Can DonorPerfect Handle Payments Securely for Nonprofits?

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DonorPerfect

Rating
A
5/5
full starfull starfull starfull starfull star

Pros and Cons of DonorPerfect

Pros

Customizable reporting tools
User-friendly interface
Secure data handling
Scalable for growth
Comprehensive donor management

Cons

Steep learning curve
Higher pricing tiers
Limited mobile functionality
Integration challenges
Customization requires expertise

Overview

In this review of DonorPerfect, a widely used fundraising and donor management platform, we’ll examine its core features, pricing, contract terms, and overall user experience. We’ll explore its fundraising tools, payment processing capabilities, and reporting functions to show how it supports nonprofits of all sizes. This review also considers user feedback, highlighting both strengths and common concerns, along with a breakdown of costs to give organizations a realistic view of what to expect. Our goal is to provide a clear, balanced assessment to help you decide whether DonorPerfect is the right fit for your fundraising and donor management needs.

About DonorPerfect

Screen Capture of DonorPerfect Homepage
DonorPerfect Homepage

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform offered by a Pennsylvania-based software company called Softerware, Inc. DonorPerfect’s Insta-Charge payment gateway utilizes TransFirst as its default payment processor, which means that organizations may have some difficulty directly integrating their existing third-party processors with Insta-Charge. TransFirst was acquired by TSYS in April 2016 and was subsequently absorbed into the TSYS Merchant Solutions brand, so TSYS may now act as DonorPerfect’s backend processor.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

DonorPerfect facilitates efficient and secure payment processing, ensuring that donations are handled smoothly and reliably across various platforms.

Processes Charitable Contributions

The service specializes in processing charitable contributions, making it easier for non-profits to manage and track donations from various sources.

Online Payments

With DonorPerfect, organizations can accept online payments, providing a convenient and accessible way for donors to contribute through their websites.

Supports Phone Payments

In addition to online payments, DonorPerfect supports phone payments, allowing donors to make contributions over the phone, thereby expanding the avenues through which donations can be received.

Data Reporting and Analytics

DonorPerfect includes data reporting and analytics tools that help organizations gain insights into their fundraising activities, track donor behavior, and make informed decisions based on detailed reports.

Manages Donor Events and Auctions

The service also manages donor events and auctions, helping non-profits organize and execute successful fundraising events with ease.

Integrates with QuickBooks

To streamline financial management, DonorPerfect integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, ensuring that all donation data is accurately recorded and synchronized with accounting records.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Positive Reception

We’ve found only a couple of negative DonorPerfect reviews online, and there’s no indication that the software is considered a ripoff by nonprofit organizations. In fact, DonorPerfect reviews are predominantly positive on SpiceWorks, Software Advice, Capterra, and Constant Contact user forums. Users praise its scalable pricing, detailed reports, central donor database, seamless updates, and customer service. However, a couple of complaints below this review cite difficulties migrating to DonorPerfect, inadequate customer support, and product design issues.

Legal Standing

No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints are currently filed against DonorPerfect. Individuals with grievances can consider reporting concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Customer Support Options

DonorPerfect offers basic maintenance support for all pricing plans. Organizations can opt for full support (phone, email, chat, automatic backups) or premium support (24-hour emergency support, 2-hour response time guaranteed) for a variable monthly fee.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB RatingN/A

DonorPerfect BBB Rating

DonorPerfect does not have a dedicated Better Business Bureau report, but its developer, Softerware, Inc., does. Softerware currently has an “A+” with the BBB and has been accredited since 2011. The company has received 1 complaint in the last 36 months. The 1 complaint was resolved to the satisfaction of the client.

What Merchants Say

DonorPerfect has received no reviews in the last 3 years on it BBB profile. A previous review filed by a client cited numerous technical issues:

I work for a nonprofit that works to exonerate individuals who have been incarcerated for something that they did not do. DonorPerfect was the database that was in use when I was hired, and I have spent the last year learning it and making improvement to our systems and how we use it. I recently asked DonorPerfect about adding Payment Processing and Online Forms, so that we could take online donations and crowdfund, and have the ease of downloading those donors and their gift record right into the database at the click of a button. It would have been an incredible experience, had it actually been useful. The online forms especially are full of glitches. One of the most egregious is the promise that one can add a donor who gives via check to the crowdfunding thermometer. You can – but the guest can only be credited as “Anonymous.” There is no acceptable workaround to this. Their suggestion – to add the name to the gift memo – is sloppy and makes it look like the organization is not fulfilling its promise to keep a donor Anonymous, at the same time it is not fulfilling its obligation to appropriately recognize donors. This is unacceptable and I was told that there was no time line to fix this issue, or any way that they could help me. This is the last straw in a string of errors or clunky glitches that I tried my best to work around for some time. Anyone in donor management knows that donor acknowledgements are a very important part of this work, and to have such an oversight as well as offer no solution or timeline to a solution is problematic at best. I am not sure I feel comfortable working with DonorPerfect moving forward. My team will be seeking a new donor database management system as well as payment processor, which is unfortunate because if they actually fulfilled the service they purported to provide, it would have been a huge help to our small, scrappy team.

An “A” Performance

In light of this information, we agree with the BBB’s rating. However, readers should be aware that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

The typical pricing for a TSYS Merchant Solutions account via DonorPerfect includes 2.50% plus $0.20 per transaction for swiped transactions and 3.50% plus $0.20 for keyed-in transactions. This agreement also comprises an early termination fee of $295 and an annual PCI compliance fee of $75.20 (billed quarterly). Equipment leases are unlikely given that Insta-Charge is an internet-based virtual terminal.

Industry-Average Rates

This pricing is standard within the credit card processing sector, with the 2.50% plus $0.20 transaction fee exceeding rates from more economical merchant account providers. There’s mention of potential pricing reductions for higher-volume organizations, though specific criteria for these discounts are not defined.

Third-Party Merchant Account Integration

Organizations might consider alternative payment processors to TransFirst or TSYS, yet Softerware suggests that this option may incur higher costs:

“While integration with other processor merchant accounts is possible, it is generally cost-prohibitive.”

This implies that TransFirst/TSYS may offer the most advantageous pricing for the software.

DonorPerfect Pricing Plans

DonorPerfect’s monthly plans include varying features and costs: “Lite” at $69 per month (up to 1,000 donor records), “Express” at $159 per month (up to 2,500 records), “Essentials” at $289 per month (up to 7,500 records), “Premier” at $479 per month (up to 25,000 records), and “Enterprise” at $799 per month (up to 75,000 records). These tiers are separate from the merchant account pricing.

No Contract Complaints

While DonorPerfect’s pricing is average for the industry, the absence of complaints regarding its credit card processing suggests customer satisfaction. Accordingly, a “B” rating is appropriate. For a detailed look at the pricing, see DonorPerfect’s Insta-Charge Pricing.

DonorPerfect pricing structure
Overview of DonorPerfect’s pricing structure

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Partnered With TSYS

DonorPerfect offers payment processing through a partnership with TransFirst, meaning that NPOs who use DonorPerfect’s Insta-Charge gateway will be encouraged to set up a TransFirst or TSYS merchant account in order to accept cards through DonorPerfect. This model limits the amount of contact that organizations will have with TransFirst/TSYS sales representatives, which is a factor in its favor. It also reduces the possibility that organizations will encounter misleading rate quotes or nondisclosure of important terms, as DonorPerfect does not utilize independent merchant services sales agents to market its services.

No Deceptive Quotes

At this time, we cannot find any DonorPerfect complaints that mention misrepresentation or deception by the company’s sales team. In addition, the company’s official materials do not promote any “teaser” rates or unrealistic claims. If you suspect that DonorPerfect has added extra fees to your monthly bill, you can double-check your pricing with a third-party statement audit.

DonorPerfect Competitors

Compare DonorPerfect to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

DonorPerfect is recognized as a reliable donor management credit card processing service for most nonprofit organizations based on user feedback. While the company’s standard credit card processing solution through TransFirst may not offer the most competitive pricing, its robust software and dependable support help offset these costs, providing added value to organizations seeking an integrated donor management system.

Despite its strong reputation, nonprofits should exercise due diligence and compare DonorPerfect’s pricing against top-rated merchant account providers for non-profits. This comparison will help organizations ensure that they are securing the most cost-effective and suitable processing solution for their unique fundraising and management needs.

Read Actual User Reviews

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact DonorPerfect

Contact & Customer Support
Co-founder and CEODoug Schoenberg
Headquarters601 W Office Center Dr #200, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania 19034
Toll-Free General Customer Service(215) 628-4343
New Customers(800) 220-8111
Existing Customer Sales(800) 848-3279
DonorPerfect Payment Services Support(800) 220-8611
Onboarding Team(800) 220-3593
Client Relations Specialist(800) 220-3537
Accounting/Billing(215) 628-088
Main Office(215) 628-0400
Additional Support ChannelsLive Chat
Websitedonorperfect.com