# Page 2 | GiveSmart Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 2 - Is GiveSmart the right Event Management solution for you? Explore 203 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/130794/GiveSmart/reviews --- GiveSmart 4.5 (203) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/130794/GiveSmart/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Page 2 - Reviews of GiveSmart ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 26-50 of 203 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use ST Stephanie T. President of Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Deeply Disappointed – GiveSmart Has Been a Costly and Stressful Experience for Our Nonprofit" December 1, 2025 1.0 Our PTO has had an incredibly frustrating experience with GiveSmart, and I want to share our story so other nonprofits can make an informed decision. We spent several thousand dollars launching our fundraising platform and expected a smooth integration with our existing website. Instead, the interface was clunky, difficult to work with, and far from user-friendly. Even worse, when we reached out for help, support was minimal to nonexistent. For a platform marketed to nonprofits—many of which rely on volunteers—that alone was discouraging. Things only got worse. GiveSmart encountered an issue with our bank account, and rather than helping us resolve it quickly, our funds were held for months. As a PTO raising money for important school needs, this delay put us in a really difficult position. Communication was slow, unclear, and unhelpful throughout the entire process. Most recently, as we prepared for Giving Tuesday, a board member attempted a test donation—only to find out that donations weren’t working at all. We submitted an IT ticket and were told they would “try,” and that our account manager was too busy and heading into a meeting, so we should just email general support. At a time when reliability is crucial, this was incredibly disappointing. At this point, we’ve had to create multiple workarounds just to function because GiveSmart still has not provided meaningful assistance. We honestly don’t know what we paid for, as we’ve been forced to solve problems on our own that their team should have handled from the start. Now, right before a major fundraising event, we’re suddenly being asked for additional information that was never requested during onboarding. Critical steps were missed by their team, and we’ve consistently had to chase them just to make the platform functional. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend GiveSmart to any nonprofit or organization looking to raise money. The platform has caused us stress, delays, and unnecessary obstacles at every stage. It has truly been a nightmare and has hindered—rather than supported—our fundraising efforts. If you rely on your fundraising platform to be dependable—especially during major events—please look elsewhere. Pros Unfortunately, there was nothing we found positive about our experience; the platform and support consistently failed to meet even basic expectations. Cons GiveSmart has been unreliable, poorly supported, difficult to integrate, slow to resolve critical issues, and has forced us to create our own workarounds despite paying thousands for their platform. Review Source Terry S. Director of Development Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "GiveSmart is Among the Best" April 4, 2024 4.0 Overall our experience was good. I'd like it to be great and hope we get there this year. Pros Every online platform has its pros and cons and things that work really great and things that need improvement. I would say that GiveSmart is among the best and it's working out any kinks that it still has. I would definitely recommend it to others and believe that most of our problems were user issues. Cons I think they could provide more training with the annual subscription. We had to purchase additional training in order to really utilize the tools. Switched from [OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) OneCause was more expensive and less user friendly. Review Source BG Brandi G. Office Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Amazing Product" January 9, 2019 4.0 Most of our donors and guests loved the new aspect of our Auction, including switching to mobile bidding/checking in and out. Instead of the previous years of pen and paper bidding. There were only a few people that preferred the old method and just couldn't seem to get on bored. People were concerned that guests would be on their phones all night and no one would be interacting but it was quite the opposite. People had more time to mingle not having to go back and check the paper bid sheets since there were none. Pros We were looking for an affordable and easy to use mobile bidding auction program and this one did not disappoint. The company sends a representative to the auction to basically be the point person and fix anything that might come up and help with check in, entering data, etc. They show up early and stay through the event. They bring tablets that are easy to use for our volunteers and staff. Entering items and bidders is easy and functional. Your event can go live as soon as you'd like it to so that even donors that can't attend the night of, can bid on items. This increases revenue tremendously. They also helped us with not having small items but focusing on larger items of value and only having around 100-150 silent items. The colorful pictures and descriptions are easy to view on mobile devices. And if guests don't have a smart phone, we can help them bid on our tablets. Guests receive notification of being outbid, but you can add am amount you are willing to pay and Gesture will continue bidding on your behalf until the amount is reached. Guests are also able to check out from their device, so it makes check out a lot faster and smoother. It is a lot easier to collect on balances as well because we collect credit card information before the event. Guests received notification of being outbid, but you can add am amount you are willing to pay and Gesture will continue bidding on your behalf until the amount is reached. Cons If the tablets go down at check in, it pretty much puts everything at a stand still. Even though the tablets run without wi-fi. There are certain aspects that have to be changed or updated only by Gesture, we can't do it ourselves. Such as adding the individuals who receive notification of a payment or donation from the event. But they are usually quick about their customer service. Review Source MK Madison K. Marketing Volunteer Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "We Are Beyond Grateful" December 3, 2020 5.0 I would recommend Givesmart to anyone looking to kickstart their fundraising and be more flexible with their events. Our nonprofit has seen unprecedented success using GiveSmart, even during such a turbulent year full of changes and unknowns. Our entire team of volunteers is thankful for this product and all that it has provided to us. Their platform, help team, resources, and webinars will motivate you to do more and be better for your organization and its mission. Pros This software is an incredible tool for nonprofits. Especially in a year with so many unknowns and endless virtual events, this software made it easier and less stressful to pivot, be creative, and fundraise for our cause. In 2020 alone, we have done five campaigns and have exceeded our fundraising goals. It is easy to use for both administrators and users, and is feasible for multiple different types of events (i.e. a golf tournament, a virtual auction, a gala, a 5K, a general fundraiser, a voting event, and so much more). The possibilities are endless with GiveSmart. In addition, their support teams and their resources provide tools for organizations looking for ways to improve and grow. I have yet to have a negative experience with the software. Cons The only issue I've had with the software is with a virtual auction. Anytime you share a link, be it to donate, or to view an item, etc., it just links to your general campaign and not to a specific component of that campaign. That being said, that's a minuscule detail in the grand scheme of things when planning and executing an event. This software is easy to use and navigate, and their support team is top-tier if you run into a problem or have a question. Alternatives considered [SchoolAuction.net](https://www.capterra.com/p/106652/SchoolAuction-net/)[Greater Giving](https://www.capterra.com/p/127257/Event-Software/)[ReadySetAuction](https://www.capterra.com/p/196653/ReadySetAuction/) Reason for choosing GiveSmart A couple of features sold us. GiveSmart is able to handle multiple different types of events (and even has a seating chart feature for galas which is HUGE for our team), the presentation and nice-looking user interface seemed better than others and better for our audience, and it is able to export different types of reports that are editable and customizable. These features were crucial for us and helped us make the decision. Review Source KC Kristin C. Director of Development Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The Best Choice" October 19, 2020 5.0 From beginning to end, my experience with GiveSmart was outstanding. I have recommended them to a number of other nonprofits. We will definitely continue to use them. They will do everything they can to make your event a success! Pros I was very nervous about setting this up for the first time. I'm a one-person development office, and I'm not extremely technology-savvy. But once I started, it was so intuitive that it practically told me what to do. And when I ran into something I needed help with, the tutorials were great, and if I still needed help, the customer support reps responded very quickly with exactly what I needed. There was no down time! It's also easy for our donors to use for bidding on our gala auction. We have received many compliments about that, so much so that we're using the software again on another fundraising program. The reports available to me during and after the event have been unbelievably helpful. There was no time lag waiting for results. I could watch the action results real time on my computer and send out appropriate messages. The software works seamlessly with Excel. There are great resources on their website from other organizations about how they used GiveSmart for their events. These were extremely helpful when we had to pivot from a live event to an online event. They took me from fear to excitement! Cons I wish I had set up our site earlier. I would have been able to use it for ticket purchases, sponsors and auction donations. I will next time! Switched from [Qtego](https://www.capterra.com/p/207552/Qtego/) The Qtego software was very complicated, and it was very difficult to enter auction item descriptions. Our customer service rep was condescending and unresponsive. After the event, we had to wait a long time for our reports. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Development and Marketing Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Amazing event support " May 3, 2019 4.0 GiveSmart provides much needed day of event support as well as an easy to use interface for auction bidding. Reporting has helped ease the closeout process and assure everyone receives their items and we receive payment. They send continuous follow-up to donors for payment post event. You also have access to crowdfunding for 6 months after your event has ended. Pros Easily create auction website to link to your website. Bidders receive texts when they have been outbidded. You are able to create endless silent and live auction items for your page. Event support is so responsive and you are able to customize your support needs for in state and out of state events. Their team arrive to your event with ipads to complete donor bidder profiles on site. They will come to your booth in exhibit hall and encourage people to register for bidding. They are super friendly and outgoing and are great as live auction spotters. They raise far more than their cost and double our giving. You are able to even enter in different pledge amounts as donation items on the auction site. Cons They are a little costly however it's worth it for a smooth, successful event. I do wish the website was a little more attractive and grouped the silent and live items together. The items appear kind of small and cramped together. Review Source AS Amanda S. Sr Manager, Leadership Events Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great for in-person events, still working out the virtual event kinks" October 13, 2020 5.0 Overall, I would recommend GiveSmart, especially as I know they will continue developing their software to provide better solutions for virtual events. It is really easy to set up your site and auction, and once users are in it is easy for them to use as well. The account managers are really fantastic and willing to help you through any questions or customizations you want to try. Unfortunately, in a virtual setting, it seems less risky to run the site and auction yourself on the day of the event. I appreciate their display, reporting and communication options. Pros This software is extremely easy to use from the administrative side. I like how easy it is to upload and edit auction items and do small customizations to the page to display information and even things like sponsor logos. The display for a live fundraising appeal with all the names and real-time amounts is great. I like being able to send texts very quickly. The reporting function is amazing. There are so many different types of reports to really be able to analyze the data. I like being able to livestream a youtube video with the presentation view. The customer support team is fantastic. I am excited to use the new Champions feature for peer-to-peer fundraising. Cons The switch to virtual events has created some kinks that need to be worked out. Whereas they typically were registered ahead of time by us as being on the guest list, or could register at the door, in a virtual setting they had issues registering themselves, especially if they were trying to register for a second event. It is not very intuitive to sign in if you forgot your password. I wish that you could customize the fonts and the order in which ads are displayed. I also would like to be able to send an email through Givesmart that would show up as coming from me so it would be less likely to be missed by event attendees. While the support team is fantastic, the on-site/day-of specialists can be hit or miss in their effectiveness. Review Source Crystal P. Principal Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Gesture offers excellent professional software with outstanding customer service." October 31, 2017 5.0 Pros Gesture's software is user-friendly, fun to utilize and has a clean, professional look. I thoroughly appreciate Gesture's frequent software updates. They are continuously in search of even better ways to improve upon the customer experience, which they communicate through their Gesture Innovation Center emails. I believe that they value customer opinions and implement suggestions, accordingly. As an event planner, other companies often approach me, but none offer the experience Gesture has given my clients over the years. Our account manager, Allie Erickson is on top of our every need, patient, accessible, friendly and helpful. Our on-site manager is thoughtful, communicative, professional and kind. The Gesture team is trustworthy, diligent and fully dedicated to their customers. Every year, our attendees highly rate Gesture in our post-event survey. We have remained loyal to Gesture for many years and will continue for many more to come. Cons I would like to remain logged onto the system longer, but I understand that the system logs me off for security purposes. I really don't have any complaints. Review Source KW Kierstin W. Donor Relations and Events Director Individual & Family Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Bad decision to purchase" October 13, 2022 3.0 This was one of the worst technology purchases I have made with an organization. I regret bringing my team into this and spending a lot of money for very limited use cases and poor customer support. Pros I liked the ability to manage event registration, seating, and event fundraising in one place. I liked that sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and attendees could all have their own registration page for the same event. Cons We did not use the Auction component and actually opted for pen and paper after realizing the Givesmart Auction functionality. It does not look appealing or feel easy-to-shop for an attendee who is immersing in the software during the event. There was almost NO customization available for fundraising for units of impact as opposed to dollar amounts. The user (me) had very little ability to redefine an event attendee's experience on the platform. I had to spend weeks if not months requesting very simple changes to the giving forms. My experience with customer support was poor. They would reach out to me a few weeks before my event to see if I was using all the software features available and push me to integrate them that late in the project. There seemed to be no consideration for the user and where they are in the planning process versus what sales objectives they needed to accomplish before my renewal period arrived. Review Source MG Meghan G. Sr. Development Manager, Distinguished Events Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great to work with" July 18, 2019 5.0 Pros It is the best auction technology I've ever worked within. They are also constantly making it better for their clients. Cons Their onsite staff can be hit or miss sometimes. If you talk to your manager about having experienced staff, they will accommodate. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Programs and Development Intern Best Buddies North Carolina Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "My experience with the gesture site was easy, worry and stress free." December 8, 2017 5.0 I had a wonderful experience with this software. I found it was easy to make my own auction site. Pros The gesture software is very easy to learn. I am new to the website and it only took me about an hour to figure everything out. Everything is pretty self explanatory. I had to create an auction site for a silent and live auction. Adding each item came with ease. When you go to add an item each section is categorized telling you exactly what information to put in. I also found it very easy to go back and change things if I had made a mistake. The site is easy for others to use and view the auction items I posted. I felt that the crowd we were trying to attract was the older generation of people and this site allowed them to have the ability to see each item without complication. I really liked that the software told you who was watching certain items. It was easy to generate an item sheet in order to print them out and post them for our auction. Cons I think my least favorite thing about this software is trying to figure out when someone bids higher than you and who it is. I found that I had trouble when I bid on an item. My friend and I really wanted an item and we kept out bidding each other but didn't realize we were the only two bidding. I wish it would tell you who is bidding against yo. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Marketing Project Manager Facilities Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Good event fundraising and mobile bidding solution" December 14, 2018 4.0 Good overall experience, we will use them again next year. Custom service for the software is very responsive. Most of the people they send to the event are very polite and professional, but we have had a couple of people that have not been the best at representing our organization. Pros We have used this software for two years now for our annual charity golf outing. It's a fantastic tool for mobile bidding at auctions and overall "day-of-event" fundraising. Easy to use and navigate. In addition to the software, you get actual people that run the software the day of the event. Cons One challenge I have found is that the information from last year's event doesn't carry over to the next year. Since we typically get a lot of the same donors, I have to re-enter donors from scratch instead of having the system "remember" them from last year. Review Source Response from Momentive Software December 18, 2018 Thank you for the positive review of GiveSmart! We greatly appreciate all of your feedback. Good news is that you are able to transfer the information from your previous event to your next year. The only information that would not be available is the actual credit card information, for obvious reasons we would want to keep that secure. Please connect with your Account Manager and they will happily help you do this for the next event! Jill M. Donor Relations Coordinator Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best Investment Ever" October 13, 2020 5.0 I have nothing negative to say about this company, the platform or their employees, everyone I have had contact with has been more than helpful. The software is easy to use, but if you do have questions, the chat, email or phone availability of someone who can help you is amazing. They are prompt and efficient, which helps you to complete the task at hand and move on the next thing on your lsit! Pros What I like MOST about this software is the fact that people can participate in our auction from anywhere!! Cons HHHmmmm......the first year, the uploading process of the auction items was a bear, but they upgraded the software and since then it is SUPER user friendly!!! Alternatives considered [Handbid](https://www.capterra.com/p/134456/Handbid/) Reason for choosing GiveSmart At that time, the ticketing aspect and the overall platform was worth going with Givesmart. It was a leap, as no one in our area had utilized online bidding, we were the first. Our patrons LOVE it!!! Review Source Karen H. Gala Chairman Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great company, easy to use, lots of great features!" October 31, 2017 5.0 I have been able to generate reports that I need for sharing with my committee and for tax letters. Also, the on-line bidding system is a favorite of our guests. I love the messaging too. It allows me to send messages to my guests pre, during, and post event. Pros I love that you can generate reports (I use Excel) with information you need for money raised on tickets-silent-live-raffle items, $ raised by donor, FMV vs what was donated for tax purposes, and the list goes on. The spreadsheets can be sorted as you like for your purposes. I also like the messaging. You can send out text messages to your guests for reminders like auction open for bidding, parking, auction closing, links to photos post event, etc. You can also generate tax letters from the site. A lot of great features! Cons The only thing I wish it could do is generate tax letters for each guest separately. If you need to make a change for one guest, you have to generate all letters as they go into a single PDF file. You can't just generate them for one guest. Not a major problem, just wish it was a feature. Overall it is a great system! Review Source Response from Momentive Software November 5, 2017 Karen - Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We will let our development team know of your suggestion! We love working with Folds of Honor Chicago and look forward to many more incredible events! LV Lillian V. Development Coordinator Museums and Institutions Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "First-time mobile bidding user" August 15, 2019 3.0 Online technical troubleshooting is minimal and mostly limited to references to existing articles. Introduction to our on-site event lead was too late, and staff/volunteer training was therefore delayed. More pre-event communication and training with our direct event lead would have been helpful. The customer service provided by GiveSmart staff at registration was poor according to guest feedback. There was little effort in trying to understand the purpose and scope of our event and our intentions in how to use GiveSmart to facilitate our vision. Many guests had trouble with mobile bidding, but did not receive adequate support from GS staff. We instructed on-site GS staff about specific check-in procedures that were ignored; GS staff had pressured guests to provide credit cards despite our instructions. Pros Relatively easy bidding, data readily available for auction items, ability to import registrant data with custom fields Cons Page customization is relatively inflexible given our organization's needs. Any changes to auction item description input and packaging is tedious given that you have to un-package items to make more extensive changes to individual items. The donor recognition is automated so it's prone to errors. Auction item restrictions are not readily visible on the mobile site for bidders. Item photos can't be saved from the platform. Item certificate and acknowledgment letter formatting is inflexible and flawed. Funds to account are not easily distinguishable between auction and donation, which does not help our accounting. Alternatives considered [OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) Reason for choosing GiveSmart Recommendation Review Source AS Anne S. Development Manager Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Gesture is the real deal for mobile fundraising; intuitive to use, with great customer support." November 14, 2017 5.0 Pros The software is intuitive to use and streamlines so many of the processes that eat up your time when you have to do them manually; we eliminated so many Excel spreadsheets, thanks to everything being easily captured, managed, and tracked right within the software - from auction packages to ticket sales to even the seating and meal requests. Beyond the software, Gesture's customer service was incredible; from the initial sales call all the way through to the event itself, every single Gesture representative we worked with was attentive, helpful, and genuinely interested in helping us have a successful event - which we did. In just the 48 hours since the event concluded, I've received multiple compliments from guests who expressed how "smooth" the night ran and how "seamless" their experience was, from check-in to bidding on auction packages to purchasing raffle tickets to checking out when they won auction packages. We will definitely be using Gesture again, for next year's event! Cons Since our event is coordinated by a mix of paid staff and volunteers, it would be helpful to have an administrative access level in Gesture that is "view only" - currently, it's all (full admin rights) or nothing. It would also be helpful if raffle winners could be "drawn" right in the software, rather than needing to use a random number generator on a third party site. Review Source JV Jeremy V. Development Manager Mental Health Care Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great platform for events" March 19, 2021 3.0 Givesmart helps us to make attractive fundraising event pages that also allow for smooth communication with our donors. Pros The event landing page is very customizable and looks very high quality. On the back end it is easy to get the information you need plugged in for fundraising events. You can have an event page up and running in only a few hours time. Cons Some of the back end features such as table assignments and ticket purchasing do not always function together smoothly. If a person purchases tickets or donates offline it is not always easy to get that plugged in nicely on the event site. Reason for choosing GiveSmart Because of the functionality and the willingness of the Givesmart team to listen to our needs and implement them Switched from [OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) Functionality- Givesmart is easier and more user-friendly on the back end. Review Source MB Maggie B. Development Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Make your auction run seamlessly! " December 7, 2021 5.0 Excellent! No complaints. We highly recommend this over similar products. Pros We have used GiveSmart for several years for our Gala auctions and we have had wonderful experiences with the software. This has made our auction seamless to run, and the checkout is simple to use. All of the reporting is very intuitive and the support staff is helpful is you have questions. Cons GiveSmart used to send staff to help run your events and we are told this is no longer the case. We liked having their team available to help at the in person events. Alternatives considered [Greater Giving](https://www.capterra.com/p/127257/Event-Software/)[OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) Reason for choosing GiveSmart The staff support was helpful and the product was easy to use and implement. Review Source TM Tara M. Development Associate Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great resource for virtual fundraising " October 13, 2020 5.0 GiveSmart has been a great resource for our online fundraising. We used the platform prior to the pandemic, and have increased our usage since. With endless access to the platform during the subscription period, we are able to come up with unique ways to fundraise and know the platform will help make them happen. Pros GiveSmart is fairly intuitive and easy to use. There are a lot of guides that are easy to follow. The GiveSmart team has been very helpful in assisting our organization transition to virtual fundraising during the pandemic. GiveSmart has offered numerous webinars filled with tips regarding virtual fundraising. We love being able to customize many aspects of the platform to fit our fundraising needs and like that we have endless possibilities and uses for the platform. We are grateful for the ease of pulling comprehensive reports. This allows to easily and accurately move the data into our data collection system. Cons Be sure to read and understand each feature and ask questions if something is not clear. We had an issue thinking that a feature on the auction meant one thing, but in reality it meant something totally different. The GiveSmart team was able to help us easily remedy the problem the miscommunication created on our end. Review Source SH Shelley H. Director of Finance Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Decent bidding software, horrible customer service " October 22, 2020 3.0 Up until this year I have been pleased with GiveSmart. We have been GiveSmart customers for several years, starting out with 501 and then converting platforms to GiveSmart. I have been extremely disappointed with GiveSmart's customer service during the pandemic. They will not budge on previously signed contracts- despite live events (still several months out) being canceled and the GiveSmart team not being allowed to travel. I even asked about just extending our contract so that we can continue to use GiveSmart at a future event (2022?) but even that is apparently not an option- our only option is to be held to a contract and lose our deposit on an event that can't happen. Sad to think they are willing to lose a customer rather than even attempting to work with us. Pros Bidding functionality is great with GiveSmart. The SetUp is easy- as long as you are ok with their preformatted template- the majority of the pages are all formatted and can not be customized, even something simple like trying to move one section up or rearrange various sections on a webpage is simply not possible. Cons Very little customization. Not user friend for virtual events- great for bidding but does not allow streaming or actual event coverage. In order to host a virtual event a secondary software also has to be used to actually stream/ cover the event. Review Source AP Annie P. Manager of Special Events & Annual Giving Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The software is easy to use and provides a seamless experience for our staff and event guests." October 27, 2017 5.0 Pros The software is easy to use. It's intuitive and easy to navigate. It makes my job as an event manager much easier. Adding auction items, auction close out, and financial reporting are a breeze. It is also a smooth process for our guests. Bidding on auction items or making a donation is very easy for them, which means more donations for our cause. We set up our auction online in advance of the event. This gives guests an opportunity to start bidding on silent items, and become familiar with live auction items. All of this leads to more revenue to support our mission. I also appreciate the ability to customize our site so it looks like us. This creates a cohesive experience for our guests and helps us put our brand front and center. As a site administrator, I love the ability to download the generated auction sheets. This is a huge time saver. We also download the receipts and send to guests with a thank you letter after the event. It calculates the tax deductibility automatically on the receipt which is an essential feature. Cons There are a few custom queries/reports I would like which are not currently offered. It can be confusing as an admin to see clearly what funds have been paid and not paid. However, the staff are great and have helped me figure things out. They even created a custom report for me. Review Source BS Bettie S. Tech Support Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Fundraiser Support" October 22, 2020 5.0 Easy input of our items & images, because of the Excel sheets provided. Really happy with the reports available. Pros We have used GiveSmart for almost 3 years. Everyone I have been in contact with has been helpful, will go that extra step to make sure I understand. I'm including the Resource area, I have used it several times and if I need more help I use chat. We usually have a large Fundraiser set up each year with Sponsor Recognition, Silent & Live Auctions and we have GiveSmart provide us with 6 GiveSmart support. They help with Registration and Checkout, which makes the fundraiser very streamline. This year is different, we have had two Virtual Fundraisers, which was a very quick transition for us. GiveSmart was a great help and the first one was a great success and we are currently doing the second one now and so far no problems. Cons The only problem is that we do not have an easy connection between GiveSmart & our accounting system. Our Treasurer has trouble with what she receives from GiveSmart. Review Source AP Allison P. Co-Chair of Fundraising Event Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Excellent customer service and product was perfect for our 250 person fundraiser!" May 10, 2018 5.0 Streamlined auction process before, during and after event. We went "paperless" and didn't have to fuss with paper bidding forms and associated headaches. We raised more than $10,000 more than we ever raised before using an online bidding system. We look forward to using again next year! Pros Very easy to navigate the dashboard to build fundraising website and to upload pictures and descriptions of auction items. Bidders loved how easy it was to register for the silent auction, and we benefitted greatly from launching the website and opening the auction prior to the event. There were many easy tutorials for our volunteers to watch so that they could get comfortable with the online bidding system, and they were well equipped to handle questions from guests. We benefitted greatly from having an onsite specialist with us at the event. She was extremely professional, smart, highly capable and knowledgeable about the software, and she worked nimbly and confidently throughout the night to answer any questions and even offered suggestions that contributed significantly to the success of our auction - and on top of that, she was very enjoyable to be with! After the event, we were able to easily close our books and to process all payments (a significant improvement from many years of dealing with cash and checks and tracking down payments) and to run reports providing incredible data for us to review and learn from. Cons I cannot think of anything to improve this software. It was perfect for our event - simple to use and very geared toward serving a volunteer-based event! Review Source LH Lisa H. volunteer Philanthropy Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great assist for raising funds in our community" October 13, 2020 5.0 Overall our club's experience with its fundraiser using GiveSmart was great. You can have several administrators to share the load of work when you are an all volunteer organization. Our Pros The Customer Service is right by your side in setting up your site and they provide a great "help" base with written and video information. Once you get the hang of uploading your donations it's quite easy. I like that once your account is secured, you can begin working on the site. We start up on our next event in August just lining things up and continue to refine it until our event in April. Takes the pressure off of the volunteers. Cons I have sent suggestions based on a previous product we've used to their IT and wish I would hear back. I also would like to see the company provide a separate pricing index for organizations that are strictly community service and all volunteer. We're working hard to raise funds for our community and have no hired leadership. Makes it tough. A drawback for us has been the ability to create and send a personalized thank you identifying the object and tax information to donors as I upload their donation. We have to do an extra step outside of the product. Review Source BD Beth D. Executive Director Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great resource and awesome personnel" October 18, 2020 5.0 The personnel and platform are excellent and make my job so much easier! Pros Givesmart is so easy to use and allows us to run different types of fundraising events. The more I use it, the easier it becomes, and I find myself thinking about new ways to use this platform. Cons The financial reporting can be a bit confusing but as I use it more, and with the assistance of Givesmart, I am able to navigate much better. Alternatives considered [OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) Reason for choosing GiveSmart Givesmart was the best fit. We needed a streamlined product and they delivered. Switched from [OneCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/145329/Fundraising-Software/) We felt the overall program from a pricing and feature standpoint best fit our objectives. Review Source Similar Products Featured