What Fundraise Up, Donorbox, and Whitelabel actually cost per $100 donation once processing is included, and how donor-covered fees change the math.
The headline rate is never the real rate
Every donation platform advertises a platform fee. Almost none of them include processing in the number you see first. Fundraise Up says 4%, then adds Stripe or PayPal processing on top. Donorbox Free says 2.95%, plus processing. The real question is always the same: on a $100 gift, how much reaches the mission?
Using Stripe's nonprofit rate of 2.2% plus 30 cents, the all-in math works out to roughly $6.20 on $100 with Fundraise Up and about $5.15 with Donorbox Free. Whitelabel is 3.5% plus 1.5% processing, $5.00 all in, with processing that runs below Stripe while meeting the same PCI DSS Level 1 compliance spec.
Donor-covered fees change everything
The bigger lever is who pays. On Smart Checkout, donors cover the fees by default, and the overwhelming majority leave that box ticked. That means 100% of every gift reaches your cause, instead of 94 to 95 cents on the dollar.
Across a year of fundraising this is not a rounding error. A nonprofit processing $500,000 annually keeps roughly $25,000 to $30,000 more when fees are donor-covered, which is a program hire, not a discount.
Watch for the fees that hide outside the rate card
Monthly platform subscriptions, setup fees, charges for premium features like employer matching, and contracts with annual lock-in all quietly raise your effective rate. Whitelabel charges no monthly fees, no setup, and no contracts, and matching gifts and hyper-personal donation flows are part of the suite, not paid add-ons.
When you compare platforms, compare a real gift: model $50, $100, and $500 donations end to end, including what the donor sees, who covers fees, and what lands in your account. We run that exact exercise in our Donorbox alternatives and Fundraise Up alternatives guides.
Frequently asked questions
What does Whitelabel cost per $100 donation?
3.5% platform fee plus 1.5% processing, $5.00 all in. Donors cover fees by default, so in practice 100% of the gift typically reaches your cause.
Do donors actually agree to cover fees?
Yes, overwhelmingly. When covering fees is the friendly default at checkout, the large majority of donors keep it on, which is why donor-covered fees are the single biggest lever in the comparison.
Is there a monthly fee or contract?
No. Whitelabel has no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no contracts. You pay per gift, and you can start by simply signing up to the pay rails.