Comments on: Ecommerce Credit Card Processing for non-profits

By: 3D Merchant admin

3D Merchant admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:19:40 +0000

I disagree that it’s difficult to set up recurring payments IN GENERAL. There are numerous opportunities to set up recurring donations at no cost to the non-profit. All it takes is a simple form, gateway and merchant account that accepts recurring billing, which all the major gateways offer.
Here’s a link to how to do it in paypal free https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_payflow-recurring-billing-overview-outside Paypal has a very simple process.

I can offer non-profits a virtual terminal to set up recurring billing for phone and mail orders as well. There is no set up fee for the virtual terminal.

Here’s how you can do it per Google at no cost: “The ability to process recurring charges or subscriptions using our API is currently available in beta. Subscriptions will allow you to charge customers on a regular basis with out additional input from your customer. If you’d like to implement this functionality, please view the integration tutorial in our Developer’s Guide Beta Features page.
Alternatively, you can process recurring charges by sending Google Checkout email invoices to your buyers. To do this, you’ll need to send an invoice to initiate each billing recurrence manually. “

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:36:42 +0000

I think best way to receive online payments or donations is with Google Checkout. Regarding Google Checkout fees for non-profits, see below from Google, it doesn’t have any timeout date mentioned, as of March, 2010. Also, many donors like to make recurring (monthly, annualy, etc.), payments, which you can do with Google Checkout, it’s difficult to setup recurring donations on your own, but you can get it done for a reasonable fee at: altatechsolutions.com

From Google: “Non-profits who are part of the Google Grants program are eligible to receive free donation processing. Google Grants awards free AdWords advertising to non-profits who meet certain eligibility guidelines and integrates with Google Checkout to help you increase your online fundraising. If you’re not a Google Grants recipient, we strongly encourage you to apply.”

By: Dat To

Dat To — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:04:27 +0000

Good starter info. Interesting perspective of Non-Profit Organisations. Just wanted to add in general when looking at merchant accounts. If you don’t ask the right questions, then any answer you get will do and won’t matter. Once you find out the right questions to ask, start avoiding Sales Reps/Companies who give you no answer, evasive answers, or ‘smart’ sounding answers that further confuse you. If the beginning of the business relationship does not fit, then it won’t get better by adding time and especially being locked up in multi-year contracts.
Also, don’t get bullied by high pressure sales tactics because a good deal today will be a good deal next week.