Stripe Fees for Donations

Donation processing fees, the "cover the fees" pattern, and how to net target donation amounts via reverse calculation.

At a glance

Standard US rate
2.9% + 30¢
Nonprofit US rate (501(c)(3))
2.2% + 30¢
Cover-the-fees gross-up
~3.2% added to donor charge
ACH for high-ticket donations
0.8% capped at $5

Donation pages typically face the same Stripe fees as e-commerce, but with a unique twist: many platforms offer a "cover the fees" checkbox that lets donors gross up their donation to net the target amount. This calculator’s reverse mode handles the math — for a $100 net target on a US domestic card, the donor charges $103.20 ((100 + 0.30) / (1 - 0.029)).

Frequently asked questions

How does the "cover the fees" math work?
It’s the reverse calculation: gross = (target + fixed) / (1 - percent). For a $100 net at 2.9% + 30¢: ($100 + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = $103.30. The donor sees a "$3.30 to cover fees" line at checkout. Most platforms set this as the default checked option — capture rate is usually 60-80%.
Are donor-paid Stripe fees still tax-deductible for the donor?
In the US, the IRS treats the full amount the donor pays (including the cover-the-fees portion) as the deductible donation, since the donor never received any service in exchange. Get specific tax advice — rules differ in other jurisdictions.
Should nonprofits prefer ACH for high-ticket donations?
For donations over $1,000, yes — ACH at 0.8% capped at $5 is dramatically cheaper than card at 2.9% + 30¢. A $5,000 ACH donation costs the nonprofit $5; the same on a card costs $145.30. Many fundraising platforms surface ACH as a preferred option for major gifts.

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