Charity Charge
Charity Charge is an Austin-based fintech that provides financial services—corporate and business credit cards, bookkeeping, gift cards, and compliance—built exclusively for U.S. nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, and associations, serving over 3,000 organizations nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Charity Charge does
Charity Charge is an Austin-based Public Benefit Corporation that provides financial services built exclusively for U.S. nonprofit organizations, schools, religious institutions, and associations. The company operates as a vertically specialized fintech rather than a general-purpose banking tool, offering a product suite that includes the Nonprofit Corporate Card (for enterprise nonprofits with high annual spend), the Nonprofit Business Card (for small to mid-size nonprofits), outsourced Bookkeeping & Accounting services, a digital and physical Nonprofit Gift Card platform, and Nonprofit Compliance Services delivered in partnership with Labyrinth Compliance. The company also operates a content marketing footprint anchored by The Charity Charge Show podcast and the Supercharge newsletter.
Underlying the platform is card and payments infrastructure licensed from Mastercard, with Corpay as the core card-issuing technology partner and Commerce Bank (with Fifth Third Bank as an additional issuer) underwriting and processing transactions. The technology layer adds nonprofit-specific functionality: over 180 granular spending controls, virtual cards, AI-powered OCR receipt capture that auto-matches to transactions, AI-driven anomaly detection for real-time fraud monitoring, and native ERP integrations with QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct. AI/ML is applied at the feature level for receipt parsing and fraud detection rather than as a differentiated proprietary capability.
Charity Charge earns revenue primarily through interchange and processing fees on card transactions routed through the Mastercard network, supplemented by referral and partnership arrangements with accounting and SaaS partners (DonorBox, GiveWP, Bill.com, Instrumentl) and a $2 per physical card production fee on its gift card platform. The card products are priced at zero annual fee, zero setup fee, and zero per-card fee, with credit decisions underwritten on organizational financials rather than personal guarantees. GTM combines a sales-led enterprise motion with guided onboarding for Corporate Cards and a self-serve application path for the Business Card and gift card products, supported by 24/7 cardholder support through Commerce Bank's Commercial Cards Support Team. The company reports serving more than 3,000 mission-driven organizations across all 50 states and is led by founder and CEO Stephen Garten.
Charity Charge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charity Charge
- Legal name
- Charity Charge, PBC
- Website
- https://charitycharge.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Charity Charge is an Austin-based fintech that provides financial services—corporate and business credit cards, bookkeeping, gift cards, and compliance—built exclusively for U.S. nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, and associations, serving over 3,000 organizations nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charity Charge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Financial Services
- NAICS
- Credit Card Issuing (522210)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business / Corporate Credit Cards (FSAKABAF)
Keywords
Where Charity Charge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Charity Charge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Interchange and Processing Fees: Charity Charge developed the Nonprofit Credit Card in collaboration with Commerce Bank and Mastercard. These companies pay Charity Charge to grow the program so it can remain free to nonprofits. Revenue comes from interchange fees on card transactions processed through the Mastercard network.
- Referral Fees from Accounting Partners: Bookkeeping and accounting services are provided through trusted accounting partners. Charity Charge offers exclusive lifetime discounts available only through their platform, suggesting a referral or partnership revenue arrangement.
- Gift Card Platform: Revenue from physical gift card production fees ($2 per card) and potentially from digital gift card transactions. No platform fees or ordering minimums for digital cards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Nonprofit Corporate Card - No fees, enterprise-grade features |
| Other | Monthly | Nonprofit Business Card - Basic purchasing needs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Gift Cards - Face value only |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Gift Cards - $2 per card plus shipping |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bookkeeping & Accounting - Flat-rate pricing with exclusive discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Charity Charge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Charity Charge provides financial products and services built exclusively for U.S. nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, and associations. Its flagship offerings are two Mastercard-branded credit cards (a Nonprofit Corporate Card for high-spend/enterprise nonprofits and a Nonprofit Business Card for smaller organizations) issued through Corpay and Commerce Bank with no annual fee, no personal guarantee, real-time spending controls, virtual cards, AI-powered receipt capture, and ERP integrations. Complementary offerings include outsourced nonprofit bookkeeping and accounting, a digital and physical gift card distribution platform, and compliance support via a partnership with Labyrinth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Charity Charge Show: A podcast hosted by Charity Charge founder Stephen Garten that spotlights nonprofit executives, social impact innovators, and community leaders driving real impact across the country.
Products and services
- Nonprofit Credit Card (Nonprofit Corporate Card) A Mastercard-branded corporate credit card built exclusively for 501(c) nonprofits offering no annual fee, no personal guarantee, real-time spend controls, virtual cards, built-in expense management with AI receipt capture, and native ERP integrations. Designed for nonprofit organizations with high annual spend and complex expense management requirements across multiple teams and grant-funded programs.
- Nonprofit Business Card A Mastercard-branded business credit card designed for smaller 501(c) nonprofits and mission-driven organizations with no annual fee, unlimited employee cards at no extra cost, QuickBooks Online integration, Mastercard Zero Liability protection, ID Theft Protection, and the ability to build organizational business credit. Eligibility requires 501(c) status and either 5 years of operation with $100K annual revenue, or 2 years of operation with $500K annual revenue.
- Nonprofit Secured Credit Card A secured credit option for nonprofits that do not meet standard qualification criteria for the Corporate or Business Card, requiring a security deposit matching the desired credit limit.
- Bookkeeping & Accounting Services Outsourced bookkeeping and accounting services provided by licensed professionals and delivered through Charity Charge's trusted accounting partners, tailored specifically for nonprofits. Services cover bookkeeping, accounting, controller, CFO, and tax services, including grant tracking, donor reporting, budgeting, financial statements, audit preparation, tax and payroll support, and software integration with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Sage. Offered at flat-rate pricing with exclusive lifetime discounts available only to Charity Charge members.
- Nonprofit Gift Cards A digital and physical gift card distribution platform for nonprofits with no setup fees, no platform fees, and no ordering minimums. Digital cards are delivered instantly via email or SMS at face value; physical cards are available at a flat $2 production fee per card with flexible shipping options. Used for programs, emergency assistance, volunteer appreciation, and operational fund disbursement.
- Nonprofit Compliance Services Compliance support delivered in partnership with Labyrinth Compliance, covering charitable solicitation registration in all 50 states, annual report filings, IRS Form 990 preparation support, registered agent services, cause marketing registration, and nonprofit formation. Backed by a Good Standing Guarantee that covers late fees if filings are missed.
Quantifiable outcome
- Accounts payable time reduced by 50% (down to 3 hours/month)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Charity Charge
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Charity Charge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Charity Charge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Labyrinth CompliancecorePartnership with Labyrinth Compliance to provide nonprofit compliance solutions including charitable solicitation registration in all 50 states, annual report filings, IRS Form 990 preparation support, registered agent services, and cause marketing registration. Labyrinth offers 35+ years of experience with modern compliance tools. Provides Good Standing Guarantee covering late fees if filings are missed.
- CorpaycoreBuilt on Mastercard's #1 Corporate Card Issuer, Corpay. The nonprofit credit card and corporate card programs are powered by Corpay's payment infrastructure and card management platform.
- Commerce BankcoreCommerce Bank serves as the card issuer for the Nonprofit Business Credit Card. They underwrite accounts and handle payment processing. Commerce Bank has a Commercial Cards Support Team available 24/7 for cardholders.
- MastercardcoreCharity Charge cards are Mastercard-branded products. Includes Mastercard Zero Liability protection and ID Theft Protection for cardholders. Physical cards include chip technology.
- QuickBooks OnlinecoreAutomatic transaction syncing with QuickBooks Online—no manual entry needed. QuickBooks integration available for both Corporate Card and Business Card programs. Part of ERP integration ecosystem.
- NetSuitecoreERP integration available for corporate card accounts. Sync audit-ready reports and transaction data directly to NetSuite ledgers. Part of multi-ERP strategy.
- Sage IntacctcoreERP integration available for corporate card accounts. Enables export of audit-ready reports and direct sync to Sage ledgers. Part of multi-ERP integration ecosystem.
- QuickBooksminorMarketing partnership offering QuickBooks with 30% off for 6 months for Charity Charge members. QuickBooks used for donation tracking, budget management, and reporting.
- DonorBoxminorNonprofit fundraising tool partner featured on nonprofit tools page. DonorBox offers donation forms and recurring gift options.
- GiveWPminorWordPress donation plugin partner. Top-rated plugin trusted by thousands of nonprofits for creating custom donation forms on websites.
- Bill.comminorAccounts payable automation partner. Simplifies invoicing, approvals, and payments for nonprofits.
- InstrumentlminorGrant prospecting and management tool partner. Use code CHARITY50 for $50 off any plan for Charity Charge members.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Charity Charge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ramp: Ramp is a leading corporate card and spend management platform that increasingly serves nonprofits and SMBs. It competes horizontally with Charity Charge on card-based expense management but lacks nonprofit-specific underwriting and positioning.
- Blackbaud: Blackbaud is the largest incumbent financial and fundraising software provider to U.S. nonprofits, offering accounting, CRM, and payment tools. It competes with Charity Charge for the same nonprofit treasury and back-office wallet.
- Brex: Brex issues corporate cards to startups and SMBs with no personal guarantee. Its product overlap with Charity Charge (especially the no-personal-guarantee feature) makes it a horizontal threat if it leans into the nonprofit vertical.
- Corpay: Corpay is Mastercard's #1 corporate card issuer and Charity Charge's program-management partner. It is also a broad incumbent in the corporate card space and could potentially build or acquire a nonprofit-focused vertical solution.
- BILL (Bill.com): BILL provides AP automation and corporate cards (via acquired Divvy) to SMBs and nonprofits. It is a broad incumbent in B2B payments and bookkeeping — adjacent services to Charity Charge's bookkeeping and card offerings.
Emerging players
- Foundant Technologies: Foundant serves nonprofit and community foundation grantmaking, scholarship, and CRM workflows. It is an emerging player in the nonprofit operational software stack that Charity Charge could partner with or compete against in adjacent workflows.
- Network for Good: Network for Good provides fundraising, donor management, and basic financial tools to small nonprofits. It is an emerging player in nonprofit fintech with overlapping target customers and an adjacent product set.
Direct peers
- Neon One: Neon One is a nonprofit-specific CRM, fundraising, and financial management platform. It targets the same 501(c) buyer with a software-led approach, competing for the operational budget Charity Charge addresses with its bookkeeping and tools marketplace.
- Airbase: Airbase offers corporate cards, virtual cards, and spend management to mid-market and nonprofit organizations. Its product mechanics (virtual cards, granular controls, ERP sync) overlap directly with Charity Charge's Corporate Card.
- PEX Card: PEX Card offers prepaid and corporate charge cards purpose-built for nonprofits, charities, and mission-driven organizations. It is the closest direct competitor to Charity Charge's corporate card product for the same nonprofit buyer persona.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Charity Charge social profiles
Digital presenceCharity Charge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charity Charge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Charity Charge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charity Charge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Charity Charge
What does Charity Charge do?
Charity Charge provides financial products and services built exclusively for U.S. nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, and associations. Its flagship offerings are two Mastercard-branded credit cards (a Nonprofit Corporate Card for high-spend/enterprise nonprofits and a Nonprofit Business Card for smaller organizations) issued through Corpay and Commerce Bank with no annual fee, no personal guarantee, real-time spending controls, virtual cards, AI-powered receipt capture, and ERP integrations. Complementary offerings include outsourced nonprofit bookkeeping and accounting, a digital and physical gift card distribution platform, and compliance support via a partnership with Labyrinth.
Is Charity Charge a public or private company?
Charity Charge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Charity Charge founded?
Charity Charge was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Charity Charge based?
Charity Charge is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Charity Charge make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Interchange and Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are referral Fees from Accounting Partners and gift Card Platform.
Who are Charity Charge's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ramp, Blackbaud, Brex, Corpay and BILL (Bill.com). Emerging players are Foundant Technologies and Network for Good. Direct peers are Neon One, Airbase and PEX Card.
Does Charity Charge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charity Charge.
What industry is Charity Charge in?
Charity Charge's product category is Nonprofit Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKABAF, Business / Corporate Credit Cards. Its NAICS code is 522210 and its SIC code is 6159.