What is the difference between a platform fee and a processing fee?

The platform fee is what the fundraising software charges for its tools. The processing fee is what the card networks and the processor, such as Stripe, charge to move the money. A platform can waive its own fee, but processing applies either way.

Are 0% or "free" fundraising platforms actually free?

Not entirely. 0% usually means 0% to the organization, with the platform funded by donor tips, and processing still applies. The cost moves to your donors, so check the default tip and whether donors can set it to zero.

Is it safer to use a platform where I connect my own payment account?

For most schools and nonprofits, yes. With your own account, such as your own Stripe account, donations go to you and no one else holds them. Confirm who holds the money and when it reaches your bank before you commit.

How to Lower Fundraising Platform Fees (2026)

Most fundraising platforms charge in more than one layer. Once you can see every layer, lowering the total is mostly a matter of picking the right model and a couple of settings.

Why fundraising fees are hard to compare

The advertised number is rarely what reaches your bank. One platform says 0%, another 5%, another free, and none of them tells you what is left from a $25 gift. Costs come in layers, and each platform advertises its smallest one.

The real cost stack: three layers, not one

Almost every online gift passes through three separate costs.

Platform fee. What the fundraising software charges for its tools: a flat percentage, a voluntary donor tip, or a managed-service rate. This is the layer you control most.
Payment processing. What the card processor charges to move the money. Rates vary by processor, payment method, country, and account, so check the processor's current pricing.
Add-ons. Per-feature charges for text-to-give, events, or auctions, plus monthly plans, setup fees, and contract minimums. These are the easiest to miss and often the easiest to avoid.

The main fee models

Compare the all-in cost for the gifts you actually expect, not the headline rate.

Flat percentage. A fixed platform fee on each gift, with processing separate.
Tip or donor-covered model. The organization pays 0% while donors are asked for a voluntary tip. Check the default tip and whether donors can set it to zero.
Subscription. A recurring fee by plan or organization size. Check the billing term and cancellation rules.
Managed or quoted. Staff support, printing, and account management behind a sales quote. Get the quote, the included services, and the contract length in writing.

Ways to reduce avoidable costs

Choose a flat, published platform fee with no setup, monthly, or contract charges, and confirm that processing is listed separately.
Offer donor-covered fees. ScanRaise donation pages show a checkbox that lets donors add the fees to their gift. Show the amount clearly and keep it optional.
Avoid per-feature charges. Prefer a platform where events, auctions, and text-to-give are included.
Skip long contracts and minimums. They cost the same whether you raise money or not.
Keep your own money. Prefer a platform where you connect your own payment account, such as your own Stripe account, so donations go to you and no one else holds them.

A worked example

Take a $50 gift on a US domestic card. At Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30, processing is $1.75. At a 2.5% platform fee, the platform portion is $1.25, so $47.00 reaches the organization. If the donor chooses to cover fees, the checkout adds the disclosed amount instead. This is arithmetic, not a prediction.

How ScanRaise fits in

ScanRaise charges a flat 2.5% platform fee with no setup, monthly, or contract fees, and Stripe processing is separate. Organizations connect their own Stripe account, and ScanRaise does not hold those funds. Donors scan a QR code and pay by card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay where supported, with no app or account. Athons, peer-to-peer pages, event ticketing, auctions, donor records, and text-to-give are included.

Whatever you choose, hold every platform to the same test: a flat published fee, a donor-cover option, no add-on charges, no long contract, and money that goes to your own account.

How to Lower Your Fundraising Platform Fees (2026)