What is the average fundraising platform fee in 2026?

There is no single average because pricing models differ. Platforms may use a percentage, subscription, optional-tip, or quoted managed-service model. Payment processing may be separate, so compare the published platform charge, processing terms, optional tips, and payout model for the same gift assumptions.

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 payment processor (such as Stripe or PayPal) charge to move the money. They are two separate layers. A platform can lower or even waive its own fee, but processing charges exist regardless of which platform you use, because the card transaction itself has a cost.

Do donor-covered fees really help my organization keep more?

When a donor chooses to cover fees, the disclosed fee amount is added to the checkout total. The effect on net proceeds depends on the platform's formula and the processor charge. Review the checkout calculation and do not assume that every donor will opt in.

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

Not entirely. "0%" usually means 0% to the organization, with the platform funded by voluntary donor tips, and payment processing still applies separately. That can work well, but check the default tip percentage and whether donors can easily set it to zero. The real cost has shifted to your donors rather than disappearing, so weigh whether tip prompts fit your audience.

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

For most schools and nonprofits, yes. When you connect your own account (your own Stripe account, for example), donations land directly in your bank and no middleman holds your money, which usually means faster payouts and more control. When Stripe is connected, ScanRaise does not hold those funds. Always confirm who holds the money and how quickly it reaches your account before committing.

How to Lower Fundraising Platform Fees (2026)

Most fundraising platforms quietly stack several fees on top of each other. Once you can see the whole stack, lowering it is mostly a matter of choosing the right model and turning on a few settings.

Why fundraising fees are confusing on purpose

When a PTA or school treasurer compares fundraising tools, the advertised number is rarely the real number. One platform says 0%, another says 5%, another says "free." None of those phrases tells you what actually lands in your bank account after a $25 donation.

The reason is that fundraising costs are a stack, not a single line. There is the platform's own fee, the separate payment processing fee charged by the card networks, and then a layer of add-on charges for features, support, or premium tiers. Platforms tend to advertise whichever number in that stack looks smallest and stay quiet about the rest.

The goal of this guide is not to push one product. It is to help you read the whole stack honestly so that, whatever platform you choose, you keep as much of each donation as possible.

The real cost stack: three layers, not one

Almost every online fundraising dollar passes through three separate cost layers. Understanding them separately is the single most useful thing you can do.

Platform fee. What the fundraising software charges for using its tools. This can be a flat percentage, a voluntary tip, or a high managed-service rate. This is the layer you have the most control over.
Payment processing. Card and wallet processors charge to move the money. Rates vary by processor, payment method, country, account, and card type. Review the processor's current published pricing for the setup you will use.
Add-ons and surcharges. Per-feature charges (text-to-give, events, auctions), monthly subscriptions, setup fees, premium support, or contract minimums. These are the easiest costs to overlook and often the easiest to avoid.

The main fee models

Fundraising platforms publish several pricing models. Compare the all-in cost for your expected donation mix, including platform, processing, subscription, setup, service, and contract charges.

Flat percentage. A fixed platform fee on each donation, separate from payment processing. Calculate the result for your expected donation amounts.
Tip or donor-covered model. The platform may advertise a 0% organization fee while asking donors for a voluntary tip or offering an option to cover fees. Review the default, whether donors can change it, and any separate processing charges.
Subscription model. The provider charges a recurring fee that may vary by plan, organization size, or feature set. Check the billing term, cancellation rules, and processing charges.
Managed or quoted model. Full-service platforms may bundle staff support, printing, and account management behind a sales quote or contract. Request the current written quote, included services, payment-processing terms, and contract length.

Ways to reduce avoidable costs

Card processing and platform services can create separate costs. The steps below help you identify and compare avoidable charges.

Choose a transparent flat fee. A clear, fixed percentage with no setup, monthly, or contract charges is almost always cheaper over a season than a high managed rate, and far easier to budget. Make sure the quoted fee is the platform fee and confirm processing is separate.
Turn on donor-covered fees. Most modern platforms let donors check a box to add the fees on top of their gift. When donors opt in, your org receives the full intended amount. It is genuinely the simplest way to lower your net cost, and most donors say yes when asked politely.
Avoid per-feature surcharges. If text-to-give, event ticketing, auctions, or raffles each cost extra, the bill adds up fast. Prefer an all-in-one platform where those tools are included rather than billed separately.
Skip long contracts and minimums. Annual contracts, setup fees, and monthly subscriptions are fixed costs you pay whether you raise money or not. A pay-as-you-go model with no commitment protects a small org during slow months.
Keep your own money. Prefer platforms where you connect your own payment account (your own Stripe account, for instance) and the funds land directly in your bank. This avoids a middleman holding your money, speeds up payouts, and keeps you in control. ScanRaise works this way: organizations connect their own Stripe account and ScanRaise does not hold those funds when Stripe is connected.
Batch and consolidate. Fewer, larger transactions cost less than many tiny ones because of the flat per-transaction processing charge. Encouraging a single combined gift instead of several small ones, or consolidating campaigns under one platform, trims the per-transaction overhead.
Let donors choose whether to cover fees. Use clear checkout language that shows the calculated amount and makes the choice optional. Adults should handle all money and checkout; students never need to.

A worked example

For an illustrative $50 gift, enter the processor charge from its current pricing page and then add the platform charge. The exact processor amount depends on the payment method and account.

At a 2.5% platform fee, the platform portion on a $50 gift is $1.25. Subtract that amount and the applicable processor charge to calculate net proceeds. If a donor chooses to cover fees, calculate the added amount using the checkout's disclosed formula. This example is arithmetic, not a prediction of savings or donor behavior.

The numbers above are illustrative, not a quote, and exact processing rates vary by provider and country as of 2026. The point is the pattern: the platform fee and the donor-covered option are the two levers you control, and together they can move several percent of every dollar.

How ScanRaise fits in

ScanRaise is one option that reflects the fee-review principles above, and it is not the only valid answer. It charges a flat 2.5% platform fee with no setup, monthly, or contract fees. Stripe processing applies separately and varies by payment method, country, and account. A donor-cover-fees checkbox lets supporters choose whether to cover the calculated fees.

Organizations connect their own Stripe account and receive funds through it. ScanRaise does not hold those connected funds. Donors scan a QR code and pay by card from their phone. Apple Pay or Google Pay may appear when supported. No ScanRaise app or donor account is required. Athons, peer-to-peer pages, event ticketing, auctions, raffles, a merch store, donor CRM, and text-to-give are included rather than billed as separate add-ons.

Whether or not ScanRaise is right for you, hold every platform to the same test: a transparent flat fee, a donor-cover option, no surprise surcharges, no long contract, and direct access to your own money. Those are the things that actually lower what you pay.

How to Lower Your Fundraising Platform Fees (2026)