Stripe for Nonprofits: Fees, Setup & How It Works

If you've ever donated online, bought an event ticket, or entered your payment information for a nonprofit fundraiser, odds are Stripe was quietly powering the transaction behind the scenes. It's one of the most widely used payment processors in the world, and many nonprofits already rely on its infrastructure without realizing it.

Stripe is a payment processor that securely transfers donations from a donor's card to your bank account. For eligible 501(c)(3)s, it also offers discounted nonprofit processing fees, which is why so many fundraising platforms and donation tools are built on top of it.

Stripe is purpose-built for payment processing, and it does that exceptionally well. This guide breaks down what Stripe's nonprofit discount covers, how to apply for it, and how to pair it with the right fundraising tools to build a complete donor experience.

Key takeaways

• 🌍 Stripe powers $1.9T in global payments It's one of the most trusted payment processors in the world, with 125+ payment methods, built-in fraud protection, and no monthly fees or minimums.
• 💳 Nonprofits pay less Eligible 501(c)(3)s pay 2.2% + 30¢ per transaction when at least 80% of payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations. Tickets, memberships, and auction sales are billed at the standard rate.
• 📝 Apply for the nonprofit discount Create a standard account, then apply for the discount with your EIN or IRS determination letter.
• 🧈 Get Stripe plus a full fundraising platform Givebutter runs on Stripe's infrastructure and adds donation forms, a nonprofit CRM, recurring giving, and automatic receipts on top, with $0 in platform and $0 processing fees when optional donor tips are enabled.

Stripe nonprofit pricing

Stripe offers eligible 501(c)(3)s a discounted processing fee of 2.2% + 30¢ per transaction, down from the standard 2.9% + 30¢. That's a meaningful saving at scale, and for donation-heavy organizations, it adds up fast.

The discounted Stripe nonprofit rate applies when at least 80% of your Stripe payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations. Tickets, memberships, and auction payments are billed at the standard rate, so it's worth factoring that in if events make up a significant share of your revenue.

✍️ Note: All rates are as of May 2026 and are subject to change. Check Stripe's current pricing for the latest details.

What a Stripe account for nonprofits includes

Stripe is one of the most trusted payment processors in the world. Here's what's included when you use Stripe for nonprofits.

• 💸 Broad payment method support Stripe supports card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH, plus additional methods like Klarna and Revolut Pay.
• 🔒 Built-in fraud protection Stripe Radar provides built-in fraud detection and prevention at no extra cost.
• ✅ No monthly fees or minimums Stripe nonprofit pricing is pay-per-transaction only, so there are no setup costs or subscription fees.
• 🏦 Lower ACH fees for major gifts ACH transfers through Stripe run around 0.8% per transfer, capped at $5, which is often cheaper than standard card processing for large donations.
• ✅ Trusted infrastructure across the sector Stripe powers payments for fundraising platforms across the nonprofit world, including Givebutter, a verified Stripe partner and one of Stripe's top customers, that has helped power more than $10B in donations on Stripe's infrastructure.

More to explore

See how Stripe compares to Square for nonprofits

Stripe, PayPal, & Givebutter for nonprofits: How they compare

Stripe and PayPal both offer nonprofit discounts and power donations across the sector.

Here's how they compare as standalone processors—and how Givebutter brings them both together in one fundraising platform.

⭐️ Get the best of both worlds: Givebutter runs on Stripe's payment infrastructure and includes PayPal as a payment method at checkout. Nonprofits get the reliability of Stripe, the donor familiarity of PayPal, and fundraising tools like donation forms, recurring giving, tax-compliant receipts, and a nonprofit CRM all in one place.

Dive deeper

Compare Stripe vs. PayPal for nonprofits in detail→

How to set up a Stripe account for nonprofits

Here's how to get your Stripe account set up and ready to accept donations.

1. Create a Stripe account 📝

Head to Stripe.com, click "Start now," and select "Nonprofit organization" as your business type. From there, enter your EIN, your legal name exactly as it appears in IRS records, your business address, and your bank account information for payouts.

Stripe doesn't have a separate nonprofit account type; simply create a standard business account and apply for the discount afterward.

2. Apply for the nonprofit discount 📧

Before applying, make sure your nonprofit meets these requirements:

• Is a registered nonprofit with valid tax documentation confirming that status
• Operates in an eligible country
• At least 80% of your Stripe payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations, not tickets, memberships, or other purchases

If you meet those requirements, contact Stripe's nonprofit support team with your EIN or IRS determination letter from the email address tied to your Stripe account. Stripe typically reviews applications within several business days, though timelines can vary.

3. Connect a payout destination 🏦

Link your bank account through Stripe Connect so donations land in the right place. Stripe may send small verification deposits to confirm your bank account before payouts are enabled. Once you confirm those amounts, your account is verified.

The first payout for new accounts often takes 7–14 days due to standard verification. After that, U.S. accounts typically follow a rolling 3-business-day payout schedule.

4. Build (or plug in) your donor experience 🎨

Your Stripe payment processing is set up and ready to go. Most nonprofits pair it with a fundraising platform to add donation pages, recurring gifts, tax-compliant receipts, and donor profiles.

The butter way to use Stripe for nonprofits

Nonprofits don't have to choose between Stripe and a complete fundraising platform. With Givebutter, you get both.

1. Accept every kind of payment method 💸

Givebutter uses Stripe's secure payment infrastructure to power donations through ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, card, and DAFs in a single donation form.

2. Keep 100% of what you raise 💛

With the Givebutter Guarantee, "free" really means free. Enable optional donor tips, and your nonprofit pays $0 in platform fees and $0 in processing fees. If you'd rather turn tips off, a flat 3% platform fee applies plus standard payment processing fees.

3. Automate recurring donations & migrate yours over 🔁

Recurring donations help your nonprofit build steady, long-term revenue, and Givebutter makes managing them effortless.

Givebutter's recurring tools run on Stripe, and existing recurring plans from other Stripe-based platforms can be migrated over without donors needing to re-enter their card details.

Dive deeper

Learn how to launch a monthly giving program that improves donor retention →

4. Track every donor in a nonprofit CRM 📇

Every donation on Givebutter syncs automatically to your nonprofit CRM, updating donor records and campaign history in real time, so you don't have to manually reconcile anything.

More to explore

What is a nonprofit CRM? Everything you need to know

5. Earn more on what you raise with Givebutter Wallet 🏦

Raise more with Stripe & Givebutter

Stripe is one of the most trusted payment processors in the world, and the nonprofits getting the most out of it pair it with a fundraising platform that adds donation pages, donor engagement tools, reporting, and recurring giving on top.

Sign up for Givebutter and accept your first Stripe-powered donation today.

FAQs about Stripe for nonprofits

Is Stripe free for nonprofits?

Stripe's nonprofit fees in the U.S. are 2.2% + 30¢ per donation transaction for approved 501(c)(3)s. There are no monthly fees or minimums. To accept Stripe-powered donations without out-of-pocket fees, Givebutter allows your nonprofit to pay $0 in platform and processing fees when optional donor tips are enabled.

Is Stripe good for nonprofits?

Yes. Stripe is a reliable, widely trusted payment processor for nonprofits, and eligible 501(c)(3)s can access a discounted rate of 2.2% + 30¢ per transaction. Most nonprofits pair Stripe with a fundraising platform like Givebutter to add donation pages, tax-compliant receipts, and a donor CRM on top.

How much does Stripe charge for nonprofits?

Stripe's nonprofit pricing allows approved 501(c)(3)s to pay 2.2% + 30¢ per donation transaction in the U.S., down from the standard 2.9% + 30¢ fee. International cards, currency conversion, and American Express payments have different rates. Check Stripe's fee discount page for current details.

Does Stripe offer discounts for nonprofits?

Yes. Registered 501(c)(3)s can apply for Stripe's nonprofit rate by contacting the Stripe support team and providing their EIN or IRS determination letter. To qualify, at least 80% of payment volume must come from tax-deductible donations. Stripe typically reviews applications within several business days.

What's the difference between using Stripe directly and a Stripe-powered fundraising platform?

Stripe provides best-in-class payment processing, basic checkout pages, and receipts. A Stripe-powered fundraising platform like Givebutter builds on that infrastructure to add donation pages, tax-compliant receipts, recurring giving, and a nonprofit CRM, so nonprofits get the full fundraising stack in one place.

Can I migrate recurring donors from another Stripe-based platform to Givebutter?

Yes. Givebutter supports migrating existing recurring plans from other Stripe-based platforms without donors needing to re-enter payment info.

Does Stripe charge monthly fees for nonprofits?

No. Stripe has no monthly fees or minimums in the U.S. It charges only per transaction.