How Non-Profits Can Stop Losing Revenue to Ticketing Fees

Why Ticketing Fees Hurt Non-Profits

Most community orgs operate on shoestring budgets. Every dollar counts. Yet platforms like Eventbrite and Ticketmaster charge 5-10% per ticket. For a $20 ticket, that's up to $2 gone — for what? Processing payments and sending emails? Sure, those are necessary, but the fees don’t scale well for small orgs.

Let’s say your group runs 10 events per year, selling 100 tickets per event at $15 each. With Eventbrite, you’re losing $750 annually in platform fees. That’s money you could’ve used for venue rentals, volunteer stipends, or even just coffee for meetings.

What’s the Alternative?

Zero platform fees. Yes, they exist.

CommunityTix was built specifically for non-profits and community groups. It’s free, open-source, and doesn’t charge platform fees — you keep 100% of ticket revenue. The only cost is PayPal’s standard processing fee (around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). That’s it.

Here’s the difference: Using CommunityTix for the same scenario above (10 events, 100 tickets per event, $15 each), you’re only paying $495 in PayPal fees. No extra cuts for the platform. That’s over $250 back in your budget.

How It Works

It’s simple:

1. Create an event on CommunityTix. Add ticket types, capacity limits, and prices.
2. Connect your PayPal account for secure checkouts.
3. Publish the event on your branded website (included free with CommunityTix).
4. Sell tickets directly — no hidden fees.

You might be thinking, "But what about flexibility?" CommunityTix supports Pay What You Can (PWYC) pricing. You can set suggested amounts and let attendees pick what they pay. This works great for equity-focused events where affordability matters.

Real Example: Local Music Club

Take the example of a small music club in Toronto. They were spending over $1,200 a year on Eventbrite fees for their monthly gigs. Switching to CommunityTix saved them enough to fund three additional performances annually. That’s impact.

Why Data Ownership Matters

Another benefit? No vendor lock-in. With CommunityTix, you own your data — ticket sales, member lists, event history. Export it anytime. Platforms like Eventbrite often limit access to your own information, making it harder to switch.

Think about this: If your org grows or changes platforms down the line, you’ll want full control over your data. CommunityTix gives you that transparency.

What’s Next?

Stop donating a chunk of your revenue to ticketing platforms. Start using tools designed for non-profits like yours. Try CommunityTix free for 30 days — no credit card required.

Affordable ticketing isn’t just possible; it’s here.