Apply for Stripe's nonprofit rate (lower fees on QR code & online donations)
The short version: If your organization is a registered 501(c)(3), Stripe offers a discounted processing rate for nonprofits. This discount lowers the fees on your card-not-present donations — the donations made when a supporter scans a QR code and gives from their own phone, or gives online. It takes about 5 minutes to request and 3–5 business days to take effect. We recommend every eligible Kind Kiosk organization apply.
What is Stripe's nonprofit rate?
Kind Kiosk processes payments through Stripe, and your organization has its own Stripe account connected to Kind Kiosk. Stripe charges a standard processing fee on every transaction, but registered nonprofits can apply for a discounted nonprofit rate.
For U.S. organizations, the discount lowers the standard card-not-present rate from 2.9% + 30¢ to 2.2% + 30¢ per transaction. On a $100 online gift, that's the difference between keeping $96.80 and keeping $97.50 — and it adds up quickly across a season of giving.
Why this matters for QR code donations specifically
Kind Kiosk donations happen two ways, and the nonprofit rate affects them differently:
Tap or insert a card at the kiosk (card-present). These in-person transactions are already processed at lower, in-person rates and are not changed by the nonprofit discount. You don't need to do anything here.
Scan the QR code or give online (card-not-present). When a donor scans the QR code on your kiosk and completes their gift on their own phone, that transaction is processed at the higher card-not-present rate. This is exactly where the nonprofit discount helps.
If QR code giving is part of how you raise money, applying for the nonprofit rate directly increases how much of each gift you keep.
Are you eligible?
Stripe's nonprofit rate is available to organizations that meet all of the following:
You are a registered nonprofit (in the U.S., a 501(c)(3) organization).
At least 80% of your Stripe payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations. Ticket sales and merchandise don't count as donations for this purpose, so if most of your volume is product sales rather than gifts, you may not qualify.
You can provide valid tax documentation confirming your nonprofit status (for example, your EIN or your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter).
Stripe verifies eligibility during review and may run periodic compliance checks to confirm you still qualify.
How to apply (about 5 minutes)
You'll submit a request to Stripe directly from the account that's connected to your Kind Kiosk kiosks. You must be the account owner.
Step 1 — Find your Stripe Account ID.
Log in to your Stripe Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com. Click the Settings (gear) icon. Your Account ID begins with acct_ — copy it down, you'll need it in the request.
Step 2 — Open Stripe's nonprofit fee discount request.
Go to Stripe's nonprofit fee discount support page and open their contact form, signed in as the account owner: support.stripe.com/questions/fee-discount-for-nonprofit-organizations
Step 3 — Submit your request with the required details.
Include all of the following:
Account ID — the
acct_…ID from Step 1Registered email address — the email on your Stripe account
Donation volume confirmation — a one-line statement that over 80% of your payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations
Tax registration details — your EIN, and your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or equivalent tax-exempt documentation
Step 4 — Wait for approval.
Allow 3–5 business days for Stripe to review and apply the discounted rate. Once approved, the lower rate applies automatically to your future card-not-present donations — there's nothing to change in Kind Kiosk.
Request template you can copy
Hello Stripe Support,
Our organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we'd like to apply for the nonprofit fee discount on our account.
Account ID: acct_xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Registered email: [your account email]
Donation volume: More than 80% of our Stripe payment volume comes from tax-deductible donations.
Tax status: We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Our EIN is [XX-XXXXXXX], and our IRS determination letter is attached.
Please apply the nonprofit processing rate to our account. Thank you!
Frequently asked questions
Will this change anything about my kiosk or how donors give?
No. The discount applies behind the scenes to Stripe's processing fees. Your kiosk, QR code, and donation flow stay exactly the same.
Does this affect the card reader / in-person donations?
No. In-person (card-present) transactions are already processed at lower rates and aren't affected. The discount applies to card-not-present donations — QR code and online gifts.
What if less than 80% of our volume is donations?
Stripe requires that the majority (80%+) of payment volume be tax-deductible donations. If you also sell tickets or merchandise through Stripe and that makes up most of your volume, you may not qualify. Reach out to us and we can talk through your setup.
Do I have to do this through Kind Kiosk?
No — because your organization owns its connected Stripe account, you submit the request to Stripe directly. We're happy to help you find your Account ID or prepare your request if you get stuck.
Need a hand? Contact Kind Kiosk support and we'll walk you through it.