Donation Fee Calculator
See what Stripe, PayPal and Square take from each gift, what you keep, and exactly what to ask so donors cover the fee.
On this gift
To get the full , ask for $0
Compare for this amount
| Option | Fee | You keep | Cover-fee ask |
|---|
Fees as a share of the gift
Over a year
How much do donation processing fees cost?
How to calculate donation fees
Two formulas cover almost every case.
The fee on a gift
Fee = gift × rate + fixed fee. A $50 gift at 2.9% + 30¢ costs $1.45 + $0.30 = $1.75.
What you keep
You keep the gift minus the fee. That $50 gift leaves you $48.25.
What to ask so you keep it all
Ask = (gift + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − rate). For $50: ($50 + $0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $51.80. The calculator does this for you, to the cent.
Why "just add the fee" comes up short
The processor also takes a cut of the money you add.
| If a $100 donor adds... | The fee becomes | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing | $3.20 | $96.80 |
| $3.20 (the fee on $100) | $3.29 | $99.91 |
| $3.30 (the right amount) | $3.30 | $100.00 |
Stripe card rate, 2.9% + 30¢. A few cents per gift adds up over a year of donations, which is why the calculator works out the exact amount.
Published donation processing rates
US rates for online gifts, checked November 2026.
| Processor | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe (card) | 2.9% + 30¢ | Standard online rate. Nonprofits can ask Stripe about discounted pricing. |
| Stripe (bank / ACH) | 0.8%, max $5 | Donor pays from a bank account. Cheapest for large gifts. |
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + 49¢ | Standard rate for PayPal payments. |
| PayPal (confirmed charity) | 1.99% + 49¢ | Only after PayPal approves your organization. |
| Square (online or invoice) | 3.3% + 30¢ | Free plan. |
| Square (in person) | 2.6% + 15¢ | Free plan, tap, dip or swipe. |
Sources: Stripe pricing, PayPal US merchant fees (Oct 1, 2026), Square fees. Giving platforms often add their own fee on top. Enter it as the platform fee in the calculator.
Small gifts lose the most to fees
The fixed fee is the same on every gift, so it takes a bigger share of small ones.
| Gift | Fee (2.9% + 30¢) | Share of the gift |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | $0.45 | 9.0% |
| $18 | $0.82 | 4.6% |
| $100 | $3.20 | 3.2% |
| $1,000 | $29.30 | 2.9% |
6 ways to keep more of every gift
Ask donors to cover the fee
Add a checkbox to your giving form. The calculator writes the wording with the exact amount.
Apply for nonprofit rates
PayPal has a lower rate for confirmed charities. Ask your processor what they offer nonprofits.
Suggest bank transfer for big gifts
At Stripe, a $1,000 gift by bank transfer costs $5, compared with $29.30 by card.
Think about monthly giving fees
$10 a month for a year is 12 fees, $7.08 in total. One $120 gift costs $3.78. Monthly giving can still be worth it, but know the cost.
Collect cash and checks in person
There's no processing fee on cash or a check you deposit yourself.
Send your ask where people read it
A short text with your giving link reaches people fast. Check its length in the SMS character counter.
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Ask for gifts where people actually read.
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Donation Fee Calculator FAQ
How much does Stripe charge nonprofits?
Stripe's standard US rate is 2.9% + 30¢ per online card payment, and 0.8% (capped at $5) for bank transfers. Nonprofits can ask Stripe about discounted pricing.
How much does PayPal charge for donations?
PayPal Checkout is 3.49% + 49¢ in the US. Confirmed charities pay 1.99% + 49¢, but only after PayPal approves the organization.
How do I calculate how much to ask so donors cover the fee?
Add the fixed fee to the gift, then divide by 1 minus the rate. For a $100 gift at 2.9% + 30¢: $100.30 ÷ 0.971 = $103.30.
Why isn't adding the fee to the gift enough?
The processor charges its percentage on the extra amount too. A donor who adds $3.20 to a $100 gift leaves you $99.91, not $100.
What is a platform fee?
Some giving platforms charge their own percentage on top of the card processing fee. Enter it in the platform fee box to see your real total.
Is this donation fee calculator free?
Yes. No sign-up and no limits. Everything runs in your browser.
Last updated November 2026 by Michael Pedoeem, founder of Evant.
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