
Additionally, peer mentoring and community-building efforts are gaining traction. Nonprofits can leverage mentorship programs and peer support networks to foster a sense of community within their teams, leading to improved job satisfaction and retention.
At the heart of every nonprofit is its people—the staff, donors, and volunteers whose collective efforts drive change. By fostering positive internal cultures and focusing on impactful strategies, nonprofits can inspire trust and loyalty, ensuring their mission thrives in the years to come.
• Deepening donor relations
Nonprofits have responded to the recent donor market shifts by focusing on deepening relationships with existing donors. Strategies such as targeted communication and personalized outreach have since become standard practice. 2025 should be a good year for teams to consolidate knowledge of their tools and long-term goals so that they continue fostering donor loyalty seamlessly. A key area of focus will be on small and medium-sized donors and how teams can turn them into loyal donors moving forward.
With federal budget cuts for nonprofits and institutions seeming likely on the horizon, advancement and nonprofit teams especially in the US will need to explore sustainable alternatives to reach their goals.
That’ll just about do it for now but with 2025 seeming a difficult year to predict, there should certainly be a lot more to talk about in the coming months.
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
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
Bonterra’s fundraising software includes specialized solutions and features for nonprofit events, auctions, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and giving days, along with unified donor management tools. Its event management features include ticketing, sponsorship tracking, mobile bidding, and more. Ultimately, Bonterra helps organizations streamline their events with a centralized fundraising and donor management solution.
Pros:
An intuitive interface that allows both seasoned admins and first-time users to easily set up and manage events.
Comprehensive fundraising tools, including auction mobile bidding, donation tracking, event management, and credit card processing.
Integrated marketing, fundraising, and donor management tools to support your events, campaigns, and initiatives year-round.
Cons:
Bonterra’s diverse suite of event management and fundraising products may be overwhelming at first, and it might take time for your team to determine the right fit.
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.
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.
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.