Classy vs. Event Gives: Pricing and Features Analysis

Welcome to an in-depth analysis of fundraising technology as we delve into Classy’s pricing and plan features. In this comprehensive blog, we'll dissect the platform's features and costs compared side-by-side with Event.Gives, catering to both seasoned fundraisers and newcomers. We aim to empower you with the insights necessary to make an educated choice for your fundraising initiatives. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of Classy pricing and its feature set for its many plans, providing you with the knowledge to navigate the fundraising landscape effectively.

Strengths of Event.Gives

When it comes to live events, Event.Gives stands out as the best platform to bring technology to your attendees' fingertips with ease. Its minimalist and simple interface makes even your most technologically-challenged attendees feel confident and comfortable bidding and donating at your event. It was designed with the attendee experience as the top priority while also being an easy plug-and-play template that looks clean, professional, and showcases your cause. In addition, the live-streaming features are easy to set up, which makes including guests that cannot physically attend your event a no-brainer. 

We know firsthand how much work goes into planning these events and Event.Gives provides free pre-event consulting and coaching, which helps equip you with best practices and helpful tips on increasing donations throughout your event. Now, let's talk about peace of mind on event day. Event.Gives offers affordable day-of support options, ensuring a smoother experience for organizers. From a dedicated remote technician to an onsite staff member who will train and ensure the platform performs precisely to plan, Event.Gives can support you and your volunteers no matter what issues arise for a super affordable cost. 

Strengths of Classy

Classy, a fundraising event software, stands out with a range of strengths that cater to the diverse needs of nonprofit organizations and event planners. One of its key strengths is its robust and user-friendly platform. With intuitive design and user-centric features, Classy empowers users to create and manage fundraising events with ease. Its comprehensive toolkit encompasses event registration, ticketing, and donation management, simplifying the administrative aspects of event planning. This strength allows organizers to focus more on crafting engaging events and compelling campaigns, fostering meaningful connections with donors and supporters.

Another notable advantage of Classy is its emphasis on modern and dynamic fundraising techniques. The platform supports peer-to-peer fundraising, empowering supporters to create their own fundraising pages and mobilize their networks for support. This innovative approach not only extends the reach of campaigns but also harnesses the power of social connections to drive donations. Additionally, Classy offers sleek and customizable fundraising pages that align with an organization's branding, enhancing visual appeal and establishing a professional online presence. In essence, Classy's strengths lie in its user-friendly platform and its commitment to innovative fundraising methods, ultimately enabling organizations to maximize their impact and cultivate lasting relationships with their donors.

Unique Features for Event.Gives

Event.Gives offers features closely aligned with Classy's Pilot + Live plan, including capabilities for live and silent auctions. However, Event.Gives introduces distinctive elements:

1. Ticketing Toolkit

Event.Gives provides a comprehensive suite of ticketing and check-in features that cater to the needs of event organizers. Their offerings include online ticketing with various ticket options, a ticket scanner for efficient check-in processes, the integration of promo codes for added flexibility, and the ability to manage online sponsorships. Event.Gives provides all these features at no additional cost, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of event types and budgets. In comparison, Classy's inclusion of similar features is contingent upon specific plan tiers. Notably, Classy's Pro plan does not incorporate these features, whereas they are available in the Pro + Live and Pilot + Live plans. Additionally, while Classy also offers a ticket scanner, it comes as an add-on cost of $280 across all plans.

2. Consignment Items Integration

Event.Gives has a consignment integration with GoCharity, where you can seamlessly add items from the consignment storefront to your event with a button click. This quick and easy process allows you to add items and sell duplicate items to attendees who were outbid during the auction, which could double or triple your fundraising revenue. Classy does not include a Consignment Integration in any of their three plans. 

3. Planning Features

Event.Gives offers an extensive array of event management features, distinguishing itself through several unique offerings when compared to Classy's three plan options. Notably, Event.Gives provides text messaging capabilities, enabling direct and real-time communication with event participants. The platform's provision of unlimited managers and manager roles within the platform ensures collaborative and efficient event coordination. Additionally, features such as scoreboards and displays enhance attendee engagement by displaying real-time event progress. These attributes set Event.Gives apart in terms of its comprehensive event management suite. In comparison, while Classy provides some event management features, Event.Gives' unique offerings contribute to a robust and holistic approach to event planning and coordination.

4. Hybrid and Virtual Features

Event.Gives offers a diverse range of virtual and hybrid event features designed to facilitate engaging and seamless experiences. These features encompass live streaming capabilities, real-time donor recognition, live chat functionality, and zero latency streaming for immediate content delivery. These tools collectively enhance attendee interaction and event engagement. In contrast, Classy's software does not extend support for hybrid and virtual events, positioning Event.Gives as a suitable option for organizations seeking a platform equipped with features tailored to these event formats.

Unique Features for Classy

The Classy Pilot + Live plan is a robust plan for donations and auctions and distinguishes itself through the following features:

1. Recurring Donations

Classy's recurring donations feature allows donors to make regular contributions on an ongoing basis, providing a convenient and consistent way to support organizations. This feature enables donors to set up automatic donations at intervals they choose, contributing to long-term sustainability for nonprofit organizations. In contrast, while Event.Gives has plans to introduce this feature in the near future, Classy's existing offering provides a valuable tool for organizations to cultivate reliable and continuous support from their donor base.

2. Peer-to-Peer

Classy's peer-to-peer feature provides a platform for supporters to create their own fundraising pages and mobilize their networks to raise funds on behalf of a cause. This feature promotes grassroots engagement and empowers individuals to play an active role in fundraising efforts. On the other hand, Event.Gives doesn't offer a formal peer-to-peer feature, but users can creatively utilize the platform's donation pages with vote-to-donate capabilities as a workaround to achieve similar engagement dynamics. This highlights Classy's dedicated approach to fostering community-driven fundraising initiatives and Event.Gives' flexibility in adapting its tools for comparable outcomes.

3. Thank You Letters

Classy's platform includes a thank you letter feature that enables organizations to express gratitude to their donors in a streamlined manner. This feature allows users to automate the process of sending personalized thank you letters to donors, enhancing the efficiency of donor acknowledgment. The tool provides a convenient way for organizations to convey their appreciation for contributions, fostering positive donor relationships and reinforcing their support. Classy's thank you letter feature offers an avenue for organizations to maintain professionalism and thoughtful communication with their donors, contributing to a positive and lasting impact.

4. Max Bid

Classy's max bid feature provides a valuable tool for bidders by allowing them to place their maximum bid on auction items. This feature automates the bidding process on behalf of the bidder, ensuring their participation in the auction without needing to constantly monitor and adjust their bids. This can enhance the bidding experience by offering convenience and a level of automation. On the other hand, Event.Gives is set to introduce a max bid feature in the future, indicating a similar recognition of its importance in optimizing the auction experience for bidders.

Classy Pricing Compared to Event.Gives Pricing

Nonprofit organizations dedicate unwavering efforts to raise funds for their causes, choosing fundraising software a paramount consideration, with platform costs at the forefront. As previously noted, Classy's Pilot + Live plan closely parallels Event.Gives' platform, particularly as Classy's Pro plan excludes live and silent auction features.

The cost of fundraising platforms carries substantial weight in nonprofit decision-making. Classy's Pilot + Live plan bears the closest resemblance to Event.Gives' platform, given the absence of live and silent auction capabilities in the latter's Pro plan. Mobile bidding platforms have demonstrated the potential to elevate funds by 30-50%, surpassing the variance in plan costs. Event.Gives' platform is available for free, but entails fees based on processed transactions, while Classy's model features a baseline fee along with credit card fees based on transaction volumes. Owing to the two companies' contrasting pricing structures, comprehending their comparison can be intricate. Insights from past customers' pricing data for Classy are available on galapricing.com, facilitating direct contrasts.

Here is an overview of the feature comparisons and a pricing breakdown shown on slide 4. 

1

2

3

4

5

‍

Both platforms have garnered commendable reviews and enjoy substantial respect within the industry. As you contemplate the most suitable platform for your upcoming event, your key priorities will influence your choices. 

Ensure Event Success

• Classy's approach, notably their Peer-to-Peer add-on, is well-tailored for extensive peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.
• For heightened support during your event preparation phase, Event.Gives presents a robust option.
• If you're seeking to utilize the max bid feature, it's advisable to opt for Classy until Event.Gives introduces Max Bid functionality to their platform.
• Event.Gives particularly excels with its offerings of supplementary consignment items and printable templates, making it a more budget-conscious alternative.

In terms of pricing, Event.Gives stands out due to its affordability and the flexibility of its fee structure, rendering it an enticing choice for your fundraising event.

If you decide to work with Event.Gives, you'll have access to a team of event experts who will guide you through the planning process, from creating your event site to post-event reporting. With Event.Gives, you can rest assured that you have a team of experienced professionals supporting you every step of the way, ensuring that your fundraising event is a success!