In this FAQ article, we aim to provide clarity on any processing fees associated with making donations to charities through our platform (givestar website and app).
givestar, like most charity fundraising platforms, is a for profit company. Unlike most fundraising platforms we are committed to investing in innovation and technology that lead to greater impact. By being first to market with innovations such as Boost Donate (contactless donations) and in developing a free app with end to end fundraising capabilities we are investing in a more impactful future.
We think it’s right to be transparent about fees, so here goes….
Platform fees:
What are platform fees?
A platform fee is a fee that applies to a fundraiser or a donor when they use a fundraising platform.
Does givestar charge platform fees?
No, we charge zero fees for all users (fundraisers and donors) in the UK. Our website and app are completely free to use.
Processing fees:
What are processing fees?
Processing fees are standard charges established by card providers for payment processing. It's important to note that these fees won't be added on top of the donation. Instead, they are applied at the point of donation and deducted from the total funds allocated to the recipient charity.
Does givestar charge processing fees?
Yes, see fees below per territory:
- 1.9% +£0.20 for all uk credit and debit cards
- 2.9% +£0.30 for all international and amex
Example of fees that would apply based on a £50.00 donation made on a UK credit or debit card:
|
Browser: Web Donation |
App: iOS Donation |
App: iOS Boost Donation |
App: Android Donation |
App: Android Boost Donation |
|
|
Donation Amount |
£50.00 |
£50.00 |
£50.00 |
£50.00 |
£50.00 |
|
Card fee 1.9% |
£0.95 |
£0.95 |
£0.95 |
£0.95 |
£0.95 |
|
Processing fee 20p |
£0.20 |
£0.20 |
£0.20 |
£0.20 |
£0.20 |
|
Contactless fee (25p per day when 3 transactions are made) |
NA |
NA |
Paid by givestar |
NA |
Paid by givestar |
|
Platform fee |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
|
The charity receives (with gift aid) |
£61.35 |
£61.35 |
£61.35 |
£61.35 |
£61.35 |
|
The charity receives (without gift aid) |
£48.85 |
£48.85 |
£48.85 |
£48.85 |
£48.85 |
*Amex cards are subject to a 2.9% card fee and a 30p processing fee
**International credit and debit cards are subject to a 2.9% card fee and a 30p processing fee
***The fees and percentages remain the same regardless of the value of the donation
Voluntary Contributions:
What is a voluntary contribution?
When donating you will be asked if you would like to make a discretionary voluntary contribution. On top of your donation you can choose to contribute from 0% to 100%, it’s like a tip in a restaurant bill and will be added on top of your donation and is not subject to any fees. Voluntary contributions enable us to keep investing in the givestar product, which means we can deliver more impact for you and the charities
you support. We value and appreciate every single donation, regardless of whether there’s a voluntary contribution added.