Rethinking Fundraising: How Zeffy Built a Zero-Fee Movement for Nonprofits
What if nonprofits could keep every single dollar they raise—no fees, no fine print? That’s the bold idea behind Zeffy, a platform that’s quietly transforming how over 80,000 nonprofits fundraise. On this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry welcomes François de Kerret, Zeffy’s co-founder and CEO, to talk about radical transparency, optimism, and why thinking big doesn’t have to mean thinking complicated.
From Frustrated Volunteer to Relentless Builder
François’s journey started not with a tech pitch, but with a simple problem: he wanted to volunteer after moving to Canada, and he couldn’t find an easy way to sign up. Everything was clunky, outdated, or confusing. That initial friction sparked an idea—what if the same user-friendly experience that powers Airbnb or Amazon could be applied to nonprofit tech?
That question grew into Zeffy: a 100% free fundraising platform built for small and mid-sized nonprofits. It now processes over $1 billion in donations—and has never taken a cent in fees.
A Counterintuitive Bet on Trust and Generosity
The Zeffy model sounds like it shouldn’t work. There are no platform fees. No transaction fees. The company operates entirely on optional donor tips. Yet, as François explains, transparency and mission-alignment turned out to be a competitive advantage. Donors want to give more when they know their gift goes entirely to the cause—and nonprofits want tech partners that share their values.
The result? A growing network of tens of thousands of nonprofits that can now operate with 5–8% more resources, simply by cutting out processing fees.
Start Small, Stay Bold
Zeffy began in Montréal, scaled across Canada, and then—without outside funding—launched in the U.S. with a three-week sprint and zero marketing budget. Within a month, it was gaining traction. François shares what that moment taught him about risk-taking: “If we had been even bolder earlier, we probably could’ve gone further, faster—with less stress.”
That mindset—”start fast, test constantly, stay true to values”—has guided Zeffy ever since. And it’s still growing, with a small but mighty team of just 40 employees serving 80,000+ nonprofits.
Scaling Without Selling Out
In a space where most fintech firms chase margins, Zeffy’s commitment to staying free is rare. But as François explains, mission discipline is what makes real scale possible. From turning down investor pressure to avoiding feature creep, Zeffy’s path has been defined not just by boldness—but by saying no to the wrong kind of growth.
And what about talent? François devotes nearly half his time to building relationships with high-character, high-skill people who believe in the mission. “Great hires are miracles,” he says—and they’ve been key to Zeffy’s success.
Going Big by Giving More
François leaves us with a challenge: If you knew your next big idea couldn’t fail, what would you try? Then ask yourself—what’s stopping you from doing it now?
Zeffy proves that bold ideas and generous models aren’t just possible—they can thrive. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit or looking to rethink how you support one, this conversation is a must-listen.
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