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Donor-covered fees: how nonprofits keep 100% of a gift

February 10, 2026 · 6 min read

What fee coverage is, why most donors say yes when you ask, and how to set the default so it feels generous rather than pushy.

The quiet leak in online giving

Every online gift carries two costs: the card network's processing cost and the platform that runs the giving page. Historically both came out of the donation, so a $100 gift arrived as something closer to $96. Multiply that across a year of monthly donors and the leak is a real program line.

Fee coverage closes it by asking the donor a single question at checkout: would you like to add a small amount so the full gift reaches the mission?

Why most donors say yes

Donors are motivated by impact, not accounting. When the ask is framed as "add $3.20 so all $100 reaches the restoration crew," the choice is easy and the amount is small relative to the gift they already decided to make.

Pre-selecting the option matters. Coverage rates climb sharply when the checkbox starts checked and is one tap to remove — and staying one tap removable is what keeps it honest.

Setting your default

dsiq.ai gives each organization three modes: off, ask (shown to the donor), and require. Most nonprofits should run "ask" with coverage pre-checked. Turn it off for audiences where the extra line would distract, such as a first-time acquisition campaign with a very low ask.

Whatever you choose, the math runs server-side: the donor only ever sends a yes-or-no choice, and the platform computes the exact gross-up so your organization nets the full intended gift.

Fundraising with an IQ

Create your dsiq.ai account, link your payouts, and publish a branded giving page today — half of what we earn goes back to conservation.