Softwr

Nonprofits · head to head

DonorPerfect vs GiveSmart

DonorPerfect logo

DonorPerfect

Nonprofits

Comprehensive donor management software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GiveSmart logo

GiveSmart

Nonprofits

Mobile bidding and event fundraising for charity auctions and galas

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: DonorPerfect the pricing page publishes only a 'starting at $99/month' figure and asks for a custom quote for the Core, Plus and Pro tiers; GiveSmart licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.
  • They diverge on capability: DonorPerfect covers Donor database, GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DonorPerfect and GiveSmart actually diverge.

Attributes where DonorPerfect and GiveSmart differ
AttributeDonorPerfectGiveSmart
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded1995Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DonorPerfect

  • Donor database
  • Campaign management
  • Event management
  • Grant tracking
  • Financial reporting
  • QuickBooks
  • Salesforce
  • Constant Contact

Only in GiveSmart

  • Mobile bidding
  • Auction management
  • Ticketing and check in
  • Text to give
  • Paddle raise and appeals
  • Payment settlement

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DonorPerfect

  • Donor management and gift tracking for small and mid sized nonprofitsnot GiveSmart
  • Running online donation, event and membership forms tied to a donor databasenot GiveSmart

GiveSmart

  • A hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auctionnot DonorPerfect
  • An organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event nightnot DonorPerfect
  • A charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licencenot DonorPerfect
  • A team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the nightnot DonorPerfect

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DonorPerfect

  • The pricing page publishes only a 'starting at $99/month' figure and asks for a custom quote for the Core, Plus and Pro tiers
  • QuickBooks integration, crowdfunding, moves management, batch gift entry and ReadySetAuction are all withheld from the entry Core tier
  • Custom API access is available only on the top Pro tier
  • Enterprise direct mail segmentation and enterprise reports and graphs are Pro tier only
  • Scheduled reports are capped at 5 on Plus and 100 on Pro, and are unavailable on Core
  • Phone support is Pro tier only; Core and Plus get chat support
  • The bundled Constant Contact account is the Lite version on Core

GiveSmart

  • Licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.
  • Pricing is not published, and quotes commonly separate the licence, payment processing, hardware and event night staffing, so the first number a buyer sees is rarely the total.
  • On site technical support and equipment are usually extra, and organisations that decline them discover that event night is the worst possible time to be self supporting.
  • It is event software rather than a donor CRM, so guest and bidder data has to be pushed into the CRM afterwards or the relationship built at the gala is not retained.
  • Consolidation under Community Brands means several nominally competing products share an owner, which reduces the negotiating leverage a buyer thinks a shortlist gives them.

Pricing, plan by plan

DonorPerfect

On request
  • Express$80/month
    • Donor database
    • Gift tracking
  • Professional$175/month
    • Campaign management
    • Grant tracking
    • Prospect research

GiveSmart

On request
  • GiveSmart$undefined/year
    • Quoted as an annual licence rather than per event
    • Payment processing charged separately on funds raised
    • On site staffing, hardware and additional event support quoted as add ons

Which should you pick?

Choose DonorPerfect if

  • You need donor database.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want campaign management.
DonorPerfect review

Choose GiveSmart if

  • You need mobile bidding.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want auction management.
GiveSmart review

Questions people ask

Is DonorPerfect or GiveSmart better?
Neither clearly leads. DonorPerfect starts at On request and GiveSmart at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DonorPerfect or GiveSmart?
DonorPerfect starts at On request and GiveSmart at On request.
Does DonorPerfect or GiveSmart run on more platforms?
DonorPerfect runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. GiveSmart runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is DonorPerfect best used for?
DonorPerfect is most often used for donor management and gift tracking for small and mid sized nonprofits, running online donation, event and membership forms tied to a donor database. Of those, donor management and gift tracking for small and mid sized nonprofits and running online donation, event and membership forms tied to a donor database are not what GiveSmart is typically brought in for.
What can DonorPerfect do that GiveSmart cannot?
DonorPerfect covers Donor database, Campaign management, Event management, Grant tracking. GiveSmart covers Mobile bidding, Auction management, Ticketing and check in, Text to give.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DonorPerfect: What is the minimum monthly cost to use DonorPerfect?

The Core plan starts at $99/month and includes basic donor management, outreach, and stewardship features. Constant Contact digital marketing is included in every plan.

Source
GiveSmart: Is GiveSmart priced per event?

It is normally an annual licence, so organisations running one event a year carry the full cost against one night.

DonorPerfect: What features distinguish the Plus and Pro tiers?

Plus tier adds QuickBooks integration, auction management, crowdfunding, moves management, batch gift entry, and 5 scheduled reports. Pro tier includes enterprise direct mail segmentation, unlimited scheduled reports (100), and custom API access. Exact pricing requires a custom quote.

Source
GiveSmart: Who owns GiveSmart?

Community Brands, the private equity backed nonprofit and association software group that also owns MemberClicks.

DonorPerfect: Is there a free trial, and what does it include?

DonorPerfect offers a free practice trial with AI for Plus and Pro tiers. Free data transfers are also available from most CRM systems mentioned.

Source
GiveSmart: Does it replace our donor database?

No. It captures bidders and guests at an event and needs to feed a CRM afterwards.

DonorPerfect: Is data migration from another CRM included?

Yes, free data transfers from most CRMs are included. Expert onboarding support is available to help with setup and training.

Source
GiveSmart: What is the actual benefit over paper bid sheets?

Bidding continues across the room and payment settles before guests leave, which is where paper auctions lose money.

Share

Related pages

More on DonorPerfect

More on GiveSmart

Keep looking

Other head to heads