Our Top 5 WordPress Calendar Plugins for Nonprofits
Organizing events is an important part of nonprofit operations. Events help nonprofits connect with their communities, raise funds, and advocate for their missions. However, without the right tools, managing these events can become complicated.
Using event calendar software can simplify planning, promotion, and event management, allowing nonprofits to focus on their goals. Whether it’s a gala, workshop, or fundraising campaign, these tools provide features such as ticketing, RSVP management, social media integration, and analytics to streamline the process.
This blog highlights the top five event calendar tools for nonprofits, each offering unique benefits to address varying organizational needs. Here’s a quick list of the tools we’ll cover:
Read on for a detailed look at each WordPress calendar plugin, including their standout features, pros and cons, and which types of nonprofits will benefit the most.
Comparison Table of Our Top Picks
| Features | Events Manager | Calendarize it! | 123FormBuilder | Event Espresso | Charitable |
| Event Creation & Management | Supports single and multi-day events with recurring options | Supports recurring events; customizable views | Limited to form creation for event handling | Customizable event pages; supports recurring events | Focused on fundraising campaigns, not event management |
| RSVP & Registration | Basic RSVP support; ticketing available | Not built-in; add-ons required | Form-based RSVP and payment integration | Advanced registration and group options | Donor registration; adaptable for events |
| Volunteer & Attendee Coordination | RSVP-based attendee coordination | No specific tools available | Custom forms for sign-ups; no specific tools | Manual attendee registration and tracking | Peer-to-peer features for volunteer engagement |
| Social Media & Email Integration | Limited in free version; third-party integration in Pro | No native support; relies on external plugins | Integrates with email marketing tools like MailChimp | Supports social sharing and custom email templates | Seamless integration with email and CRM platforms |
| Reporting & Analytics | Basic analytics; advanced in Pro version | Basic reporting with add-ons | Advanced reporting in premium plans | Basic reporting; export options for deeper analysis | Real-time reporting and donor anal |
1. Event Manager
Events Manager is a robust WordPress plugin designed for managing single and multi-day events. It offers an intuitive backend interface for event creation and a frontend experience suitable for ticketing, calendars, and event details. Its free version is feature-packed, while the pro version adds advanced capabilities like premium support, custom payment gateways, and spam protection.
Features Breakdown
- Event Creation & Management:
Easily supports single and multi-day events with a straightforward setup. Users can categorize and tag events, use flexible calendars, and duplicate recurring events effortlessly. - RSVP & Registration:
The free version includes ticketing with RSVP support. The pro version enables PayPal payments and customizable booking forms. - Volunteer & Attendee Coordination:
RSVP functionality supports attendee management. However, it lacks specific features for volunteer coordination. - Social Media & Email Integration:
Limited integration options in the free version. Pro users can explore third-party integrations for enhanced connectivity. - Reporting & Analytics:
Basic analytics are available in the free version. Pro users can access more advanced tracking and reporting tools for better event insights.
What Users Are Saying About Events Manager
Users praise its versatility and user-friendly interface, particularly its ticketing and event management features. Some highlight its adaptability to meet diverse needs, while others criticize its limited styling options and reporting capabilities.
| Pros | Cons |
| Responsive and helpful customer service | Styling options are limited for non-developers |
| Comprehensive features for event management, even in the free version | Reporting and analytics features are basic |
| Easy integration with payment gateways | Customer support has received mixed reviews |
| Intuitive user interface for both admins and attendees | Some users have faced issues with updates and plugin compatibility |
Who Will Benefit from Events Manager?
Events Manager is ideal for small to mid-sized nonprofits already using WordPress. Organizations hosting frequent events, requiring RSVP management, and seeking a cost-effective solution will find this tool particularly beneficial. Its pro version is suitable for NPOs needing advanced features like custom payment gateways and detailed attendee management.
2. Calendarize it!
Calendarize it! is a flexible WordPress calendar plugin. It offers various viewing options such as Month View, Week View, Day View, and more, along with customizable widgets for displaying upcoming events. Users can tailor the calendar’s appearance with the Visual CSS Editor and choose from multiple pre-built colour schemes. While it excels in design and customization, some key features like RSVP and attendee tracking require additional premium add-ons.
Features Breakdown
- Event Creation & Management:
Calendarize it! supports recurring events and provides multiple viewing formats, including grid, map, and list views. Users can customize the navigation and display options for each format, enhancing usability. - RSVP & Registration:
RSVP and registration features are not built-in. Premium add-ons may support these functionalities, but they require separate purchases. - Volunteer & Attendee Coordination:
The plugin does not offer tools specifically designed for volunteer coordination or attendee tracking, limiting its utility for larger events with complex logistics. - Social Media & Email Integration:
There is no native integration for social media or email marketing. Users would have to rely on additional plugins or external services for event promotion and communication. - Reporting & Analytics:
Reporting options are available through customization or add-ons but lack the depth and sophistication required for advanced data analysis.
What Users Are Saying About Calendarize it!
Users appreciate its flexibility, variety of viewing formats, and ease of customization using the CSS editor. However, some have noted issues with plugin compatibility and responsiveness from customer support. While praised for its design quality, the lack of built-in RSVP and attendee features poses challenges for users requiring these functions.
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly customizable with a Visual CSS Editor | RSVP and attendee tracking require premium add-ons |
| Offers a variety of viewing formats, including maps and grids | Limited integration with social media and email |
| Compatible with popular WordPress page builders, including WPBakery | Some users report bugs and compatibility issues with other plugins |
| Includes useful widgets for showcasing events | Customer support has received mixed reviews |
| Supports translation and multilingual functionality | Add-ons required for key features increase overall cost |
Who Will Benefit from Calendarize it!?
Calendarize it! is best suited for nonprofits seeking a visually appealing and customizable calendar solution for WordPress. Organizations focusing on smaller-scale events or those prioritizing design over advanced event logistics will find this tool helpful. However, NPOs requiring RSVP, attendee tracking, or social media integration should consider additional plugins or alternative solutions.
3. 123FormBuilder
123FormBuilder is an intuitive tool for creating forms without any coding skills. It integrates seamlessly with various platforms, including MailChimp, Google Drive, Salesforce, and Google Calendar. While primarily a form-building solution, it supports RSVP and event registration through customizable forms. Its premium plans unlock advanced features like conditional logic, custom reports, and enhanced security, making it suitable for organizations with diverse data collection needs.
Features Breakdown
- Event Creation & Management:
While 123FormBuilder focuses on form creation, its event management capabilities are limited. Nonprofits may need to pair it with a WordPress event plugin for comprehensive event handling. - RSVP & Registration:
This premium WordPress calendar plugin supports form-based event registration, complete with payment gateway integration, making it ideal for collecting RSVPs and payments. - Volunteer & Attendee Coordination:
It can facilitate volunteer sign-ups through custom forms, though it lacks tools specifically designed for managing volunteer or attendee logistics. - Social Media & Email Integration:
Integrates with email marketing tools like MailChimp, allowing nonprofits to capture user data and integrate it into their outreach campaigns. - Reporting & Analytics:
Advanced reporting features are available in premium plans. Users can generate custom reports and analyze form submissions to gather actionable insights.
What Users Are Saying About 123FormBuilder
Users praise the platform’s user-friendly interface and quick form-building process. Many appreciate its seamless integration with third-party tools and responsive customer support. However, some users report frustration with bugs and limitations, particularly in the free version, and mention delays in resolving issues.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use with no coding required | Limited event management capabilities |
| Integrates with 45+ third-party platforms, including payment gateways | Bugs and unresolved technical issues reported by users |
| Advanced reporting and analytics available in premium plans | Deleting multiple fields is cumbersome |
| Offers enhanced security features like SSL encryption and reCAPTCHA | Some users feel customer service is slow to resolve critical issues |
| Mobile-responsive forms that adapt to all devices | Premium plans are required for key features like conditional logic and advanced integrations |
Who Will Benefit from 123FormBuilder?
123FormBuilder is ideal for nonprofits that need a versatile tool for creating custom forms for event registration, volunteer sign-ups, or data collection. Organizations with a focus on seamless data integration with platforms like MailChimp or Salesforce will find this tool particularly useful. However, nonprofits looking for a comprehensive event management solution may need to combine 123FormBuilder with additional calendar widgets for WordPress.
4. Event Espresso
Event Espresso is a WordPress plugin designed to provide comprehensive event registration and ticketing solutions directly from your website. It offers deep integration with WordPress, allowing users to manage events, registrations, and payments without relying on third-party platforms. With customizable options and multiple ticketing features, Event Espresso is a versatile tool for nonprofits hosting both small and large events.
Features Breakdown
- Event Creation & Management:
Event Espresso simplifies event management with features such as customizable event pages, recurring events, and multiple ticket types. It allows events to have multiple dates and times while offering a user-friendly interface for attendees. - RSVP & Registration:
The plugin supports advanced registration processes, including group registrations and collecting information for each attendee. Users can create custom registration forms to gather relevant data. - Volunteer & Attendee Coordination:
While primarily focused on attendees, the plugin allows manual attendee registration and tracking. Custom forms can also be tailored to manage volunteers effectively. - Social Media & Email Integration:
Event Espresso supports social media sharing to help promote events. Email communication with attendees is streamlined through customizable email templates for confirmations and payment reminders. - Reporting & Analytics:
Offers basic reporting features and the ability to export attendee data as CSV files for more detailed analysis. While not highly advanced, the reporting is sufficient for most small to mid-sized events.
What Users Are Saying About Event Espresso
Users commend Event Espresso for its robust integration with WordPress and its ability to manage events efficiently without external platforms. Many appreciate the range of payment options and the flexibility of ticketing features. However, some note that reporting tools and customization options could be more intuitive and expansive.
| Pros | Cons |
| Seamless integration with WordPress, keeping all data on your server | Reporting features are somewhat basic and rely on exports for detailed insights |
| Supports multiple ticket types, group registrations, and recurring events | Advanced customization options require a learning curve |
| Wide range of payment channels, including PayPal and Authorize.net | Some workflows, like registering volunteers or managing installment payments, need workarounds |
| Offers GDPR compliance and various email customization options | Premium plans can be costly for smaller organizations |
| Active development with regular updates and responsive support forums | Built-in templates may require additional styling for some use cases |
Who Will Benefit from Event Espresso?
Event Espresso is best suited for nonprofits looking to manage their events directly within WordPress. Organizations that prioritize ownership of attendee data and require robust ticketing options will find it particularly useful. However, it is better suited for tech-savvy users or teams that can invest time in customizing workflows and leveraging its advanced features.
5. Charitable
Charitable is a WordPress plugin designed to streamline online fundraising with high-converting donation pages, unlimited campaigns, and advanced donor management features. It provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, making it accessible to nonprofits of all sizes. With support for recurring donations, offline payments, and peer-to-peer fundraising, Charitable empowers organizations to maximize their fundraising potential while fostering deeper donor connections.
Features Breakdown
- Event Creation & Management:
While Charitable specializes in fundraising, it can be used to create campaigns and events for fundraising purposes. The drag-and-drop builder and pre-made templates enable quick and professional campaign setups. - RSVP & Registration:
RSVP and registration are not built-in, but the platform allows for donor registration and data collection through its customizable forms. This could be adapted for event-specific needs. - Volunteer & Attendee Coordination:
Focuses more on donor management rather than volunteer coordination. However, its peer-to-peer fundraising feature can be utilized to engage volunteers in campaigns. - Social Media & Email Integration:
Integrates seamlessly with platforms like MailChimp, Campaign Monitor, and other email marketing tools for targeted donor communication. It also supports sharing campaigns on social media to amplify reach. - Reporting & Analytics:
Offers real-time reporting and insightful donor behaviour analysis. These reports help nonprofits track progress, identify trends, and tailor campaigns for better outcomes.
What Users Are Saying About Charitable
Users appreciate its affordability, flexibility, and ease of use. Many highlight its responsive support team and seamless integration with payment gateways. However, some note that advanced customization may require light coding knowledge, and certain features could benefit from further refinement.
| Pros | Cons |
| Drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create professional campaigns | Lacks native RSVP or attendee management tools |
| Supports multiple payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and ACH | Advanced customizations may require coding expertise |
| Recurring donation options help build a steady revenue stream | Focuses on fundraising rather than comprehensive event management |
| Integrates with email marketing platforms and automation tools | Some features, like peer-to-peer fundraising, are add-ons |
| No platform fees and support for fee relief options | Lacks features tailored to volunteer coordination |
Who Will Benefit from Charitable?
Charitable is ideal for nonprofits focused on fundraising rather than traditional event management. Its robust donor management tools, recurring donation capabilities, and peer-to-peer fundraising features make it suitable for organizations looking to deepen donor relationships and maximize fundraising efforts. Nonprofits hosting campaigns tied to events, such as galas or charity runs, will find Charitable particularly useful for managing donations.
Final Thoughts
Each of our top 5 WordPress calendar plugins offers unique features tailored to different nonprofit needs. Here’s a quick summary of who would benefit most from each tool:
- Events Manager: Great for nonprofits needing affordable event management with RSVP and ticketing features on WordPress.
- Calendarize it!: Best for visually focused nonprofits hosting smaller events without complex tracking needs.
- 123FormBuilder: Ideal for nonprofits that need flexible forms for registrations or sign-ups, especially if they use platforms like MailChimp.
- Event Espresso: Perfect for nonprofits wanting full control over event registrations, payments, and attendee management within WordPress.
- Charitable: Best for nonprofits focused on fundraising with features like recurring donations and peer-to-peer campaigns.
At Wisevu, we specialize in helping nonprofits integrate event calendar tools into their workflows. From website development to email marketing and data management, our digital marketing expertise helps these tools work seamlessly with your event planning and fundraising efforts. Contact us today to get started!