Payment processing for nonprofits

Sometimes. Visa and Mastercard have lower rates for registered charities, but they are not automatic. The account has to be set up under the right category and the organization registered for the program.

Many nonprofits never get them simply because nobody asked. Your statement shows whether you are getting charity pricing now.

Yes. Many donation forms include an optional box that lets the donor add a little to cover the fees. Because the donor chooses it, it is part of the gift, not a surcharge.

It works best when the wording is friendly and the box starts unchecked, so no one feels tricked.

Yes. Recurring gifts can run on a card or by ACH from a bank account. ACH usually costs less and doesn't expire the way cards do, while cards are easier for donors to set up.

For cards, ask about automatic card updates, which keep a monthly gift going when a donor's card is replaced.

Yes. A wireless terminal that runs on cellular takes tap, chip and phone payments anywhere in the room. For smaller events, tap to pay on a phone can be enough.

Set it up and run a test donation before the doors open, so the first guest in line isn't the test.