Use Square as a Nonprofit Organization

Disclaimer: Please note that this guidance is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, or any other type of professional advice. If you are unsure about your entity type or where to find the relevant information, we suggest that you consult with a professional.

You can use Square as a nonprofit to process payments and collect donor information. To start accepting payments, create a Square account online or directly from your mobile device by downloading the Square Point of Sale app.

Signing Up

We are required by bank regulations and federal law to ask for the Social Security Number, date of birth, and full name for each account holder. Even if you plan on using our services for your organization, we need that information to ensure the account holder is a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. There isn’t a way to create a Square account without providing a valid SSN.

In addition to your SSN, you can also add your Employment Identification Number upon signup, but an EIN is not required.

Read more about the required information for signing up with Square.

Fees

Discover a full breakdown of Square's fees and pricing.

Capturing Donor Information

You can collect customer information right from the transaction screen of the Square Point of Sale app. Any details collected this way will be available in your Customer Directory on your online Square Dashboard, so you can follow up with your customers at a later time.

To track your donations and view the payment details, visit Transactions in your Square Dashboard.

Accept Donations with Square Online

With Square Online, you can use the donation item type to accept donations on your website. Donation items are fully customisable and you can easily feature them on your homepage to raise awareness for your cause. Learn more about how to accept donations online.

Staff Collecting Payments

Team members can accept donations on your behalf by simply logging into the Square Point of Sale app from their device using the email address and password associated with your account. Ensure your team members have the right permissions set up to accept payments.