Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track

Nonprofit event management software is a platform that helps organizations plan events, sell tickets, manage registrations, and track revenue — all connected to their accounting and donor CRM. The best options include Alignmint (free tier, no per-ticket fees), Eventbrite (standalone ticketing), and Bloomerang (CRM-focused with basic events). Unlike general-purpose tools, nonprofit event software automatically categorizes revenue by fund, links attendees to donor profiles, and handles tax-deductible ticket portions.

Galas, auctions, retreats, camps, and community gatherings bring people together and raise critical funds. But managing events with disconnected tools — Eventbrite for tickets, Mailchimp for invitations, QuickBooks for revenue — creates unnecessary complexity.

This guide covers what to look for in nonprofit event management software and how integrated platforms simplify the entire process.

Why Nonprofits Need Dedicated Event Software

Revenue Tracking

Event revenue needs to flow into your accounting system — categorized by fund, event type, and ticket tier. Manual entry from Eventbrite into QuickBooks is error-prone and time-consuming.

Donor Connection

Many event attendees are also donors. When your event system is separate from your CRM, you lose the connection between event participation and giving history.

Volunteer Coordination

Events require volunteers. When your event system is separate from your volunteer management, you're coordinating in spreadsheets and group texts.

Key Features to Look For

Feature	Why It Matters
Multiple Event Types	Galas, auctions, retreats, camps — not one-size-fits-all
Ticket Management	Multiple tiers, pricing, inventory limits
Promo Codes	Discounts for sponsors, VIPs, early birds
Waitlists	Automatic management when events sell out
Custom Fields	Dietary preferences, t-shirt sizes, accessibility needs
Check-In	QR code or name-based at the door
Public Event Pages	Shareable pages with details and checkout
Payment Processing	Integrated Stripe or similar
Accounting Integration	Revenue flows directly into your books
CRM Integration	Attendees linked to donor profiles

7 Event Types Your Software Should Support

Not all events are the same. Your software should handle:

1. Simple Events — Meetings, trainings, info sessions (no tickets needed)
2. Standard Events — Fundraisers, dinners, community gatherings with tickets
3. Retreats — Multi-day events with lodging, meals, and session scheduling
4. Camps — Youth or adult camps with registration, waivers, and session tracking
5. Trips — Mission trips and excursions with itinerary and participant management
6. Galas — Formal fundraising events with table assignments and sponsorship tiers
7. Auctions — Silent or live auctions with item catalogs, bidding, and payment processing

The Real Cost of Disconnected Event Tools

Let's say you run a gala on Eventbrite. Here's what happens after the event:

Task	Time	With Integrated Software
Export attendee list from Eventbrite	15 min	Automatic
Manually enter revenue into QuickBooks	1-2 hours	Automatic
Allocate revenue to correct fund	30 min	Automatic
Match attendees to donor profiles in CRM	1-2 hours	Automatic
Send post-event thank-you emails	1 hour	Automatic
Reconcile Eventbrite payouts with bank	30 min	Automatic

That's 4-6 hours of manual work after every event — plus Eventbrite's per-ticket fees (3.7% + $1.79 per ticket). A 200-person gala at $100/ticket loses $1,098 to platform fees alone.

The Problem with Standalone Event Tools

Eventbrite, Splash, and similar platforms are great for general event management. But they create problems for nonprofits:

• Revenue doesn't flow to accounting — You export CSV files and manually enter transactions
• Attendees aren't linked to donors — No way to see that your gala attendee is also a monthly donor
• Separate subscription — Another $50-200/mo on top of your accounting and CRM tools
• No fund tracking — Event revenue can't be automatically allocated to restricted funds
• No volunteer coordination — Your event volunteers are managed in a separate system or spreadsheet

If you're running more than 2-3 events per year, the time and money lost to disconnected tools adds up fast. See our guide on all-in-one nonprofit management software for a deeper look at the total cost of separate tools.

How Alignmint Handles Events

Alignmint includes event management on every plan — fully integrated with your accounting, donor CRM, and volunteer management:

• 7 event types with specialized workflows for each
• Ticket management with multiple tiers, pricing, and inventory
• Promo codes for sponsors, VIPs, and early registrants
• Waitlists with automatic management
• Custom fields for any data you need to collect
• Event checklists for planning with assignments and due dates
• Public event pages with Stripe checkout
• QR code check-in with real-time attendance tracking
• Magic link portals for attendee self-service
• Automatic accounting — Revenue flows directly into your fund accounting

No separate event platform needed. No manual data entry. No disconnected systems.

Because events are part of the same platform as your fund accounting and donor CRM, every ticket sale automatically creates a journal entry, updates the donor's profile, and allocates revenue to the correct fund. Your volunteer management is connected too — so you can assign event volunteers, track their hours, and manage digital waivers from the same system.

Ready to plan your next event? Schedule Your Free Setup | Explore Features

---

Related:

• Nonprofit Event Ticketing Software — How to choose ticketing software
• All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software — Streamline operations
• Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software — Coordinate event volunteers
• Events & Ticketing — See how Alignmint handles event management