Soapbox Engage Blog

Eventbrite is one of the most widely recognized event registration platforms available. It offers a straightforward setup process, a public event discovery marketplace, and a broad range of ticket configurations. For nonprofits running community events, galas, or public fundraisers where discoverability matters, the platform's marketplace reach is a genuine advantage.

Eventbrite supports free and paid ticketing, promotional codes, and basic attendee management. It does not offer deep native CRM integration with Salesforce or Dynamics, and the platform is not purpose-built for nonprofit fundraising. P2P fundraising is not a built-in feature. Organizations that need event data in Salesforce typically rely on third-party connectors or manual exports.

Best for: Nonprofits running public community events or low-stakes gatherings where discoverability matters more than CRM integration. Less suitable for benefit galas, fundraising events, or organizations that need attendee data in Salesforce.

Cvent is a comprehensive enterprise event management platform used widely in corporate settings and by large associations. It covers event registration, venue sourcing, onsite check-in, mobile event apps, and session management for large conferences and multi-track events.

For nonprofits, Cvent is typically best suited to organizations running large professional conferences, summits, or multi-day events where sophisticated session management, speaker coordination, and venue logistics tools are needed. The platform is not specifically designed for benefit galas or peer-to-peer fundraising. Pricing is enterprise-tier and involves a sales process.

Best for: Large nonprofits and associations running professional conferences or multi-day summits with complex logistics. Not a natural fit for smaller organizations or fundraising-focused events.

Bloomerang includes event registration as part of its nonprofit CRM platform. Because it is built into the Bloomerang donor management system, event registration data flows directly into constituent records without any integration layer. This is a meaningful advantage for organizations already using Bloomerang as their CRM.

The event functionality is designed for common nonprofit event scenarios: ticketed galas, annual fundraisers, and donor cultivation events. It is not a full-featured event platform, so organizations running complex multi-session conferences or large hybrid events may find its capabilities limited. For Bloomerang customers, it removes the need for a separate event tool entirely.

Best for: Nonprofits already using Bloomerang as their CRM who want event registration without a separate tool. Not relevant for Salesforce or Dynamics shops.

RegFox is a registration platform with a flexible form builder and a low per-registrant pricing model. It is not nonprofit-specific but is popular among organizations running camps, conferences, and multi-day programs where custom registration questions matter and price sensitivity is high.

RegFox offers considerable control over registration form structure, conditional logic, and pricing configurations. It does not include native CRM integration with Salesforce or Dynamics, fundraising tools, or P2P capabilities. For nonprofits whose primary need is a configurable registration form at a low per-registration cost, it serves that need well.

Best for: Organizations focused on complex registration forms and low per-registration cost, particularly for camps, multi-day programs, or non-fundraising events.

Givebutter is a fundraising platform that includes event ticketing as part of its broader offering. It appeals to smaller nonprofits and grassroots organizations because of its free-to-use model (revenue comes from optional donor-covered fees). The platform supports ticketed events, livestreaming, and peer-to-peer campaigns alongside standard donation collection.

Givebutter does not include native Salesforce or Dynamics integration. For organizations running straightforward ticketed fundraisers without CRM requirements, its all-in-one approach and low barrier to entry are genuine advantages.

Best for: Smaller nonprofits running fundraising-focused events without Salesforce or Dynamics requirements and with limited technology budgets.

Neon One includes event management within its Neon CRM platform. Like Bloomerang Events, the primary advantage is that registration data flows directly into constituent records without a separate integration. Neon One serves small to mid-size nonprofits across a range of event types, from ticketed galas to membership-driven programs.

The event features are adequate for most standard nonprofit event scenarios. Organizations with complex event requirements, Salesforce integrations, or large-scale operations may find the platform less flexible than dedicated event tools.

Best for: Nonprofits already on Neon CRM who want events managed within their existing system.

OneCause (formerly BidPal) is primarily known for mobile bidding and auction fundraising, but its platform includes event ticketing, registration, and peer-to-peer fundraising alongside its auction tools. For nonprofits running gala-style fundraising events that include both a registration component and a silent or live auction, OneCause offers these in one place.

OneCause connects to Salesforce and other CRMs, though this is an integration layer rather than a real-time sync. Event and auction support are frequently cited as strengths. The platform is positioned toward mid-size to larger nonprofits running annual fundraising galas.

Best for: Established nonprofits running large annual fundraising galas who want auction and event registration managed together and are prepared for enterprise pricing.

Blackbaud TeamRaiser is designed specifically for peer-to-peer fundraising events: charity walks, rides, runs, and multi-day endurance fundraisers. It is one of the more established platforms for this event type and integrates with Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge NXT and other CRM products in the Blackbaud ecosystem.

TeamRaiser is not a general-purpose event registration tool. Its feature set is optimized for participant fundraising pages, team formation, coaching emails, and the specific mechanics of walk-a-thon and endurance event fundraising. Organizations outside the Blackbaud ecosystem or running gala-style events will find it a poor fit.

Best for: Large nonprofits running Raiser's Edge NXT that need a proven P2P event platform for walks, rides, and endurance fundraisers.

Accelevents is an event management platform with a focus on virtual and hybrid event experiences. It offers a built-in virtual venue, live streaming, networking tools, session scheduling, and sponsor visibility features. The platform is used across nonprofit and corporate settings for conferences and multi-track virtual events.

Accelevents also includes auction functionality and basic fundraising tools, which differentiates it from purely logistics-focused platforms. It does not offer deep native integration with Salesforce or Dynamics in the same way purpose-built nonprofit tools do.

Best for: Nonprofits running mid-to-large virtual or hybrid conferences who need an all-in-one virtual venue rather than a registration-only tool.

Zoom Events is Zoom's event-hosting product, built on top of Zoom Meetings and Webinars. It supports ticketed virtual conferences, multi-session events, and event hubs with attendee networking. For nonprofits that already use Zoom extensively, hosting a paid or registered virtual event within the Zoom ecosystem reduces friction for attendees.

Zoom Events is not a fundraising tool. It does not include donation collection, P2P fundraising, or CRM integration. Registration data lives in Zoom and would need to be exported and manually reconciled with a CRM. For virtual-only informational events or webinar series, it is a practical option. For fundraising events, it is not designed for that purpose.

Best for: Nonprofits running virtual-only educational events or webinar series where attendee engagement and fundraising are not the primary goals.

Whova is an event management platform designed primarily for professional conferences and multi-track events. It offers a mobile attendee app, session scheduling, networking tools, and exhibitor management. It is used by associations, universities, and nonprofits running annual conferences.

Whova is not built for fundraising events. It does not include donation collection, P2P fundraising, or deep Salesforce/Dynamics integration. Its strengths lie in attendee engagement during conferences: live polling, session Q&A, community boards, and agenda building. For nonprofits whose primary event need is a professional conference experience with a mobile app, Whova is worth evaluating.

Best for: Nonprofits and associations running multi-track professional conferences where attendee engagement and session navigation are top priorities.