Fee breakdown

How donor-paid fees work at checkout

Donors cover a 3% platform fee and estimated card processing on top of their gift, so the organization receives the full gift amount. Memberships, sponsorships and registrations use a lower 1% platform fee.

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Step by step

A $50 donation, step by step

The donor covers both fees at checkout. The organization receives the full $50.

Step 1

Donor selects $50

The donor picks a gift amount on the campaign or athlete page.

Step 2

Platform fee calculated

HometownLift adds a 3% platform fee: $1.50. This supports the platform and is shown as a separate line item.

Step 3

Processing fee estimated

Stripe card processing is estimated and added: ~$1.85. The actual amount depends on the card type.

Step 4

Donor sees the total

The checkout shows: $50.00 gift + $1.50 platform fee + ~$1.85 processing = ~$53.35 total.

Step 5

Organization receives $50.00

The full $50.00 gift amount is deposited to the organization's Stripe-connected bank account. No deductions.

Why this model

Why shift fees to the donor?

Predictable payouts

The full gift amount goes to the organization. Fees are added on top at checkout, never deducted.

Easier board conversations

One sentence covers it: the donor pays the fee and processing on top, and the organization receives the full gift.

Donor trust

Donors see the gift, the fees and the checkout total before paying.

No fee negotiation

The 3% donor-paid rate is standard across every org. No negotiated discounts, no sales calls, no custom contracts.

Technical details

How processing fees are calculated

Card processing fees are estimated at checkout based on Stripe's standard domestic card rate (2.9% + $0.30). The actual processing cost depends on the card type, card network, and whether the card is domestic or international.

The processing fee shown at checkout is an estimate. The actual cost charged by Stripe may vary depending on the card used. The organization always receives the full gift amount.

What the donor pays