Platform Chooser · Example
What a recommendation looks like
Change your answers · we take no cut from any platform below.
Best fit for you
Zeffy
Donations, dues, tickets, a store, and concessions — with genuinely zero platform and processing fees, funded by an optional donor tip.
Why it fits: matches what you asked for — membership dues, event tickets, in-person card payments, free branded page / website, keeps every penny.
The catch: The checkout shows a suggested (~15%) tip to Zeffy — brief your families so no one feels surprised. You need an EIN and an org-name bank account (a brand-new informal group can't onboard yet), and large auctions are capped around 50 items.
Setup checklist
- □ Create the free account under your group's name and EIN (nonprofit-only).
- □ Add a "tip disclaimer" line to your emails: "Zeffy is free for us — the tip at checkout is optional and goes to Zeffy, not the PTO."
- □ Build one form per need (dues, tickets, store) and put them behind your free Zeffy page or a Linktree.
- □ Order the tap-to-pay reader if you'll take cards at events.
Also worth a look
Cheddar Up
Purpose-built for parent groups: dues with a required info form, event tickets with inventory caps, and a free branded page that doubles as your website.
The catch: The free-tier card rate is on the high side (pass it to the payer, or go paid for the better rate), and a question or order can't be edited — you delete and recreate it.
The neutral side-by-side
Every option, compared
| Platform | Best for | Fees | In-person | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeffy | Zero-fee collection | 0% + $0 — funded by an optional tip donors can decline | ✓ card reader | The checkout shows a suggested (~15%) tip to Zeffy — brief your families so no one feels surprised. |
| Cheddar Up | Group collections | Free tier: card 3.95% + $0.95 (or 3.59% + $0.59 on a paid plan, ~$180–420/yr); cheap eCheck/ACH; the payer can absorb fees | ✓ card reader | The free-tier card rate is on the high side (pass it to the payer, or go paid for the better rate), and a question or order can't be edited — you delete and recreate it. |
| Givebacks | All-in-one suite | Free to units whose state PTA partners with Givebacks; otherwise about $499–599/yr; processing varies by channel (donations run cheaper than the store) | ✓ card reader | More platform than a small group needs, support reviews are mixed, and consolidating everything in one vendor is real lock-in — confirm you can export your data. |
| Square (or Stripe) | In-person & flexible processing | No monthly fee; ~2.6% + $0.10 tap/dip in person, ~3.3% + $0.30 online (online rate rose in 2026) | ✓ card reader | Not nonprofit-specific (you pay full processing), and reconciling its reports into your books can be fiddly. |
| MoneyMinder | Treasurer bookkeeping (companion) | Full bookkeeping is $299/yr; the free tier is budgeting-only (no transaction entry) | — | It doesn't collect payments, so it's a companion, not an either/or. |
| Membership Toolkit / PTBoard | Full website + membership suite | Annual subscription (~$65/yr for PTBoard up to ~$550–1,150/yr for Membership Toolkit, by vendor and tier); processing on payments | — | The most to learn and maintain, and the most lock-in — Membership Toolkit also ties you to its own processor. |
Fees verified August 2026 and they change often — confirm current pricing on each platform's site before you commit. PTO Kit takes no referral fee from any platform listed.
Email me this recommendation
Save it with the setup checklist so you can bring it to your board.