Let donors cover the fees. Keep every dollar of the gift.
Donately adds one clear checkbox to your donation form so donors can cover the fees on their gift. You decide whether it's offered and whether it starts checked. No tip prompts, no guessing, and it's on every Donately plan.
Quick answer
What are donor-covered fees?
Donor-covered fees are an option on your donation form that lets the donor add the cost of fees to their gift, so your organization receives the full amount they meant to give. Donately adds one clear checkbox, you decide whether it's offered and whether it starts checked, and it's on every plan.
What your donors see
One line, right above the donate button:
“Round up my donation to $103.20 so the processing fees are covered.”
The amount updates live as the donor changes their gift, so they always see the real number. One click to accept, one click to decline, and their gift goes through either way. Prefer your own words? Change the wording to match your voice.
You choose how it's offered
You also control how the fee is calculated and worded, so it fits the way your organization talks to donors.
The box starts unchecked and donors choose to add it.
The box starts checked and donors can uncheck it.
Not ready to offer it yet? Leave it off.
Not a tip. Never a surprise.
Some “free” platforms add a tip to every gift, often pre-filled at 10–15%, and keep it themselves. Donors see a number they didn't expect, and your organization never sees the money.
Donor-covered fees work the other way around: the amount covers the actual fees on that gift, it's shown up front, and it goes toward your donation, not to us. See what each model really costs donors on Total Donor Cost.
Works everywhere you take gifts
Embedded on your website, or hosted on your own page.
Fees covered on the first gift are covered on every gift after it, so monthly gifts stay whole too.
What Donately costs
Every plan includes every feature, donor-covered fees included. Plans differ only by platform fee: 4% on Free, 2% on Low Fees ($99/month), and 0% on No Fees. Payment processing through Stripe or PayPal applies on every plan.
Frequently asked questions
What are donor-covered fees?
An option on your donation form that lets the donor add the cost of fees to their gift, so your organization receives the full amount they meant to give.
Is this the same as a tip?
No. A tip is extra money that goes to the platform. Donor-covered fees match the real fees on that gift and the donor sees the exact amount before they give.
Can I make it pre-selected?
Yes. You choose whether the checkbox is hidden, shown unchecked, or checked by default. Donors can always change it.
Do donors have to cover the fees?
No. It's always the donor's choice, and the gift goes through either way. Donately never requires it.
Does it work for monthly gifts?
Yes. A recurring gift always charges the same total as the first gift, so if the donor covers the fees when they sign up, the fees are covered on every gift after that.
Which plans include it?
All of them. Every Donately plan has the same features.
Where do I turn it on?
In your form's settings in the Donately dashboard. Step-by-step: Donor-paid fees explained.
Let donors cover the fees on every gift
One clear checkbox, no tip prompts, and it's on every Donately plan. Turn it on before Giving Tuesday.