Comparison: WeGive vs. RaiseDonors [by Virtuous] Which Is Right for Your Nonprofit?

Compare RaiseDonors to WeGive. RaiseDonors offers user-friendly forms and Virtuous CRM integration. WeGive features one-click checkout, robust donor portal, and nonprofit-specific marketing tools.

If your nonprofit is considering adding or changing fundraising platforms, you are likely feeling the pressure of knowing how much that decision matters –and you want to get it right.

You want to steward resources well and make it easy for donors to give so that your organization’s mission can accomplish all it needs to.

So, we want you to be well-informed. With numerous options available, understanding the key differences between platforms can help organizations align their needs with the right tools.

In this comparison, we will explore the differences between WeGive and Virtuous’ RaiseDonors platform, to help you determine whether to use RaiseDonors or WeGive alongside your CRM to raise money and communicate with donors.

Platform Focus

WeGive and RaiseDonors are both designed to enhance your nonprofit's fundraising capabilities by working alongside your CRM (which in the case of RaiseDonors, is likely Virtuous). 

Both tools can be used to:

  • Build customizable forms
  • Process donations with a variety of payment methods
  • Allow donors to see their giving history
  • Send automated emails (there are key differences [anchor link] to note)

However, these organizations, and therefore their products, do have different purposes at their core. 

RaiseDonors, on the other hand, is a product acquired by Virtuous in 2020, designed primarily to complement Virtuous’ CRM offering. While it provides basic fundraising tools, its main purpose is to serve as an additional feature for Virtuous CRM users.

Like RaiseDonors, WeGive is not a CRM. It's a platform focused on delivering an exceptional donor experience, working seamlessly with your existing CRM. Its goal is to go beyond simple payment processing by offering donor-centric features like an impact-based donor portal and advanced marketing automation tools, in order to help organizations retain more donors.

Features and Functionalities

Giving Tools

Both WeGive and RaiseDonors offer customizable, mobile-friendly forms that can be integrated into your website for donations. They both support a variety of payment methods.

However, WeGive offers more robust giving options like peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, and pledges. WeGive also offers 1-click checkout for returning donors, which is a user-friendly feature that has been shown to improve checkout conversion.

WeGive's Peer-to-Peer (P2P) tool

Payment Processing

RaiseDonors utilizes Stripe for payment processing, while WeGive offers more flexibility by allowing organizations to either use Stripe, bring their own processor, or choose WeGive Payments, which offers lower rates than Stripe. 

Donor Portal

Example of WeGive's Donor Portal

Marketing Automation

Without a doubt, WeGive is the winner here. To be fair, RaiseDonors is not meant to be a comprehensive marketing communication tool, whereas WeGive has this as a key part of their platform.

RaiseDonors does have some marketing communication functionality. It does a good job with semi-automated communications like donation reminders and payment failure notifications. If using RaiseDonors, organizations may need to consider adding another communication tool into their techstack.

WeGive excels in donor engagement, offering advanced marketing communication tools that support trigger-based flows for email, text, and direct mail. There are hundreds of variables built-in, created with nonprofits in mind. This feature can help a nonprofit replace multiple vendors, simplifying its tech stack. 

Pricing & Cost Structures

Both RaiseDonors and WeGive utilize grow-with-you plans, offering personalized pricing based on an organization’s size and needs. 

RaiseDonors does not offer transparent pricing on its website, so it would be important for nonprofits to get a quote directly from Virtuous if interested in using it.

WeGive’s transparent pricing model is here, but because there are personalized options based on an organization's needs, it’s recommended to get a quote from them as well.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Virtuous is known for strong customer service, and RaiseDonors is no exception. They offer comprehensive training through the RaiseDonors Academy, with free courses and personalized support for enterprise clients.

WeGive also provides robust support, especially during onboarding, including assistance with data migration. However, WeGive’s self-serve customer support content is not yet as extensive as RaiseDonors.

Integration with Other Tools

When it comes to integration with your CRM, RaiseDonors’ integration with Virtuous CRM is import-based, meaning data needs to be manually reviewed and can take time to sync. This delay might be a concern for organizations that need real-time data to kick off communication flows. 

On the flip side, WeGive offers a bidirectional sync to CRMs, including Virtuous, with real-time data integration, which can be particularly valuable for organizations requiring quick data access. WeGive’s integration with Virtuous is known to be one of Virtuous’ strongest.

Both companies integrate with common tools like Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, and Hubspot. RaiseDonors additionally integrates with Double the Donation, and WeGive integrates with Zapier.

WeGive's Integration Page

RaiseDonor's integration page

Final Thoughts: Which Platform Is Right for You?

RaiseDonors is a solid choice for organizations using Virtuous CRM that need a straightforward, out-of-the-box giving tool. It offers a good balance of functionality without requiring significant customization. However, for nonprofits seeking more robust features, particularly in donor engagement and marketing automation, WeGive stands out. Its flexibility, advanced donor-centric features, and strong integration capabilities make it a strong contender, even for those already using Virtuous CRM. 

Ultimately, the choice between WeGive and RaiseDonors should be based on your organization's specific needs, budget, and desired level of customization. For those prioritizing a seamless donor experience and powerful engagement tools, like those who prioritize recurring giving and donor retention, WeGive may be the better option.