Want to know the secret to maximizing your nonprofit's donations?
It starts with your payment processor!
As someone who's helped countless nonprofits optimize their donation systems, I can tell you that choosing the right payment processor isn't just about fees - it's about creating a seamless donation experience that keeps supporters coming back.
Let's dive into this comprehensive comparison of the best payment processors that will help your nonprofit thrive.
Payment Processor | Best For | Best Feature | Processing Fees (Credit + Debit) | Payout Time |
Bloomerang | Simple Donor Database Integration | Donor Management Integration | 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction | Daily deposits, two-day delay |
PayPal | Small to Mid-Sized Nonprofits | PayPal Giving Fund | 1.99% + fixed fee per transaction | 2-3 business days |
Stripe | Tech-Savvy Nonprofits | Developer-Friendly API | 2.2% + $0.30per transaction | Daily deposits, two-day delay |
DonorBox | Maximizing Recurring Donations | Recurring Donation Platform | 1.5% platform fee + processing fee | 2-3 business days |
Zeffy | Minimizing Donation Fees | 0% Platform Fee Policy | 0% per transaction | 1-3 business days |
Square | In-Person Donations | Point-of-Sale Integration | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | 1-2 business days |
Security-Focused Nonprofits | Advanced Fraud Detection | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction + $25/month | 3-5 business days |
Bloomerang (Best for Simple Donor Database Integration)
Best for:
Organizations prioritizing donor database integration
Nonprofits with a focus on recurring giving programs
Teams wanting to minimize manual data entry
Organizations that value comprehensive donor reporting
Best Feature:
Donor Management Integration
Bloomerang Payments' native integration with the its donor management system can reduce your nonprofit's administrative costs.
This integration means every donation automatically syncs with your donor database, eliminating the manual data entry that I've seen plague many nonprofits.
Donor Cover Fees
Bloomerang's donor fee offset feature can potentially save you thousands in processing fees.
Here's how it works:
During checkout, donors are presented with an option to cover processing fees.
This feature alone has helped my nonprofit clients save thousands in processing fees annually.
Fee Structure
Bloomerang's transaction fee model:
Credit and Debit Payments: 2.2% + $0.30 for credit and debit card payments
ACH transactions: 0.8% + $0.30
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, ACH, JCB, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Pay, Diners Club,
Payout time: 2 business days
Notable Benefits
With Bloombergs integrated donor management system, you can:
Send personalized emails to increase recurring donations
Save time using Recurring Donation Ask template
Increase donations by tracking and maximizing donor engagement level
Center your focus by viewing donation timelines, setting tasks to engage with donors, and executing tasks all within the same software
Integrate with Quickbooks for simple and compliant financial reporting
Fundraising Tools
This platforms lets you create customizable donation pages which drives higher conversion rates. You can add:
Your brand elements: font, theme colors, and imagery
Smart donation amounts that adapt based on each donor's giving history and capacity, helping you maximize contributions.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn more about Bloomberg Payments or other nonprofit donation processors.
I'll help you:
Evaluate your current payment processing costs and identify potential savings
Compare features across top nonprofit payment platforms based on your needs
Assess integration requirements with your existing tech stack
Create a custom implementation timeline and migration plan
Understand available security features and compliance requirements
Review nonprofit-specific discounts you may qualify for
Book your consultation today to start optimizing your donation process and reducing processing fees.
PayPal (Best for Small to Mid-Sized Nonprofits)
PayPal is ideal for:
Nonprofits just starting their online fundraising journey
Organizations needing quick, low-cost donations processing
Charities seeking international donation capabilities
Nonprofits running peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns
Best Features
PayPal Giving Fund
The PayPal Giving Fund is a platform that helps people support their favorite charities online through donations made via PayPal.
There's no transaction fee for Giving Fund donations, meaning you receive 100% of every dollar.
Mobile Optimization
PayPal's mobile-optimized donation experience makes giving seamless across all devices.
Fee Structure
PayPal's nonprofit pricing model:
Standard Rate: 1.99% + fixed fee per transaction
PayPal Giving Fund: 0% fees for registered nonprofits
International Transactions: Additional 1.5% fee
Digital Wallet Payments: No additional fee
Accepted payment methods: PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
Payout time: 2-3 business days
Notable Benefits
Easy Donation Integration
PayPal's customizable donation tools simplify online giving through:
Embedded pop up displays that keep supporters on your website
Smart suggested giving amounts to boost donations
Program-specific giving options for targeted fundraising
Fundraising Tools
The platform offers versatile donation options to maximize giving:
Simple donation buttons for quick implementation
Customizable checkout pages with your branding
Social media fundraising integration
Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities
For organizations prioritizing ease of use and rapid deployment, PayPal's combination of simple setup and comprehensive features makes it a compelling choice in the nonprofit payment processing space.
Stripe (Best for Tech-Savvy Nonprofits)
Best for:
Tech-savvy nonprofits needing advanced customization
Organizations accepting international donations
Nonprofits needing instant access to funds
Teams with complex integration requirements
Organizations running multiple fundraising campaigns
Best Features
Developer-Friendly API
Stripe's robust API capabilities enable seamless integration with virtually any fundraising platform, website, or donor management system.
This flexibility allows you to create custom donation experiences while maintaining security.
Instant Payouts: Quick Access to Donations
Stripe's instant payout feature helps nonprofits manage cash flow more effectively.
Here's how it works:
Receive donations in your bank account within minutes instead of days
Enable instant transfers for a small additional fee (1% of transfer amount)
Schedule automated transfers based on your organization's needs
Access funds 24/7, including weekends and holidays
Fee Structure
Stripe's nonprofit pricing model:
Standard Rate: 2.2% + $0.30 per successful card charge (discounted nonprofit rate)
International Cards: Additional 1% fee
Instant Payouts: 1% of transfer amount
ACH Payments: 0.8% (capped at $5)
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, ACH, JCB, China UnionPay, Diners Club
Payout time: Daily deposits with a two-day delay
Notable Benefits
With Stripe's comprehensive payment platform, you can:
Accept donations in 135+ currencies with automatic conversion
Implement strong fraud prevention with Stripe Radar
Access detailed analytics and reporting tools
Set up automated recurring donation recovery
Create custom donation experiences with Elements UI
Fundraising Tools
This platform offers flexible donation integration capabilities including:
Embeddable donation forms that maintain your branding
Mobile-optimized checkout experience
Smart payment routing for higher authorization rates
Dynamic 3D Secure authentication for enhanced security
DonorBox (Best for Maximizing Recurring Donations)
DonorBox is ideal for:
Small to medium-sized nonprofits seeking affordable donation tools
Organizations focused on building monthly giving programs
Nonprofits needing multilingual donation capabilities
Best Feature
Recurring Donation Platform
DonorBox's recurring donation system drives sustainable funding through smart donor retention tools and flexible subscription options.
Donors can easily select flexible giving frequencies (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually), helping you maximize predictable revenue streams.
Fee Structure
DonorBox's nonprofit pricing model:
Platform Fee: 1.5% for nonprofits
Credit Card Processing: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe/PayPal rates)
ACH/Bank Transfer: 0.8% + $0.30
Free Plan Available: For organizations raising under $1,000/month
Accepted payment methods: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH, SEPA and iDEAL.
Payout time: 2-3 business days
Notable Benefits
With DonorBox's integrated giving platform, you can:
Create donation forms in multiple languages
Offer suggested giving amounts based on campaign types
Enable company matching gift tools to double donations
Track donor engagement with built-in reporting tools
Deploy donation forms across multiple websites or campaigns
Fundraising Tools
This platform provides conversion-optimized donation forms to boost giving rates.
You can add:
Mobile-responsive designs that work across all devices
Multiple currency support for international donations
Custom branding elements including logos and color schemes
Smart donation amounts that adjust based on campaign type and donor history
Zeffy (Best for Minimizing Donation Fees)
Zeffy is ideal for:
Nonprofits seeking zero-fee fundraising
Nonprofits looking to maximize their donation dollars
Teams needing simple, straightforward fundraising tools
Best Feature
0% Platform Fee Policy
Unlike other processors that charge platform fees, Zeffy covers all costs through optional donor contributions.
Keep in mind, this approach can lower donor retention rates and potentially impact long-term fundraising success.
In my experience consulting with nonprofits, I've observed that while the zero-fee model is attractive initially, some donors express fatigue when asked to cover both processing fees and platform contributions.
This can lead to:
Reduced recurring donation conversions
Lower overall donor lifetime value
Increased donation abandonment rates
Here's how it works:
Donors are given the option to add a contribution to support Zeffy's platform
All processing fees are covered by Zeffy, regardless of donor contribution
Organizations receive their full donation amount
Fee Structure
Zeffy's pricing model:
Credit and Debit Payments: 0% platform fee
ACH transactions: 0% platform fee
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, ACH JCB, UnionPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay,
Payout time: 1-3 business days
Notable Benefits
With Zeffy's integrated fundraising platform, you can:
Access comprehensive donor management tools at no cost
Generate tax receipts automatically
Create unlimited fundraising campaigns
Track donor engagement and giving patterns
Export detailed reports for financial reconciliation
Manage event registrations seamlessly
Fundraising Tools
This platform offers modern fundraising features to boost your donation success:
Customizable donation forms and fundraising pages
Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities
Event ticketing and management
Recurring donation options
Mobile-optimized giving pages
Square (Best for In-Person Donations)
Square is ideal for:
Nonprofits that frequently host fundraising events
Organizations needing both online and in-person payment solutions
Teams requiring mobile donation capabilities
Nonprofits wanting simple financial reporting and analytics
Best Features
Point-of-Sale Integration
Square's mobile point-of-sale system transforms your smartphone or tablet into a donation processing terminal, perfect for fundraising events and on-the-go collections.
The system allows your team to collect donations anywhere with cell service or WiFi, making it ideal for charity events, auctions, and street fundraising.
Multi-Channel Donations
Square's omnichannel payment processing lets you accept donations across all channels seamlessly.
Here's how it works:
Accept in-person payments via contactless, chip, or swipe
Process online donations through your website
Send digital invoices for pledge fulfillment
Track all transactions in one unified dashboard
Fee Structure
Square's pricing model:
In-Person Payments: 2.6% + $0.10 per tap, dip, or swipe
Online Donations: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Virtual Terminal: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
Payout time: 1-2 business days
Notable Benefits
With Square's integrated payment system, you can:
Generate detailed reports for board meetings and tax purposes
Track donation patterns across different channels
Manage staff permissions and access levels
Accept payments offline with automatic syncing
Access real-time analytics on donation patterns
Fundraising Tools
Square's platform offers versatile payment solutions including:
Mobile card readers for event donations
Digital receipt options with customizable thank-you messages
QR code payment options for contactless giving
Authorize.Net (Best for Security-Focused Nonprofits)
Authorize.Net is ideal for:
Large nonprofits handling sensitive donor data
Organizations with complex recurring donation programs
Nonprofits requiring advanced fraud prevention
International organizations accepting multiple currencies
Best Feature
Advanced Fraud Detection
Authorize.Net's Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS) provides enterprise-level security that protects both your donors and your organization from fraudulent transactions.
This robust system uses machine learning to identify and block suspicious donations while ensuring legitimate contributions process smoothly.
Fee Structure
Authorize.Net's pricing structure:
Monthly Gateway Fee: $25
Transaction Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, ACH, E-check, JCB, Visa SRC, PayPal, Chase Pay, Apple Pay
Payout time: 3-5 business days
Notable Benefits
With Authorize.Net's security-first platform, you can:
Accept donations in multiple currencies
Access detailed transaction reporting
Set up customized fraud filters
Integrate with major accounting software
Choosing the Right Processor
Choosing the right payment processor is crucial for your nonprofit's fundraising success.
By carefully evaluating factors like processing fees, donor experience, integration capabilities, and available payment methods, you can select a solution that supports your long-term growth.
Consider starting with a platform that aligns with your organization's size and technical capabilities – whether that's Bloomerang's robust CRM integration for established nonprofits, Zeffy's zero-fee platform for smaller organizations, or another solution we've discussed.
Remember that the best choice isn't always the cheapest option; focus on finding a processor that helps you build stronger donor relationships while efficiently managing your donations.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a consultation to discuss which payment processor best fits your nonprofit's unique needs and goals.
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