Choosing the right fundraising partner
Both teams are led by people who live and breathe charity events — and both can help you raise more. They're built differently, though. Here's the honest difference, so you can pick what fits your event, your budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
“Murad is a Texas powerhouse for live galas. CharityFundraiser is the all-in-one, year-round platform you run yourself, nationwide, on a flat 2% — and many nonprofits use both.”
Built for 2026, priced at 2%. A modern React + Python platform with real-time auctions and an installable app — not a legacy WordPress/PHP plugin.
The 30-second version
A full-service benefit-auctioneer and event company (operating since 2000) that pairs professional auctioneers and on-site staffing with event-night software. A Texas-based powerhouse for live galas — they celebrated $69M raised for nonprofits in 2025, with $20M+ from live auctions alone.
An all-in-one, year-round fundraising platform you run yourself, nationwide, on a transparent flat 2% of funds raised — no setup fees, no monthly fees, and no donor "tip" prompts. Covers event night and everything between events: donor CRM, recurring giving, peer-to-peer, text-to-give, volunteers, grants, and AI tools. It also includes a large free-to-sell auction & travel-package marketplace (incl. partner DM Auction Services / Noted Travels), can pair you with a professional benefit auctioneer through its partner network, and lets you record live auctions & paddle raises so there's never any confusion over who won.
Side by side
Comparison based on each company's public website as of June 2026. Murad Auctions is a respected professional auctioneer; this overview is meant to help you choose the best fit, not to disparage.
Where each one shines
A note on cost
Murad's pricing is quote-based and bundles professional services, staffing, and software together — exactly what you want if you're buying full-service execution. The trade-off is that costs scale with the people and equipment your event needs, and are quoted per engagement.
CharityFundraiser keeps it simple and predictable: free to start, then a flat 2% of what you raise — no setup fees, no monthly subscription, and no automatic "tip" added to your donors' checkouts. What you raise is what you keep, minus that flat platform fee and standard card processing.
If you already love your Murad auctioneer, keep them on stage — and run your bidding, payments, ticketing and year-round donor relationships on CharityFundraiser at a flat 2%. Or go all-in with CharityFundraiser: we can pair you with a professional benefit auctioneer through our partner network (like DM Auction Services), stock your night from our free-to-sell travel & experience package marketplace, and record the live auction & paddle raises — so you get the on-stage energy of a pro plus a modern platform that keeps working long after the lights come up.
Start free or book a live demo — flat 2%, no contracts, no setup fees.