Givebutter Tips
We would like to answer a question we’ve received quite a bit this year – “Why Am I Being Asked To Tip When I Donate To CVRAN?“
Good question!! Last year, CVRAN switched to the Givebutter platform to manage our fundraising and membership activities. The switch has made everything more automatic and better documented, giving us clearer data, easier communication, and real savings in both time and money.
We have received lots of comments about the fact that you are asked for a tip when you donate to CVRAN. We understand this can feel out of place, so here’s the simple reason it appears:
Allowing Givebutter to request a tip means CVRAN pays $0 in fees—no matter what.
An approximately 3.3% credit card processing fee is added to each online donation, but you can decline it by unchecking “I want to cover fees.” Whether you cover that fee or not, CVRAN still pays nothing.
Givebutter additionally asks if you’d like to leave an optional tip. We know it’s annoying, and you can absolutely skip it. But Givebutter only waives all platform fees for CVRAN if we allow that tip prompt to appear.
So:
- If you cover the processing fee and/or tip: CVRAN pays nothing.
- If you don’t cover the fee and don’t tip: Givebutter still absorbs the cost, and CVRAN still pays nothing.
That’s the reason to keep both prompts on—it’s how Givebutter stays sustainable while ensuring that none of your donation to CVRAN is lost to platform or transaction fees. Every dollar you give goes directly to our work, without waste, and anything you choose to contribute toward Givebutter’s fees or tip is entirely up to you.
We will be sure to share this information again periodically so that our donors fully understand why they are being asked these questions by Givebutter. We hope this helps you feel confident and informed when you give. Thank you for supporting CVRAN and the tools that help us serve Central Vermont.