Which NZ fundraising platform fits our situation?

Define the campaign before comparing providers

A product drive needs an order process and a workable fulfilment plan. A donation appeal needs a clear way to explain the project and accept support. A school athon adds participant arrangements and an activity the school must run. Write down which of these you are planning now, rather than buying around features you might never use.

Agree who will own the account and who can approve the campaign. Ask what happens when the committee changes, how records can be handed over and which permissions helpers actually need. A familiar interface is useful, but it does not replace a named organiser.

Compare the support model as well as the software

Some groups want to run the campaign themselves; others need a provider to undertake agreed tasks. Ask for a written list of who does what. A managed campaign may include setup or communication support without including supervision or running the event day.

Compare costs on the same assumptions

Give each provider the same scenario: campaign type, expected payment amount, number of transactions and any supplies you need. Ask about minimum charges, optional extras and who pays each fee. A low headline percentage is not a complete quote if it leaves out processing or required materials.

Raised publishes no setup or monthly subscription fee, while card transactions carry platform and processing fees. Eligible product campaigns can offer cash or bank transfer without Raised or Stripe payment fees; crowdfunding is card only. Check current pricing rather than describing every transaction as free.

Compare what the supporter pays as well as what your group retains. For product fundraising, add the supplier bill, freight and other costs outside the platform. Test a cautious level of participation so you understand the effect of fixed costs or minimum commitments.

Test the workflow you will actually use

Before announcing the fundraiser, walk through the supporter page on a phone and the organiser's close-of-campaign tasks. Check whether the product choices are clear, whether the deadline is visible and how the organiser finds the records needed for collection or reporting.

For a school campaign, review display names, sharing arrangements and access with the school. Do not assume a provider's general privacy statement decides which student information your group should publish. If a required workflow is unclear, get an answer before committing to it.

• Can we obtain the reports we need without retyping every order?
• Who answers supporter questions and payment disputes?
• Who approves changes, cancellations and any refunds?
• What remains with us if a supplier, volunteer or event date changes?

Record a reasoned choice, not a universal winner

RaiseFunds and Raised are our own sites. Our recommendation should therefore be assessed against the tasks and costs described here, not treated as an independent league table. If your group can organise its campaign, Raised offers several fundraising formats in one place. If you need a managed service, compare the actual services quoted.

Write a short decision note with the chosen provider, the confirmed inclusions, remaining jobs and current fee source. Keep it with your budget. That lets the next committee understand the choice and review it when the campaign or available people change.

We need [campaign format] and [level of support]. We chose [provider] because [verified fit]. Our group remains responsible for [jobs]. The fees and inclusions were checked on [date] at [source]. [Role] will resolve [open question] before launch.