Worked PayPal fee scenario
How Much Does a US Church Keep from a $100 PayPal Donation?
Compare a standard PayPal donation fee with the confirmed charity rate for a US church receiving a $100 domestic donation.
Direct answer
On a $100.00 domestic donation, a US church pays $3.38 at the standard donation rate.
The church keeps $96.62. A confirmed charity using the lower approved rate pays $2.48 and keeps $97.52.
Evidence mode
Official direct mapping
Coverage
US domestic donation · Direct-to-account flow
Fee data reviewed
September 22, 2026
Scenario assumptions
A US church receives a domestic donation directly into PayPal
This constructed scenario assumes a donor and church are both in the United States, the payment is processed as a PayPal donation, and the money is received in USD. It compares the standard donation rate with the lower charity rate available to eligible organizations after confirmation and approval.
- Recipient
- US church or nonprofit
- Donor
- US domestic donor
- Payment type
- PayPal donation
- Received currency
- USD
- Standard path
- Donation rate
- Discounted path
- Confirmed charity rate
Standard donation vs. confirmed charity fee
PayPal lists these as different fee rows. The discounted charity result should only be used after the organization confirms that PayPal has approved the account for that rate.
Standard donation
2.89% + $0.49
Used when the donation receives PayPal’s standard domestic donation pricing.
Confirmed charity
1.99% + $0.49
Subject to eligibility, application, account confirmation, and PayPal approval.
Donation examples at $25, $100, and $500
| Donation | Standard fee | Standard net | Charity fee | Charity net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | $1.21 | $23.79 | $0.99 | $24.01 |
| $100.00 | $3.38 | $96.62 | $2.48 | $97.52 |
| $500.00 | $14.94 | $485.06 | $10.44 | $489.56 |
On the $100.00 example, confirmed charity pricing reduces the processing fee by $0.90. The difference grows with donation volume, but eligibility should be confirmed before budgeting with the lower rate.
How much is needed to net exactly $100?
Some organizations want to know the gross amount required for a fixed post-fee budget. This is a planning calculation, not a recommendation to add a mandatory surcharge to a donation.
Standard donation rate
$103.48
Minimum modeled amount that leaves $100.00 after the tracked fee.
Confirmed charity rate
$102.53
Minimum modeled amount that leaves $100.00 after approved charity pricing.
Confirmed charity status changes the answer
PayPal’s lower charity pricing is not automatically activated because an organization calls itself a church or nonprofit. PayPal states that the organization must provide account and registration information and receive confirmation for the lower processing rate.
Check the account before using the lower rate
Use the standard donation row for conservative planning unless the PayPal account shows confirmed charity status or the organization has received approval for the discounted rate.
PayPal Giving Fund is a different flow
Donations made through PayPal Giving Fund can follow a different fee and delivery arrangement from a Donate Button or direct donation received into the organization’s account. The calculations above intentionally cover the direct-to-account fee rows only, so the two flows are not mixed into one result.
Source record
Official sources and calculation limits
Editorial review
Maintained by Joey
Site Maintainer. The calculation uses the same tracked fee data and rounding logic as the site calculators. Review the methodology and official PayPal terms before using the result in a contract, invoice, or fundraising plan.
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Fee Sources and Methodology
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