Choosing the right nonprofit credit card processing solution is a crucial task. According to the 2022 Giving Experience Study, trust is the number one motivating factor that donors consider when deciding whether to give. That’s why it’s important to choose a provider that allows you to process donations safely and securely.
Whether you’re looking for the first time or are considering a new platform, we’ve compiled a list of payment processors that may be a good fit for your nonprofit. Here are the platforms we’ll cover:
- Bloomerang Payments: Best Overall
- Stripe: Best for Integrated Payment Needs
- Paypal: Best for Small and New Nonprofits
- Square: Best for Point of Sale Transactions
- Authorize.Net: Best for Advanced Security Features
- Donorbox: Best for Driving Conversions
- Clover: Best for Multiplatform Payment Needs
- Keela Pay: Best Support
Nonprofit Credit Card Processing FAQs
Before diving into the top providers, let’s start by reviewing a few credit card processing FAQs and key terms.
What nonprofit credit card processing fees should I know about?
When it comes to nonprofit credit card processing, there are a couple of fees to be aware of, including platform and transaction fees.
- Platform fees are the costs associated with using an online payment processing tool. You might also see this referred to as a monthly or annual fee.
- Transaction fees are the costs of processing a donor’s credit card payment. This is also known as the processing fee.
Do nonprofits have to pay credit card processing fees?
Yes, but many platforms allow you to ask donors to cover fees. For example, Bloomerang has found that donors choose to cover processing fees about 70% of the time on average. As a result, based on the average Bloomerang customer’s processing volume, nonprofits typically keep $99 for every $100 raised using Bloomerang Payments.
Also, some platforms that aren’t specifically built for nonprofits, like PayPal, offer discounted nonprofit processing fees.
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?
You may have heard the terms “payment processor” and “payment gateway” used interchangeably, but these terms refer to different aspects of the payment management process.
A payment gateway is a digital tool that allows donors to submit their payment information. In the nonprofit world, a payment gateway is often an embedded donation page on a nonprofit website. Nonprofits may also use third-party platforms to allow donors to input their payment details. When a donor makes an online gift, the payment gateway transmits their credit card or other payment information to the payment processor.
A payment processor manages the processing of the funds. The payment processor verifies donors’ credit card information by checking with their bank to ensure that they have sufficient funds to complete the donation. After approving the transaction, the payment processor transfers funds from the donor’s account to your nonprofit’s bank account.
How do I know which payment processor I should use?
Choosing the right payment processor for your nonprofit comes down to a few key factors. Keep these considerations in mind when selecting a platform:
- Consider fees. Consider the volume of donations you’ll likely process using the platform to calculate your net donation amount from each payment processing option. Choose an option with low processing fees and an option for donors to cover fees so that your nonprofit can maximize its donation revenue. Ask about any hidden or fluctuating fees to ensure that you choose a platform with predictable costs.
- Look for security credentials. Your payment processing platform should comply with industry standards like PCI-DSS. These regulations include protections for donor data, regular network testing and monitoring, access controls, and other guidelines meant to keep donor data secure. A secure payment processor will help maintain your nonprofit’s positive reputation and increase donors’ trust in your donation process.
- Evaluate integrations. Ensure your payment processing system integrates with your nonprofit’s CRM. This makes it easier to track donor information and follow up with thank you messages, impact reports, and other donation requests. Seamless or native integration with your CRM reduces the chances of donor information being lost during migration.
Consult with relevant stakeholders, like your nonprofit’s legal team and fundraising staff members, before making your final decision. Ultimately, you want to ensure that your payment processor complies with all relevant privacy regulations and fits your team’s needs.
Nonprofit Payment Processor Comparison
| Payment Processor | Recommended for | Favorite Feature | Payout Time | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomerang Payments | Online giving integration | Donor-paid fees | Daily, two-day delay | 2.2% + $0.30 processing fee |
| Stripe | Reliability | Instant payouts | Daily, two-day delay | 2.9% + $0.30, discount offered for nonprofits |
| PayPal | New nonprofits | Donate button | 2-3 business days | 1.99% and a fixed fee |
| Square | Point-of-sale transactions | Customer engagement | 1-2 business days | 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions |
| Authorize.Net | Security | Advanced fraud detection | 0-5 business days | $25/monthly fee and 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee |
| Donorbox | Versatility | Recurring donation tools | 2-3 business days | Plans start at $0/month with a 1.75% platform fee |
| Clover | Multiplatform payment needs | POS functionality | 1-3 business days | 2.3% + $0.10 transaction fee |
| Keela Pay | Support | In-house support | Nightly, weekly, or monthly | 2.2% + $0.30 processing fee for Visa and Mastercard transactions |
Bloomerang Payments: Best Overall
Recommended for: Nonprofits in search of a payment processor that integrates with their online giving tools like donate buttons, embeddable donation forms, donation pages, and text-to-give.
Favorite feature: With Bloomerang Payments, donors have the option to cover transaction fees, which saved one organization $6,000 a year. Also, data collected through Bloomerang Payments automatically flows into your Bloomerang CRM, allowing you to gather donor information to follow up and start building long-term relationships. Learn more about the features and benefits of Bloomerang Payments here:
Accepts payments from: ACH, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Pay
Payout time: Daily deposits with a two-day delay.
In-person transactions: Using Tap to Pay, your nonprofit’s staff can easily collect in-person donations using a mobile device. All donors have to do is tap their credit card or digital wallet on the mobile device.
Fees: Transaction fees of 2.2% + $0.30 for credit and debit card payments and 0.8% + $0.30 for ACH transactions
Learn More About Bloomerang Payments
Stripe: Best for Integrated Payment Needs
Recommended for: Nonprofits that need a standard, reliable payment processor with the option for expedited payouts.
Favorite feature: Stripe offers instant payouts, allowing you to send your earnings to an eligible debit card within minutes. This gives you 24/7 access to your funds when your organization needs them.
Accepts payments from: ACH, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, China UnionPay
Payout Time: Daily deposits with a two-day delay.
In-Person Transactions: Available with Stripe Terminal, Stripe’s credit card reader. Additional fees may apply.
Fees: Pay as you go with a 2.9% + $0.30 fee for each credit and debit card transaction. Organizations with official nonprofit status are also eligible for a discounted processing fee.
PayPal: Best for Small and New Nonprofits
Recommended for: Smaller and new nonprofits that need an affordable payment processor that’s optimized for online transactions.
Favorite feature: For nonprofits that are just getting started, PayPal allows you to customize a donate button for your home page, so you can start collecting donations instantly.
Accepts payments from: PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
Payout Time: 2-3 business days.
In-Person Transactions: With PayPal, you can collect donations in person using a mobile card reader, chip and swipe reader, or chip and tap reader.
Fees: Transaction fees are 1.99% and a fixed fee
Learn More About PayPal for Nonprofits
Square: Best for Point of Sale Transactions
Recommended for: Nonprofits that use point-of-sale transactions to accept donations or purchases.
Favorite feature: For nonprofits that aren’t ready to invest in a donor management system, Square offers basic CRM tools that help sort your donors into groups, send targeted emails, and receive feedback through digital receipts.
Accepts payments from: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, UnionPay
Payout Time: 1-2 business days.
In-Person Transactions: Collect donations in person using Square’s credit card reader.
Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 fee for online transactions
Authorize.Net: Best for Advanced Security Features
Recommended for: Nonprofits that want to invest in an advanced payment platform with advanced security features and a strong support team.
Favorite feature: Keep your nonprofit safe from fraud with Authorize.Net’s security features designed to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions.
Accepts payments from: ACH, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, JCB, PayPal, Visa SRC, Apple Pay, Chase Pay, E-check
Payout Time: 3-5 business days
In-Person Transactions: You can accept transactions in person with Authorize.Net’s free virtual point-of-sale service. Card reader not included.
Fees: $25 monthly fee and 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee
Donorbox: Best for Driving Conversions
Recommended for: Nonprofits that want a donation processor that also includes fundraising tools like online donation forms.
Favorite feature: Donorbox makes it easy to facilitate recurring payments. When giving, donors can choose a one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual donation. No extra steps or special forms are necessary.
Accepts payments from: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH, SEPA and iDEAL.
Payout Time: 2-3 business days.
In-Person Transactions: You can collect in-person transactions and add them later to Donorbox as offline donations. All financial totals will be updated and PDF receipts are automatically generated.
Fees: Transaction. It’s free to set up, then a 1.5% fee per online donation plus a processing fee. The processing fee is 2.9% + $0.30 for Stripe, 0.8% for ACH, and 2.2% + $0.30 for PayPal.
Clover: Best for Multiplatform Payment Needs
Recommended for: Nonprofits looking for POS features for in-person donations.
Favorite feature: Clover’s POS functionality enables nonprofits to process in-person transactions using multiple devices, including card readers, iPhones, and tablets.
Accepts payments from: Credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Payout time: 1-3 business days
In-person transactions: Available via Clover’s hardware card readers and POS devices
Fees: 2.3% + $0.10 transaction fee
Keela Pay: Best Support
Recommended for: Nonprofits looking for a payment processing option integrated with the Keela CRM.
Favorite feature: Keela offers comprehensive in-house support included in both the Standard and Premium Care plans. Communications are housed in one central location to simplify outreach.
Accepts payments from: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, ACH
Payout time: Nightly, weekly, or monthly
In-person transactions: Not currently available
Fees: 2.2% + $0.30 processing fee for Visa and Mastercard transactions.
Wrapping up
Nonprofits can’t afford the slowdowns and potential bad press that can result from poor payment processors. Use the tips in this guide to find a credit card processing solution that keeps your nonprofit’s best interests at the forefront.
Looking for more support as you decide what system is best for your organization? Continue learning with these additional resources:
- What Is Nonprofit Payment Processing? Get a refresher on the basics of nonprofit payment processing with Kindful’s helpful guide.
- 19 Incredibly Easy Online Fundraising Ideas and Expert Tips. Your payment processing solution should support your online fundraising campaigns. Use this guide to explore online fundraising ideas that will keep donors invested in your mission.
- What is Nonprofit CRM Software? 9 Best Solutions in 2024. Looking for a new CRM to better integrate your payment and data collection processes? Start here with an overview of the top solutions to consider.
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