Google Checkout

If you haven’t already noticed, I am a huge Google fan. Not only do I highly recommend almost every one of their products, but I use them extensively in my other business, a e-commerce website. Google Checkout is one of the best new projects to come out of Google. Checkout is very similar to PayPal, in that it allows almost anyone to accept credit card payments online.

Many non-profits use Network for Good or other comparable products to process donations online. Network for Good charges approximately 4.75% of a transaction in fees. They have an option for the donor to pay an additional amount to cover the processing fee, ensuring that your organization receives their entire donation.

Until 2009, Google Checkout does not charge any fees for qualified non-profits. After January 2009, Checkout will only charge you a $.20 transaction fee and 2% of the total transaction. For a $100 dollar gift, it will cost $4.75 with Network for Good and only $2.20 with Checkout.

Checkout offers multiple ways to give gifts. You can provide a blank field so your donors can give any amount they choose. You can also create special buttons that have a pre-assigned value. For example, if you operate a kitchen for the homeless, you can create a button that automatically donates the value of one week or one months meals for one of your clients. You can have multiple buttons like this, so donors at all levels will find something that fits their needs.

Another neat feature of Google Checkout is invoicing. You can create and send email invoices using Google Checkout, a very useful feature if you have reoccurring donations.

All you need to do is follow this link to Google Checkout and register for your account. Within minutes you will be able to accept online payments.

Tagged as: checkout, credit card payments, donations, google, google checkout, nonprofit, nonprofit tech, payments, transaction fee