What It Really Costs to Fundraise: Fees Explained Simply

Before you launch a fundraiser, you want to know one thing: what does it cost?

It's a fair question, and the answer should be simple. Here's exactly how it works on Generosity.co.nz.

Starting is free

There are no setup fees, no subscriptions, and nothing to pay upfront. Creating a fundraiser page costs nothing. If you raise nothing, you owe nothing — which means trying an idea carries no financial risk.

When money comes in, there's a small fee

The platform takes a simple fee of 5% + GST on money raised. So on a $100 donation or sale, the platform fee is $5.75 including GST, and the rest goes to your cause.

That fee covers the things that make the fundraiser possible: secure payments, fraud protection, the platform itself, and support.

Selling vouchers: a three-way split

Voucher fundraisers work slightly differently, because there are three parties:

• The supporter pays the full price for the voucher.
• The fundraiser keeps a share of every sale — at least 10%, often more.
• The business receives its wholesale price (which it sets) and pays the platform fee on sales generated.

Example: a $100 voucher with a 10% share means $10 goes to the fundraiser, the business receives $90 (its wholesale price), and the platform fee applies to the sale.

Donations, one-off or monthly

Donations work the same way whether they're one-off or monthly — 5% + GST on what's received. Monthly giving is a great way to build predictable income, and the fee structure doesn't penalise it.

Where the money goes

Money goes straight to your verified bank account through Stripe, the same secure processor used by businesses across New Zealand. You can see exactly what's come in and what's been deducted — no surprises, no mystery fees.

Why we're upfront about this

Trust is everything in fundraising, and hiding fees would betray it. When you know exactly what a fundraiser costs, you can set your goal accurately — add the fee margin so you still net what you need — and tell supporters honestly where money goes.

A quick tip for setting goals

If your cause needs $5,000, aim for around $5,300 so the fee doesn't eat into what you need. It's a small adjustment that keeps your goal honest.

Fundraising should be simple, transparent and free to try. That's the standard we hold ourselves to.