Studio's pricing is transparent. Here's exactly what gets deducted from each donation and where it goes.
The Fee Breakdown
On a typical $100 donation by credit card:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Donation amount | $100.00 |
| Stripe processing fee (2.9% + $0.30) | −$3.20 |
| Studio platform fee | −$0.00 (free tier) |
| Net to your organization | $96.80 |
Stripe Processing Fees
These go to Stripe (not Studio) and are standard payment-processing rates:
- Cards (Visa/MC/Discover/Amex): 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- International cards: +1% (3.9% + $0.30)
- ACH bank transfers: 0.8% capped at $5.00
- Apple Pay / Google Pay: Same as card rates
- Nonprofit discount (if approved): 2.2% + $0.30 on cards — check yours under Settings → Plans and fees in Stripe, and apply through Stripe's request form. See Stripe's nonprofit rate.
Studio Platform Fee
Studio's fee depends on your subscription plan:
- Faith / Cause / Missions Free: 2.5% card / 0.5% ACH per donation. Free monthly.
- Studio Give Free (standalone): 2.5% card / 0.5% ACH. Free monthly.
- Any Paid tier: 0.5% card / 0.1% ACH per donation. Subscription funds the platform.
Unlimited donations, donors, donation pages, and recurring subscriptions at every tier — no per-donor or per-page caps.
How Studio compares
| Platform | Their platform fee |
|---|---|
| Studio Give Free | 2.5% (no donor tips) |
| Studio Give Paid ($19/mo) | 0.5% |
| Givebutter | 0% + asks donors for 5-15% tip (avg ~10%) |
| DonorBox | 1.5-1.75% platform fee above $1k/mo |
| Bloomerang Payments | 2.5% + bundled $99-$349/mo CRM |
| Classy | 3-5% platform fee |
| Network for Good | 3% platform fee |
"Cover the Fee" — How It Shifts the Math
When donors opt in to cover processing fees on a Free tier (2.5% Studio + 2.9% + $0.30 Stripe):
- Donor wants to give: $100
- Total charged to donor: $106.03
- Net to you: $100.00
On a Paid tier (0.5% Studio + Stripe), the donor is only charged $103.83 to net you $100. Around 60-75% of donors opt in when offered. See Donor "Cover the Fee" Option.
Refund Fees
When you refund a donation, Stripe reimburses the processing fee on donations less than 90 days old. After 90 days, the processing fee is not returned (Stripe policy, not Studio's). Studio's platform fee on refunds is always reversed regardless of age.
Chargeback Fees
If a donor disputes a charge with their bank (rather than asking for a refund), Stripe charges a $15 dispute fee. If you win the dispute with evidence, $15 is refunded. If you lose or don't respond, $15 + the disputed amount are deducted.
Tax Implications
Processing fees are a business expense, not a reduction of donations received. For IRS reporting:
- Donor gave $100 (counts as their gift for tax deduction purposes)
- Your org received $96.30-$97.00 depending on plan
- The processing fees are a deductible business expense on your Form 990
Year-end giving statements show donors the full gift amount ($100), not net of fees. Consult your accountant for how to categorize Stripe/Studio fees in your books.