Gala Dinner Ticketing: The Costs Behind “Free” Platforms

A "free" ticketing platform still has to be paid for, and on many platforms your supporters pay through a tip at checkout. The tip amount isn't the only thing that matters. How easy it is for supporters to change it matters just as much. When lowering a tip feels like a hunt, supporters can feel pushed, and that feeling can attach to your event.

This guide compares Zeffy's checkout with GalaBid's nonprofit ticketing software for US events, including a worked example for a 300-ticket gala.

Why Tip Choice Matters More Than "Free"

Zeffy charges nonprofits no platform or processing fees and passes the full ticket price to your organization. That's a real benefit. It funds its service through a platform tip preselected at checkout.

Many platforms suggest a tip around 15%, including GalaBid. The difference is what happens next: whether a supporter can easily choose less, or has to go looking for a way out.

What Supporters See at Checkout

On Zeffy, the preselected tip is the lowest preset on offer. The other presets only go up. On GalaBid, the supporter can slide the tip down on the same screen.

On Zeffy, giving less than the default means opening the dropdown, choosing "Other" and typing in an amount. On a $250 purchase, leaving the default in place adds $37.50, and none of it goes to your cause.

Presets That Only Go Up Can Feel Greedy

A dropdown that starts at 15% and climbs to 18% or 20% sends a message: 15% is the least you're expected to give. A lower amount isn't offered, so it feels like the wrong answer.

Your supporters have already said yes to your cause by buying a ticket. When the platform's ask only goes up, some will feel it's putting its hand out before your cause does. Some will call it greedy, and your event may wear that impression.

The costs add up:

1. Supporters who notice feel pressured. They have to work out what the extra amount is for and how to change it.
2. Supporters who don't notice pay more than they meant to. Zeffy offers refunds for unintended tips, but a refund request is a poor start to a gala.
3. Funds that could have gone to your auction, raffle or paddle raise go to the platform instead.

Before you share any ticket link, ask someone outside your team to buy a ticket. Can they instantly tell the ticket price, any donation and the platform tip apart, and lower the tip if they want to?

GalaBid Puts the Choice in Your Supporter's Hands

GalaBid tipping is optional. The suggested tip is shown on a slider, and supporters can slide it down to an amount that suits them, right there at checkout. There's also a "Other" field if they do not want to give a tip at all.

The default is the same. The difference is that choosing less is visible, simple and clearly okay. Supporters who are happy to tip can leave it in place. Those who'd rather put their funds toward your cause can adjust it in a second, with no awkwardness.

A checkout that respects your supporter's choice keeps the goodwill with your event.

Your Tips Help Fund Your Cause

With GalaBid, tips don't all go to the platform. GalaBid's tip revenue share returns 10% of platform tips to your organization.

On the Zeffy checkouts we reviewed, platform tips support Zeffy's service rather than your cause.

What 300 Tickets Look Like at Checkout

Take a gala selling 300 tickets at $100 each. Assume every buyer leaves the 15% default in place on both platforms.

At the same tip level, GalaBid returns $150 to your organization. Zeffy returns nothing. Supporters who slide their tip down on GalaBid keep more for your auction, raffle or appeal.

Real tip rates vary, because many buyers change or remove the tip. The table shows what each platform does with the same default.

You Decide How Card Fees Are Handled

GalaBid processes payments through your own Stripe account, with no GalaBid markup on Stripe's processing fees. You choose how to handle them:

1. Absorb fees within your event budget.
2. Offer optional fee coverage, so purchasers can choose to cover them.
3. Require purchasers to cover fees, where permitted.

Zeffy covers processing itself, so weigh that against GalaBid's tip share and flexibility. For more detail, see our guide to payment processing for US nonprofit ticket sales.

Prefer No Tip Prompt at All?

GalaBid also offers paid plans with a percentage fee or a flat fee, and no platform tip at checkout. Your supporters see the ticket price and your cause, and nothing else.

Paid plans don't include the tip revenue share, and Stripe processing fees still apply. Compare GalaBid's pricing options for your region, or read free vs paid ticketing platforms to weigh the models.

Corporate Tables Without the Chasing

Selling a table is only the start. You still need attendee names, meal choices, dietary needs and last-minute swaps.

GalaBid lets table buyers invite and manage their own attendees at checkout or later. Custom questions collect what your team needs, without a round of follow-up emails. This matters most when sponsors book before they know who's coming.

Learn more about managing table guests at a fundraising event.

Tickets and Fundraising in One Campaign

GalaBid runs ticketing and fundraising in the same campaign. Ticket buyers are ready to bid, buy raffle tickets or give during the paddle raise without signing up again.

QR check-in speeds up arrivals. Downloadable ticket, attendee and payment records make reconciliation and supporter follow-up straightforward. If bidding is central to your night, explore the GalaBid US auction platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zeffy's platform tip mandatory?
No. Supporters can reduce or remove it by choosing "Other" and entering an amount. On the checkouts we reviewed, though, the preselected tip was the lowest preset shown, and the other presets were higher.

Does GalaBid require supporters to tip?
No. Tipping on GalaBid is optional. Supporters can slide the suggested tip down at checkout, and GalaBid also offers paid plans with no tip prompt.

Where do platform tips go on GalaBid?
GalaBid returns 10% of platform tips to your organization through its tip revenue share. The rest funds the platform.

Protect the Goodwill You've Built

"Free" ticketing is only good value if your supporters feel good paying for it. A tip they can lower easily keeps checkout fair, and a share of tips returned to your cause keeps more working for your mission.

Explore GalaBid's nonprofit ticketing software for US galas.

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