Donate Now is More Than a Button
However, like any good idea, this one requires preparation and planning in order to receive the best possible return and hopefully avoid the pitfalls.
Laura Quinn of Idealware.org suggests a list of things you should keep in mind when setting up an online donation system for your nonprofit:
- Merchant bank fees – this makes a good starting point for comparison shopping as some vendors require the nonprofit to use their accounts while others require you utilize your own
- Startup charges – these can range from zero to tens of thousands of dollars for full donor-management packages
- Monthly fees
- Transaction fees – might be a percentage of donations or a flat fee
- Reliability – it is recommended that a nonprofit ask for a vendor’s financial results and client list
- Personality – can you design a payment page to look like it is part of your Web site?
- Security – is not an area to skimp on.