Google Checkout for Non-Profits Launch

Submitted by BrettMeyer on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 8:48am.

You heard it from NTEN first: Google announced today the launch of Google Checkout for Non-Profits. Qualified nonprofit organizations can now sign up to accept charitable donations through Google Checkout -- for free -- through at least the end of 2008. That’s right: no monthly, set-up, transaction, or gateway fees. This time, "free" actually means, well, free.

Google Checkout has already become a popular way for merchants to process credit card transactions over the Internet because of its low transaction fees, the typically straight-forward interface, and the reliability of the Google brand.

Now, donors will be able to contribute to their favorite charitable organizations using a single login across the web, increasing the potential that they will donate over and over again. Indeed, many of your potential donors may already have a Google Checkout account. It's like a Development Director's fantasy.

Because Google Checkout can be used in parallel with your current online donation system, there’s no reason not to give it a look.

The sign up process is relatively straightforward. Go to the Google Checkout site and click the “Sign up now” button. Then:

 

  • Enter basic information about your organization; make sure your Employer Identification Number (EIN) matches your Non Profit Tax ID number.
  • Once you’ve completed this step, go to the “Settings” tab in your new account and
    • Find the “Primary Product Type” field;
    • Select “Non-Profit (IRS certified 501cs);
    • Click “Save Profile”.
  • Finally, email or fax a copy of your most recent IRS 990 Form and merchant ID to Google: checkout-nonprofit@google.com or 888-522-6614.
| the blog

but why use them?
Submitted by David (not verified) on Thu, 10/11/2007 - 4:27am.

Ok, I understand saving a few bucks, but Google Checkout requires your visitors/donors to have or sign up for a Google account in order to make the purchase... or at least that was the way it worked last time a client was interested in taking advantage of their service.

So someone comes to your site, registers for your newsletter, then says "I want to donate"; they need to go to a Google checkout screen where they need to register themselves and give Google, the company that now owns one of the biggest databases of consumer behavior and advertising networks, all their personal information and credit card information so they can be tracked from here until doomsday.

Why would you do this to your donors? Would you casually hand over your donor list and their information to a telemarketer? I don't see why this is so spectacular and really worth celebrating.

Thanks NTEN for highlighting!
Submitted by Katya (not verified) on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 8:51am.

I agree, this is great news and nonprofits should give Checkout a try. Here are some thoughts on how to do that.

No API = Just Another Network for Good
Submitted by Jordan Dossett (not verified) on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 8:21pm.

No API, well it is only free for a short time NOT forever, so this is just another donate now button and is not gonna resolve to eCRM and complete solutions. Now, if it STAYS free (which it can't as we all know there are costs just to do what they are doing) that would be one thing. While I am a fan of Google I am still gonna suggest our smallest NPOs to head to long term, NPO providers like Network for Good and then when they are ready to go "real time" that can sign up for 44fish! :) Jordan

Awesome news!
Submitted by abenamer (not verified) on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 10:23am.

Once I read the technical specs, I'll have more understanding. But if what it means is what we're actually going to get, this KICKS serious butt in the philanthropy field.

[praying the API is good]