GiveSmart
GiveSmart is a comprehensive fundraising and donor management software designed to help nonprofit organizations manage auctions, process mobile donations, and organize events to increase their mission's overall impact.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a global crowdfunding platform that helps you bring creative projects to life by connecting you with a community of backers who fund your ideas in exchange for rewards.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | GiveSmart | Kickstarter |
|---|---|---|
| Website | givesmart.com | kickstarter.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, USA | Brooklyn, USA |
Overview
GiveSmart
GiveSmart provides you with a unified platform to manage every aspect of your nonprofit fundraising, from silent auctions to year-round donor engagement. You can move away from fragmented tools and handle ticket sales, guest registration, and secure payment processing in one centralized location. The software focuses on mobile-first experiences, allowing your supporters to bid on items or donate directly from their smartphones during live events or virtual campaigns.
Beyond event day, you can use the built-in CRM features to track donor history and automate personalized follow-up communications. Whether you are running a small local gala or a national multi-city campaign, the platform scales to meet your needs with peer-to-peer fundraising tools and detailed data analytics. It helps you build deeper relationships with your supporters while reducing the administrative burden on your development team.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a specialized crowdfunding platform designed to help you fund creative projects through community support. Whether you are an independent filmmaker, a board game designer, or a tech innovator, you can launch a campaign to raise the capital needed for production. The platform operates on an all-or-nothing model, meaning you only receive funds if you reach your initial financial goal, which protects you from the risk of being underfunded for a large-scale project.
You can manage your entire campaign lifecycle from a single dashboard, from drafting your project story to communicating with your backers. The platform provides tools to offer tiered rewards, track funding progress in real-time, and manage post-campaign fulfillment. It is ideal for creators who want to validate a product idea and build a dedicated community before a full commercial launch.
Overview
GiveSmart Features
- Mobile Bidding Let your guests bid on auction items and receive outbid notifications directly on their phones to drive higher engagement.
- Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Empower your supporters to create personal fundraising pages and recruit their own networks to donate to your cause.
- Donor Management CRM Track every donor interaction and giving history in a central database to build more personalized long-term relationships.
- Text-to-Give Collect donations instantly by allowing supporters to send a simple text message during your live presentations or appeals.
- Event Management Manage guest lists, seating charts, and check-in processes digitally to eliminate long lines at your physical events.
- Reporting and Analytics Access real-time data on campaign performance and donor behavior to make informed decisions for your future strategy.
Kickstarter Features
- Project Editor. Build your campaign page with images, videos, and text to tell your story and showcase your creative vision.
- Tiered Rewards. Create multiple support levels with unique incentives to encourage backers to contribute different amounts to your project.
- Backer Management. Communicate directly with your supporters through project updates and private messages to keep them engaged during development.
- Funding Dashboard. Monitor your funding progress and backer demographics in real-time with built-in analytics and tracking tools.
- Add-on Rewards. Offer extra items to your backers during the checkout process to increase your total funding and provide more value.
- Promotion Tools. Generate custom referral links and use social sharing features to track where your backers are coming from.
Pricing Comparison
GiveSmart Pricing
Kickstarter Pricing
- No upfront costs
- Access to all creator tools
- Project page hosting
- Community support access
- Mobile app management
- 5% Kickstarter platform fee
- 3% + $0.20 payment processing
- Funds transferred after 14 days
- Backer report exports
- Post-campaign update tools
Pros & Cons
GiveSmart
Pros
- Intuitive mobile bidding interface increases auction revenue
- Excellent on-site support options for live events
- Streamlined check-in and check-out process for guests
- Robust reporting tools provide deep donor insights
Cons
- Learning curve for complex backend setup
- Customization options for landing pages can be limited
- Higher price point compared to entry-level tools
Kickstarter
Pros
- Massive built-in audience of active backers
- All-or-nothing model reduces financial risk
- High brand trust increases backer confidence
- Simple and intuitive campaign setup process
Cons
- No funds received if goal isn't met
- Platform fees can impact tight margins
- Limited customization for project page layouts