8 Best Nonprofit Credit Card Processing Platforms for 2025

Nonprofit payment platforms aren’t just a tool – they’re the engine driving your fundraising. A secure, streamlined donation experience doesn’t just make giving easier; it builds the trust that turns one-time donors into lifelong supporters. A 2022 study found that trust is the #1 reason donors decide to give. That’s why choosing a nonprofit credit card processing platform that prioritizes security and reliability isn’t optional – it’s essential.

The right platform does more than process donations. It speeds up checkout, lowers costs, and delivers a frictionless, secure experience for your donors – all of which directly fuel your impact. In this article, we’ll reveal the top credit card processing providers for nonprofits, so you can choose the one that empowers your mission and maximizes every dollar raised.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Payment Processor?

When selecting the right payment processors for your nonprofit, look beyond just fees – consider full donor and operational experience. Here are some crucial factors to help you make an informed choice:

• Payment Methods & Donor Preferences

Ensure that the processor supports a broad range of payment channels like credit/debit cards, ACH/direct debits, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and even international currencies to accommodate every supporter. Offering both credit and ACH options not only meets donor comfort levels but can also reduce per-transaction costs for your nonprofit.

• Recurring Donations & Automation

Sustainable fundraising often relies on monthly givers. Look for native recurring-billing features, automated retry logic for failed payments, and built-in compliance with tax and data-security regulations so you can grow your sustainer base with minimal manual work.

• User Experience & Customization

A seamless, branded checkout that is also mobile-responsive, accessible, and visually integrated with your website can significantly lift conversion rates. Customizable, embeddable donation forms that retain your nonprofit’s look and feel help keep donors engaged through to completion.

• Integration & Data Management

Choose a platform that offers native connectors or robust APIs to your CRM, email system, and accounting software. Seamless data flows eliminate manual entry, reduce errors, and enable real-time donor acknowledgements, impact reporting, and analytics workflows.

• Reporting & Analytics

Real-time dashboards, exportable transaction logs, and donor segmentation tools empower your team to monitor campaign performance, track average gift size, and identify giving trends, in the process also enabling data-driven fundraising decisions and more efficient stewardship.

• Settlement & Cash Flow

Understand the payout schedules of the processor before committing. Credit card transactions typically settle in 1–4 business days, ACH in about one business day, and some processors even offer same-day or instant payouts (often for an additional fee). Faster access to funds can be critical during time-sensitive campaigns.

• Pricing Transparency & Contract Terms

Beyond the headline rate, dig into flat fees (monthly/annual), incidental charges (chargebacks, batch fees), gateway or setup fees, and any early termination penalties. Know your contract length, any minimum-volume requirements, and cancellation terms to avoid surprise costs and maintain flexibility. Many reputable processors today, such as Host Merchant Services, offer flexible contracts that do not restrict the decision-making of nonprofits. They also offer zero PCI compliance fees, which can be a relief.

• Customer Support & Service Level Agreements

Reliable, nonprofit-focused support – 24/7 technical help, a dedicated account manager, and clear service-level guarantees – ensures that any issues are resolved quickly, minimizing downtime and donor frustration. Be sure to ask about support response times and escalation processes during vendor demos.

• Scalability & Reliability

Peak-season spikes (e.g., year-end giving) shouldn’t cause downtime. Look for processors with high availability guarantees and the ability to scale effortlessly as your donation volume grows, ideally with built-in volume discounts or tiered pricing.

• Reputation & Peer Reviews

Consult case studies, user testimonials, and reference calls, especially from nonprofits of similar size and mission, to consider real-world performance, reliability, and service quality. Established vendors often participate in nonprofit networks and offer community support that can be invaluable.

Nonprofit Credit Card Processing Tools Worth Considering for 2025

1. Host Merchant Services

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Host Merchant Services’ HMS Gives program is designed exclusively for 501(c)(3) nonprofits (MCC 8398), providing access to the Visa Consumer Credit Card Charity Interchange Rate of 1.35% + $0.05 and Durbin-regulated debit rates of 0.05% + $0.22, which, by the way, are among the lowest in the industry for charitable contributions. And added with transparent Interchange Plus (Cost Plus) pricing model, Host Merchant Services passes through published wholesale rates with no hidden markups or surprises, so charities keep more of every donation while enjoying predictable monthly costs.

Transactions settle within one business day of authorization and can be accepted via swipe or keyed entry with full authorization data included in batches, meaning you get rapid fund availability and smooth reconciliation for your nonprofit’s accounting team. HMS Gives also meets all CPS Retail 2 requirements for security and compliance, and comes with dedicated support that understands the unique needs of charitable organizations.

Key Features of Host Merchant Services: 

• Charity-Specific Interchange Rates: Access the Visa Charity Rate (1.35% + $0.05) and the regulated debit rate (0.05% + $0.22) designed to minimize costs on every donation.
• True Interchange Plus (Cost Plus) Pricing: Pass through all published interchange fees with a single, transparent markup – no hidden transaction fees, no tiered “junk” pricing.
• Next-Day Settlement: Funds from processed donations settle within one business day of authorization, improving cash flow for urgent programs and campaigns.
• Flexible Transaction Acceptance: Support for both swipe and keyed-entry transactions with identical rates and authorization data inclusion, so you can accept donations in person, over the phone, or at events.
• Dedicated Nonprofit Focus & Support: The HMS Gives program provides 501(c)(3) charities with specialized onboarding, service, and guidance – helping you navigate requirements and optimize your giving strategies.
• CPS Retail 2 Compliance & Security: Fully aligned with CPS Retail 2 processing rules (same-day settlement, data retention, MCC restrictions), ensuring both compliance and donor trust.

Pricing of Host Merchant Services:

Host Merchant Services offers nonprofit pricing on an Interchange Plus model, meaning organizations pay the direct wholesale rates set by card networks, along with a clearly stated markup from HMS.

For example, a Visa Regulated Debit transaction incurs a fee of 0.05% plus $0.22, which totals about $0.26 on a $100 donation. A Card-Not-Present Debit (CPS Retail 2 CNP) transaction costs 0.65% plus $0.15, or $0.80 on a $100 donation. Donations processed under Visa’s Charity category (MCC 8398) are charged 1.35% plus $0.05, which comes to $1.40. For Mastercard Charity (MCC 8398), the rate is 2.00% plus $0.10, totaling $2.10 on a $100 donation. There are no setup fees, cancellation penalties, or hidden surcharges, making the structure straightforward for nonprofits.

2. Stax

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Stax Pay is an all-in-one payment processing platform built around a transparent subscription model and zero-markup interchange. Instead of charging a percentage on top of each transaction, Stax Pay bills a flat monthly fee that aligns with your annual transaction volume, helping small and mid-sized organizations cut processing costs by up to 40 percent compared to traditional tiered or flat-rate plans. With no hidden fees, no cancellation penalties, and 0 percent markups on direct-cost interchange, it’s particularly attractive for nonprofits seeking budget predictability and maximum donation dollars delivered.

Beyond pricing, Stax Pay offers an integrated suite of tools – dashboards, reporting, APIs, invoicing, mobile wallets, and more, backed by U.S.-based, in-house support. The platform is equipment-agnostic (works with most POS systems), provides next-day funding, and includes built-in security meeting PCI-DSS requirements – all designed to streamline donation processing and donor management.

Key Features of Stax: 

• Zero-Markup Interchange + Predictable Subscription Pricing: Pay only the direct interchange cost plus a fixed monthly fee – no additional percentage markups. Subscription tiers scale from $99/month to $199+/month based on annual volume, giving you clear, controllable costs over time.
• Real-Time Dashboards & Advanced Analytics: Unified business and omnichannel dashboards let you track donation trends, gift sizes, peak giving times, and more. Customizable reports help you spot patterns and optimize campaigns without exporting raw data.
• Robust API & Native Integrations: PCI-DSS compliant RESTful API, JavaScript libraries, and pre-built connectors for major CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud) – so donor data flows automatically from payments to your fundraising and accounting platforms.
• Text2Pay & Digital Invoicing: Enable mobile giving via text-to-donate links and generate branded, trackable digital invoices and payment requests – expanding how and where supporters can give.
• Automated Billing & Schedule Management: Built-in tools for setting up recurring gifts, retry logic for failed transactions, and automated dunning sequences help you grow and retain monthly donors with minimal manual follow-up.
• Next-Day Funding & Equipment Agnostic: Receive settled funds as soon as the next business day and deploy Stax Pay on any compatible POS hardware or via virtual terminals – no exclusive terminals required.

Pricing of Stax:

Stax Payments uses a subscription-based pricing model with no markup on interchange rates, meaning nonprofits only pay the direct wholesale cost of each transaction with zero hidden transaction fees. The monthly subscription fee is based on annual processing volume: organizations processing up to $150,000 per year pay $99 per month, those in the $150,000 to $250,000 range pay $139 per month, and nonprofits processing over $250,000 annually are charged $199 per month, with custom pricing available for even higher volumes.

Every subscription includes access to the full suite of features – analytics tools, invoicing, customer support, and built-in security measures – without setup charges, early termination fees, or surprise surcharges. Stax also offers optional add-ons for an additional fee, including ACH/eCheck processing, terminal protection plans, and enhanced reporting modules, allowing nonprofits to tailor the service to their needs.

3. Stripe

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Stripe, Inc. is an Irish-American fintech company that provides a unified payments platform used by millions of businesses and nonprofits globally. Its core strength is a suite of developer-friendly APIs, SDKs, and pre-built UI components (Checkout, Elements, Payment Links) that let organizations accept payments across web and mobile, manage subscriptions, handle payouts, and tap into advanced tools like Radar (fraud detection), Sigma (custom analytics), Connect (marketplace payouts), and more – all from a single dashboard.

For 501(c)(3) charities that process at least 80 percent of their donation volume through Stripe, the company offers a nonprofit discount program. Eligible U.S. nonprofits can apply (via [email protected]) to have their rates reduced to 2.2 percent + $0.30 per card transaction (3.5 percent for American Express), with no markup on interchange. This discount must be requested and approved, and applies only to tax-deductible donations, not ticket sales, membership fees, or the like.

Key Features of Stripe:

• Developer-Friendly APIs & Integrations: Comprehensive, RESTful APIs in 14+ languages, rich webhook support, and client libraries let your engineering team create fully custom donation flows or plug straight into pre-built Elements/components. Easy connectors and partners (Salesforce, HubSpot, Donorbox, Classy, QuickBooks, Xero) keep data in sync across your tech stack.
• Hosted Checkout & Payment Links: Provides a secure, PCI-compliant, mobile-responsive donation page you can brand in minutes. Payment Links let you launch one-time or recurring campaigns without writing any code – simply share a link via email, social, or embed it on your site.
• Recurring Donations & Automated Billing: Built-in subscription management supports monthly giving programs with customizable billing intervals, automated retry logic for failed payments, dunning sequences, and built-in tax-receipt support – helping you grow and retain a reliable base of sustainers.
• Advanced Fraud Protection with Radar: Stripe Radar uses machine-learning models trained on billions of global signals to block fraudulent transactions in real time. Nonprofits can tailor rules, review “reviewable” payments, and minimize chargebacks – all included at no extra cost with Payments.
• Global & Local Payment Methods: Accept credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, Amex), digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), ACH/direct debit (SEPA, Bacs, BECS, etc.), and 135+ local methods in 135+ currencies – so donors worldwide can give in the way they prefer.
• Reporting, Analytics & Insights: The Stripe Dashboard offers real-time gift tracking, donation volume trends, and donor segmentation. For deeper analysis, Stripe Sigma lets you run custom SQL queries over your live data, enabling you to measure campaign ROI, average gift size, and retention metrics without exporting CSVs.

Pricing of Stripe:

Stripe offers discounted processing rates for U.S.-based nonprofits, with no setup fees, no monthly fees, and no hidden markups. The standard nonprofit rate for Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and JCB is 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction, while American Express transactions are charged at 3.5%. Payments made with non-U.S. cards incur an additional 1% surcharge, and transactions involving currency conversion are also subject to a 1% fee. For organizations using ACH Direct Debit, Stripe charges 0.8% per transaction, with a maximum fee of $5.

To access these nonprofit rates, organizations need to email [email protected] with their EIN or IRS determination letter, the email associated with their Stripe account, and confirmation that at least 80% of their payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations. Stripe also offers the possibility of custom pricing packages for high-volume nonprofits or those with specialized processing needs, which can be arranged by working directly with their sales team.

4. PayPal

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PayPal for Nonprofits equips charitable organizations with a comprehensive fundraising platform that combines PayPal’s global payments network – 375+ million users across 200+ markets – with nonprofit-specific tools and discounted pricing. Over 1 million nonprofits, schools, and campaigns rely on PayPal to process billions in donations each year, benefitting from easy setup, dedicated charity support, and fast access to funds – nonprofit accounts settle donations typically within 2–3 business days.

Through PayPal’s suite – online Checkout, customizable Donate buttons, Payment Links, invoicing, and in-person solutions like PayPal Zettle – organizations can engage donors wherever they are, enable recurring gifts, tap into the PayPal Giving Fund to receive 100% of donations fee-free, and integrate seamlessly with CRMs and accounting tools for end-to-end donation management.

Key Features of PayPal:

• Discounted Nonprofit Rates: Registered 501(c)(3) charities pay just 1.99% + $0.49 per domestic online donation – down from the standard 2.89% + $0.49 – maximizing the dollars you receive. An additional 1.50% applies to cross-border or currency-conversion transactions.
• PayPal Giving Fund Integration: Enroll in the PayPal Giving Fund to let donors give via PayPal, eBay, and partner platforms. PayPal covers all transaction fees, so 100% of each gift reaches your nonprofit (no fees when donations are made without currency conversion).
• Customizable Donation Experience: Deploy hosted Donate buttons, Payment Links, or PayPal.Me URLs that you can brand, preset gift levels, enable donors to cover fees, and embed anywhere – email, social, or your website – for a smooth, mobile-responsive checkout.
• Multiple Payment Methods: Accept gifts via PayPal wallet, Venmo, major credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH. This flexibility meets donor preferences and can boost conversion rates.
• Recurring Donations & Automation: Turn one-time donors into sustainers with built-in subscription management – set up recurring gifts, automated retries for failed payments, and customizable thank-you receipts, all without extra plugins.
• In-Person Fundraising with PayPal Zettle: Collect donations at events using PayPal Zettle’s card readers or QR codes. The card-present rate is a competitive 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction, and funds settle in about 1 business day.

Pricing of PayPal:

PayPal offers specialized rates for U.S.-based charities, with no setup fees or monthly charges; organizations only pay per transaction. For confirmed 501(c)(3) nonprofits, the discounted rate for online donations is 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Nonprofits that haven’t completed PayPal’s verification process are charged the standard online rate of 2.89% + $0.49 per transaction.

International or cross-border donations carry an additional 1.50% surcharge, while in-person payments processed through PayPal Zettle are charged at 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction. For donations under $10, PayPal offers a micropayments plan with a rate of 4.99% + $0.09, though eligibility is required for this option.

For nonprofits with large donation volumes or enterprise-level needs, custom pricing options are available through PayPal’s sales team.

5. iATS Payments

iATS Payments by Deluxe is the only payments platform built exclusively for 501(c)(3) organizations, offering both standalone processing and a Salesforce-native solution called Brickwork by iATS. Brickwork integrates seamlessly with the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), enabling nonprofits to accept credit-card and ACH gifts directly within their CRM, no middleware or custom development required. Across all channels (online forms, virtual terminal, mobile app), iATS combines Level 1 PCI-compliant security, advanced fraud protection tools, and U.S.-based support tailored to nonprofit workflows.

Beyond Salesforce, iATS provides hosted Aura forms, a consolidated payments dashboard, and hundreds of pre-built integrations (auction platforms, donor databases, event tools). With over 16,000 nonprofit clients and more than $1.5 billion processed annually, it’s a proven, reliable system designed to streamline fundraising and maximize donation dollars.

Key Features of iATS Payments:

• Native Salesforce Integration (Brickwork): Process one-time and recurring credit-card or ACH gifts directly in Salesforce NPSP via the Brickwork app – complete with donor data capture, reporting, and automated reconciliation.
• Flat-Fee, Transparent Pricing: No setup fees, no gateway fees, no premium-card upcharges. iATS uses a single monthly rate (based on volume) that covers all interchange, gateway, and service costs – eliminating hidden surprises.
• Advanced Fraud Protection & PCI Level 1 Compliance: Built-in machine-learning fraud filters, tokenization, and vaulting come at no extra cost, supported by Level 1 PCI certification – the highest standard for payment security.
• Omnichannel Donation Acceptance: Accept all major cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover), ACH/direct debit, international currencies, and mobile on-the-go giving via a secure mobile app or virtual terminal – centralized on one platform.
• Rapid Settlement & Cash Flow: As a dedicated processor, iATS delivers funds in 1–2 business days, significantly faster than aggregator hold periods – critical for nonprofits’ cash-flow needs.
• Extensive Partner Ecosystem: Hundreds of native connectors to fundraising, CRM, auction, and event platforms ensure data syncs automatically, reducing manual imports and boosting operational efficiency.

Pricing of iATS Payments:

iATS Payments provides nonprofit-focused pricing with a flat-rate structure and no additional setup, gateway, or monthly fees – these costs are already included in a custom monthly subscription tailored to your organization’s processing volume. For credit and debit card transactions, the standard rate is 2.49% for Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, while American Express transactions are charged at 3.20%. For ACH or direct debit payments, the cost is a flat $0.26 per transaction.

All standard plans include access to features such as chargeback handling, recurring payments, fraud protection tools, account updater services (ABU), and reporting tools. Nonprofits with higher processing volumes can contact iATS directly to receive a customized quote based on their specific needs.

6. CharityEngine

CharityEngine is a dedicated payment processor built exclusively for nonprofits, combining in-house, PCI-Certified and SOC 2-Certified transaction processing with an enterprise-grade billing engine capable of handling over 1,000 transactions per second. It supports a full spectrum of payment methods – major credit cards, ACH/direct debit, digital wallets (PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay), multi-currency giving, and even direct Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) contributions via DAFPay – all under one roof, with patent-pending fraud prevention and tokenization to keep donor data safe and compliant.

Backed by more than a decade of experience serving over 16,000 nonprofit clients, CharityEngine not only provides standalone payment processing but also powers its all-in-one nonprofit CRM. Its proprietary subscription-billing technology (SustainerIQ) is designed specifically to boost monthly giving, with automated retries, credit-card updaters, and dunning logic – guaranteed to increase sustainer revenue collection by over 90 percent, a level of performance no other processor claims.

Key Features of CharityEngine:

• Enterprise-Scale Billing Engine: Processes 1,000+ transactions per second with seamless handling of high-volume campaigns and peak-season giving, ensuring reliability when it matters most.
• PCI-Certified & SOC 2-Certified Security: Regular third-party audits and stringent controls safeguard donor data to the highest industry standards, building trust and minimizing risk.
• In-House ACH Processing: Eliminates middlemen by routing bank transfers and eChecks through CharityEngine’s own banking relationships, speeding up settlement and reducing gateway fees.
• Global & Frictionless Payment Methods: Accepts credit/debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay, DAFPay, and multi-currency gifts, making it easy for supporters worldwide to donate in their preferred way.
• Subscription Billing & SustainerIQ: Built-for-nonprofits recurring donation tools include automated retry logic, credit-card updater, and custom dunning workflows – proven to boost monthly-giving revenue by over 90 percent.
• Patent-Pending Fraud Prevention: Advanced, proprietary fraud-detection algorithms protect against suspicious activity without adding friction to the donor experience.

Pricing of CharityEngine:

CharityEngine integrates payment processing directly into its subscription-based CRM plans, so nonprofits don’t pay separate fees for interchange, gateway access, or advanced billing tools. Instead, these costs are wrapped into a flat monthly fee, and there are no per-transaction platform markups beyond the standard interchange rates.

The Starter plan is priced at $550 per month, including access for 5 users, support for up to 25,000 contacts, 100,000 emails, and full payment processing capabilities. The Professional plan ranges from $700 to $1,500 per month, offering expanded limits for users, contacts, and email volume, along with advanced automation and reporting tools. The Enterprise plan features custom pricing and is designed for nonprofits that need unlimited scalability, multi-organization management, and premium support.

All CharityEngine plans come with PCI and SOC 2-certified payment infrastructure, built-in ACH, global payment method support, SustainerIQ recurring billing, fraud prevention tools, and U.S.-based customer support. Custom quotes are available to tailor both CRM and payment processing tiers based on the organization’s size and transaction volume.

7. Square

Square provides an end-to-end payments platform that’s especially well-suited for nonprofits relying on in-person fundraising, whether at events, in thrift shops, or on-site membership drives. Its free Square Point of Sale app paired with portable Square Readers (magstripe, chip, contactless) lets you accept credit/debit cards, NFC wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), cash, checks, and ACH bank transfers anywhere – even offline – while encrypting data at the moment of swipe, dip, or tap to maintain PCI-compliance and donor trust.

Beyond hardware, Square offers basic built-in donor management tools like Customer Directory and Customer Engagement, for grouping donors, sending targeted emails, and collecting feedback via digital receipts, all directly in your Square Dashboard. And because there are no monthly or setup fees, you pay only for what you process, making Square an accessible choice for small and growing nonprofits.

Key Features of Square:

• Hardware-Agnostic, Mobile POS: Turn any smartphone or tablet into a secure point of sale with Square Reader (magstripe, chip, contactless) and the free Square POS app – accept payments even without a signal.
• Transparent, Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: No monthly minimums, no hidden markups – just clear transaction fees. You only pay when you take payments, helping you budget tightly and scale cost-effectively.
• Built-In Donor Management & Engagement: Automatically create donor profiles, sort supporters into groups (e.g., loyal, casual, lapsed), send email campaigns via templates, and gather real-time feedback on digital receipts.
• Multi-Channel Donation Acceptance: Accept gifts in person, through Payment Links, on a Square Online site, via Invoices, or over the phone with Virtual Terminal – giving donors flexibility to give where and how they prefer.
• Real-Time Analytics & Reporting: Leverage Square Analytics for up-to-the-minute insights into donation volume, average gift size, event performance, and more – no CSV exports needed.
• Extensive Integrations & Ecosystem: Connect Square to your accounting, CRM, email marketing, inventory, and scheduling tools through the Square App Marketplace, or expand with hardware options like Square Register, Stand, and Terminal.

Pricing of Square:

Square offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model with no setup fees, no monthly fees, and no hidden costs – nonprofits only pay for each transaction processed. For in-person payments made via tap, dip, or swipe, the fee is 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction. Online donations processed through Square Checkout or an Online Store are charged 2.9% + 30¢. If card details are manually entered (keyed in), the fee is 3.5% + 15¢, while invoices sent through Square incur a 3.3% + 30¢ charge per transaction.

Square’s payout schedule delivers standard transfers to external bank accounts within 1–2 business days at no extra cost. For organizations that need quicker access to funds, instant transfers are available for an additional fee.

8. Authorize.Net

Authorize.Net is a leading payment gateway service provider that enables organizations, including nonprofits, to securely accept credit card, debit card, and electronic check (eCheck) payments online, in person, and on mobile devices. Founded in 1996 and now a subsidiary of Visa, the platform processes transactions through a PCI-certified gateway and offers integration with virtually any website or application via RESTful APIs, SDKs, and hosted payment forms.

Through its unified dashboard and suite of features – ranging from hosted “Buy Now” or “Donate” buttons to Virtual Terminal, mobile card readers, and digital invoicing – Authorize.Net makes it easy for nonprofits to manage donations across multiple channels, maintain PCI compliance, and reconcile funds efficiently.

Key Features of Authorize.Net:

• Multi-Channel Payment Acceptance: Accept donations online, via mobile point-of-sale (iOS/Android), through a virtual terminal (phone/keyboard entry), and even eCheck – all under one gateway.
• Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS): Leverage machine-learning and rules-based filters to identify and block suspicious transactions in real time, reducing chargebacks and protecting your nonprofit’s revenue.
• Customer Information Manager (CIM): Securely tokenize and store donor payment profiles for repeat giving – enhancing donor experience, speeding up checkout, and reducing PCI scope.
• Automated Recurring Billing (ARB): Built-in tools let you configure and manage monthly or installment giving programs, handle failed-payment retries, and view subscription status – all without custom development.
• Simple Checkout & Digital Invoicing: Deploy embeddable “Donate” buttons or send branded email invoices that donors can pay with a single click – no coding required.
• Account Updater: Automatically refresh expired or updated card information on file to minimize donation failures and sustainers lapsing.

Pricing of Authorize.net:

Authorize.net offers several pricing options for nonprofits, depending on whether they need full merchant services or just a payment gateway. All plans have no setup fees, no hidden charges, and no early termination penalties.

The All-In-One Plan includes both a payment gateway and a merchant account, priced at $25 per month, with a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30. The Gateway-Only Plan, intended for organizations that already have a merchant account, also costs $25 per month, but charges a lower $0.10 per transaction. For nonprofits using eCheck/ACH processing, the eCheck Plan is available at $25 per month, with a 0.75% fee per eCheck, and $0.10 per card transaction plus a $0.10 batch fee.

Most core features are included in the monthly fee, with the exception of services like Account Updater and certain eCheck tools. Settlement times typically fall within the 3–5 business day range, depending on the organization’s merchant services provider.

Conclusion

As you’ve seen, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to nonprofit payment processing – each platform brings its own blend of pricing, features, and support designed to meet different organizational needs. Whether you’re a small charity seeking ultra-low rates and simplicity, a mid-sized shop chasing predictable subscription pricing, or an enterprise-level operation in search of deep CRM integrations and high-volume reliability, one of these eight providers can help you streamline donations, reduce costs, and build donor trust.

Before you commit, map your top priorities like transaction volume, payment methods, integration requirements, support expectations, and cash-flow timing, and only then take advantage of free trials or demo accounts whenever possible. By matching your nonprofit’s unique goals and workflows to the processor that aligns best, you’ll not only maximize every dollar raised but also free your team to focus on what truly matters: advancing your mission and making a lasting impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do nonprofits have to pay credit card processing fees, and can donors cover them?

Yes, nonprofits pay a fee on each credit/debit card donation. However, many platforms let donors choose to cover this fee, and about 70% of donors usually do.

When will donated funds reach my nonprofit’s bank account?

Most platforms deposit funds within 5–7 business days, depending on the payment method. Some providers also offer next-day or same-day transfers.

Which payment methods should my nonprofit accept?

Support all major credit cards and ACH payments. To increase donations, also include digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.

What security features should my payment processor have?

Use PCI-compliant processors with encryption, tokenization, and fraud detection. They should also undergo regular security checks and provide proof of compliance.

How do recurring donations work, and what should I look for?

Recurring donations can be set up through your app or directly with the processor. Choose a system with payment retry features, card updater tools, and a portal for donors to manage their plans.