Venmo business account for nonprofit: Setup and fees

Venmo is a familiar payment app for millions of people in the US. For a nonprofit, that familiarity can make giving feel quick and low-friction. If you’re searching for a Venmo business account for a nonprofit, you’ll need a verified charity profile to begin accepting donations.

Venmo for nonprofits works through that charity profile, letting supporters donate inside the Venmo app after the nonprofit is approved through PayPal’s verification flow. The cost is straightforward. Venmo lists 1.9% + $0.10 per donation of $1 or more under its charity profile donation fees.¹

Venmo can be a helpful extra donation channel. If the organization also pays overseas suppliers or contractors, Wise Business can support the international payments side with clear pricing and the mid-market rate.

Can a nonprofit use Venmo as a business account?

Yes, but for donations, most organizations won’t want a typical business profile. A Venmo business account for nonprofit fundraising usually means setting up a verified charity profile instead. Venmo charity profiles are available for charitable organizations and 501(c)(3) entities, and Venmo states that a PayPal Business account is required to create one. That charity profile is the closest thing to a dedicated Venmo charity account inside Venmo, since it’s built for supporters to donate in the app.²

There are also basic US-only requirements. Venmo requires the account holder to be physically located in the United States and to have a US-based cell phone that can receive short-code texts.³

What’s the difference between a Venmo charity profile and a business profile?

People searching for a Venmo business account for a nonprofit may actually be looking for a donation setup. Here’s the quick way to tell the two options apart:

If your goal is pure fundraising and collecting donations, the charity profile may be what you’re looking for in a Venmo charity account.

What you’ll need before setting up a Venmo account for nonprofits

Before starting, it can be useful to prepare a quick checklist for yourself. It saves time and helps you avoid getting stuck halfway through.

• A PayPal Business account. Venmo charity profiles require a PayPal Business account as part of the setup.
• US-based access. Venmo requires the account holder to be physically located in the United States and to have a US-based cell phone number that can receive short-code texts.
• Basic organization details. If identity checks come up during setup, Venmo may ask for details such as the business name and address, plus an Employer Identification Number (EIN).⁶

If one of these items isn’t available yet, it’s usually worth sorting it out first. You will find that the setup goes much more smoothly that way.

How to set up Venmo for a nonprofit

Setting up Venmo for a nonprofit comes down to a few checks, then a short setup flow.

1. Confirm there’s a PayPal Business account. Venmo charity profiles require a PayPal Business account as part of setup.
2. Complete PayPal’s charity verification. PayPal runs the nonprofit verification process for Venmo charity profiles, so approval happens through PayPal’s charity tools.⁷
3. Make sure the Venmo account is eligible. Venmo requires the account holder to be in the US and have a US phone number that can receive short-code texts.
4. Avoid mixing profiles. If the Venmo account already has a business profile, it may not be eligible for a charity profile.⁷
5. Connect PayPal and Venmo to create the charity profile. Once verified, PayPal and Venmo can be linked so donations can be accepted in the Venmo app.
6. Review what customers will see. Charity profiles can show a verified badge and donation history features that help build trust.
7. Run a quick test before promoting it. Make a small test donation, confirm notifications, and check payout options. Venmo notes that same-day access may be available, with fees depending on the transfer type.

If it helps internal planning, treat your Venmo account for nonprofit donations as just one fundraising channel, not the entire system.

Venmo nonprofit fees (and other costs to plan for)

When people talk about Venmo nonprofit fees, they usually refer to the cost that comes out of each donation. For a verified charity profile, Venmo lists a fee of 1.9% + $0.10 for donations of $1 or more. That fee is charged to the charity profile, so the donor doesn’t pay an extra Venmo donation fee on top.

Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:

• $25 donation: $0.48 + $0.10 fee → $24.42 received.
• $100 donation: $1.90 + $0.10 fee → $98.00 received.

There’s also a useful card detail for customers who donate. Venmo’s standard 3% fee for using a credit card doesn’t apply when a customer is donating to a charity profile. The charity still pays the charity donation fee above, but the donor won’t get hit with that separate 3% card fee just for choosing a credit card.⁸

Wise Business Could Help Your Nonprofit Save on Global Payments

Venmo donations made simple

Fundraising with a Venmo business account for nonprofit is usually best handled through a verified charity profile, since it’s designed for donations inside the Venmo app. However, it’s still worth planning around the basics, including eligibility requirements and the fact that Venmo takes a fee from each donation.

Venmo works well as an extra channel, but not as a full fundraising system. When international payments enter the picture, Wise Business is a practical add-on for paying people abroad or moving money across currencies and borders.

A Banking Alternative: Wise Business for International Nonprofits

If your nonprofit works on an international scale, then you’ll want to choose the Wise account. Wise understands the financial challenges nonprofits face, and that's why they've designed a low-fee account model. Wise Business isn't a bank, but a money service business (MSB). Learn more how we're regulated here.

With Wise Business, not only will you waive local fees but the heavy fees that come with international transactions. And even though Wise doesn’t provide a traditional nonprofit checking account, they hold your money with established financial institutions and have dedicated fraud and security teams to ensure your money is safe.

Beyond affordability, Wise is passionate about efficiency. From streamlining your finances to simplifying your workflow, a Wise Business Account is designed with your nonprofit needs in mind. The platform makes it easy for you to manage your organization's finances from anywhere in the world. So, if you want to save money and easily manage your organization, the Wise Business Account could be the best nonprofit alternative you've been looking for.

One of the biggest strengths of Wise is that customers can rely on the ability to receive and send international transfers at the mid-market exchange rate. This means you get transparency on your transactions and understand where your fees come from, so you can keep operating your nonprofit with the utmost clarity.

Are you looking for a low-cost account for operating your business or nonprofit?

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Sources:

1. Charity profile donation fees | Venmo
2. Charity profile setup guide | Venmo
3. Requirements | Venmo
4. Charity profile FAQ | Venmo
5. Business profile fees | Venmo
6. Business profile identity verification FAQ | Venmo
7. Enable your charity to receive donations via the venmo app | Venmo
8. Sending donations FAQ | Venmo