PTA board brief · A-thon / jogathon

What Givebacks takes on a $50,000 fundraiser

Two separate charges. The yearly plan is not built into the per-gift fee. Add it only if your state PTA does not already cover it.

Worked example · 500 card gifts of $100 · Visa / Mastercard / Discover · PTA absorbs fees · Givebacks published rates as of Sept 2026

Empty school running track at golden hour

The number to remember

About $1,600

comes out of $50,000 if you use the tip / free model and the PTA pays card fees. The PTA keeps about $48,400.

Tip model · 0% to Givebacks Yearly plan extra: $0–$599 Boosterthon at 40% would take $20,000

Where $50,000 goes

Givebacks tip model$48,400 kept
Fees ~$1,600 (3.2%)
Givebacks 7.5% model$44,650 kept
Fees ~$5,350 (10.7%)
Boosterthon at 40%$30,000 kept
Fees $20,000
Recommended

1. Per-gift fees on the a-thon

An a-thon uses Givebacks Fundraiser pricing, not store or direct-donation pricing. You pick one model for the campaign.

Tip model platform fee0%
Card processing (Stripe)2.9% + $0.30 / gift
On $50,000 · 500 gifts$1,450 + $150
Taken from $50,000$1,600
Percent model platform fee7.5% = $3,750
Plus the same Stripe fees$1,600
Taken from $50,000$5,350
Separate bill

2. Yearly Givebacks plan

This is an account subscription for the whole PTA (membership, store, emails, a-thons). It is not a cut of the $50,000 unless you add it in.

Pro$499 / year
Premium$599 / year
If your state PTA already covers it$0

Do not add $499–$599 again if you already pay it, or if your state PTA partnership waives it. Confirm that before the vote.

All-in on $50,000 (PTA pays the fees) Per-gift fees Yearly plan Total paid PTA keeps
Tip model + state plan waived $1,600 $0 $1,600 $48,400
Tip model + Pro $499 $1,600 $499 $2,099 $47,901
Tip model + Premium $599 $1,600 $599 $2,199 $47,801
7.5% model + state plan waived $5,350 $0 $5,350 $44,650
7.5% model + Pro $499 $5,350 $499 $5,849 $44,151
Boosterthon at 40% (for comparison) $20,000 — $20,000 $30,000

Board notes

  • The PTA can absorb fees, pass them to the donor, or split them. The table above assumes the PTA absorbs them, so the cut comes out of the $50,000.
  • Tip model: Givebacks asks the donor for an optional extra tip. That tip is extra from the donor, not taken from the $50,000, unless the donor shrinks the gift to cover it.
  • American Express is higher: 3.5% + $0.50. A little Amex mix changes the total by tens of dollars, not thousands.
  • More small gifts raise the $0.30 piece slightly (1,000 gifts of $50 ≈ $1,750 Stripe). Fewer large gifts lower it (250 gifts of $200 ≈ $1,525).
  • Use the tip model unless a sponsor is covering fees or the board does not want a tip prompt at checkout.

What this page does not include

  • Prizes, shirts, water, or DJ — those are PTA costs, not Givebacks fees.
  • Store / spirit-wear rates (different: platform 1.05% + $0.65 plus Stripe).
  • A live checkout test of the default tip amount.

Source: givebacks.com/resources/pricing. A-thons are billed as fundraisers. Confirm your state PTA waiver and whether the unit already has a Pro/Premium account.