Let donors cover the platform fee on WeGlow

On WeGlow.world a donor can cover the 5% platform fee on a gift. How the option works, what other platforms measure and what to watch for.

On WeGlow.world a donor can cover the 5% platform fee on their own gift. The switch on the donation page is on by default and the donor can turn it off. The full gift then reaches your organisation, minus the costs of your own payment account. This article explains how it works, what other platforms measure and which trade-off comes with it.

What does the option do exactly?

The donation page has a switch labelled "Cover platform costs". When it is on, 5% is added to the gift: on €50 that is €2.50, so the donor pays €52.50 and your organisation receives €50.

The costs of the payment account your organisation links itself come on top of that. In Belgium Mollie charges €0.39 per Bancontact payment, €0.32 per iDEAL payment and 1.80% + €0.25 for European consumer cards (see Mollie's pricing, checked on 3 October 2026). The donor does not pay those costs.

Is the option mandatory or on by default?

It is never mandatory. The switch is on by default when the donor opens the form, and one tap turns it off: the donor then pays only their gift. Your organisation decides whether the option is shown at all.

That default is not self-evident. In a column on Bloomerang, Claire Axelrad advises letting donors opt in deliberately, because otherwise they may think they are paying more than expected. If you prefer not to show a pre-selected choice, turn the option off completely. The 5% then falls to the organisation.

Does it apply to monthly gifts too?

Yes. On a monthly gift WeGlow calculates the platform fee as a fixed percentage of every payment. If the donor chooses to cover it, the amount is included in every monthly payment.

What do other platforms measure?

According to Claire Axelrad on Bloomerang, between 50 and 65% of donors voluntarily cover the costs: Firespring and Givesource report 65%, Classy 55 to 60%, DonorDrive 52% and Neon 50%. We deliberately set no WeGlow percentage next to those, because it depends on your audience and your form.

There is also a warning. In a NextAfter test discussed by Jeff Brooks on Future Fundraising Now (19 April 2023), conversion fell from 12.0% to 7.4% when donors were asked to cover the costs. That is 38.5% lower conversion and 20.5% less revenue, even though about 60% paid along and the average gift rose 3%.

One test proves nothing for your audience. Compare a period with and a period without the option yourself, and look at the total that comes in, not only at the share that pays along.

What if the donor does not cover it, or the option is off?

Then the 5% platform fee is settled with your organisation. The free plan costs €0 per month and Pro costs €40 per month or €400 per year, excluding VAT. All rates are on the pricing page.

How to turn it on

  1. Open your organisation's settings in the dashboard and go to the payment settings.
  2. Switch on "Donors can cover platform costs". This setting requires a Mollie connection.
  3. Open your donation page and check that the "Cover platform costs" switch appears.

No account yet? Register your organisation or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Is the option mandatory for donors?

No. On WeGlow.world it is always the donor's choice. The switch is on when the form opens and turns off with one tap. The donor then pays only the amount of their gift and your organisation bears the 5% platform fee.

Does the donor also pay the Bancontact or card costs?

No. The option on WeGlow.world covers only the 5% platform fee. The costs of the payment account your organisation links, such as Mollie, stay with your organisation. In Belgium Mollie charges, for example, €0.39 per Bancontact payment.

What does WeGlow.world cost an organisation?

The free plan costs €0 per month. On top of that a platform fee of 5% per donation applies. Pro costs €40 per month or €400 per year, excluding VAT. If the donor chooses to cover the platform fee, that 5% does not stay with your organisation.

Does the option also apply to monthly gifts?

Yes. On a monthly gift WeGlow.world applies the same percentage to every payment. If the donor chooses to cover the platform fee, that amount is included again with every monthly payment. The donor makes that choice when setting up the gift.

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Sources

Checked on 3 October 2026. Third-party rates and figures may change.