Looking for the best payment processors for nonprofits? Explore our top 7 picks that balance cost, ease of use, and security, perfect for any use case.
Approximate read time: 7.5 minutes
Creating a great website for a nonprofit isn't just about design and content. It's also about making it quick and easy for visitors to donate to the cause.
And all while spending as little as possible!
If you're looking for the perfect payment processing solution for a nonprofit site, this article is for you.
We'll introduce you to the best payment processors for nonprofits, focusing on their features, global reach, and cost.
Sound good? Awesome! We'll look at our list here in a minute.
But first, let's answer a common question.
Do nonprofits pay credit card processing fees?
Yes, nonprofits have to pay credit card processing fees. It's a bummer, we know. 😞
Some platforms on our list charge a flat monthly fee that covers any transaction fees. But unfortunately, there's no 100% free payment processing for nonprofits.
Now the bad news is out of the way, let's help you find the right payment processor for your site!
Best payment processors for nonprofits
1. Stripe
Stripe is a favorite of developers and donors because it's incredibly user-friendly, both on the front- and backend!
Its API makes it simple to integrate with most content management systems (CMS). And its sleek payment and donation forms make the checkout process quick and painless.
Another big benefit is the dozens of Stripe payment options available. They cover everything from digital wallets to bank transfers on both local and international scales.
Plus, if you want to make Stripe forms on WordPress — Stripe is built into Formidable Forms' free form builder. That means you can collect donations on your website with no upfront cost!
Here's just how easy it is to create a free Stripe donation form with Formidable Forms:
Stripe processing fees for nonprofits
Stripe is not free for nonprofits. Charitable organizations are still charged transaction fees but at a discount.
The rate isn't currently provided, but Stripe charged nonprofits 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction in the past.
Stripe's standard pricing is 2.9% + $0.30 for US debit or credit card processing.
⚠️ This special pricing only applies to donations! You can't sell products or event tickets, for example.
2. PayPal
PayPal is another solid choice for nonprofit payment processing.
Everyone worldwide knows and trusts PayPal, and you can't put a price on peace of mind. 🧘 Especially when you're asking people to open up their wallets!
But its reputation isn't the only reason to pick PayPal. Adding a donate button or creating a PayPal donation form for WordPress is only a few steps.
Lastly, PayPal is the most widely available online payment processor in the world. And that makes it an excellent option for international charities and organizations based in Africa, South America, or Asia.
PayPal processing fees for nonprofits
PayPal's donation processing fee is 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction. The standard transaction fee is 2.99% + $0.49 for US debit or credit card payments.
But keep in mind PayPal's fees vary depending on the type of transaction and the transaction amount.
🤔 Aren't sure whether to use Stripe or PayPal as your payment gateway? See this in-depth comparison of PayPal vs Stripe for nonprofits.
3. Authorize.net
Authorize.net has made a name for itself thanks to its high data security standards and reliability. This payment processor offers top-notch fraud protection and the ability to accept recurring donations.
Plus, it's easy to connect to any website. Especially if you use a form builder like Formidable Elite with a plug-and-play Authorize.net WordPress integration. 😉
Unlike Stripe and PayPal, Authorize.net charges a monthly fee on top of transaction charges. But it could be more cost-effective if the charity you're working with gets a lot of online donations.
It's a good fit for larger nonprofit organizations based in the US, Australia, or Canada.
Authorize.net nonprofit pricing
Authorize.net does not offer special nonprofit pricing. Their all-in-one payment processing option costs $25 per month with a 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fee.
Deciding between Authorize.net and PayPal for your website? Dive into our detailed analysis of Authorize.net vs PayPal!
4. Square
Square is great for businesses and charities of any size that want to accept donations online and in the "real world," like at fundraising events. Adding to an existing site or using its website builder tool is easy.
Square accepts many popular payment methods, from major credit cards to CashApp. And their fees are pretty straightforward. However, they don't offer any special pricing for nonprofits.
⚠️ Charities must be based in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain, the UK, or the US to use Square.
Square nonprofit pricing
Square charges 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions and 2.6% + $0.30 for in-person transactions.
5. Braintree
Braintree is part of the PayPal family. And it's a great pick for nonprofits that need flexible payment options.
It accepts almost as many payment methods as Stripe, including PayPal, Venmo (US), and bank transfers like ACH payments.
Braintree's also easy to integrate into any website, so you'll always have a smooth on-site donation process. Although this payment processor isn't specifically for nonprofits, it's still a solid choice, especially with its nonprofit pricing.
⚠️ Nonprofits must be based in Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, or the US to use Braintree.
Braintree nonprofit pricing
Braintree's nonprofit fee is 1.99% + $0.49 for card and digital wallet transactions, compared to the standard fee of 2.59% + $0.49.
6. iATS Payments
iATS Payments was made for nonprofits. This payment processor offers easy integration with several fundraising platforms and CRMs. It can even connect to Salesforce for donor management.
But you don't need other software to manage donations and track donor data with iATS. You can do all of that with their platform, too.
The cost isn't clear, but iATS is clearly for large charities that want a dedicated service tailored to their unique needs.
iATS nonprofit pricing
iATS charges a flat monthly fee rather than taking a percentage of each transaction. While no transaction fees may sound nice, it may not be the best option for smaller charities.
iATS doesn't make their pricing public, though. You'd have to contact their support for a quote to know.
7. CharityEngine
The last nonprofit payment processor on our list is another all-in-one fundraising tool.
CharityEngine does a whole lot more than just process payments. It also works as an email service, CMS, and CRM to keep track of donor information.
It's perfect for nonprofits that want one tool to do it all. But it's a bit much if you need a way to collect donations on your site.
CharityEngine nonprofit pricing
As you can probably guess, all those tools don't come cheap! 💰
The cost of CharityEngine is based on the features you need, the number of contacts you have, and the number of emails you plan to send each month.
To give you an idea, the cheapest example on their site starts at $350 per month.
Other popular donation platforms
Surprised Donorbox and Soapbox Engage didn't make our list?
These fundraising platforms may be popular, but they aren't payment processors!
Donorbox focuses on donation pages, letting Stripe and PayPal integrations handle the donations. And Soapbox Engage leaves it up to you to integrate a payment processor. It's pretty different from the tools above.
But how do nonprofits accept payments online?
By adding donation forms and donation buttons to their websites!
But a few options on our list don't come with form builders. And the ones that do aren't always the easiest to use (and don't make the prettiest forms 😬).
Luckily, Formidable Forms has integrations for the three best payment processors for nonprofits!
Our plugin only takes a few clicks to connect them all to a WordPress website. Then, use the drag and drop form builder to create a donation form, and you're done! No code, no new CMS to learn.
Go on, give it a try! You can test it out risk-free for 14 days with our money-back guarantee.
Which payment processor for nonprofits will you pick?
So, have you settled on one? In case you haven't yet, here's a quick cost comparison that may help!
| Payment Processor | Nonprofit payment processing fees |
|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.2% + $0.30 |
| PayPal | 1.99% + $0.49 |
| Authorize.net | $25 per month, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Square | 2.9% + $0.30 online, 2.6% + $0.30 in-person |
| Braintree | 1.99% + $0.49 |
| iATS | Contact for quote |
| CharityEngine | Contact for quote |
Of course, budget isn't the only thing to consider. The size and location of the nonprofit are also important to keep in mind.
Once the decision's made, you can focus on making it simple and safe to donate on their site. And they can keep making the world a better place!
Did you know Formidable Forms is the best WordPress form plugin for nonprofits? Get donations with our free plugin, or use our full-featured WordPress form maker for more payment options!
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