How to Choose Nonprofit Event Ticketing Software

The best nonprofit event ticketing software connects ticket sales directly to your accounting and donor CRM — so revenue is categorized by fund, attendees are linked to donor profiles, and tax-deductible portions are calculated automatically. Top options include Alignmint (no per-ticket fees, integrated with fund accounting), Eventbrite (standalone, 3.7% + $1.79/ticket), and Classy (fundraising-focused). Choosing the wrong ticketing platform can mean lost revenue, disconnected data, and frustrated attendees.

This buyer's guide covers what to look for, what to avoid, and how to evaluate nonprofit event ticketing software.

What Makes Nonprofit Ticketing Different?

Nonprofit event ticketing has unique requirements that general-purpose platforms like Eventbrite don't always handle well:

Tax-Deductible Portions

Many nonprofit event tickets include a tax-deductible portion. Your ticketing system needs to calculate and communicate this to attendees — and record it properly in your fund accounting.

Fund Allocation

Event revenue often needs to be allocated to specific funds — a gala might benefit the general fund while a camp registration goes to the youth program fund. Your ticketing system should handle this automatically.

Donor Connection

Event attendees are often donors (or future donors). Your ticketing system should connect to your donor CRM so you can see the full relationship — not just the ticket purchase.

Sponsorship Tracking

Many nonprofit events include corporate sponsors with comp tickets, table purchases, and recognition levels. Your system needs to track these alongside regular ticket sales.

Key Features to Evaluate

Feature	Must-Have	Nice-to-Have
Multiple ticket types/tiers	✅
Promo codes	✅
Waitlist management	✅
Custom registration fields	✅
Mobile-friendly checkout	✅
Stripe/payment integration	✅
Public event pages	✅
QR code check-in		✅
Accounting integration	✅
CRM integration	✅
Event checklists/planning		✅
Attendee communication		✅

Pricing Models to Watch For

Per-Ticket Fees

Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket. For a $100 gala ticket, that's $5.49 — and it adds up fast. A 200-person gala loses $1,098 to platform fees alone.

Monthly Subscriptions

Some platforms charge $50-200/month regardless of event volume. This works if you run events frequently but is wasteful for organizations with 2-3 events per year.

Included in All-in-One Platforms

Platforms like Alignmint include event ticketing as part of the overall subscription — no per-ticket fees, no separate event platform subscription. You only pay Stripe's standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30).

Common Pitfalls

Data Silos

If your ticketing platform doesn't connect to your accounting and CRM, you're manually entering data after every event. This is error-prone and time-consuming.

No Fund Tracking

Generic ticketing platforms don't understand nonprofit fund accounting. Revenue goes into a general bucket with no way to allocate to specific funds automatically.

Mobile Check-In Failures

If your check-in system requires a specific app or device, you're one dead battery away from chaos. Look for browser-based check-in that works on any phone.

Hidden Fees

Read the fine print. Some platforms charge extra for features like custom fields, waitlists, or promo codes that should be standard.

How Alignmint Handles Event Ticketing

Alignmint includes event management and ticketing on every plan:

• 7 event types — Simple, Standard, Retreat, Camp, Trip, Gala, Auction
• Multiple ticket tiers with pricing, inventory limits, and early bird options
• Promo codes for sponsors, VIPs, and early registrants
• Waitlists with automatic management
• Custom fields for dietary preferences, t-shirt sizes, or any data
• Public event pages with Stripe checkout
• QR code check-in from any device
• Automatic accounting — Revenue flows into fund accounting with proper fund allocation
• CRM connection — Attendees linked to donor profiles
• No per-ticket fees — Only standard Stripe processing

Because ticketing is part of the same platform as your fund accounting and donor CRM, every ticket sale automatically creates a journal entry, updates the attendee's donor profile, and allocates revenue to the correct fund. No CSV exports. No manual data entry. No reconciliation.

Ready to sell tickets without the headaches? Schedule Your Free Setup | Explore Features

---

Related:

• Nonprofit Event Management Software — Plan, sell, track
• All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software — Streamline operations
• Online Donation Software — Boost your online fundraising
• Events & Ticketing — See how Alignmint handles event ticketing