KindLink

KindLink is a fundraising and CRM platform for charities and nonprofits that want supporter records, campaigns and impact reporting in one place. Its permanent Free plan makes it a credible starting point for eligible organisations, but website donation forms, automated Gift Aid and contactless fundraising sit behind paid tiers.

Overview

KindLink combines online fundraising with records for donors, supporters, volunteers and beneficiaries, alongside donation histories. Organisations can run peer-to-peer campaigns, accept one-off and recurring donations, manage events, memberships and ticketing, and sell online. That range suits teams seeking one system for fundraising and record-keeping; it is less suitable if all you need is a basic donation page.

Project dashboards and geolocated impact updates are included on Free, giving organisations a way to report on projects without upgrading. The website donation flow can be embedded, and KindLink integrates with HMRC for Gift Aid submissions. Automated submissions are a Premium feature, so the integration alone does not make that capability free.

Key features

Fundraising and CRM

Fundraising page building, team fundraising, event registration, sponsor tracking and social sharing support campaigns that involve more than a one-off appeal. The CRM brings campaign-related donation history together with volunteer and beneficiary records, which can be useful for organisations coordinating several kinds of supporter relationships. Free includes unlimited supporter and donor records, beneficiary records and transaction history, so its value is not curtailed by those record caps.

Payments and fees

KindLink says it takes no percentage of donations. UK card processing is 1.4% + 15p, while UK Direct Debit is 1.25%, capped at £4. Expert adds UK Direct Debit, collection in 135+ currencies, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, Sofort and bank transfer. Those options make Expert the relevant tier for organisations needing broader payment coverage; teams taking only UK card payments may not need its payment features.

Security and support

KindLink states that it is GDPR and PCI DSS compliant, and that Stripe holds payment card data rather than KindLink. It also says it is a certified HMRC Gift Aid software vendor, is registered with the ICO and holds a Cyber Essentials certificate. Premium includes live chat, live and on-demand webinars, personal onboarding and email support with a 24-hour response; Expert adds a dedicated account manager.

Pricing

The permanent Free plan is available to registered charities, nonprofits and CICs after charity-number verification. It includes unlimited supporter and donor records, beneficiary records and transaction history, project dashboards and geolocated impact updates, with a 0% platform fee. It is a strong starting point for eligible organisations, but does not include website donation forms or automated Gift Aid submission.

Premium costs £25.00 per month, cancel any time, or £20 /month billed annually as £240. It adds website donation forms, automated Gift Aid submission to HMRC, events and memberships, multi-user access, and the support package. This is the practical step up for teams that need online donation forms or Gift Aid automation; the annual option lowers the monthly rate but requires an annual bill.

Expert costs £45.00 per month, cancel any time, or £36 /month billed annually as £432. It includes everything in Premium plus UK Direct Debit, 135+ currencies, Apple Pay and Google Pay, contactless fundraising and a dedicated account manager. Choose it when those payment methods or the contactless app are requirements, not simply for broader functionality you will not use.

The contactless fundraising app is currently available exclusively on Google Play, and charities receiving funds through it need an Expert subscription. That requirement makes contactless fundraising a poor fit for organisations committed to Free or Premium, even if they can use the app on Android.

Platforms

KindLink is available on the web and Android. Its contactless fundraising app is on Google Play, so organisations relying on iOS for that activity should look elsewhere.

Who it's for

KindLink is best suited to registered charities, nonprofits and CICs that can verify their charity number and want fundraising, records and impact reporting together. Free is particularly relevant to organisations that need broad record-keeping without a subscription. Premium fits teams that need website forms, automated Gift Aid or multi-user access, while Expert is aimed at organisations requiring Direct Debit, expanded payment methods, contactless fundraising or dedicated account management.

Pros and cons

Pro: Free includes unlimited supporter and donor records, beneficiary records and transaction history, avoiding record quotas for eligible organisations.

Pro: Project dashboards and geolocated impact updates are included in Free, rather than reserved for a paid tier.

Pro: KindLink says it charges no percentage of donations, with UK processing fees stated separately.

Con: Website donation forms and automated Gift Aid submission require Premium, limiting what a charity can do on Free.

Con: Direct Debit and contactless fundraising require Expert; the latter also depends on an Android-only app.

Alternatives

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software is a useful starting point for comparing tools focused on that fundraising model.

Funraise may suit organisations raising under $1 million annually that want a free plan and support across Android, iOS, web and API platforms; its premium plans require a sales conversation.

GivenGain is an option for charities, events or corporate partners looking for a free fundraising platform with no subscription or setup fees; third-party payment processing and payout terms apply.

Raised may suit teams seeking a free service with unlimited campaigns and products, provided they accept card processing fees and a 5% platform fee on credit-card transactions.

Grassrootz is an alternative for organisations focused on peer-to-peer campaigns and donation pages, with free core features including recurring giving and automated fundraiser email journeys.

Tiltify may appeal to teams that want a free community engagement page, unlimited individual fundraising pages and donation reports, with direct support seven days a week.

Bonfire is an alternative for organisations looking for an online store and product sales, with its Essentials plan priced at $8.25 a month when paid yearly.

DonorDrive is another paid option for organisations comparing fundraising platforms.

Verdict

Choose KindLink if your eligible charity or nonprofit wants donor, volunteer and beneficiary records alongside fundraising and impact reporting, and can make good use of its permanent Free plan. Its strongest case is the breadth of records and reporting at no subscription cost; look elsewhere if you need website donation forms without upgrading, or if contactless fundraising must work beyond Android.