Events can be a great way to bring a community together to support a common cause. They can also be a fun way to raise money. But as many organizations know all too well, events can also be a LOT of work.

Event management software allows you to create, manage, and promote your events more easily and efficiently than ever before. These platforms can create tickets, send out reminder emails, generate reports, securely process payments, handle donations, and more. In this post, we’ll talk about some of the best options currently on the market for event management software.

At Inclind, we work with nonprofits throughout the U.S. to help them create websites that support their mission. We regularly help nonprofits integrate a number of different software solutions into their websites (including event management software). Whether you want to add a donate now button to your site, do a complete redesign, or ensure that your website is accessible, we can help. Reach out today to talk to our award-winning website design and development team member.

Why Do I Need Event Management Software?

Nonprofit organizations often operate on a tight or even a shoestring budget. When you’re worried about paying your staff enough or how you’ll fund a particular initiative, it may seem absurd to think about paying for something like event software. But the truth of the matter is that your nonprofit might not be able to afford to NOT purchase event management software.

Putting on an event as a nonprofit can be incredibly important in terms of raising both money and awareness. However, it’s also a lot of work. When your organization decides to host an event, you do so knowing that a lot of your staff’s time is going to be devoted to planning, setting up, and managing all of the details.

Event management software is often a cost-effective way to run an event. It can be used for all types of events, including:

1. Walks
2. Festivals
3. Races
4. Fundraisers
5. Performances
6. Conventions

This type of software can be pricey. Yet, in many cases, it is money well spent - particularly if you are able to save time and increase attendance by using the software.

So why should you consider using event management software? First, it may lead to a much higher number of registrations because you will be giving people an online option. Many people - especially younger people - don’t want to fill out a paper form or go through a clunky registration process. Having event management software allows you to offer a streamlined online registration page, which can often be hosted right on your own website. This often leads to far more people participating in the event, particularly when they can share the link on social media, or you can send it out via email or text.

At the same time, event management software may also offer a way for participants to fundraise or for anyone else to donate to support your cause. While some nonprofit events aren’t focused on raising funds, many are used asa way to bring in money. Event management software designed for nonprofits can make fundraising easier than ever.

This software can also cut down significantly on the number of hours required to put on an event. While some work will still need to be done, your staff won’t need to enter registrants’ names and contact information into a spreadsheet or ensure that any donations are integrated with your client relationship management software. It can even be set up to automatically send out things like confirmation emails and tax receipts.

Having everything in one place also reduces the likelihood of something being lost or forgotten. You can typically upload all necessary information right to the software - which can then be a central place to store everything related to the event. You can also assign roles and permissions so that everyone knows exactly what they are responsible for in the weeks and months leading up to the event.

Finally, event management software can provide a much more seamless experience for everyone involved. If you want to offer a hybrid event, event management software can also make that easier. You can also provide updates to participants, offer mobile check-in, and more.

The Top 11 Event Management Software Apps for Nonprofits

If you have decided to use event management software, the next step is picking out something that is right for your nonprofit. Compared to just a decade ago, there are a lot of options when it comes to software for nonprofit event management. Below, we list 11 of our favorite event management software apps for you to choose.

Classy

Classy is a comprehensive fundraising platform that was specifically designed for nonprofits. With this software, you can create custom event registration and ticketing pages without having to code anything. 

This software includes several tools that are great for nonprofits, including the ability for individuals and teams to create fundraising pages and the ability to maximize ticket purchases and donations. You can also manage event details on the day of the event through attendee management tools. In addition, you can set up automated milestone emails and use text and social sharing to attract more interest.

Lumaverse

Lumaverse is an all-in-one event management solution for nonprofit organizations. It features built-in marketing tools that allow you to promote your event and ticketing and registration tools. You can also integrate this app with other third-party event management software.

One unique feature that Lumaverse offers is the ability to schedule your team, including volunteers. If you need people to arrive beforehand to set up tents and registration tables, you can use this tool to make sure that everyone knows where they are supposed to be and when they need to be there.

Cvent

Cvent is a good choice if your nonprofit hosts a range of events, from in-person and virtual events to webinars. The software allows you to create high-quality content with the Cvent Studio. In addition, the Attendee Hub allows you to host engaging and interactive events.

Cvent also includes features to assist with budget management as well as payment processing. You can also create reports to analyze the success of your events.

Accelevents

If you need to provide tickets for your event, then Accelevents may be the way to go. This all-in-one event management platform allows you to set up an online event ticking system. You can also add gamification and bidding features to your event site to engage your audience.

Like other event management software, Accelevents allows you to monitor data in real-time so that you can make adjustments as necessary. You can also collect attendees’ information to integrate with other software.

Swoogo

Swoogo is an easy-to-use event management software that allows you to customize your event website using drag-and-drop tools. It can be used for all types of events, including hybrid events. The software also includes an attendee management system to ensure that the event goes off without a hitch.

In addition to these features, Swoogo has built-in marketing tools so you can easily promote your event. You can also use its analytics to generate reports so you can improve your events for the future.

Wild Apricot

If your nonprofit is also a membership organization, then Wild Apricot is a great software option. It integrates both event and membership management in one app. With this software, you can create a website complete with online forms and a ticketing system.

When participants register for an event, donate, or become members, Wild Apricot adds them to a searchable contact database. These contact lists can then be used to send emails directly through the software. All data entered into Wild Apricot is stored in a safe cloud system.

Doubleknot

Doubleknot is a specialized event management software that is targeted for cultural organizations like museums. They offer event registration, ticketing, visitor services, education and group sales, and more. One of the key features of Doubleknot is the ability to validate tickets using an app that can be installed in various devices.

Doubleknot also allows nonprofits to create separate email lists for attendees. You can also create reports to track things like attendance, payments, and more. It offers secure payment processing for both online and offline sales.

Aventri

If you want to host virtual, physical, and/or hybrid events, then Aventri might be your software system. It offers a complete online registration solution for nonprofits. If you are running a virtual event, it can promote networking by connecting people who share similar interests.

Aventri can be integrated with third-party software like Pathable. It also allows you to monitor key metrics so that you can adjust your marketing and other tactics to increase participation. You can also use Aventri’s own promotional tools to boost the event’s reach.

Eventbrite

Eventbrite is one of the older event management software platforms that is widely used by nonprofits and other organizations. It can be used for almost any type of event, from seminars to charity walks to dance recitals. Eventbrite is a complete event management software, offering event management, registration, ticketing, and payment processing.

With this software, you can track attendees and customize ticket prices (such as by asking users to pay the processing fee). You can also create a customized registration page for your event, which can easily be shared across social media.

CharityEngine

For nonprofits that want to emphasize peer-to-peer fundraising, CharityEngine is an excellent option. In addition to allowing participants to raise money for you, you can also issue tickets and manage events through the software.

CharityEngine offers a range of tools to streamline the fundraising process. This includes reports based on fundraising data, donor tracking, and donation management. This software is known for its secure funds transfer, so that you can be sure that your funds and your donor’s information are safe.

Whova

Whova is a good option for in-person, hybrid, and purely virtual events. It has an effective online registration system that also includes marketing features. You can also integrate it with other event management platforms for ticketing and other functions, such as Eventbrite.

With Whova, you also get an attendance management system to track attendees. Speakers at your events can also create a page, which is a nice added tool if your event will include speakers.  An interactive module also includes a social wall and live polling features.

Ready to Add Events to Your Site? We’re Here to Help.

Events are great for nonprofits to educate the public, raise awareness, build a community, and generate funds to support their work. Event management software can simplify the process of setting up and running events. Our team can help you with the process, from choosing the right platform for you to ensuring that it is integrated with your existing technology and functions as it should.

Inclind works with nonprofits, member organizations, and other organizations to help them build and optimize their websites. We know how important it is for nonprofits to have an effective website, whether to spread the word about their work or raise money. Our website designers and developers can help you build your nonprofit website from scratch, redesign and update an existing site, or support and maintain your site.

Want to learn more about our website services for nonprofit organizations? Fill out our online contact form or hit the live chat button to talk to one of our experts about your website.