PayPal Fees vs Zeffy: What Nonprofits Actually Pay (and Keep)
Keep 100% of every donation with zero fees, plus get donor management tools built for nonprofits — not generic payment processing.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Keep every dollar raised, not just most of it
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Keep every dollar donors give you
PayPal takes 2.9% + $0.30 from every donation. That's $290 lost on a $1,000 fundraiser. With Zeffy, donors' full contributions reach your mission.
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Get nonprofit tools, not just payments
PayPal processes payments but leaves you juggling spreadsheets for donor tracking. Zeffy gives you donation forms, donor management, and email tools in one place.
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Get help from people who get nonprofits
PayPal's help center assumes you're running a business. Zeffy's support team knows nonprofit fundraising and responds in 2-6 hours with jargon-free help.
Frequently asked questions
Can nonprofits use Zeffy for events and ticketing unlike PayPal?
PayPal only processes payments without event management tools. Zeffy includes complete event ticketing, registration, and check-in features designed for nonprofit fundraisers. You can sell tickets, manage attendees, and collect donations all in one platform without paying fees.
How does Zeffy's setup compare to PayPal for nonprofit organizations?
PayPal requires technical setup and integration with multiple tools for nonprofit needs. Zeffy offers plug-and-play setup specifically for nonprofits with donation forms, donor management, and event tools ready to use immediately without technical expertise.
Why should nonprofits choose Zeffy over PayPal for donations?
PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 on every donation, reducing funds for your mission. Zeffy processes donations with zero fees, so you keep 100% of what donors give. Plus, you get nonprofit-specific tools like donor management and event ticketing built for your needs.
Does Zeffy offer better donor management than PayPal?
Yes. PayPal is a generic payment processor without donor management features. Zeffy provides built-in donor profiles, giving history, and communication tools designed specifically for nonprofits. You can track relationships and engage supporters without needing separate software.
How much money can nonprofits save by switching from PayPal to Zeffy?
On $10,000 in donations, PayPal charges $320 in fees. With Zeffy, you pay $0 and keep the full $10,000. Donors also have the option to leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy's platform, but this never reduces your donation amount.
Is Zeffy legit and safe for nonprofits?
Yes, Zeffy is a legitimate platform with a 4.9/5 support rating, SOC 2 certification, and encrypted payment processing. Nonprofits keep 100% of donations with no hidden fees, and donors have the option to leave a voluntary tip to support Zeffy's operations.
Does PayPal charge monthly fees for nonprofits?
Yes, PayPal charges additional monthly fees beyond transaction costs: $25/month for Payflow Pro, $10/month for Fraud Protection, and $10/month for Recurring Billing. Zeffy has no monthly fees or subscription costs.
Can Zeffy accept PayPal payments?
Zeffy processes payments directly through credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH transfers—all with zero fees. You don't need PayPal integration because Zeffy handles payment processing built into the platform.
What's the catch with Zeffy being free?
There's no catch. Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits with no platform, processing, or hidden fees. Donors can optionally leave a voluntary contribution to support Zeffy, but this never reduces the donation amount your nonprofit receives.
Does PayPal offer peer-to-peer fundraising for nonprofits?
No, PayPal only processes payments and requires external platforms for peer-to-peer fundraising. Zeffy includes native P2P fundraising pages built-in, with no fees and no need for third-party tools.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
Zeffy was built for nonprofits like yours
focus on what matters
Built for small teams with big missions.
Zeffy is the fundraising platform that cuts out the fees, clears up your tech mess, and puts your cause first — so your team, even if you're a small team wearing many hats or a one-person show, can focus on what really matters.
ZERO-FEE
Keep 100% of every dollar.
No platform fees. No processing fees. No catch. We know it sounds too good to be true, but it's not. Every penny goes straight to your mission, while competitors take 2-3% off every donation.
ALL-IN-ONE PLatform
Ditch the tech mess.
Stop bouncing between MailChimp, Eventbrite, and all those spreadsheets. Now you can handle donations, ticket sales, memberships, raffles, and all your donor info in one spot.
plug-and-play
Get going, fast.
Built for teams like yours — whether you're volunteer-led or have limited staff. Set up donation forms, sell tickets, and launch campaigns without needing a tech wizard. It's super easy, and you'll be up and running in minutes.
mobile-first
Fundraise from every device, anywhere.
From QR codes on flyers to Tap-to-Pay on a phone, Zeffy makes it easy to accept donations on the go. Mobile-optimized and offline-ready, so no donor slips through the cracks.
No turnover
Never lose a donor to volunteer transition.
Centralize supporter relationships, automate thank-you messages, and preserve institutional knowledge when board members rotate out.
100,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
For 7+ years, Zeffy has supported nonprofits with free, user-friendly fundraising tools.
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As a startup nonprofit with only two members, and no funding (yet) we’d need something with low (or no) fees. Zeffy was a dream come true.
Masey, Loose Ends.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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