CrowdRise

This is one of the most needlessly confusing products I have ever used. They make you set up teams within fundraisers within fundraisers within teams, like this were the plot of Inception. Add onto that the complete lack of user support I reached out multiple times and did not receive a single email reply and CrowdRise was an absolute nightmare. Stay away!

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Crowdrise takes a 6% fee and the payment processor takes 2.9%. If you opt to pay a little extra so the nonprofit doesn't pay the fees from your donation (I did), the fees plus donation Is totaled up at checkout. It's impossible to miss. More importantly, the site is extremely easy to use and e-mail support is quick. It's kind of silly to expect a platform to not have some kind of fee attached to sustain operations/stay running.

This is one of the biggest nightmare sites. It doesn't get worse than this site. It took 3 days and 5 emails to get the donation site working. I think customer support has one person working 9-5. Good luck. There is no way to change change or edit photos or texts. Even pull up your site is difficult. Yuk, why did I not read reviews first.

Hello,
I am leaving this review here in case there is a Christmas angel in this corporation which would help me. CrowdRise purchased gofundme which means any issue occurring with gofundme is essentially a CrowdRise problem. I am helping my friend raise money for her son's emergency dental surgery. He has congenital rickets which leaves him in extreme pain and they have finally found a surgeon who can operate on his teeth. I have been raising money since the fall and now right before we were about to cash out the campaign the platform is missing. The funds are unable to be retrieved and her son has surgery next week. This feels criminal. It feels like negligence and abuse. I have written to GoFundMe 10 times in 2 days and there is NO response. I have escalated in to the BBB and their legal team but it is time for the company who purchased GoFundMe to get involved and help get our fundraiser back online so this poor kid can have his surgery next week,
Sincerely
Kimberly Johnston
Tofino, BC
Fundraiser which was deleted by GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Dental-Emergency-Care-for-Sunny

Attached is a screen shot from someone named "Mac" at the company who assures our funds are still there but they are not. The whole page is gone including how to retrieve the funds.

The customer service rep on here is just repeating the same babble on every comment about the fees - rhetoric meant to make it seem like an 'option' to pay these fees - however guess what? Their story is, either you pay them or the charity, so see you have options! /s. Do yourself a favor and send the charity a check, venmo, paypal, or zelle so that they are REALLY getting 100% of your donation.

Once you donate. Or create a cause. Can't get the money out of your account until you provide your bank account information and social security number. They don't tell you that in the beginning. However, after i complained, they did credit my credit card without having to provide extra information.

Is any companies' customer service team better or more efficient than Crowdrise's? Seems hard to believe. Response time is unbelievable, they always respond quickly, efficiently and with help for whatever your problem may be and never seem annoyed by the simplicity or complicated nature of your request. I've worked with a couple of the different fundraising platforms and always like working with this one the best!

I'm trying to do a fundraiser for Stand Up For Cancer, and I tried to contact Crowdrise support about an issue regarding the fact that their software doesn't work with smartphones, and their response was that it does.
Unfreakingreal.
Even Stevie Wonder can see that Crowdrise doesn't work.
Stay far away from Crowdrise!

Outstanding product and second to none in customer service. I love chatting with their team. They have never NOT helped me and ALWAYS go above and beyond what you ask of them. This company should be a model for others, without a doubt. Love love love Crowdrise - as a race director, we've been using them for 4 years.

The CrowdRise team has been a real partner to us in a successful fundraising appeal. They've met our frequent requests for assistance with good humor, fortitude and quick action. When we came up against a glitch with a third party, they hung in there with us through tough negotiations with respect and professionalism. They are a delight to work with and now a trusted partner.

My first time using CrowdRise was for a fundraiser I was competing in for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Throughout the fundraiser I had a couple of questions and some information change requests.

To get the negative out there first and wash it away with the positive, I will say that I didn't like receiving an email stating that CrowdRise "Stands with Bruce" regarding the North Carolina law for Religious Freedom. I know this is a corporate decision and not the decision of the awesome representative whom I will write about next, but when a company supports one side, they also oppose another side, and that gave me a negative view of CrowdRise as a company.

Now as an individual working for CrowdRise: Each time I contacted CrowdRise I usually received a response from Wes. My issue was solved immediately and effectively. Whether it be through email or the Live Chat option, things were taken care of right away. Even up until the last crucial minutes of the fundraiser where I asked about a company match option and received the information immediately on how to do it so I could get those funds on my account before the fundraiser closed! That was vital! So thank you to Wes for the quick assistance and all the information I needed to be successful!

I committed some money to a very good cause (a child's dangerous heath condition) via this bad service, and paid a most obnoxious fee ($13.00) to make the donation. I had to commit as a matter of honor and duty to my family, but I find this sort of venture reprehensible. I am also struck by the irony, the only amusing aspect of this experience, of Ed Norton and his liberal sorts making a fortune off the group efforts, need, and pain of others with this incredibly capitalistic enterprise.

My organisation used this service and have yet to receive check. Its been two months, they route you through several different companies, such as Network for Good that sound great but don't deliver. I am now on hold waiting for 10+ minutes trying to speak with someone.

I used to work at a marketing company where I was in charge of making sure that our client's crowd funding campaigns were successful. When I learned about Crowdrise, I was floored about the customer service that I would receive from this platform compared to other, well known, options. The community that is on Crowdrise is so supportive. When I launched my first Crowdrise campaign, I created a relationship with my assigned person and could not have had a better experience on any other platform. I support Crowdrise 100%.

They refused to keep my organization on their profile just because I didn't send the 990 document when they have already had check the IRS which is the legal and appropriate way to check any tax status on anyone

It's comforting to know decent Humans still exist somewhere over the rainbow, not just with Care Bears in the sky.
CrowdRise makes giving back even more fulfilling and fun! I Imagine CrowdRise overall is pretty legit and I Bet My Life will never Quit platforming for amazing charities!

Selling the dream. Dont buy the BS
In reality, the get started link leads to 2 options: start a fundraiser for a charity or individual. Neither link works right out the gate!
Then check out the privacy policy and actually read it. See if you can spot the redundant paragraphs that conveniently avoid disclosing their practices and policies. Quacks like a sham duck to us. Move on. Youll thank us later that you did.

When I found out they charged almost 9% to give to the charity of my choice, I decided to send a check. I can understand a $2 to $5 processing fee, but this is disgusting especially since they are supposed to serve non-profits.

You can donate to most non profits through PayPal for a lot less money.

I know the above is not a true word, but no words can truly embody my experience with crowdrise. They have been more than helpful. I feel I am working with family who care about my needs and silly questions. Their response have been fast, their generosity is incredible, and their consideration is comforting. They helped me obtain much needed goals for my cat who was sick and are continuing to do so with my son who literally is half way around the world out of my arms. They are taking a huge load off my mind in knowing they are there. Thank you Crowdrise Team!

This was my first experience with an organized race to help raise funds for charity. The folks at Crowdrise, Latika in particular, was incredibly helpful. She was on the spot with answering all my questions. I LOVE the shirts, too! I get tons of comments and compliments on my Decent Human t-shirt. Great marketing. Thanks so much for making this a pleasant experience. Well done, Crowdrise!
Deni R.

O. K., I was *not* looking forward to fundraising (understatement), but CrowdRise made it easier and dare-I-say entertaining. We posted to facebook and had donations within minutes from people we hadn't seen in years. The customer service (chat, email, phone--I used them all) is among the best I've experienced anywhere, ever. Totally impressed and absolutely recommend.

I made an account on CrowdRise with very little expectations, and they really blew me out of the water. Aside from fundraising, they do so many other cool things as part of their site. They are hilarious and I honestly laugh out loud everytime I get an email or look on the site. They have excellent customer service, which I feel is hard to find these days. They always promote sending thank you's and donating to other's fundraisers. I had the most enjoyable experience with them and would definitely recommend them to anyone and everyone.

Our grassroots nonprofit has been a big fan and a regular user of CrowdRise for 6 years. We participate in their annual fundraising challenges, plus we set up fundraisers throughout the year for specific needs, and our online donations go though CrowdRise.

The best thing about CrowdRise is the hands-on help. Ask a question, and they're on it. Have a problem with set-up? They'll walk you through it. Feedback is immediate and enthusiastic. They want you to meet your goal, and they have lots of great tips for making that happen.

Some reviewers complain about the fees. If you really want big expenses for raising money, try hiring a good development director! We can't do that, and neither can a lot of small, "impactful" nonprofits. CrowdRise is a bargain.

We'll stay with this fantastic group of can-do people. Fundraising can be a drag, especially if you don't have a clue about how to get started or how to follow through. It's a lot of work for your organization, and you do have to invest time and energy - but CrowdRise makes it fun as well as successful.