Mobile Credit Card Processing Delivers for Non-Profits

Non-profit and charitable organizations have unique fundraising requirements and they have traditionally relied on cash and check donations, especially when making a face-to-face appeal to donors. Modern technology now offers an alternative — mobile credit card processing — that can really pay off for these groups in a variety of ways.

Mobile credit card processing, like PayFox™ from Merchant Express®, literally turns your smartphone or mobile device into a payment processing terminal in the palm of your hand. With the proper merchant account and a free downloadable app, you can start accepting Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express® as well as signature debit cards on your iPhone.

PayFox features single-screen entry for speed and convenience, secure data transmission via SSL connection, verification or decline notification within seconds and advanced fraud detection with address verification support (AVS) alerts. With the recommended cardreader, you can swipe cards and complete transactions in seconds, eliminating the need to manually type in card numbers and qualifying you for reduced processing swipe fees. You can even add on tips and email receipts to your customers.

For non-profit organizations, mobile credit card processing opens up new opportunities for fundraising. With staff and volunteers equipped with smartphones, donors now have the option of making a credit card donation. This is significant not only for the convenience factor (they don’t have to carry cash or a checkbook) but also because it’s likely their contribution will be larger when they use a credit card. Many contributors also prefer the idea of receiving an electronic receipt for tax purposes.

Consider this scenario: Your charitable organization is hosting a fundraising event that includes an auction of donated goods and services. Think how streamlined the operation would be if, after a successful bid is placed, a staff member equipped with a PayFox-equipped iPhone could immediately approach the bidder and wrap up the transaction in just seconds by sliding their payment card through the cardreader. You’ve just eliminated the time-consuming need for the bidder to stand on line to pay for their purchase and converted it to an experience that took just seconds to complete.

All PayFox transactions are secure thanks to such features as an SSL connection and AVS advanced fraud detection. The donor never loses sight of their card, the card data is never stored on the mobile device, and data transmission is fully encrypted to the processor. A receipt is automatically emailed to the donor, reducing the paper trail for both them and your organization. Funds are deposited into your bank account by Merchant Express, usually within 48 hours.

Mobile credit card processing also opens up an organization’s options for fundraising venues since it can be used virtually anywhere and at any time. Your staff and volunteers can now personally approach potential donors at events and easily complete the process rather than requiring donors to spend time waiting to make their contribution at a designated place. This ability to roam allows you to supplement traditional giving stations with workers who can collect credit card donations only and is especially use at outdoor events like fun runs and rallies.

If mobile credit card processing makes sense for your non-profit organization, talk to a Merchant Express representative today to learn how PayFox can simplify donations while boosting your bottom line.