
Venmo has become a popular platform for online fundraising, especially for nonprofits. The platform allows users to easily share and request funds for various causes, making it a convenient way to raise money.
Venmo's user-friendly interface makes it easy for nonprofits to set up and manage their fundraising campaigns. Nonprofits can create a profile, add a photo, and write a compelling story about their cause.
Venmo offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for nonprofits, including the ability to accept donations in any amount. This flexibility is particularly useful for smaller donations that can add up to make a significant impact.
The platform also allows nonprofits to track their fundraising progress in real-time, providing valuable insights into their campaign's performance.
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Why Use Venmo for Nonprofits?
Venmo is a great option for nonprofits that want to engage younger supporters and add a social aspect to their fundraising efforts.
It's a popular mobile payment app that operates like a social media app, making it easy to reach new donors and engage existing ones.
Venmo users often leave money in their accounts and forget it's there, so using it for a good cause can feel like just moving money around.
This can be especially appealing to donors who want to support a cause but may not have a lot of extra cash.
Venmo is blowing up with younger donors, with 28% of users belonging to the 18-29-year-old demographic.
This is a perfect way for nonprofits to connect with a new generation of donors who are already using digital payments.
Venmo is ready-made for social sharing, with a social media-style feed that displays transactions and comments.
This built-in social proof can inspire users to donate to your cause when they see their friends doing the same.
Venmo is also super convenient, allowing donors to give on the go with the free mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
Here are some key things to keep in mind when using Venmo for nonprofits:
- Cannot accept donations from outside the U.S.
- No recurring donations feature
- Not suited for large organizations with more customization needs
Setting Up and Managing an Account
To set up a Venmo nonprofit account, you'll need a new phone number and email, or you'll have to contact Venmo to close a business profile and start a charity one. Don't try to convert an existing Venmo business profile to a charity profile, as it's not possible.
You'll need to create a PayPal For Nonprofits Business Account first, which requires information like the organization's Employer Identification Number, bank account numbers, and website URL. This will help you set up a Venmo charity profile correctly.
To manage your nonprofit Venmo account, consider how often you want donation updates and your preference for email or push notifications. You can set up notification options during setup to keep you informed without overwhelming you.
Broaden your view: How to Set up a Venmo Account for a Business
Managing an Account
Managing an account for your nonprofit organization on Venmo requires some setup and consideration. You'll need to decide who should receive donation updates, such as email or push notifications, to keep you informed without overwhelming you.

Venmo offers notification options during setup to help you manage this. You can choose how often you want to receive donation updates, and who should receive them.
To track donations and donor information, Venmo's monthly reports can simplify this task. This is crucial for updating your CRM.
Be cautious with Venmo notifications, especially if you use Venmo personally. Accidental transactions could embarrass your organization, as Venmo allows both sending and receiving money.
Set Your Budget & Timeline
Setting up a fundraiser on Venmo requires some planning, and one of the key steps is deciding your budget and timeline.
Decide how much money you can spend on a fundraiser, keeping in mind that the money will be worth it to get your cause in front of more interested people. This could include expenses for event supplies, social media advertising, and more.
Your fundraiser's duration is also crucial. If you're starting a fundraiser for an event, choose the event date(s) and how far in advance you want to start advertising for it. If you're holding a fundraiser for someone or something in need, set a hard deadline on when you need to have the funds.
For another approach, see: How Does Venmo Make Money
Provide a Tutorial
To provide a tutorial, introduce Venmo as a donation option with an onboarding email. Explain what Venmo is and how to donate.
You can also include best practices for payment captions to track donations, such as explaining what the donation is for.
To make it easy for donors to give via Venmo, consider integrating it with a platform like Givebutter, which allows donors to give in a few seconds.
This streamlined process eliminates the need for a Venmo charity account, making it even easier to set up and manage an account.
Here's an interesting read: Venmo for Teens
Creating a Campaign
You can do online and in-person fundraisers with Venmo since you can share a donation link online and print out a donation QR code.
Venmo is great for taking money on an open-ended basis. You could hold an event that’s free to attend but ask for donations at that event.
You can build a social media or email fundraising campaign and ask your organization’s following to donate (and to share posts/emails about your fundraiser with their social circle).
Take a look at this: Not for Profit Event Insurance
Partner with an influencer who cares about your cause and have them ask their followers to donate.
You can create a “donate or do it” challenge (like the ASL ice bucket challenge) and share it online.
Host an online or in-person event, then ask for donations at the event.
Choose a recurring day of the week or month to take donations for a specific cause.
Here are some ideas for building a campaign:
- Build a social media or email fundraising campaign and ask your organization’s following to donate.
- Partner with an influencer who cares about your cause and have them ask their followers to donate.
- Create a “donate or do it” challenge (like the ASL ice bucket challenge) and share it online.
- Host an online or in-person event, then ask for donations at the event.
- Choose a recurring day of the week or month to take donations for a specific cause.
Online Fundraising Platforms
Online fundraising platforms are a great way to quickly reach a large audience and raise funds for your nonprofit. They are user-friendly and convenient, allowing individuals to make donations from anywhere in the world.
Some popular online fundraising platforms include GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo. These platforms are great for raising money quickly, but it's essential to consider the fees associated with each platform. Most platforms charge fees ranging from 2-5% of the overall gift amount.
PayBee is a popular option for nonprofits, offering features such as donation receipts, automatic bid sheets, and more. It's also worth considering platforms that are specifically designed for NGOs, such as PayBee, which can help you optimize your fundraising potential.
On a similar theme: Venmo Business Rates
Online fundraising platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo are a great way to quickly reach a large audience and raise funds. You can also use social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to publicize your fundraising efforts and reach a wider audience.
It's essential to consider your nonprofit's specific requirements when choosing an online fundraising platform. Look for a platform with a flexible pricing model that allows you to select the best plan for your organization, whether it's a small nonprofit or a large organization with complex fundraising needs.
With online fundraising platforms, you can collect donations, run fundraising campaigns, sell tickets to events, and track everything through your dashboard. You can also add a custom Venmo donate button on your website and combine text-to-donate with Venmo for rapid SMS and text-enabled giving.
Suggestion: Gofundme Nonprofit Organization
Payment and Processing
Venmo for nonprofits offers competitive transaction fees of 1.9% + $0.10 per donation, allowing a larger portion of donations to go directly to the nonprofit's cause.
Nonprofits can anticipate the net amount from donations and manage their financial planning accordingly, as the fee structure is transparent and predictable.
With same-day access to donated funds, nonprofits can improve cash flow and liquidity, enabling more efficient operation and financial management.
Personal Payment Limits

Personal payment limits can be a major roadblock for donors, especially when sending large gifts. As of June 2024, verified Venmo users have a rolling weekly spending limit of $7K for payments to authorized businesses and charities.
This limit applies to all payments, including those sent to other Venmo users. Unverified accounts are even more restricted, with a weekly limit of just $299.99.
If you're planning to use Venmo for fundraising, it's essential to be aware of these limits to avoid frustrating your donors. Fortunately, there are other payment options available that can help you avoid these roadblocks.
Intriguing read: Venmo Payments between Friends
Immediate Fund Access
Immediate Fund Access is a game-changer for nonprofits, allowing them to access donated funds quickly and efficiently. Venmo's instant transfers to bank accounts have a weekly rolling limit of $50K, which is a significant advantage for organizations that need to access funds rapidly.
Having same-day access to funds can greatly improve a nonprofit's cash flow and liquidity, enabling more efficient operation and financial management. This is especially important for organizations that rely heavily on donations to carry out their work.
Venmo's instant transfers to bank accounts are subject to additional fees, but the benefits of quick access to funds far outweigh the costs. By using Givebutter, nonprofits can avoid limits on withdrawals altogether, giving them complete control over their funds.
For another approach, see: Venmo Security Issues
Processing
Processing fees are a crucial aspect of fundraising, and it's essential to understand how they work.
Processing fees typically range from 2.9% to 3.5% per transaction, plus a fixed fee of around $0.30. For example, if a donor gives $100, the processing fee would be $3.20, leaving $96.80 for the nonprofit.
Some platforms, like Venmo, charge a lower transaction fee of 1.9% + $0.10 per donation, ensuring that a larger portion of donations goes directly to the nonprofit's cause.
To give you a better idea of the fee structure, here's an example of how it works:
This table demonstrates the fee structure's impact, allowing nonprofits to anticipate the net amount from donations and manage their financial planning accordingly.
Donor Engagement and Tracking
Venmo offers various tools like photo galleries and QR codes for touch-free donations in person, making giving easy and convenient.
These features enhance donor engagement and provide a more interactive donation experience.
Givebutter sends automatic tax receipts to Venmo donors, eliminating a time-consuming manual process and allowing nonprofits to grow relationships with their supporters.
With Givebutter, nonprofits can automatically save donation data and donor contact information in their built-in CRM, or connect it with other top-notch CRMs using integrations.
Donor Engagement Tools
Venmo offers photo galleries for donors to view and interact with, making the donation experience more engaging and convenient.
Using QR codes for touch-free donations in person is a great way to facilitate easy giving and enhance donor engagement.
These features are especially valuable for nonprofits looking to expand their donation channels and reach a broader donor base.
Venmo's tools make it easy to create a seamless and interactive donation experience for donors, which can lead to increased engagement and support.
Nonprofits can also utilize the Charity Charge resource hub for tips and information on creating a modern organization and growing their donor base.
Track Donor Progress
Tracking donor progress is a crucial part of building a strong relationship with your supporters. Givebutter's automatic tax receipts to Venmo donors save you time and effort.
You can customize your thank-you messages to grow a relationship with your donors, eliminating the need for manual processes. This helps you stay connected with your supporters and keep them informed about your cause.
Givebutter's built-in nonprofit CRM automatically saves your donation data and donor contact information, making it easy to stay organized. You can also connect your account with top-notch CRMs using Givebutter integrations.
Venmo's photo galleries and QR codes enhance donor engagement by providing a more interactive and convenient donation experience. These features facilitate easy giving and help you expand your donation channels.
Marketing and Promotion
To market and promote your nonprofit on Venmo, start by customizing your marketing settings to improve your charity's visibility. This allows you to appear prominently in search results, user feeds, and Venmo-generated emails.
You can also build and publish a Venmo charity profile, providing information such as a profile name, description, category, and keywords to help donors find your charity profile. This will help you reach potential donors within Venmo's user base.
To spread the word about your fundraiser, create campaign pages and marketing materials, such as social media posts and web pages. This will give donors a way to share information about the fundraiser and provide an online place to read more about what they may be investing in.
You'll also want to create email campaigns to reach supporters and encourage them to donate. This can include sending out newsletters and updates about your organization, highlighting the impact of your work, and asking for support.
Venmo offers various tools like photo galleries and QR codes for touch-free donations in person. These features not only facilitate easy giving but also enhance donor engagement by providing a more interactive and convenient donation experience.
Here are some specific tools you can use to create campaign pages and marketing materials:
- Square Online for web pages
- Canva for graphic design
- Mailchimp for email campaigns
- Buffer for social media post scheduling
Alternatives and Comparisons
When researching fundraising platforms, you'll find that GoFundMe isn't the only option. Some alternatives include Kickstarter, Fundly, and YouCaring, each with its own unique features and benefits.
It's essential to research and compare these platforms to determine which one is the best fit for your nonprofit organization. This will ensure you're using the most effective tool for your fundraising needs.
If you're looking for automation features to streamline your fundraising tasks, there are seven Zapier alternatives worth exploring.
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Zapier Alternatives
Nonprofits can explore seven Zapier alternatives to create workflows that save time and streamline fundraising tasks.
These alternatives offer features similar to Zapier's automation capabilities.
Discover why and how nonprofits use Zapier's automation features to save time and streamline tasks.
Nonprofits can explore a list of seven alternatives to create workflows that save time and streamline fundraising tasks.
Automation features are used by nonprofits to save time and streamline tasks, and there are alternatives to Zapier that can provide these benefits.
WordPress Donation Plugins Comparison
Over half of donors prefer to give online, making it crucial to set up a WordPress site with a donation plugin that can handle online donations successfully.
One of the best ways for nonprofits to accept donations online is through a fundraising platform, payment processor, or digital wallet.
Some popular options include PayPal, Stripe, and Network for Good, which offer various features and fees that nonprofits should compare to determine the best fit for their organization.
Nonprofits should consider the fees associated with each option, as they can vary significantly, to ensure they're not losing too much to transaction fees.
By comparing the fees, features, and user-friendliness of each option, nonprofits can make an informed decision about which platform is best for their online donations.
Consider reading: Venmo Non Profit Fees
Alternative to GoFundMe
If you're looking for a better fundraising platform than GoFundMe, there are several options available. Some alternatives to GoFundMe include Kickstarter, Fundly, and YouCaring.
Kickstarter is a popular choice for crowdfunding campaigns, and it's known for its unique features and benefits. Fundly and YouCaring are also viable options, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Researching and comparing these platforms is essential to determine which one is the best fit for your nonprofit organization. This will help you make an informed decision and choose the platform that suits your needs.
A fresh viewpoint: Venmo Payment Options
Is PayPal's Donate Button Worth It?
PayPal's donate button is a popular option for nonprofits, but is it worth it? PayPal's donate button is a simple way to accept online donations, but it's essential to consider the pros and cons.
Some nonprofits choose PayPal's donate button for its ease of use and familiarity. However, it's crucial to compare fees, features, and user-friendliness to determine if it's the best fit for your organization.
Discover more: Are Venmo and Paypal the Same
Nonprofits can consider alternatives like fundraising platforms, payment processors, and digital wallets, such as PayPal, Stripe, and Network for Good. These options offer varying fees, features, and user-friendliness, making it essential to research and compare them.
PayPal's donate button may not be the most cost-effective option for all nonprofits, especially considering the fees associated with it. On the other hand, some nonprofits may find it a convenient and user-friendly way to accept donations.
Additional reading: How to Send Money to Venmo from Paypal
Donor-Advised Funds Guide
Givebutter is committed to providing a no-fee fundraising experience for nonprofits, giving your donors the option to cover the 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee, which 95% of Givebutter donors choose to do.
You can set up automated nightly payouts for free if you're a verified nonprofit on Givebutter, unlike charity profile users who face additional Venmo nonprofit fees for instant payouts.
Donor-advised funds are a type of giving vehicle that allows donors to contribute to a fund and then recommend grants to their favorite charities over time.
Expand your knowledge: Wealthfront Nonprofit Endowment
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Venmo charge a fee for nonprofits?
Venmo charges a low transaction fee of 1.9% + $0.10 for nonprofits, with no set-up costs or monthly fees. However, nonprofits connected through PayPal Checkout may be charged a higher fee of 1.99% + $0.49.
What online payment system is best for nonprofits?
For small and new nonprofits, PayPal is a suitable option, offering a straightforward payment solution. However, other payment systems like Stripe and Donorbox may also be worth considering depending on specific needs.
Can Venmo be used for a charity?
Yes, Venmo allows charities in the US to create a profile and receive donations from users. To learn more about setting up a Venmo charity profile, click here.
How to create a charity profile on Venmo?
To create a charity profile on Venmo, you'll need a PayPal Business account, which you can set up and confirm to gain access to Venmo's charity profile feature. Learn more about getting started with a PayPal Business account for your charity.
Is Venmo free for churches?
No, Venmo is not free for churches, as they charge a fee of 1.9% + $0.10 per donation for processing charity donations. Churches using Venmo for donations should be aware of these fees when considering this payment option.
Sources
- https://www.merchantmaverick.com/venmo-for-nonprofits/
- https://w.paybee.io/post/online-fundraising-for-nonprofits-everything-you-need-to-know
- https://www.charitycharge.com/nonprofit-resources/venmo-for-nonprofits/
- https://givebutter.com/blog/venmo-for-nonprofits
- https://www.wholewhale.com/tips/venmo-nonprofits/
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