Donation fee calculator.
See what your organization actually receives from a gift on Stripe, PayPal, Donorbox, Zeffy, Givebutter, and KindLumen, what the fees add up to over a year, and what to ask for so a gift nets your target.
Highest modeled organization net
$100 · Givebutter / Zeffy
On KindLumen
$96.80
If the donor covers costs on KindLumen
$104.33 → nets $100
| Platform | Platform fee | Processing | You receive | Effective | Fees per year | Donor pays to net $100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Givebutter (tips on)With optional donor tips enabled the organization keeps 100%. With tips disabled: 3% platform fee plus 2.9% + 30¢ processing.Pricing source | $0 | $0 | $100 | 0% | $0 | $100 + optional contribution |
| ZeffyNo platform or processing fees for the organization; donors see an optional contribution to Zeffy that can be adjusted to $0 at checkout. The contribution amount is not modeled here.Pricing source | $0 | $0 | $100 | 0% | $0 | $100 + optional contribution |
| PayPal (confirmed charity rate)1.99% + 49¢ for eligible, preapproved domestic charity transactions in USD. PayPal lists 2.89% + 49¢ for standard domestic Donate Button and PayPal Checkout for Donations transactions; international donations add 1.5%.Pricing source | $0 | $2.48 | $97.52 | 2.5% | $248 | Ask for $102.53 |
| KindLumenNo platform fee. This row uses Stripe’s standard domestic-card rate. Stripe offers application-based nonprofit discounts in select regions but does not publish one universal discounted rate. Donors who cover costs add processing plus a 1% KindLumen contribution; donors are never asked to tip.Pricing source | $0 | $3.20 | $96.80 | 3.2% | $320 | $104.33 (+4.3%) |
| Stripe Payment Links (standard)Stripe alone, using the published US standard domestic-card rate. Eligible nonprofits in select regions can request discounted pricing; enter your approved rate if applicable.Pricing source | $0 | $3.20 | $96.80 | 3.2% | $320 | Ask for $103.30 |
| Donorbox (Standard)2.95% Standard platform fee for donation forms plus this calculator’s standard domestic-card processing assumption. Donorbox also publishes a 2.2% + 30¢ example for approved US nonprofits; enter that rate if it applies to your account.Pricing source | $2.95 | $3.20 | $93.85 | 6.2% | $615 | $106.53 (+6.5%) |
Put this donation fee calculator on your website
Paste the two lines below wherever your site accepts HTML — a Custom HTML block in WordPress, a Code block in Squarespace, an Embed element in Wix or Webflow. It sizes itself to fit and stays up to date automatically. A small “Free tool by KindLumen” line stays at the bottom.
<div data-kindlumen-inline="https://www.kindlumen.com/embed/tools/donation-fee-calculator"></div>
<script async src="https://www.kindlumen.com/embed/widget.js"></script>Live preview on a sample page
Keep more of every gift.
KindLumen charges organizations no platform fee. Stripe processing applies unless a donor chooses to cover transaction costs, and donations are created in your connected Stripe account.
Donation fee calculator questions.
Where do these rates come from?
Each provider’s public pricing page, linked beside its row, checked on the date shown. Plans, regions, card types, and nonprofit discounts change what you actually pay, so every rate is editable — put in your own numbers.
What is the difference between a platform fee and a processing fee?
The processing fee goes to the payment processor for handling the transaction. The platform fee goes to the fundraising software. KindLumen charges organizations no platform fee; Stripe processing is deducted unless the donor chooses to cover transaction costs.
How do “tip” platforms make money?
Zeffy and Givebutter can charge the organization nothing when optional donor contributions are enabled. The amount a donor sees can depend on the provider and checkout, so this calculator does not assume a default. KindLumen never asks donors to tip; it offers transparent cost coverage instead.
What does “donor covers costs” mean?
The donor chooses to pay an additional amount calculated from the displayed processing-rate estimate. With this calculator’s default Stripe rate of 2.9% + 30¢ and the disclosed 1% KindLumen contribution, a $100 intended gift becomes $104.33 and is estimated to net $100. Actual provider fees can differ by account, card, currency, and payment method.
Does Stripe offer nonprofit pricing?
Stripe says eligible nonprofits in select regions can request discounted processing if they meet its criteria, including a donation-volume threshold. Its current public support page does not state one universal discounted rate, so enter the rate Stripe approves for your account.
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