How to set up Venmo for nonprofits and boost donations

Lately, a lot of organizations are turning to Venmo, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s what many people already have on their phones. Whether you’re collecting donations at an event or just trying to lower barriers to giving online, Venmo is one more option to consider.

This guide will walk you through what Venmo actually offers for nonprofits, how to set it up, what works, what doesn’t, and a few things to watch out for. You’ll get setup steps, tips, and a reality check on where Venmo fits into your overall fundraising strategy.

What is Venmo and how can nonprofits use it?

Venmo is a mobile payment app that most people use to pay friends or split a bill. It wasn’t designed for nonprofits, but because it’s so common, some organizations have started using it for donations, mostly to make giving as easy as possible for people who already use the app.

For nonprofits, Venmo isn’t a perfect fit. It offers a simple way for supporters to send money in a couple of taps, but it doesn’t have the advanced features or controls you get from fundraising platforms built for nonprofits. It’s quick, familiar, and sometimes that’s enough to lower the barrier for smaller gifts, especially from younger donors.

Can nonprofits receive donations on Venmo?

Yes, they can, and it’s getting easier than ever. Venmo now offers charity profiles for verified 501(c)(3) organizations. These profiles are a big step up from the old days when nonprofits had to use a personal or business Venmo account just to accept donations.

With a charity profile, your nonprofit gets a verified badge, which helps build trust with donors. It also unlocks features that are designed just for nonprofits, like donation tracking, access to supporter data, and a cleaner, more professional look.

But here’s the key thing: to get a charity profile, your nonprofit needs to be verified through PayPal’s Giving Fund. That process checks that you're a real nonprofit with good standing, and once approved, you can link everything to your bank account and start receiving donations directly through Venmo.

How to set up a Venmo account for your nonprofit

Setting up Venmo for your nonprofit isn’t hard, but there are a few steps you need to get right from the start. Once you’ve gone through it, you’ll have a donation option that’s easy for people to use.

Requirements before creating your Venmo charity profile

Before you dive in, make sure you have a few things ready. You’ll need:

• A verified 501(c)(3) status
• An email address and phone number tied to your organization
• Your organization’s bank account info (so you can actually get the funds)
• A PayPal business account connected to the PayPal Giving Fund

That PayPal piece is key, it’s how Venmo verifies your nonprofit and helps you create the charity profile. If you don’t already have a PayPal business account, you’ll need to set one up first.

Step-by-step guide to creating your Venmo charity profile

1. Go to PayPal Giving Fund: Start your registration at paypal.com/givingfund. That’s where you’ll link your nonprofit to the system.
2. Submit verification details: You'll be asked to upload your IRS letter and other basic nonprofit info.
3. Connect your PayPal business account: This links your donations directly to your bank account.
4. Claim your Venmo profile: Once approved, you can create your charity profile right in the Venmo app or through PayPal.
5. Customize your profile: Add your logo, mission statement, and a short message to donors.
6. Start sharing: You’ll get a QR code and a Venmo username to promote right away.

After this setup, your nonprofit will be ready to accept donations, securely, quickly, and with zero confusion for your donors.

Venmo’s fees for nonprofits

Let’s talk money. Venmo is easy to use, but it’s not totally free. That said, the fees are pretty reasonable compared to many other payment tools, and once you understand them, there are no surprises.

Donation transaction fees

For every donation made through your Venmo charity profile, you’ll pay a transaction fee of 1.9% + $0.10. That means if someone donates $50, you’ll receive $48.95 after fees. It’s a small cut, but one that’s in line with most other fundraising platforms.

Just as important: donors don’t see or pay this fee, it comes out of the donation amount after it’s processed.

Other costs and optional features

Venmo offers a few extras that may come with additional fees:

• Instant transfer fee: If you want your funds moved to your bank account immediately instead of waiting 1–3 business days, there’s usually a small percentage fee (around 1.5%) for that convenience.
• No monthly fees: There’s no subscription or platform fee just to have a Venmo charity profile.

As long as you’re okay with the standard processing fees, and don’t need instant transfers every time, Venmo can be a very cost-effective way to accept donations.

Promoting your Venmo profile for increased visibility

Once your Venmo charity profile is live, it’s time to let the world know. Just like any fundraising tool, Venmo works best when you actively promote it. The good news? There are some simple, effective ways to do that.

Using QR codes to drive donations

Venmo gives you a unique QR code when you set up your charity profile. This is one of your best tools for collecting donations, especially in person.

Here’s how to use it:

• Print it out and display it at events or your front desk.
• Add it to posters, flyers, or donation boxes.
• Include it in mailers or newsletters.

Promoting Venmo on social media and other channels

Don’t forget digital spaces. Your Venmo username and QR code should be part of your online presence:

• Add them to your Instagram and Facebook bios.
• Share posts explaining how people can give through Venmo.
• Include your Venmo handle and QR in email footers, thank-you pages, and donation receipts.

How to manage and track your fundraising efforts

Once the donations start rolling in, you’ll want to keep an eye on them, and make sure everything is organized. Venmo gives you some basic tools for tracking your fundraising efforts, but there are a few things to know upfront.

With your charity profile, you can:

• View donation history right in the Venmo app or your PayPal dashboard.
• See donor names (when available), amounts, and dates.
• Export reports through PayPal for basic tracking.

This makes it fairly easy to see how your campaigns are doing and thank your supporters quickly.

That said, Venmo isn’t built for full-on donor management. It doesn’t offer features like tagging donors, setting up donation goals, or tracking repeat gifts. If you need deeper insights or CRM-like tools, this is where platforms like Harness can help.

Limitations and workarounds for Venmo donations

Venmo is easy and popular, but like any tool, it has its limits. Knowing these ahead of time will help you plan better and avoid surprises.

What Venmo does not offer

Here are a few key things Venmo doesn’t do out of the box:

• No recurring donations: Donors can’t set up automatic monthly gifts. They’d have to come back and do it manually each time.
• No tax receipts: Venmo doesn’t automatically send donation receipts that meet IRS standards, which can be a problem during tax season.
• No advanced donor data: You get basic info (like names and amounts), but not the kind of insights you might want for tracking trends or building relationships.
• Profile limits: Your charity profile is tied to one account manager, which can be tricky for bigger teams that share responsibilities.

Smart workarounds using Harness and third-party tools

The truth is, Venmo can only take you so far. If you want to build lasting support and actually grow your nonprofit, you need more than a payment app, you need a full-service platform. That’s where Harness comes in.

Harness does what Venmo can’t. It handles recurring donations, sends tax-compliant receipts automatically, and tracks your donors so you always know who’s giving, when, and how much. You get real data, better reporting, and built-in tools to thank, engage, and retain supporters over time.

We’ve seen plenty of nonprofits start with Venmo because it’s easy and familiar. But the organizations that really build momentum are the ones using a system like Harness behind the scenes. With Harness, you’re not just collecting gifts, you’re building real relationships and running smarter campaigns that lead to long-term growth.

So while Venmo might open the door, it’s a full-service platform like Harness that helps you actually move forward and make a bigger impact.

Should you use Venmo as your main fundraising platform?

Venmo is a great tool for quick, casual donations, but is it the right platform to build your entire fundraising strategy on? That depends on your needs and how you use it.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: Venmo is a door opener, not a full solution. It’s perfect for small gifts, younger donors, and event fundraising. But if you need recurring donations, detailed reporting, or deep donor engagement, you’ll likely want something more.

Make giving easy

Venmo makes it simple for people to send money, and that convenience has a certain appeal. But if you’re serious about building a sustainable fundraising program, Venmo alone isn’t enough. It’s missing key tools for donor engagement, reporting, and long-term relationship building.

What really moves the needle for nonprofits is having a full-service fundraising platform. That’s where something like Harness makes a difference. Instead of relying on apps designed for quick payments, Harness gives you th§e features and support you need to manage donors, grow recurring gifts, and actually understand your fundraising results.

In the end, easy giving is great, but meaningful growth takes more than an app. If you want to raise more and keep supporters around for the long haul, invest in tools built for nonprofits. That’s how you turn one-time gifts into lasting impact.