Table of Contents
Introduction
The pandemic has turned the world upside down, we are now in a time where nothing remains certain. It is the nature of this time that has resulted in businesses adapting to online means. Almost every single big business and organization has had to turn to online operations. In this regard, any business that can operate online should do it. Nonprofit organizations while not a business as such can operate online. They work for the good of the community and in more ways than one help uplift it. If your nonprofit has not tangled with the idea of moving operations online, it is high time. There are various fundraising platforms that can help you with this move.
By moving online, you can continue gathering funds without the pandemic affecting it. One of the best ways to do this is through virtual fundraisers and events. Nonprofits should fulfill the massive potential that exists for online philanthropic ventures. To their aid, virtual events platforms have been custom-built for this purpose. But why do virtual events matter? Let’s find out.
Why do Virtual Events Matter?
The primary reason is the shift of the audience. In this case, the audience would be the donors and benefactors. Since everyone these days is staying indoors, a lot of people have become accustomed to attending meetings and events online. This is a great piece of news for nonprofits. They can now choose to conduct their events online. They can now appeal to their donors and even reach out to audiences far and wide.
Getting on board with the idea of a virtual event is a no-brainer. However, to host virtual events nonprofits need to enlist the help of a virtual event platform. There are various event platforms and each of them has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages.
5 of the Best Virtual Events Platforms
To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of the five best virtual events platforms in this article.
Accelevents
A platform whose sole aim is to encourage event organizers to connect through the power of the internet, Accelevents can also be used by nonprofits. As an all-in-one platform, it comes with various built-in tools and features that can supercharge online events. Accelevents is dedicated to keeping the world connected, even during such stressful times.
They have various tools that can help you conduct an interactive and fun virtual event. What’s more, they also have an event marketing feature that helps you promote the event online. You also get useful features such as monetization, gamification, ticketing, and real-time data. The platform is a boon for nonprofits.
Hubb
A pioneer in B2B event management solutions, Hubb is also a game-changer when it comes to virtual events. Hubb Platform is designed to create virtual events that can help businesses get closer to their audiences. Seemingly this platform works in favor of nonprofits. They aim to provide each user with a unique experience. They have features that separate them from the competition.
Their rich and immersive virtual platform allows users to experience the event like they would in real life. They can also handle conferences and meetings online, giving nonprofits a chance to invite donors to an impressive virtual event.
Streamyard
A live streaming studio that can be directly used in your browser? Streamyard is a blessing in disguise for small nonprofit organizations. It is absolutely free with the only drawback being a little Streamyard branding. For smaller organizations looking to stream their events and meetings on various sites, Streamyard is a holistic solution. It can directly stream to Facebook, YouTube, and even LinkedIn. For nonprofits looking for ways to stream simple events online, Streamyard is your answer.
Givebutter
In a platform that was designed entirely for emerging nonprofits, Givebutter is your all-in-one solution. You can stream events, sell tickets, and collect donations all in the same place. Givebutter also allows you to promote your event over various social media platforms. They have an e-ticket feature that allows you to send calendar invites and event details to attendees, automatically!
You can stream from anywhere and embed it on Givebutter. This allows your viewers and donors to access the event from a single place. You can even upload a recorded version for people to view after the event has ended. You can also engage with your viewers in real-time! This gives you increased interaction with your donors and will help make the event a success. The best part about Givebutter is that all of this is free! Yes, all the features are free to use. Givebutter was designed for new nonprofits and it is definitely among the best virtual events platforms out there.
Funraise
A platform that helps raise funds, comes with donor management software, and can help you host virtual events? Funraise, as the name suggests, is a platform designed to make fundraising fun!
It is a platform designed for budding nonprofits, ones that are ready to take their organization to the next level. Funraise allows you to create interesting campaigns and helps with active donor management. It is designed for peer-to-peer fundraising. The base functionality of the website comes for free and you can get additional features for a range of fees. They can help your nonprofit host a great virtual event without any hassles.
Which Ones Should you Choose?
In our opinion, all of these platforms are the best. We have also included a note about each platform and what type of nonprofit it suits. Givebutter is a platform designed for new and emerging startups and comes with the most holistic feature set.
Every single platform has its merits and demerits. Virtual events platforms solve a bigger dilemma for nonprofits. They help them get the exposure necessary along with proving the right tools to effectively fundraise. Nonprofits need to capitalize on the wave of online event hosting and continue to gather funds in these uncertain times.
