RallyUp offers more campaign types — auctions, raffles, sweepstakes. SmartChange offers faster launch, lower effective rates, and features built for audiences RallyUp doesn't specifically serve. Here's the full picture.
SmartChange is an all-in-one fundraising platform for nonprofits, PTAs, educational organizations, nonpartisan campaigns, NIL collectives, NIL athletes, and crisis fundraising. Same-day self-serve launch, no monthly fees on Standard, Growth, or Pro, donor fee coverage (90%+ adoption), Spare Change round-ups, peer-to-peer fundraising, crisis launch mode, and a dedicated NIL Collective campaign type — all from day one. No contracts.
Standard: 3.75% + 25¢ per transaction. Operated by Level Wins, Little Rock, Arkansas.
RallyUp is a nonprofit fundraising platform offering a wide variety of campaign types — including standard donations, peer-to-peer, auctions, raffles, sweepstakes, walk/run/bike events, and more. It positions itself as an end-to-end nonprofit fundraising solution with no subscription fees, charging a percentage-based platform fee per transaction on top of Stripe processing fees. It offers a concierge service option for organizations that want done-for-you campaign management.
Campaign variety is RallyUp's core differentiator — it supports more campaign formats than most platforms.
| Feature | SmartChange | RallyUp |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Process | Self-serve, same day, no sales call | Self-serve with guided setup; more configuration time |
| Monthly Fees | None on Standard, Growth, or Pro | None — percentage-based model |
| Platform Fee Model | 3.75% + 25¢ all-in (Standard) | Platform % fee + Stripe processing fees (varies by plan) |
| Donor Fee Coverage | Yes — 90%+ adoption; 0–1% effective rate | Fee offset available; adoption rates vary |
| Standard Donations | Yes — all plans | Yes |
| Recurring Donations | Yes — same rate, no surcharge | Yes |
| Peer-to-Peer Fundraising | Yes — all plans | Yes — strong P2P tools |
| Auctions | Not available | Yes — full auction support |
| Raffles & Sweepstakes | Not available | Yes — dedicated campaign type |
| Walk / Run / Bike Events | Events & ticketing included | Yes — dedicated campaign type |
| Embeddable Forms | Yes — any website | Yes |
| Full Public API | Yes — all plans | Limited |
| Spare Change Round-Ups | Yes — exclusive passive giving | Not available |
| NIL Collective Campaign Type | Yes — dedicated type | Not supported |
| Crisis Launch Mode | Under 15 minutes | Not available |
| Concierge / Done-For-You | Not offered | Yes — optional managed service |
| Tip Prompts | Never | Not applicable |
RallyUp's biggest differentiator is campaign variety — it supports auctions, raffles, sweepstakes, and walk/run/bike events as dedicated campaign types with specialized tooling. If your organization regularly runs these formats, that's a real reason to look at RallyUp seriously.
SmartChange doesn't support auctions or raffles. What it does support is a broader set of organizations — nonprofits, NIL collectives, nonpartisan campaigns, crisis fundraisers — with features built specifically for each. If your fundraising is primarily donation-based, peer-to-peer, or recurring, SmartChange covers the full toolkit.
RallyUp uses a percentage-based platform fee stacked on top of Stripe processing fees. SmartChange's Standard rate of 3.75% + 25¢ is the all-in cost — no additional platform percentage on top. When donors cover the SmartChange fee (90%+ do), the effective rate drops to 0–1%.
The total cost comparison depends on RallyUp's specific plan — but the donor fee coverage difference is consistent: SmartChange's 90%+ adoption rate significantly outperforms platforms without the same implementation of transparent fee coverage asks.
SmartChange is fully self-serve. Create an account, build a form, connect your bank — most organizations are live and collecting in under 15 minutes. RallyUp supports self-serve setup but its variety of campaign types means more configuration choices and a longer setup path for first-time users.
For organizations that need to move fast — crisis campaigns, time-sensitive giving moments, new organizations testing their first fundraiser — SmartChange's launch speed is the defining advantage.
RallyUp doesn't offer Spare Change round-ups (passive giving via everyday purchase round-ups), a dedicated NIL Collective campaign type, or a Crisis Launch Mode. SmartChange's full public API is also included on every plan — RallyUp's API access is more limited. These reflect SmartChange's broader audience — not just event-heavy nonprofits, but the full spectrum of mission-driven organizations.
No monthly fee. No configuration maze. Just a fundraiser that works.
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