Donor-Covered Fees, Explained: How Your Club Can Keep 100% of Every Gift
What "donor covers the fees" means in online fundraising, why most supporters say yes, and how it helps youth sports clubs keep every dollar a donor meant to give.
Every online gift has costs attached. Card networks charge processing fees, and fundraising platforms charge to run the service. For a youth sports club, those costs come out of money families worked hard to raise. Donor-covered fees are a simple way to change that.
What does "donor covers the fees" mean?
At checkout, the supporter sees an option, usually already explained in one line, to add a small amount so the club receives the full gift. If a grandparent gives $50 and chooses to cover the fees, the club gets $50. If they don't, the fees come out of the $50 as usual.
It's the supporter's choice. Nobody is forced to pay extra, and the option is shown plainly before they pay.
Why do supporters say yes?
People who give to a youth team usually want the kids to get as much as possible. When they see that a small amount on top means the team keeps the whole gift, many of them choose it. It feels like part of the gift, not an extra charge.
A few things make the option work better:
- Clear wording. "Cover the fees so the club gets the full $50" is easy to understand.
- The amount shown up front. Supporters should see exactly what they're adding.
- No pressure. It should be easy to say no.
How fees usually work on fundraising platforms
Fundraising platforms handle fees in different ways. Some take a percentage of everything raised after the campaign ends. Some charge a monthly subscription. Some add a "tip" to the platform on top of each gift. And some combine processing and platform costs into one fee that donors can choose to cover.
When you compare platforms, ask three questions:
- What percentage does the club keep if no one covers fees?
- Can donors cover the fees, and does that bring the club to 100%?
- Is the rate shown up front, or do you need a sales call to find out?
Our guide to choosing a fundraising platform covers the rest of the questions worth asking, and our Snap! Raise comparison shows a side-by-side example.
A simple example
Say your team raises $10,000 online.
- On a platform where teams keep 80% of what's raised, the club receives $8,000.
- With donor-covered fees, every supporter who opts in sends their full gift to the club. If everyone opts in, the club receives the full $10,000.
In practice, not every supporter will cover the fees, so most clubs land somewhere in between. But every supporter who says yes adds directly to what the team keeps.
How it works on Kick For Good
On Kick For Good, every gift page includes the option to cover the fees. The club's rate is set when it's approved and is always visible in the club portal, so there are no surprises. There's no setup fee and no monthly subscription. If a supporter doesn't cover the fees, one small fee that already includes card processing comes out of that gift, and the rest goes to the club's own bank through Stripe.
Tips for clubs
- Mention it in your kickoff message. "When you give, you can cover the fees so the team keeps every dollar" plants the idea before supporters reach checkout.
- Thank people for it. A thank-you that says "and thanks for covering the fees!" reinforces it for next time.
- Don't overthink it. The option does most of the work on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Are donors required to cover the fees?
No. Covering the fees is always optional. Supporters can give the amount they chose and the fees are taken from that gift instead.
Is the fee amount tax deductible?
If your club is a 501(c)(3) and the supporter receives nothing in return, the extra amount they add is generally part of their contribution. Supporters should check with a tax professional about their own situation.
Does covering fees change what the player gets credit for?
On Kick For Good, the player is credited with the gift the supporter chose to give. Covering the fees simply makes sure the club receives that full amount.