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.