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Nonprofits Benefit From ePayments Technology By Daniel P. Mullen Barokas Public Relations Seattle, Washington Nonprofit organizations are realizing their Web sites are more and more often becoming the first place a potential donor may look to find information about the organization. As a result, an up-to-date, well-organized Web site is an essential element of presenting your nonprofit in the best possible light, not just to provide the mission, background and other information, but for development purposes as well. One important aspect of your nonprofit's Web site is the ability to accept donations online. The natural inclination may be to proceed directly to your credit card issuer and set up a merchant account to accept payments online via credit card. But with credit card percentage-based transaction fees hovering around at least 2% and the process of establishing a merchant account so labor-intensive, an alternative way to accept payments via your Web site may be an attractive option. Accepting payments via "e-check," with monies transferred directly from the donor's to the nonprofit organization's bank account, offers a convenient donation option to those without credit cards or who prefer to pay via check. Beyond convenience, accepting online donations by e-check may also save nonprofit organizations money. CheckSpace, an ePayments company based in Bellevue, Washington, is offering its ePayments service free to all nonprofits for the rest of the year. Essentially, by adding the "Pay By CheckSpace" tab to nonprofit Web sites, 100% of all donated money will reach the organization because CheckSpace is waiving the usual transaction fees. While CheckSpace's main focus is providing ePayment solutions to small businesses and their service partners - such as financial institutions, e-marketplaces and other online service providers - the Company says allowing nonprofits to accept donations for free is one way to stay connected with nonprofit organizations around the country. "Nonprofits should not be forced to pay credit card fees to accept their well-earned donations," said Naseem Tuffaha, CEO of CheckSpace. "The total donation should be allocated to furthering the mission of the organization." Teamwork for Tomorrow, Inc., a nonprofit educational resource and consulting organization based in Southbend, Indiana, is developing effective and sustainable after-school programs through support from academic communities and social service organizations. Teamwork for Tomorrow is launching its Web site with the "Pay By CheckSpace" tab as its predominant method to accept donations. The nonprofit's extensive donor base consists primarily of former volunteer college students after they graduate. "As our former volunteers graduate, they represent a large potential support base, but since they are spread throughout the country, the costs involved in direct mail or phone solicitation are prohibitive for a developing nonprofit organization," said Scott Cullen, Co-founder of Teamwork for Tomorrow. "Plus, the extra money saved by not having to pay credit card fees to accept donations online is dedicated directly to assisting our after-school programs, where we pair college students with youth from low-income households." While online fundraising may still be in its infancy, nonprofit organizations are realizing that this new ePayments technology may make the growth process less painful. For more information on the CheckSpace for Nonprofits program, go to www.checkspace.com or call (425) 643-9905. "CheckSpace's ePayments service makes online fundraising cost effective not only because it's free for nonprofits, but because it reduces the time and money spent processing paper checks and it maintains a record of each donation on a personalized Web page." - Scott Cullen, Co-founder of Teamwork for Tomorrow |
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