What makes this sector different
Charities and non-profits take donations in person, online and by monthly gift. Card networks publish lower rates for some of them, based on how the organization is set up with its processor.
A merchant category code (MCC) is a four-digit number that says what kind of organization a merchant is. MCC 8398 is “Charitable and Social Service Organizations.” The network charity rates below are tied to that code.
Interchange is the fee the processor pays the donor’s bank. On interchange plus pricing it is passed through on the statement; on flat-rate pricing it is inside the one rate.
Fees to know about (Canada)
Visa. Visa Canada’s Emerging Segments program lists “MCC 8398: Charitable and Social Service Organizations” at any transaction amount.
| Visa Canada consumer credit | Emerging Segments | Standard in person (“Electronic”) |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, Gold, Platinum | 0.98% | 1.25% |
| Infinite | 1.17% | 1.57% |
| Infinite+ | 1.45% | 1.60% |
| Infinite Privilege | 1.95% | 2.08% |
For Visa Debit, Emerging Segments is 0.30%. MCC 8398 is not on Visa’s list for the separate “Emerging Segments – Preferred” program.
Mastercard. TD’s “upcoming (Oct 2026)” rate list shows Mastercard Canada domestic “Charity” rates:
| Mastercard card | Charity | Card Present EMV, for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Core | 0.92% | 0.92% |
| World | 1.22% | 1.22% |
| World Elite | 1.56% | 1.56% |
| World Legend | 1.65% | 1.95% |
| Debit | 0.30% | 0.25% + $0.05 (“Electronic”) |
Interac. Interac’s lowest tap tier, $0.020 on sales up to $100, includes “Charitable and Social Services Organizations (MCC 8398).” Most other merchants pay $0.035.
Fees to know about (United States)
Visa’s US sheet (rates effective April 18, 2026) lists Charity at 1.35% + $0.05 on consumer credit, for every card type in the table, both card present (“Charity 2”) and card not present (“Charity 1”).
What providers publish
| Provider | What it publishes for non-profits |
|---|---|
| Stripe | Discounted fees for eligible non-profits in select regions, including Canada and the US |
| Helcim | Interchange plus; says it passes charity interchange to registered charities under MCC 8398 |
| Square | The same fees for every business, “including non-profit organizations” |
Stripe. Its support article says the discount “applies only to accounts used primarily for receiving donations, not for selling products or tickets.” The listed criteria:
- “Registered nonprofit status” with valid tax documentation
- operating in an eligible region (the list includes Canada and the United States)
- “At least 80% of your Stripe payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations”
Payments that do not count toward the 80%: membership fees, tuition, ticket sales, registration fees and auction payments.
Helcim. Its guide says “Charity rates are only applicable to registered charities” and “Registered charities are determined by the card brand networks.” Its charity page lists no monthly fees.
Square. Its Canadian fees article says its fee “applies to all businesses, including non-profit organizations.” Square’s donation payment links have “no monthly fees” and allow donations “of up to $999.” In Canada, Square says a “purpose of donation” is required in the donation item’s description.
Monthly donations
A monthly gift is a recurring payment: a donor’s card stored and charged on a schedule. Visa Canada lists “Recurring Payments” at 1.25% for a Classic card and 0.60% for Visa Debit. Visa’s rules for stored cards, consent and cancelling are on Card on File and Recurring Payments.
Questions to ask a processor
- Is the organization set up under merchant category code 8398?
- Are Visa, Mastercard and Interac charity rates passed through on the statement?
- Is there separate pricing for donations, memberships and event tickets?
Where to go from here
More on online giving: Gateway Fees and Online Payment Costs. More on rates: What Is Interchange?
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