Generosity Works

Generosity Works provides charity fundraising event software for auctions, pledges, ticketing, Gift Aid, and table planning. Auctions can be silent, live, or sealed-bid, with outbid alerts, anti-snipe, tablet mode, and bidding without an account. Event tools include tiered pledges, automatic HMRC Gift Aid splitting, ticket tiers, named guests, and per-guest QR codes. An on-site event server is designed to run an evening without venue Wi-Fi, and QR check-in does not rely on a third-party API.

Charities connect their own Stripe keys so payments settle directly into their account; the platform says it does not hold funds or add transaction fees. It supports card-on-file, automatic winner charges, Apple Pay, Google Pay, fee cover, and refunds. Guest communications can use email, SMS, or WhatsApp, and supporter records can be exported for CRM import. Virtual auctions accept YouTube, Vimeo, or Zoom links. The product is designed for evenings serving roughly 50 to 1,000 people, not large multi-day conferences. A free option includes the platform with Kevin as auctioneer or host; the standalone annual licence is £995/yr.

Generosity Works brings event fundraising features together, including auctions, pledges, ticketing, and Gift Aid. Its audience limits and virtual-auction video limitation matter when choosing it for an event.

Generosity Works suits charities planning fundraising evenings with auctions, pledges, ticketing, or Gift Aid. Its stated audience is events serving roughly 50 to 1,000 people.

Generosity Works is event software for charities combining fundraising, guest management and payment handling. It suits organisations running evenings for roughly 50 to 1,000 people; the free hosted plan is the strongest fit for a single event, while the annual licence is for charities that want to run the platform themselves.

Its offline event operation and direct payment settlement are compelling advantages. Its audience range and lack of virtual video production make it a focused fundraising choice, not a general event platform.

Overview

The platform brings auctions, pledges, ticketing, donations and Gift Aid into one event workflow. An on-site server keeps an evening running without venue Wi-Fi, and payments settle into the charity’s own Stripe account. That is a useful combination for in-person fundraisers where connectivity and control of incoming funds matter.

The intended scale is roughly 50 to 1,000 attendees, rather than a multi-day conference for 3,000 delegates. Virtual auctions can use YouTube, Vimeo or Zoom links, but Generosity Works does not encode video, mix cameras or broadcast to platforms. Charities needing an integrated streaming production setup should look elsewhere.

Key features

Auctions and giving

Silent, live and sealed-bid auctions include outbid alerts, anti-snipe protection, tablet mode and bidding without an account. This breadth covers common charity-evening formats, while account-free bidding lowers the barrier for guests. Tiered live pledges, matched giving and a donor wall extend fundraising beyond auction lots. Automatic HMRC Gift Aid splitting and regular giving by card or standing order are valuable for charities collecting donations alongside event revenue.

Tickets and event operations

Ticket tiers, tables of ten, VIP packages, early-bird pricing and capacity limits cover different event formats. Named guests and per-guest QR codes support organised arrivals, and QR check-in does not depend on a third-party API. The on-site server is a more meaningful operational safeguard than relying on venue Wi-Fi for the whole evening.

Card-on-file, automatic winner charges, Apple Pay, Google Pay, fee cover and refunds support payment collection across the event. Charities supply their own Stripe keys, so funds go directly to their account; Generosity Works does not hold them or add transaction fees. Email, SMS and WhatsApp guest messages include outbid and closing alerts without a per-message cost. Supporter records with totals, seats, bids and Gift Aid status can be exported in formats expected by CRM import wizards.

GDPR erase requests are supported, and raffle entries, winning position and draw time are recorded for auditability. Those controls matter to organisations handling supporter records and prize draws.

Pricing

The free option includes the entire platform, but is tied to Kevin Durham as auctioneer or host and remains live for one month after the event. It is the practical choice for a charity that wants hosted support for a particular fundraiser without an ongoing licence. The £995.00 per year plan gives a charity the platform on its own, with no commission, per-lot or per-guest fee; it fits organisations planning to run events independently. Generosity Works also has a free plan and no free trial.

Platforms

Generosity Works supports Android, iOS and web, with mobile bidding among its event tools.

Who it's for

Choose it for a charity fundraiser that needs auctions, pledges, ticketing, Gift Aid and guest operations in a single workflow, especially when venue connectivity is uncertain. The hosted free plan suits a one-off event with Kevin as auctioneer or host; the annual licence suits charities that want to operate the platform themselves across events.

It is not the right fit for a four-day conference with 3,000 delegates or for a virtual event that needs built-in video encoding, camera mixing or broadcasting. Its intended scale and video limitation are important constraints, not minor omissions.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Offline event operation: an on-site server lets the evening continue without venue Wi-Fi.
• Direct payment settlement: the charity’s Stripe account receives payments, with no funds held or transaction fees added by Generosity Works.
• Broad fundraising workflow: auctions, pledges, Gift Aid, ticketing, raffles and online donations sit alongside guest management.
• Useful payment and messaging options: digital wallets, automatic winner charges and multi-channel alerts support event collection without per-message costs.

Cons

• Defined event scale: it is aimed at evenings for roughly 50 to 1,000 people, not large multi-day conferences.
• No virtual video production: video links can be used, but the platform does not encode, mix or broadcast video.
• The independent-use plan has a substantial annual price: the £995.00 yearly licence may not suit charities holding only occasional events.
• The free option is hosted: it requires Kevin as auctioneer or host and stays live for only one month after the event.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, see Fundraising Event Software.

• Auctria is worth considering for a free plan with unlimited events, up to $10,000 total income per year, 250 bidders per event and three team members; its Explorer plan charges a 1% credit card fee.
• Givebutter is another free-plan option, with donation forms, fundraising pages, events, auctions, donor management and CRM in its Free forever plan.
• GiveSmart offers paid annual subscription and pay-as-you-go options, each with unlimited events and campaigns, for readers considering a different paid event platform.
• iConnectX offers hosted events with free technology for nonprofits, but transaction fees apply: credit card fees are 2.29% + $0.15/transaction, and support packages cost extra.
• RallyUp has a free plan with no platform fee, donor tipping and core fundraising components; it is listed for Android and web.
• RunSignup offers free events with no processing fee for a $0 cart, making it an option to consider for free-event registration.
• Events.org has a free option for promoting and hosting free events, tracking attendees and registrations, and sending automated thank-you letters and receipts.
• DonorDrive is another paid platform to consider; its pricing requires contacting the provider.

Verdict

Generosity Works is a strong choice for charities running mid-sized fundraising evenings that need auction, ticketing, pledge and Gift Aid tools alongside resilient on-site operation and direct Stripe settlement. The free hosted plan is appealing for a single event, while the £995.00 per year licence makes sense for charities that want the platform on its own. Look elsewhere for large conferences or virtual events requiring video production.