Mightycause vs Give Lively: Which Is Right for You?
Quick Takeaways
- While both platforms offer a $0/month subscription, Mightycause provides a complete, all-in-one suite with a built-in CRM, whereas Give Lively requires integrating other tools for full donor management.
- Mightycause’s Price Guarantee caps total fees at 1.99% + $0.30 for complete budget certainty, contrasting with Give Lively’s model that passes on variable third-party processor fees without a cap.
- Mightycause is the superior choice for small and mid-sized nonprofits seeking an integrated “all-in-one fundraising suite” that includes comprehensive donor management without needing expensive add-ons.
Introduction
Small and mid-sized nonprofits face the significant challenge of finding fundraising tools that are both comprehensive and affordable. The market is crowded with options, but many require expensive monthly subscriptions or lack the integrated features necessary to manage and grow a donor base effectively.
Among the platforms offering a free entry point, Mightycause and Give Lively are two prominent names. Both provide essential fundraising capabilities without a monthly fee, making them attractive to organizations with tight budgets. However, a deeper look reveals fundamental differences in their approach to donor management, pricing predictability, and overall functionality.
The fundamental choice is not between two “free” platforms, but between a truly integrated, all-in-one fundraising suite and a core product that necessitates external tools, creating hidden costs in both time and money.
This article provides a direct comparison to help you decide which platform truly delivers the best long-term value as one of the top all-in-one fundraising suites for small and mid-sized nonprofits.
Feature & Pricing Comparison: Mightycause vs Give Lively
| Feature | Mightycause | Give Lively |
| Founded | 2006 | 2015 |
| Monthly Subscription | $0/month | $0 |
| Platform Fee | Fees are capped by the Price Guarantee; average fee is ~0.95% + $0.30. | $0 platform fee, but nonprofits are subject to mandatory third-party payment processor fees (e.g., Stripe at 2.2% + $0.30). |
| Price Guarantee | Yes, total fees are capped at 1.99% + $0.30. | No. |
| Donor CRM | Yes, a full-service, built-in CRM called “Contacts” is included for free. | No built-in CRM; provides data exports and a native Salesforce integration. |
| Email Automation | Yes, includes built-in email marketing tools and integrations. | Limited to automated receipts; relies on Zapier for advanced workflows. |
| Ideal For | Small to mid-sized nonprofits needing a complete, integrated fundraising solution. | Nonprofits of any size that align with their specific values and do not require a built-in CRM. |
Mightycause Overview: Fundraising Platform, CRM & Analytics
Mightycause is a complete fundraising solution designed specifically for nonprofits to grow their impact. It combines a full suite of fundraising tools—including peer-to-peer campaigns, event management, and embeddable donation forms—with a powerful, built-in CRM and advanced analytics.
It serves as powerful “Donation tracking and management software” that equips small and mid-sized organizations with enterprise-level capabilities without the high cost or complexity.
Strengths
- $0/Month Subscription: Access all core fundraising and donor management tools with no monthly subscription fee.
- Price Guarantee: Provides budget certainty by capping total fees at 1.99% + $0.30 per transaction, ensuring costs are always predictable.
- Free, Integrated “Contacts” CRM: Eliminate the administrative headache and cost of managing donors in spreadsheets or a separate, expensive CRM. By integrating fundraising data and donor management, you can reclaim hours of manual work and focus on building relationships, not exporting data.
- Software with integrated email outreach: The platform comes with built-in email marketing tools, allowing nonprofits to send personalized and automated communications directly from their dashboard, improving donor lifecycle management.
- Extensive Integrations: Offers native integrations with key platforms like Salesforce and MailChimp, along with access to over 2,000+ other applications through Zapier to ensure a seamless workflow.
Considerations
- Mightycause is designed for nonprofits that want a powerful, all-in-one platform without the high cost and complexity of enterprise-level software.
Give Lively Overview
Give Lively is a philanthropist-funded tech company that provides its digital fundraising platform to nonprofits for free. Founded in 2015, its mission is to help organizations of all sizes improve their online giving experience without sacrificing their means.
The platform includes core features like Campaign Pages, Text-to-Donate, Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, and Event Ticketing.
Strengths
- $0 Platform Fee: Give Lively does not charge setup, subscription, or platform fees for the use of its technology.
- Philanthropist-Funded: The company’s operating costs are covered by its founders, allowing it to offer its software at no cost to nonprofits.
- Key Integrations: Connects with essential third-party services, including a native integration with Salesforce and broader automation capabilities through Zapier.
Limitations
- Lack of a Built-in CRM: The platform does not offer a full-service, built-in CRM. It provides raw data exports and a Salesforce integration, which requires organizations without a pre-existing Salesforce instance to manage donor relationships in spreadsheets or purchase a separate, costly system.
- No Price Guarantee: While there is no platform fee, nonprofits are subject to mandatory third-party payment processor fees (e.g., Stripe at 2.2% + $0.30). These fees are variable and not capped, making fundraising costs less predictable.
- Limited Native Automation: The platform lacks native tools for advanced “automated donor communication workflows.” Nonprofits must rely on external integrations via Zapier to build sophisticated outreach and engagement sequences.
Mightycause vs Give Lively: Which Nonprofit Platform Is Right for You?
When it comes to donor management, the two platforms offer fundamentally different philosophies. Mightycause’s integrated approach enables proactive, data-driven outreach, while Give Lively’s model is reactive and risks creating data silos.
Mightycause’s built-in “Contacts” CRM provides powerful tools for donor segmentation and targeting using over 60 customizable fields. This allows you to create dynamic lists and send targeted communications directly from the platform, reducing data friction and improving donor lifecycle management.
In contrast, Give Lively’s model requires data to be exported and then acted upon in another system. For organizations not already using Salesforce, this creates a delay, increases manual work, and separates critical fundraising data from donor engagement activities.
Why Many Nonprofits Choose Mightycause Over Give Lively
For small and mid-sized nonprofits, the value of having truly integrated, free “nonprofit donor management platforms” cannot be overstated. Mightycause’s “Contacts” CRM is included at no cost and provides the tools necessary to move beyond simple transaction processing and toward strategic relationship building.
This all-in-one model provides not only functional superiority but also financial predictability. While Give Lively’s model forces you to budget for both unpredictable processor fees and potentially expensive third-party CRMs, Mightycause delivers a complete, powerful system with a guaranteed fee cap, eliminating financial surprises.
By providing a unified system for fundraising and donor management, Mightycause offers a more efficient, cost-effective, and powerful solution for growth.
FAQs: Mightycause vs Give Lively
- Does Mightycause offer better automation than Give Lively? Yes, Mightycause provides more robust native automation through its built-in email marketing tools. While both platforms integrate with Zapier to create “automated donor communication workflows,” Mightycause’s included tools offer a more integrated, out-of-the-box solution for sending personalized thank-yous, donor updates, and targeted appeals without relying on an external service.
- Which platform is more affordable? While both have a $0 monthly subscription, Mightycause offers cost certainty, while Give Lively presents cost variability. Mightycause’s Price Guarantee caps total fees at 1.99% + $0.30 per transaction, so you always know the maximum you’ll pay. Give Lively passes on standard third-party processor fees (like Stripe’s 2.2% + $0.30) without a cap, making its pricing model less reliable for budgeting.
- Can I manage donors on both platforms? Mightycause includes a free, fully integrated CRM for comprehensive donor management directly within the platform. Give Lively does not have a built-in CRM; it provides data exports and a Salesforce integration, meaning you must use an external system to manage donor relationships.
Final Verdict
The decision between Mightycause and Give Lively is a choice between a complete toolkit and a box of parts. For nonprofits committed to scalable growth, data-driven strategy, and operational efficiency, an integrated solution isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.
Mightycause provides that complete toolkit out of the box, at no monthly cost. Its combination of a free, fully integrated CRM (“Contacts”), the budget certainty of the Price Guarantee, and a comprehensive set of fundraising tools deliver more power, efficiency, and long-term value.
Ready to Decide?
Start fundraising free with Mightycause.
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