Nonprofits today need more than a basic credit-card gateway to support fundraising, donor retention, and financial transparency. Modern donor management systems and payment processors must be affordable, secure, easy to use for donors, and tightly integrated with fundraising platforms and CRMs.
9 All-in-one Donor Management Systems to Standalone Processors
1. CharityEngine
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CharityEngine is an all-in-one nonprofit CRM and fundraising platform with built-in payment processing. It offers a full suite of tools (donor database, email marketing, event registration, peer-to-peer fundraising, etc.) and its PCI-certified payment processor. CharityEngine’s unique SustainerIQ technology optimizes recurring giving and retention, promising to capture up to 90 %+ of monthly sustainers (much higher than the industry norm of 70–85%). Because payment processing is integrated, there is no need for separate merchant accounts or data syncs – all donor data, transactions, and campaign results live in one platform.
CharityEngine is built specifically for charities, so its security and compliance (Level 1 PCI, SOC 2, encryption, etc.) and customer support are geared toward nonprofit needs.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
CharityEngine’s pricing is customized by organization size. The platform replaces multiple tools (CRM, marketing, fundraising, payments) with one system. There’s a dedicated “Enterprise” plan for large nonprofits and a starter plan (roughly $550/mo) for smaller orgs.
All plans include built-in donation forms, recurring giving, text-to-give, event management, and robust reporting. Because CharityEngine controls the payment stack, it passes through interchange rates rather than tiered markup, keeping fees lower than typical gateways.
Pros
CRM, donation forms, email, marketing automation, and payments live under one roof. This eliminates data silos, sync issues, and multiple vendor contracts.
SustainerIQ automated billing greatly improves donor retention (CharityEngine claims it recovers ~90% of recurring gifts).
PCI-certified processing and tokenized storage are built in. CharityEngine’s team knows nonprofit data needs.
Combining tools into one platform cuts overall costs (no need to pay separately for CRM, donation pages, and payment gateway).
Nonprofits often net more per donation than with separate services.
Dedicated nonprofit-focused support and training. Experts understand common nonprofit workflows.
Cons
The full-featured platform is more expensive than a simple processor.
Custom pricing means a sales process is required, which can be a barrier for very small nonprofits.
Many features mean more to configure and learn. Organizations must be ready to adopt a full CRM.
If you already have a best-of-breed tool (e.g. Mailchimp, Eventbrite), moving to CharityEngine’s all-in-one means replacing other systems.
Ideal For:
Mid-size to large nonprofits (especially with 50+ monthly donors) that want a single integrated system for donor management and payments. Organizations seeking to maximize recurring revenue and reduce tool complexity will benefit most.
For example, a global NGO or university foundation could use CharityEngine as a “one-stop shop” CRM + payment platform, simplifying bookkeeping and donor reporting.
2. iATS Payments
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iATS Payments is a payment processor built exclusively for nonprofits. It has processed charitable donations for over two decades, and today is a division of Elavon/Bank of America. iATS offers traditional merchant accounts (not an aggregator) with highly competitive nonprofit rates and features tailored to donation processing. It maintains Level-1 PCI compliance, tokenization, and advanced fraud prevention, ensuring donor data is secure at every step.
iATS also emphasizes integration: it plugs directly into most major nonprofit CRMs and fundraising tools (including a Salesforce-native module called Brickworks).
In practice, this means you can process donations (online, mobile, event, etc.) through iATS and have the gift data automatically synced into your donor database or CRM. Key Features: iATS offers both credit-card and ACH processing. There are flat monthly fees and (typically) no fixed contracts. Pricing is nonprofit-friendly – often a flat monthly fee plus a small transaction markup (e.g., 0.35–0.5% over interchange, vs. the ~1.5–3.0% of many gateways). IATS advertises “no hidden fees and discounted transaction rates” for 501(c)(3) organizations.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Includes a web-based Virtual Terminal, hosted donation pages, branded form embed, recurring billing/auto-renewals, and real-time reporting/analytics. iATS also provides a secure mobile app for on-site payments (events or street campaigns). ACH transactions have very low flat fees (e.g. $0.26 per transaction as of early 2024), making it easy to collect bank-based gifts.
Pros
Flat monthly plans, interchange-plus pricing, and special rates (e.g., Visa Credit ~1.65% + small fee) make it very affordable.
Transaction fees are often lower than generic processors.
Works seamlessly with popular CRMs (e.g., Salesforce NPSP/Brickworks, Blackbaud, Neon, others), automatically syncing gifts and donor info. This greatly cuts manual data entry.
Robust support for recurring donations; nonprofits can automatically charge monthly gifts and track them in the system.
iATS’s portal shows active subscriptions at a glance.
Level 1 PCI compliance with tokenization and encryption.
All donor card data is safely vaulted.
As an exclusive nonprofit payment provider, iATS support reps understand sector-specific issues and compliance needs.
Cons
Some nonprofits find the iATS admin portal dated or less modern than new competitors; technical support may be needed for initial setup.
For very small nonprofits with infrequent events, the flat monthly fee may not be justified unless volume grows.
iATS is primarily a payment processor, so organizations will still need separate CRM or fundraising software if they want comprehensive donor management (though integration mitigates this).
Ideal For:
Small-to-medium nonprofits (and large ones) that need a dedicated payment processor with nonprofit pricing and deep integration. For example, a mid-size charity running frequent fundraising events and maintaining a donor database (Salesforce, Neon, etc.) will benefit from iATS syncing all credit and ACH gifts into its CRM.
Churches, schools, and fundraising platforms that require PCI-level security and recurring billing often use iATS.
3. Regpack
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Regpack is a registration and membership platform with built-in payment processing. It’s often used by nonprofits, camps, associations, and event organizers to handle sign-ups and payments in one system. Regpack’s strong point is its flexible, conditional form builder: nonprofits can create multi-page registration or donation forms that change in real time based on previous answers (e.g., hiding irrelevant questions).
Behind the scenes, Regpack is PCI-compliant and provides a merchant account (processing on an interchange-plus model). Donors or registrants enter payments during checkout, and Regpack handles one-time or recurring billing automatically. After payment, both the staff and donor receive confirmation emails or invoices generated by the system.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Regpack supports credit/debit card processing and ACH. It offers hosted payment forms or easy embed widgets. The conditional logic (“smart forms”) reduces form abandonment and tailors the donation/registration experience to each user. Nonprofits can set up custom recurring-gift schedules (e.g., monthly donors) that automatically charge and notify donors of successful or failed payments.
Additional fundraising features include coupon codes, fee waivers, waiting lists, and automatic fund accounting. On the admin side, Regpack provides real-time dashboards of registrations and payments, making reconciliation straightforward.
Regpack offers tiered pricing starting at $13/month per admin for the SMB plan and $8/month for larger teams, with custom pricing for enterprise needs. While there’s no publicly listed nonprofit discount, many nonprofit users find the platform flexible for managing events, classes, and discounts. It’s best to contact Regpack directly to ask about nonprofit-specific pricing or available discounts.
Pros
The form builder is extremely flexible. You can collect any data needed (membership levels, dietary needs, gift intentions, etc.) and structure multi-part donation forms that adapt to donors’ responses.
This personalization can improve donor experience and completion rates.
Because it handles registrations, ticketing, and payments together, nonprofits running events, conferences, or sports registrations (including their own donation forms) can use one system.
Built-in recurring billing for membership dues or monthly giving plans with automated communications. This encourages donor retention.
Automated emails for payment receipts, donation confirmations, or event reminders streamline communication.
Cons
Regpack is focused on registration workflow, so it lacks a full donor database or marketing tools.
It can export data, but ongoing donor cultivation must be done in another system.
Because it’s form-based, it feels like filling out an event or registration form rather than a branded donation page; customization options (CSS, branding) exist but require setup.
Pricing complexity: Regpack’s plans typically have a base monthly fee (around $8/mo plus 1.5%/transaction at the lowest tier) and then scale up with more registrations. For small donation-only uses, it might be overkill.
Ideal For:
Organizations that combine payments with registration or membership management. For example, a nonprofit running recurring donor events, program registrations, or annual memberships can use Regpack to handle both sign-ups and payments together.
Education, health, and association events (e.g., workshops, conferences) often choose Regpack to avoid juggling multiple platforms. It’s best when you need a highly customizable form flow rather than a simple donate button.
4. Snowball (by Snowball Fundraising)
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Snowball is a fundraising platform with an integrated payment processor, designed to be very mobile-friendly. It powers “donate now” pages, text-to-give, and on-site donations with ease. Nonprofits can create unlimited custom giving pages (with their branding) that accept one-time or recurring gifts.
A standout feature is Snowball’s text-to-give tool: nonprofits get a unique short code or QR code so donors can give by texting or scanning directly on their phones. This, along with a fully mobile-optimized interface, makes Snowball particularly effective for live events or public fundraising campaigns. Under the hood, Snowball uses a PCI-compliant vault and tokenization to secure card data.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Snowball offers an essential (free) plan and paid upgrades. Even the free plan includes a custom donation page, unlimited donors, a simple CRM dashboard, and the ability to do recurring gifts.
Paid plans (around $549/year) add features like unlimited “thermometers” (fundraising progress bars), multiple giving pages, event ticketing, and the full text-to-give suite. All Snowball accounts get instant email receipts and donor management for tracking contributions. Additional tools include auction/bidding, team fundraising, and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Pros
Donors stay on the nonprofit’s site (no redirects), and pages are clean and mobile-first. One-click recurring giving is supported, and donors can scan/enter text codes at events.
Snowball uses bank-grade security (PCI vault + tokenization) to keep payment info safe.
The free plan allows very small nonprofits or charities to collect donations without monthly costs, paying only transaction fees.
Upgrading is relatively inexpensive.
Snowball is known for seamless in-person fundraising (text or QR code giving), which many online-only processors lack.
Cons
While Snowball advertises low pricing, transaction fees still apply (typically interchange plus a processing fee). The free plan itself includes normal payment fees (~2.9% + $0.30 if using Stripe).
Snowball’s donor “CRM” is basic – it tracks donors and gifts but lacks advanced segmentation or marketing automation. Integrating with a full CRM (like Salesforce, Bloomerang) may be needed for deeper stewardship.
Snowball has fewer third-party integrations than some larger platforms. If you need it to connect with a specific event or donor management system, custom work may be required.
Ideal For:
Nonprofits running mobile-centric campaigns and events. For instance, charities doing street fundraising, concerts, or kick-off campaigns will value Snowball’s text-to-give. It’s also great for smaller organizations on a tight budget that need a donor-friendly giving page with recurring support.
Snowball works well as a front-end giving solution that can export data to an external CRM if needed.
5. Fundly
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Overview: Fundly is a popular crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising platform (often used for specific campaigns or drives). Unlike a traditional payment gateway, Fundly provides fully hosted campaign pages where nonprofits (and individuals) can raise money for causes. It includes donation forms, social sharing, volunteer recruitment, and crowdfunding tools.
When it comes to payment processing, Fundly relies on either WePay or Stripe behind the scenes, meaning the actual credit card transactions are handled by those services. For a nonprofit, using Fundly means you get an easy-to-use fundraising website without needing to build it yourself. Fundly also integrates with matching gift tools like Double the Donation.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Fundly’s biggest feature is its user-friendly campaign pages. Nonprofits can launch unlimited campaigns (including team/peer drives, tribute funds, or crowdfunding appeals) with mobile-friendly pages and built-in social media widgets. Fundly handles things like photo/video uploads, comment walls, and donor incentives.
Behind the scenes, donors input their payment info into Fundly’s page; the platform then charges them via WePay/Stripe and remits the funds to the nonprofit. Fundly charges a platform fee (currently ~4.9% per donation) on top of the payment processing fee of the gateway. It offers general donor management (tracking who gave to which campaign) but not a full CRM.
Pros
No technical work is needed to start a crowdfunding campaign.
Templates and walkthroughs guide nonprofits in creating pages.
Built-in peer-to-peer/team functionality makes it easy to recruit fundraisers and spread campaigns via social networks.
Donors have a smooth, one-page checkout and can donate via credit card, Apple Pay/Google Pay (through Stripe/WePay).
Fundly sends automated thank-you emails.
Fundly pages can integrate with matching gift databases, so donors can look up matches right on the campaign page.
Cons
Fundly’s platform fee (4.9%) plus credit card fees (Stripe’s standard ~2.9% + $0.30 or WePay’s rates) can make net proceeds higher than using a nonprofit-grade gateway directly.
Donors can be encouraged to “tip” the platform to offset fees, but this is an extra friction point.
Since it’s essentially a hosted platform, Fundly isn’t meant for ongoing donation programs or large capital campaigns. It shines for time-bound campaigns.
You’re largely confined to Fundly’s design templates and branding. You can’t fully re-skin the forms, so your campaign looks like a Fundly page.
Ideal For:
Fundly is best for specific crowdfunding campaigns or peer-to-peer efforts. For example, a nonprofit launching a new capital drive or a sponsored walk can use Fundly to quickly set up pages where supporters can create teams and raise money.
It’s also useful for grassroots initiatives by smaller charities that don’t have web development resources. If your nonprofit wants to run one-off fundraisers (disaster relief, educational programs, etc.) with viral potential, Fundly is a solid choice.
6. Faithlife Giving
Faithlife Giving is a giving platform designed specifically for churches and faith-based nonprofits. It’s part of a larger “Ministry Platform” suite (Faithlife Equip) that includes church presentation, Bible study tools, etc. Faithlife Giving lets congregations collect tithes and donations online and in person. Donors can give via mobile app, text message (text-to-give), on an in-kiosk terminal, or through custom-branded web forms.
As such, it is optimized for places of worship where donors want a variety of convenient giving methods. It maintains strong security and PCI compliance, suitable for handling recurring offerings and contributions.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Faithlife Giving provides multiple ways to donate – a link/button on the church website, a mobile app, a text code, a standalone kiosk, or even via giving envelopes scanned by a mobile device.
Churches can design custom donation pages that match their branding. All giving data flows back into the church’s Faithlife/Equip database, so members’ profiles and giving histories are consolidated.
On the financial side, the platform can process one-time and recurring gifts with built-in accounting to track those funds. Pricing is tiered: small churches (under ~$7,500/mo in giving) use the platform free, paying only transaction fees (2.99% + $0.45 on cards). Larger organizations pay a modest monthly subscription. Faithlife also supports fund designations and class reporting, which many churches require.
Pros
Donors can give the way they prefer (text, app, kiosk, web), which can increase overall donations.
Integrated with Faithlife’s ministry software, so church leadership has a unified toolset (member database, planning, giving all together).
Designed for volunteers and staff who may not be tech-savvy.
The giving interface is simple and matches modern church branding.
Free for small churches, fixed fees for larger ones. All plans include mobile/digital giving options.
Cons
Its tools and integrations are church-specific. A secular nonprofit will find Faithlife’s focus (sermons, Bible) irrelevant.
The processing rate (2.99% + $0.45 by default) is higher than the best nonprofit discount rates.
Churches often absorb or subsidize these fees.
If a church also uses another accounting or CRM system, syncing Faithlife Giving data can require exports or custom work.
Ideal For:
Religious congregations and faith-based nonprofits want an easy and familiar giving experience for their members. It’s ideal for churches that already use Faithlife/EQUIP (or want an all-in-one church management solution) and need donor/tithe processing built in.
For example, a medium-sized church looking to modernize its donation options (app and text giving) while keeping membership data in one system would find Faithlife Giving suitable.
7. Stripe
Stripe is a globally used payment platform that’s popular with nonprofits, tech companies, and startups. It is an aggregator, meaning donors’ payments go into Stripe’s master merchant account and Stripe deposits to the nonprofit’s bank. This makes setup easy, but organizations can’t use their own independent merchant account. Stripe’s donation forms and APIs are highly customizable – everything can be embedded on your site so donors never see a third-party page.
The platform supports virtually any payment method (credit/debit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, even wallets like Venmo), and international donations in multiple currencies.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Stripe’s core feature is its developer-friendly payment API and hosted components (Stripe Checkout, Elements) that fit into any website. Nonprofits can create fully branded donation pages, recurring donation forms, and event ticketing interfaces. Features include one-click “Save payment method” for recurring gifts, in-dashboard donor management, and built-in analytics. Stripe also has powerful fraud prevention (Radar) and provides instant receipts to donors.
Stripe offers discounted processing fees for eligible nonprofits: 2.2% + $0.30 for most credit card donations (3.5% for AmEx) and 0.8% for ACH (capped at $5). These rates apply only to tax-deductible donations, not to things like event tickets or membership fees. To qualify, your organization must be a registered nonprofit (e.g., 501(c)(3)) and process at least 80% of payments as donations. You can apply by emailing [email protected] with your EIN, Stripe account email, and confirmation of donation volume. Rates vary by country.
Payouts are usually 2 business days, and Stripe’s user portal is simple to navigate. If you need to modernize giving (e.g., adding direct debit or PayPal via Braintree subsidiary), Stripe covers it. Integration-wise, Stripe plugs into many CRMs and fundraising apps (many donors-first tools support Stripe out of the box), and libraries exist for fundraising CRMs like Salesforce or Blackbaud if you need custom integration.
Pros
High degree of control over the donor experience; forms and logic are set up by you.
Donors stay on your domain, which can boost completion.
Card payments anywhere (even international) plus digital wallets.
This flexibility means donors worldwide can give easily.
Reduced rates (around 2.2%+$0.30) improve affordability.
Excellent documentation and plugins (e.g., with WordPress, donor CRMs).
Often, the best choice is when nonprofits have in-house tech talent.
Built-in subscription billing supports automatic monthly gifts and can handle failed-card retries.
Cons
Implementing Stripe’s API or embedded forms usually needs a web developer.
Out-of-box donation pages (like Stripe Checkout) exist but are less customizable.
Nonprofits can’t see a “raw interchange” breakdown or switch to their own bank’s merchant account. This is generally fine, but is less flexible if you compare it with direct-processor merchant accounts.
Stripe’s support is mostly self-service (docs, email, chat). Nonprofits without tech staff might find it challenging to troubleshoot on their own.
Ideal For:
Tech-savvy nonprofits or those with a developer on staff. For example, a software-focused charity or university with an in-house web team might build custom donation forms with Stripe.
It’s also great for organizations that want to accept donations in multiple currencies or want to add new payment methods (like Alipay or SEPA) easily. Many new nonprofits choose Stripe for its combination of robust features and transparent pricing.
8. PayPal (Nonprofit Editions)
PayPal is one of the most recognizable payment services in the world and offers special terms for nonprofits. It functions as an aggregator: donors can pay with any major credit/debit card or their PayPal balance/account, and transactions are processed through PayPal’s merchant account. PayPal’s “Donate” buttons and standard checkout forms are simple to implement, which is why many nonprofits (especially smaller ones) use PayPal as a quick solution.
PayPal is PCI-compliant and well-tested. For nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, PayPal offers a discounted rate (currently 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction), which is among the lowest flat fees available.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
PayPal provides both hosted donate buttons and an API/SDK for custom forms. It also supports recurring donations (via PayPal profiles) and can handle ACH/e-check donations. Many fundraising platforms (like Classy, Fundraise Up) and CRMs have built-in PayPal connectors.
PayPal Here (mobile card reader) allows in-person payments. Key features include instant setup (no approval delay), a familiar user experience (94% of US donors recognize PayPal), and no extra monthly or cancellation fees. PayPal also provides built-in receipts and can automatically log donations to donor email addresses.
It charges 1.99% plus $0.49 per domestic donation. International donations incur an additional 1.5% fee, and currency conversion fees may apply. To qualify, organizations must register a PayPal Business account, submit their EIN, and verify their 501(c)(3) status.
Once approved, nonprofits can access tools like customizable donation buttons, recurring donation options, and integration with the PayPal Giving Fund, which facilitates donations through platforms such as Facebook and GoFundMe.
Pros
Donors often feel secure seeing “PayPal.” Studies show PayPal-branded checkout increases conversion (up to ~32% more donations) since donors recognize it.
You can start accepting donations immediately by creating a PayPal Nonprofit account and adding buttons – no contracts or waiting periods.
It accepts credit/debit cards, PayPal balances, and PayPal Credits.
It also supports recurring giving and international donations.
Donors can give via PayPal, friends/contacts, or even cryptocurrency in some markets (Bitcoin through PayPal in the US).
Cons
Because PayPal pools funds, it can be less transparent (you see net amounts, not raw interchange), and PayPal has been known to freeze funds if its algorithms flag activity.
Nonprofits have occasionally reported account holds or freezes, requiring documentation to release funds.
By default, donors are often redirected to PayPal.com or see PayPal’s UI.
While branding options exist, it’s not as seamless as Stripe or integrated gateways.
Although discounted (2.2%+30¢), PayPal’s fees are higher than the lowest interchange-plus rates.
Nonprofits with high volumes often outgrow PayPal’s convenience.
PayPal’s built-in donor management is minimal. For a robust CRM, you’ll need to export and import gift data.
Ideal For:
Very small nonprofits, grassroots campaigns, and organizations need a quick solution. It’s also handy as a supplementary option (“Buy now / Donate via PayPal”) on a website to capture donors who prefer PayPal. Because of its ubiquity, PayPal is often used for emergency relief funds or quick appeals where setup time is critical.
Tech-savvy organizations usually pair PayPal with other tools (like DonorPerfect or QuickBooks) to log gifts automatically.
9. Host Merchant Services – HMS Gives
Host Merchant Services is a payment processor that offers a special program for nonprofits called HMS Gives. Host Merchant Services is a merchant account provider (not an aggregator) but with highly transparent “interchange-plus” pricing. Nonprofits that qualify (501(c)(3) charities with MCC 8398) are put on this nonprofit rate program, which allows them to receive deeply discounted interchange fees on donations.
Key Features (Pricing & Plans):
Host Merchant Services provides full-featured processing: online gateways, virtual terminals, POS hardware, and mobile card readers. Nonprofits get multi-channel support (in-person, e-commerce, invoice payments) with fast funding (often next-day). Host Merchant Services also emphasizes security – it includes advanced fraud tools, tokenization, and encryption out of the box. An important feature for nonprofits is the low-cost model: no long-term contracts, no monthly minimums, and no early-termination fees.
Plus, Host Merchant Services integrates readily with accounting and CRM tools. For example, it offers a QuickBooks integration that posts every donation back into your books in real time. In practice, nonprofits usually use Host Merchant Services as the payment engine and then link it to their choice of donor management or fundraising software (e.g. DonorPerfect, Bloomerang, Qgiv, etc.) via existing APIs or data import, since Host Merchant Services itself does not provide a built-in donor CRM.
Under HMS Gives, a $100 donation via Visa credit typically costs about $1.40 (1.35% + $ 0.05) versus $2.50 via PayPal. Similarly, debit gifts can cost as little as $0.26 for $100 due to regulated debit rates. All Host Merchant Services customers (nonprofits and for-profits alike) are on interchange-plus with no hidden markups.
Pros
HMS Gives non-profit rates (interchange-plus) that typically beat all flat-rate processors. The HMS Gives program was created “to reduce the burden on charitable organizations” by giving access to the lowest rates possible.
All fees are published; for example, basic online rates start at interchange + 0.35% + $0.10.
There are no “swipe” vs “keyed” surprises as with tiered providers.
Host Merchant Services holds PCI certification and provides secure tokenized processing.
They tout 99% uptime and advanced fraud detection, ensuring donor data stays safe.
Supports all payment types (cards, ACH/eCheck) and platforms (web, mobile, POS). Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are included.
Next-day funding helps cash flow.
Month-to-month terms with free cancellation. This suits nonprofits that can’t lock funds into a long contract.
Cons
Host Merchant Services is a payments processor only. It does not provide donation forms, crowdfunding pages, or a donor database.
Nonprofits must pair Host Merchant Services with an external fundraising tool or CRM for those functions. (Many choose third-party solutions like Donorbox, WooCommerce donations, or fundraising CRMs that connect to Host Merchant Services.)
Creating a merchant account and ecommerce integration can take longer than flipping on an aggregator like PayPal. Some technical integration may be required.
Unlike iATS or CharityEngine, Host Merchant Services doesn’t specialize in donor-specific features (like monthly donor portals or gift acknowledgement workflows). These must be built into your other systems.
Ideal For:
Any U.S. nonprofit looking for the most affordable processing and willing to handle donation pages separately. For example, a large nonprofit with existing fundraising software (like Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or Neon CRM) might use Host Merchant Services as its gateway to get the best rates.
Small charities can also benefit because there are no monthly minimums, even very low-volume nonprofits qualify for nonprofit pricing. Host Merchant Services is also a great fit for organizations with lots of in-person or on-site giving (events, retail stores), since it offers POS hardware and mobile processing.
Conclusion
Selecting the right payment processing solution is vital for nonprofits aiming to optimize fundraising efficiency, improve donor retention, and maintain high standards of financial transparency. The top nine solutions profiled—CharityEngine, iATS Payments, Regpack, Snowball, Fundly, Faithlife Giving, Stripe, PayPal Nonprofit Editions, and Host Merchant Services (HMS Gives)—each offer unique strengths tailored to different organizational needs, sizes, and fundraising models.
Organizations seeking all-in-one donor management with deeply integrated payment processing will find platforms like CharityEngine particularly advantageous, while those prioritizing specialized nonprofit rates, security, and integration with existing CRMs may prefer iATS Payments or Host Merchant Services. Meanwhile, nonprofits focused on highly customizable registration and event management may benefit from Regpack, and those launching dynamic crowdfunding or mobile campaigns will thrive using Fundly or Snowball.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on aligning the processor’s capabilities with your nonprofit’s strategic goals, donor base, technical resources, and budget. Carefully evaluating your organization’s specific requirements will ensure you select a solution that maximizes donations, simplifies operations, and enhances donor engagement now and into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should nonprofits consider when choosing a payment processor?
Check the pricing model, CRM integration, recurring donation features, mobile-friendliness, and security tools like PCI compliance and fraud protection.
How do all-in-one platforms compare to standalone payment processors?
All-in-one platforms combine payments with donor management and marketing tools. Standalone processors focus just on payments but often offer lower fees and more flexibility.
Why is interchange-plus pricing beneficial for nonprofits?
It’s transparent, often cheaper for nonprofits, and helps with budgeting since you can clearly see the processing costs.
Which donation platforms are best for small nonprofits on a tight budget?
Look into free or low-cost options like Snowball, PayPal Nonprofit, and Faithlife Giving—they offer basic features with minimal upfront cost.
How can nonprofits keep donation data secure and PCI compliant?
Use PCI-certified processors with tokenization, encryption, and fraud tools. Also, update internal policies and train staff on secure data handling.
