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Discover the top 8 free crowdfunding sites to fund your projects without fees. Learn about features, fees, and success stories to choose the best platform for your fundraising needs.

Fundraising is a crucial element for bringing projects, businesses, and personal goals to life. In recent years, crowdfunding has emerged as a transformative force, enabling individuals and organizations to gather support from donors worldwide. With numerous crowdfunding sites available, finding the right platform that minimizes fees can significantly impact the success of your fundraiser. This guide introduces the 8 best free crowdfunding sites that charge no extra fees, helping you choose the best option to meet your fundraising needs.

Understanding Common Crowdfunding Fees

Before diving into the top free crowdfunding platforms, it’s essential to understand the common fees associated with these sites:

Platform Fee: Some platforms charge a percentage of the total funds raised, while others operate on a 0% platform fee model, relying on voluntary tips or donations instead.
Payment Processing Fees: Typically range from 2.7% to 2.9% plus a small fixed fee (e.g., $0.30) per donation, handled by processors like PayPal or Stripe.
Subscription Fees: Certain platforms offer premium features for a monthly or annual subscription.
Donor Fees: Some sites prompt donors to cover processing fees, which is usually optional but worth noting.

Understanding these fees helps you choose a platform that aligns with your fundraising goals without unexpected costs.

1. AngeLink

Crowdfunding For Causes, Nonprofits, and Business

AngeLink stands out with its women-powered community and innovative AI technology. It supports a wide range of campaigns, emphasizing women’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors.

Platform Features

AI-Wizard™: Craft compelling campaign stories.
Automatic Contact Sync: Sync email and text contacts for wider sharing.
Social Media Integration: Easily post across Facebook, Twitter, and more.
Achievement Badges: Encourage engagement through milestone rewards.
24/7 Support: Round-the-clock assistance for technical or fundraising queries.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0%
Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per donation

Fraud Protection

AngeLink reviews every fundraiser before publication to safeguard against fraudulent activities, ensuring legitimacy and security for both donors and organizers.

Successful Fundraiser Example

Katie Joy raised $5,166 of her $8,000 goal to cover breast cancer treatments, showcasing the platform’s ability to mobilize community support effectively.

2. GoFundMe

Crowdfunding For Personal Causes

GoFundMe is one of the most recognized free crowdfunding sites, ideal for personal causes such as medical expenses, education, and emergency relief.

Platform Features

User-Friendly Setup: Step-by-step guidance to create your fundraiser.
Social Sharing Tools: Seamlessly share campaigns on social media.
Secure Payment Processing: Protects donor information and ensures safe transactions.
24/7 Customer Support: Always available to assist you.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0%
Payment Processing Fee: Typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Fraud Protection

GoFundMe’s Trust & Safety team monitors campaigns to ensure donor confidence and reduce fraudulent activities.

Successful Fundraiser Example

The Los Angeles Wildfire Relief fundraisers raised millions, demonstrating GoFundMe’s capability to support large-scale emergencies effectively.

3. FundRazr

Crowdfunding For Innovative Projects

FundRazr caters to personal causes and innovative business crowdfunding, offering a unique Crowdfunding as a Service (CaaS) model for organizations to integrate fundraising into their websites.

Platform Features

Comprehensive Campaign Types: Includes microprojects, recurring donations, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Social Media Integration: Promote campaigns across multiple platforms.
Analytics and Reporting: Track donor engagement and performance.
CaaS Model: Customize fundraising experience with branded solutions.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0% on the free plan; 5% with Pro subscription
Payment Processing Fee: Approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Fraud Protection

FundRazr ensures secure transactions and offers clear reporting to prevent and identify fraudulent activities.

Successful Fundraiser Example

Crusoe’s campaign raised over $122,000 for Cornell University’s veterinary research, highlighting the platform’s effectiveness in driving substantial donations.

4. Givebutter

Crowdfunding For Nonprofits and Student Organizations

Givebutter provides a robust toolkit for nonprofits, student groups, and individuals, offering features beyond traditional crowdfunding.

Platform Features

Donation Forms and Pages: Customizable to match your branding.
Fundraising Events and Auctions: Manage ticket sales and event registrations seamlessly.
Nonprofit CRM: Track donor relationships in detail.
Marketing and Engagement: Utilize integrated email and SMS messaging.
Mobile App: Manage campaigns on the go.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0% with optional tips; otherwise, a small fee (1-5%)
Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Fraud Protection

Advanced security measures and secure payment processors ensure safe transactions and maintain campaign authenticity.

Successful Fundraiser Example

The Northwest Film Forum raised over $50,000 for a creative brunch fundraiser, showcasing the platform’s capability to handle large campaigns effectively.

5. FreeFunder

Crowdfunding For Community-Based Projects

FreeFunder emphasizes local and community-driven campaigns, fostering collective support with a pure no-fee fundraising structure.

Platform Features

Text-To-Donate: Boost accessibility through simple SMS donations.
Embedded Fundraiser Widgets: Integrate campaigns into your website.
Easy Sharing Tools: Extend campaign reach with built-in social sharing.
Add Team Members: Collaborate with others to manage and promote fundraisers.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0%
Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Fraud Protection

Partnering with Stripe, FreeFunder ensures secure payments and provides quick support to address any fraudulent activities.

Successful Fundraiser Example

Aubrey raised over $14,000 to support a local veterinarian’s medical treatment, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness in community engagement.

6. Funraise

Crowdfunding For Dynamic Fundraisers

Funraise is designed primarily for nonprofits but is accessible to anyone, offering a suite of tools to manage all aspects of fundraising in one place.

Platform Features

Donation Forms and Pages: Tailored to match your organization’s branding.
Recurring Giving: Automate monthly or yearly contributions.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Mobilize supporters to create personal fundraising pages.
Events and Ticketing: Simplify event registrations and ticket sales.
Nonprofit CRM: Gain robust donor insights and relationship management.

Crowdfunding Fees

Funraise often operates under a “Donors Cover Fees” approach, with standard processing fees around 2.9% + $0.30. Contact Funraise for precise details.

Fraud Protection

Secure payment gateways and data protection measures maintain a safe environment for donors and organizers.

Successful Fundraiser Example

The Innocence Project raised thousands of dollars online, utilizing Funraise’s powerful donor management tools to facilitate large-scale fundraising efforts.

7. Fundly

Fundraising For Everyone’s Passions

Fundly focuses on inclusivity with a “Keep What You Raise” model, ensuring fundraisers receive donations immediately, regardless of their goals.

Platform Features

Deep Facebook Integration: Enable direct fundraising within Facebook.
Data Analytics: Track visitor data, donor trends, and fundraiser performance.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Support individual or group-based campaigns.
Event Management: Create and manage events with customizable forms.
Heat Maps: Visualize donor locations for targeted outreach.

Crowdfunding Fees

No platform fee; operates on optional tips with payment processing fees around 2.9% + $0.30.

Fraud Protection

Integrated payment gateways and strong customer support ensure fundraisers are legitimate and address concerns promptly.

Successful Fundraiser Example

Sudani Refugee Relief raised $9,188 from 170 donors, demonstrating a powerful collective commitment to a cause through Fundly’s platform.

8. Donors Choose

Crowdfunding For Causes, Nonprofits, and Education

Donors Choose specializes in supporting public school classrooms, allowing teachers to request resources and experiences for their students.

Platform Features

Vetted Project Requests: Ensures donations go to verified classroom needs.
Ship Resources Directly: Sends resources to classrooms once funded.
Regular Updates: Donors receive progress reports and thank-you notes.
High Accountability: Teachers outline exactly how donations are used.

Crowdfunding Fees

Platform Fee: 0%
Optional Donation: 15% tip from donors
Payment Processing Fee: About 1.5%

Fraud Protection

By verifying teachers and pre-approving classroom requests, Donors Choose ensures the authenticity and proper use of donations.

Successful Fundraiser Example

Mrs. Long raised significant funds for phonics books, enabling her students to build a strong reading foundation through targeted donations.

Conclusion

No matter your cause, the right crowdfunding sites can turn your vision into reality. From AngeLink’s women-centric support to Donors Choose’s education focus, these free crowdfunding platforms offer unique features, robust fraud protection, and minimal fees to meet your specific fundraising goals. Start your fundraiser on one of these top free crowdfunding sites and make a meaningful impact today.

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