Beyond the Card: The Best Payment Options for Your Donors (Q&A)

Navigating the world of online payment processing as a nonprofit can feel overwhelming.

Sure, donor security should be at the forefront. But you also have to consider how to offer the right payment methods so your donors have options, all while minimizing fees.

In this 4aGC webinar, experts Chip Strause (Senior Director at Authorize.net) and George Crane (Payments Consultant at Swipesum) join me to team up to answer your questions about payment processing.

We covered key areas to help nonprofits thrive, including: saving money on payments, keeping donors’ information secure, and red flags to look for in payment processing contracts.

Watch the full video

In this video, you’ll cover:

• Dig into what payment options might be best for your organization—and your donors.
• Learn how optimized payment solutions can boost donor retention and grow your monthly giving program.
• Discover tips to reduce processing fees and improve your overall fundraising efficiency.
• Experience an open Q&A with the experts: They tackle payment processing challenges, including costs, security, customer support and more.

Top takeaways from this session

• Offering varied payment options can boost your nonprofit’s donation conversion rates.
• Encouraging ACH/eCheck payments helps you save significantly on processing fees, especially for recurring donations.
• Nonprofit teams should verify that they’re receiving special discounted rates—and regularly audit their processor for hidden fees.
• Recurring monthly donation programs stabilize your revenue and grow donor loyalty, especially when paired with robust billing and card updater tools.
• Strong data security and anti-fraud measures are vital to protect donor trust and prevent costly card attacks. Make sure you have these in place.

Online nonprofit payment processing options you should consider

• Card Payments: Still essential for reaching a broad audience.
• ACH/eCheck: Offers lower fees, making it ideal for recurring donations.
• Mobile Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay): Gaining popularity, especially among younger donors who prefer the convenience of paying with their phones.
• PayPal, Venmo, Cash App: These are widely used and offer a familiar, convenient way for many people to give.
• Text-to-Pay/Donate: A great option for events and quick, impulse giving.
• Bluetooth mobile readers: These are great for events, especially in unfamiliar venues.
• Authorize.net’s upcoming mobile app: Look for tap-on-phone functionality for added convenience.

Supplemental resources mentioned in this session

We mentioned a few additional studies, statistics, and support materials on the call. Here they are!

• How Adding Payment Methods Helps Conversions: DHL study on how expanding payment options can improve eCommerce conversion rates.
• Grow Monthly Giving and Lower Fundraising Costs with eCheck Acceptance: Why accepting eChecks can be a win-win for donor flexibility and lower fees.
• 10 Simple Ways to Retain Monthly Donors and Reduce Churn: Practical ideas to keep your recurring donors engaged for the long haul.
• Monthly Giving Programs: Why Have One? An overview of the benefits of monthly giving—for your donors and your bottom line.
• Account Updater Tool Overview: How the account updater helps retain recurring gifts even when payment info changes.
• Digital Wallets Set to Revolutionize Global Finance by 2025: Mobile wallets are projected to account for 50% of all eCommerce by 2025.

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