BlogWebsite & Technology The Best Nonprofit Event Management Software Website & Technology The Best Nonprofit Event Management Software Author: Marlena Moore July 9, 2024 Contents 🕑 8 min read The best event software for nonprofits will provide the tools you need to succeed from the start. No matter your nonprofit size, integrative event management software will help you raise the funds you need to achieve your mission. Find the software that fits your nonprofit’s unique goals, and improve your marketing and fundraising efforts with the recommendations we give in this blog! What is event management software for nonprofits? Event management software makes organizing fundraising events from beginning to end easy. This software can do the following for your nonprofit’s events: Build an event listing for your website Registration forms and ticketing Take and track payments – registration and donations Automate event emails – promotional, confirmation and reminders Attendee tracking and reporting Mobile app Every nonprofit has different event management software needs, and it’s important to work with software that gives you the tools you need for success. Benefits of Nonprofit Event Management Software As an event manager, nonprofit event management software allows you to save time and money when planning and executing events. The ability to automate your event communications and quickly process payments online gives you more time to focus on event logistics and obtain sponsors. There’s a good chance you will need fewer employees for your event promotion, allowing your nonprofit to dedicate funds to other initiatives. Event software also amplifies your events and gives your nonprofit credibility. You’ll be able to customize every aspect of your event promotion, from branded promotional emails to embedded registration forms on your nonprofit’s website. Event management software will also improve the attendee experience at your nonprofit’s events. They’ll appreciate the ability to register and pay for the event online and receive quick communication through your automated messaging. Plus, with a mobile app, attendees will have a one-stop shop for all things about your event, allowing for live updates and a clear schedule of the day. Features to look for in event management software From online registration and ticketing to marketing and communication tools, there are several features to consider when deciding on event management software. Consider your nonprofit’s needs—what are the event goals? Are you looking for software to execute one event or a comprehensive system to hold numerous events a year? Each solution is unique, and the right event management software makes fundraising for your nonprofit easier. Check out the features below and list your must-haves when shopping for your software. Online Registration and Ticketing Make it seamless for your attendees to register for your event online or to secure tickets to your event. With online registration and ticketing options, event management software eliminates the need to manually sell tickets. This will make it easy to keep track of those who have registered for your event and segment them for your event communications. Payment Processing The right event management software will make payment processing simple for your nonprofit. Look for a software that can handle the level of transactions you will require for your event. From small events with few payments that need to be processed, to large-scale events that involve many transactions, choosing the right software will make payment processing seamless. Look for hidden fees when it comes to processing payments so that you have a good understanding of what you are going to earn during each transaction. You’ll also want to ensure payments or donations are secure through technology like encryption, PCI DSS, secure payment gateways and other protocols. Attendee Tracking and Management Tracking and managing event attendees has never been easier with event software for nonprofits. You can create a database of attendees and use integrative tools to maximize your fundraising efforts. Attendee tracking and management will give you better insight into who is supporting your nonprofit and how to reach your potential in fundraising efforts. Reporting and Dashboards Using a comprehensive dashboard, you can run reports to gain insight into your fundraising efforts. Look for a dashboard interface that is easy to understand and allows for the number of users you want as admins from your fundraising and marketing team. No matter what size your nonprofit is, event software for nonprofits comes with options. Marketing and Communication Tools Reach your target audience easily using marketing and communication tools that come with the event software you choose. Whether you are looking to send out 100 text messages a month or a comprehensive text and email campaign for your next event, most event software can be scaled to give you the communication capabilities you require for your nonprofit. Donor and Sponsor Management Your nonprofit’s donors and sponsors are essential to its growth and success. With the right software in place to manage sponsors and donors, you will know who is donating to your cause, the total amounts and the frequency. Keep track of your sponsors and donors to strengthen these relationships and ensure continued support. Build rapport with effective communication and consistent acknowledgment of the support given to your nonprofit. Integration Integrating all aspects of your marketing and fundraising efforts is vital to your nonprofit. Chances are your nonprofit already uses software for membership management and your website. Having your event management software integrate with your existing software will save you a lot of time and headaches. For example, you can utilize your existing contact database for event promotion and grow your marketing efforts post-event with the new contacts you gain through integration. Best Event Management Software for Nonprofits Choosing the best event management software for nonprofits means doing your research. Here are a number of software programs for you to consider when it comes to finding event management software that works for you. WildApricot WildApricot is an all-in-one cloud management software that runs every aspect of your nonprofit, including your events. Streamline your nonprofit’s next event with these features: A website builder with a built in payment processor Online registration tools A fully searchable contact database Mobile event registration through the mobile app An emailing system with professionally designed email and newsletter templates Pricing: 60-day free trial. Pricing starts at $60/month A2Z Events A2Z Events is great for larger organizations with more extensive fundraising events. Their event management software allows for an effortless event with tons of features like: Attendee mobile app Attendee engagement and matchmaking Event registration and badge printing Sponsorship management Lead retrieval and attendance tracking Pricing: Free demo available Bloomerang Bloomerang is a great software for nonprofits that puts donor engagement first. This is a build-your-own software platform that allows you to choose the plan that fits your event’s needs. Features include: A mobile app Donor database Marketing and engagement tools Event registration Pricing: Plans start at $125/month CharityEngine CharityEngine is great for growing nonprofits and enterprise nonprofits alike. They are a one-stop donor management and fundraising tool. They have features like: Event and form creation Automated email communication Online attendee portal Online auction and registration Pricing: Plans start at $299/month Qgiv Qgiv is an integrated fundraising support platform that allows you to build the software you need without paying for extras you don’t. Features include: Easy event registration Text and auction fundraising Customizable reporting dashboard Online donation forms Pricing: Plans start at $25/month GiveSmart GiveSmart event management software for nonprofits provides you with three options for your fundraising and event management needs. Whether your nonprofit is focused on donor management or fundraising efforts, there’s features you’ll love. Mobile bidding and online auctions Ticketing and seating management Customizable event website Text messaging Pricing: Demo available on request Cvent Make event budgeting easier with the Cvent software that provides event planning and marketing in one place. You can use Cvet for one event, or as a comprehensive platform for your nonprofit. Automated workflows Ability to execute virtual, hybrid or in-person events Capture leads and track ROI Event app Pricing: Demo available upon request Bizzabo Bizzabo has all types of add-on features to fine-tune their software for your specific event management requirements. Some of their features include: Multi-day agenda management Branded event app Powerful integrations and apps Customizable event site builder Pricing: Plans start at $499/month DonorSnap DonorSnap’s event management software for nonprofits is focused on managing your donors and the database of contacts you have for your nonprofit. Features you’ll love include: Email and text messaging Auction management Event registration and ticket sales Donor management Pricing: Plans start at $50/month Doubleknot Doubleknot is a great option if you are looking to have recurring events. Use the same information from previous events for recurring registrants. Features include: Timed ticketing and admissions Custom forms, fields and registration types Online and offline payment options Capacity and waitlist management Pricing: Demo available upon request Givebutter Givebutter is a free event management software for nonprofits that relies on donor and attendee tips so you can focus on your mission. Check out features like: QR code ticket scanning Peer to peer and team fundraising pages Payment processing Real-time auction updates and notifications Pricing: Free Eventbrite Eventbrite is a self-service and all-in-one event management software. Specifically great for ticketing, this software offers more with features like: Multiple ticket types Custom event pages Marketing tools like email and social media Online registration Pricing: There is a free plan for up to 25 tickets. Paid plans start at $29/month OneCause OneCause values charitable fundraising and their mission is to help nonprofits raise more money through their software. Utilize their features which include: Virtual fundraising Mobile ticketing with QR codes Personal fundraising pages Live and silent auctions Pricing: Demo available upon request Double the Donation Double the Donation make matching gifts easy with the ability to receive matching corporate donations for your nonprofit. Their software has features like: Automated emails Donor matching Streamlined search field Extensive integrations Pricing: Plans start at $999 a year Snowball Fundraising Snowball Fundraising software is perfect for nonprofits focusing their event efforts on fundraising campaigns. They have various plans, starting at 0$ a month, with more features depending on your plan. Check out capabilities like: Text-to-give fundraising tool SMS and email Auctions with easy bidding Track donations and donor data Pricing: Free plan with 2.9% + 30¢/transaction Final Tips for Choosing the Right Event Management Software In order to choose the right event management software for your nonprofit’s needs, prioritize what you want out of your software. Whether you are a small nonprofit looking to hold your first event and sell online tickets, or a large nonprofit with an extensive donor base, it’s important to learn what software is available to you. The right event management software will provide the features you want at an affordable price for your nonprofit’s budget. Planning and orchestrating your event is easier with the right software to stay organized. What WildApricot Can Do For Your Nonprofit’s Next Event Here at WildApricot, we understand that your event management needs will be specific to your mission. We have countless features to help you organize events and manage all aspects of your nonprofit! When everything is integrated and housed in one database, you can automate most of your administrative tasks and focus on what really matters—serving your mission and making an impact on your community. Try a 60-day free trial and see how WildApricot can help your nonprofit thrive and execute stellar events! 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