Whether you're a nonprofit, a creator, a church or a community project, accepting donations online should be quick to set up and effortless for your supporters. Here's a simple guide to getting started and what to look for.
Decide how people give
There are two common approaches, and you can offer both:
- Suggested amounts. Preset giving levels ($10, $25, $50) let supporters donate in a single tap and gently nudge toward higher gifts.
- Pay-what-you-want. Letting donors enter any amount removes friction and suits tips, memberships and "name your price" causes.
One-time vs recurring
One-time gifts are the default, but recurring monthly donations are where sustainable support comes from. A supporter who gives $10 a month is worth far more over a year than a single gift, so make recurring an easy option, not an afterthought.
Keep it on-brand and low-friction
Donors trust a page that clearly belongs to your organisation. Avoid sending people to a confusing third-party checkout with unfamiliar branding. The fewer steps between "I want to give" and "done", the more donations you'll complete, so card payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) beat manual bank transfers every time.
What to look for in a donation tool
- Money goes to your own account: not held by a middleman.
- No code required: you shouldn't need a developer to take a donation.
- Preset and custom amounts, plus one-time and recurring.
- Clear tracking so you can thank donors and keep records.
Set your amounts, offer recurring, keep it on brand and let people pay by card, and accepting donations online becomes something you set up once and forget.