GiveSmart by Momentive
TL;DR
GiveSmart is Momentive Software's event-fundraising platform: mobile bidding, live and silent auctions, ticketing, fund-a-need, text-to-give, and a native donor CRM built for nonprofit galas and campaigns.
Key Facts
Pricing
Starting at $2,395/year entry plan; most quotes are custom
Basic
- Mobile bidding for silent auctions
- Event registration and ticketing
- Text-to-give donations
Custom Subscription
- Live/silent auctions and fund-a-need
- Native donor CRM included
- Peer-to-peer and donation campaigns
- Multi-campaign admin permissions
Add-Ons
- Onsite event-day support teams
- Implementation and training services
- Payment processing billed on top
Additional Pricing Information
GiveSmart quotes custom annual subscriptions — the only published anchor is Capterra's $2,395/year Basic plan. There are no per-transaction or ticketing fees on the subscription itself, but turn off the donor "tip" option and a 1–5% platform fee can appear; the payment merchant also bills monthly account dues plus card processing on top. Implementation and onsite event support cost extra, and reviewers warn renewal prices creep up annually.
Details
What is GiveSmart by Momentive?
GiveSmart is the event-fundraising arm of Momentive Software (formerly Community Brands), assembled from the MobileCause, Gesture, and SimplyFundraisingCRM acquisitions and now replacing the old 501 Auctions platform. It covers the full arc of a fundraising event: registration and ticketing, guest check-in and seating, silent and live auctions with mobile bidding at the core, fund-a-need paddle raises, text-to-give, peer-to-peer campaigns, and post-event reporting that follows donors into its native nonprofit CRM. Reviewers score it 7.4 out of 10 across roughly 220 TrustRadius reviews (4.5/5 across 200+ Capterra reviews) and credit the platform with helping nonprofits raise over $7 billion collectively — G2 reviewers repeatedly report 40%+ lifts in auction revenue. What stands out most in reviews is support: onsite teams that arrive with iPads, register bidders in the lobby, and spot during live auctions, plus responsive help through onboarding. The counterweights are financial and structural — custom-quoted annual subscriptions (Capterra lists Basic at $2,395/year as the only public anchor) that price out small organizations, tip-based platform fees of 1–5% when donors opt out of tipping, merchant dues and processing billed separately, limited customization, weak integrations, occasional reliability hiccups, and a backend that grows complex for customized campaigns. GiveSmart fits nonprofits whose calendar centers on galas and auctions and who want event data flowing straight into donor records; year-round-CRM-first organizations should look elsewhere.
Key Features
- Mobile Bidding — One-click bids with instant outbid notifications
- Live & Silent Auctions — Unlimited items with check-in/closeout tools
- Text-to-Give — Donate by text, including recurring gifts without accounts
- Fund-a-Need / Paddle Raise — Structured moment-driven giving
- Ticketing & Guest Management — Registration, check-in, seating maps
- Native Donor CRM — Donor profiles linked to event activity
- Peer-to-Peer & Campaigns — Year-round donation pages and storefronts
- Post-Event Reporting — Closeout, receipts, and donor follow-up automation
Who is it for?
- Nonprofits running galas and auctions as core fundraisers
- Schools and multi-chapter orgs needing per-campaign admins
- Teams that want onsite event-day support staff
- Orgs replacing paper silent-auction sheets with mobile bidding
- Fundraisers wanting event data tied directly to donor records
Who is it NOT for?
- Small nonprofits that can't absorb ~$2,400+/year minimums
- Year-round CRM-first organizations with few events
- Teams needing deep customization or broad integrations
- Budgets that require transparent published pricing (Givebutter)
- Groups leaning heavily on raffles as a revenue line
The Bottom Line
GiveSmart is one of the two serious names in event fundraising, and the reviews explain why: mobile bidding that keeps guests engaged, onsite support no rival matches, and auction-revenue lifts reviewers measure in double digits — all feeding a native donor CRM instead of a spreadsheet export. But it earns its 7.4 honestly: custom-only pricing negotiated blind, fees stacked beyond the sticker ($2,395+/year, then tips-or-platform-fees, merchant dues, paid add-ons), and an event-first design that disappoints as a year-round database. If your fundraising calendar is anchored by galas and auctions, shortlist it against OneCause and pick by demo and quote. If budget rules everything, Givebutter delivers surprising capability for free.
Visit website →