Best Credit Cards For Nonprofits

Charity Charge Rewards

Charity Charge is a credit card issuer dedicated to helping nonprofits thrive. Charity Charge's co-branded Mastercard was designed from the ground up for nonprofit use. Besides requiring no personal guarantor, this card earns automatic rebates when used on travel, fuel, business services, and exclusive discounts at over 200 participating vendors.

• Opening Offer: None
• Rewards Rate: Up to 4% rebate on travel and dining purchases
• APR: N/A (this is a charge card; your balance is due in full each month)
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2%

Going beyond rebates, Charity Charge promises online expense reporting and card management, dedicated customer service, and fraud protection.

Charity Charge Eligibility

The card's primary drawback is its steep eligibility requirements. Your 501(c)(3) nonprofit must either a) have been operating for five years and take in $100,000/year in revenue or b) have been operating for two years and take in $500,000/year in revenue.

When To Choose Charity Charge

If you're looking for a credit card designed around the needs of nonprofits, the Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card may be just what you're looking for, provided you meet the card's eligibility requirements. Nonprofits that do not meet these requirements may be offered a secured credit card from Charity Charge instead.

Chase Ink Business Preferred Rewards

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card is an outstanding choice for nonprofits seeking a traditional business credit card, particularly if your nonprofit has significant travel needs.

This card nets you 3 points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, internet/phone/cable services, and advertising. You can then redeem those points for 25% more when booking travel through Chase's online portal, or you can transfer them on a 1:1 basis to an array of travel partners.

As for perks, Ink Business Preferred offers trip insurance, extended warranty, cell phone protection, and free employee cards.

• Opening Offer: 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases within three months
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3X points on your first $150K/year in spending on travel, shipping, advertising on social media and search engines, and internet/cable/phone services (1X points on all other spending)
• APR: 20.24%-25.24%, variable
• Annual Fee: $95
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Chase Ink Business Preferred Eligibility

Chase doesn't market a required credit score for the Ink Business Preferred card, but applicants must generally have good to excellent credit to be approved -- you'll likely need a credit score of at least 640.

When To Choose Chase Ink Business Preferred

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is our pick for the best overall business credit card for nonprofits. It is particularly well-suited to nonprofits with significant travel needs.

However, if your nonprofit's spending needs don't line up with the Ink Business Preferred's top rewards categories, you may want to look into Chase's other three Ink Business credit cards, all of which are highly regarded in the industry.

Ramp Corporate Card Rewards

The Ramp corporate card offers great value for nonprofits. With no fees and an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, Ramp almost seems too good to be true.

Ramp's most unique benefit is its algorithm-driven savings insights. These insights dig into your nonprofit's spending history and determine areas where you can cut costs and save money. As a fee-free card that offers sophisticated spend management and savings insights, the Ramp corporate card is worth consideration.

• Opening Offer: None
• Rewards Rate: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• APR: N/A (the Ramp card is a charge card)
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Ramp Corporate Card Eligibility

Not just any nonprofit will be eligible for the Ramp card. Your nonprofit must be a US-based corporation, limited partnership, or LLC with at least $75,000 in a US-based business bank account. Ramp states that nonprofits are eligible for a Ramp card if they meet the above criteria.

When To Choose Ramp

Ramp may market itself primarily as a corporate solution, but its lack of fees, unlimited flat-rate rewards, and savings insights make it an enticing value proposition for nonprofits that can meet the card's eligibility requirements.

US Bank Community Card Rewards

With the US Bank Community Card, you'll have two reward options. You can either pay $99 per year and gain access to 1% cash back on all purchases, or you can choose to pay no annual fee -- but you also give up the rewards. Moreover, going the annual fee route opens the possibility of earning points for taking credit card payments and making purchases with US Bank's Encore Relationship Rewards program.

You can apply for the US Bank Community Card without needing a personal guarantee. As for other benefits, US Bank also provides an online tool to analyze your organization's spending. Plus, employees can get their own cards for free.

• Opening Offer: None
• Rewards Rate: Unlimited 1% cash back if you pay a $99 annual fee (no rewards otherwise)
• APR: N/A (the US Bank Community Card is a charge card)
• Annual Fee: $0 or $99
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

US Bank Community Card Eligibility

US Bank doesn't publish a minimum credit score or any other eligibility requirements for this card, but it does list what you'll need to bring to the bank when you apply:

• Your last two years of financial statements (balance sheets and income statements required)
• Personal identification
• Proof of business certification

Unfortunately, you'll need to live near a US Bank location because you must apply in person for this credit card. While the bank operates in over half the states in the US, if you don't live in Ohio or further west, there probably isn't a US Bank near you.

When To Choose US Bank Community Card

While this card's limited availability is unfortunate, if you're near a US Bank location and want a nonprofit credit card that gives you free employee cards, a spend analysis tool, and your choice of earning rewards or forgoing the annual fee, consider the US Bank Community Card.

Visa CommUNITY Card Rewards

The nonprofit-focused Visa CommUNITY Card is available at local banks and community credit unions throughout the country. You'll likely need to apply in person for the card, but with so many lending institutions across the US issuing the card, there's a good chance that you'll find such a bank or credit union near you.

Because various banks issue this card, the exact rewards, terms, and fees may vary from location to location. You'll generally be able to earn rewards for this card (usually either 1% cash back or 1 point per $1 spent), and the annual fee is low ($99 per year) or nonexistent. You'll also be able to access high credit lines, and no personal guarantee should be required when applying.

• Opening Offer: Typically, none
• Rewards Rate: Varies
• APR: Varies
• Annual Fee: $0-$99
• Foreign Transaction Fee: Varies

Banks issuing the Visa CommUNITY Card include:

• Beacon Credit Union (Indiana)
• Fulton Bank (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia)
• PCSB Bank (New York)
• Shelby State Bank (Michigan)
• Sunrise Banks (Minnesota)
• Timberland Bank (Washington state)
• Umpqua Bank (California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state)

Visa CommUNITY Card Eligibility

This card's eligibility requirements will vary depending on the issuer, but you almost certainly won't have to sign a personal guarantee when you apply. Also, make sure you have your nonprofit's documentation in order before applying.

When To Choose Visa CommUNITY Card

The Visa CommUNITY Card requires no personal guarantee, offers rewards, and may not come with an annual fee, though the specifics on these last two points vary depending on the card issuer. If this nonprofit-specific card sounds appealing, look for an issuer in your area.

Brex Rewards

Nonprofits seeking a cash management account alongside a credit card should consider Brex.

Among the perks included with Brex's credit card are an astonishing 8X points for spending on rideshares, 5X points for spending on travel through Brex's travel portal, 4X points for restaurant spending, and much more. Life science organizations can swap out ridesharing and restaurant purchases to earn points on conference tickets and lab supplies.

Brex does not require a personal guarantee and features credit limits 10-20 times higher than standard business credit cards. Brex also features a streamlined cash management account that could help your organization understand how its money is spent.

• Opening Offer: None
• Rewards Rate: Up to 8X if you make automatic daily payments and make Brex your exclusive corporate card
• APR: N/A (Brex is a charge card; you must make automatic repayments on either a daily or monthly basis)
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Note that Brex is technically a corporate credit card. As such, it is best suited for larger organizations.

On the plus side, Brex does work with nonprofits. Brex specifically touts its underwriting technology as being well-suited to nonprofits because it looks at the cash balance on hand (instead of a credit score) when determining an organization's credit limit.

Brex Eligibility

The primary drawback of the Brex card is its steep eligibility requirements. Though there are no credit score requirements, you'll need to meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Earn at least $1 million/year in revenue
• Have more than 50 employees
• Have more than $500K in the bank
• Received an equity investment of any amount (accelerator, angel, VC, or web3 token) or plan to in the near future
• Tech startups that are on a path to meeting the criteria above, and are referred by an existing customer or partner, may be considered

Brex also states that it analyzes an applicant's business model, source of funds, spending patterns, and other areas before approval.

When To Choose Brex

Your nonprofit will need to clear some high bars before being eligible for the Brex card, but larger nonprofits will find a lot to like here -- particularly the extraordinary points you can earn on rideshare and travel purchases.

Spark Cash Select Rewards

No one likes annual fees. While paying a yearly charge is often a requirement of some higher-tier credit cards, there are a few solid options without one. Spark Cash 1.5% Select from Capital One is one such option, offering a solid 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

We really like the lack of a cap on how much cash back you can earn. You'll also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The card also includes other perks, such as an extended warranty, fraud protection, and free employee cards with spending limits.

• Opening Offer: Earn $500 when you spend $4,500 in the first three months
• Rewards Rate: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• APR: 17.49%-23.49%, variable
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Spark Cash Select Eligibility

Unfortunately, you'll need excellent credit (740+) to qualify for the Spark 1.5% Cash Select card.

When To Choose Spark Cash Select From Capital One

The Spark Cash Select card certainly isn't the fanciest card on this list, but it can get your nonprofit a healthy amount of cash back while providing some useful features -- all for no annual fee.

American Express Blue Business Cash Rewards

If you'll be carrying a balance right off the bat, a credit card with a 0% introductory rate period can save you money on interest payments. When a card has an intro rate period, you won't have to pay interest until the period is up. The Blue Business Cash Card from Amex has one of the longest intro rate periods for business credit cards at 0% APR for the first 12 months.

Outside the 0% intro rate, you'll be able to nab 2% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend every calendar year (the cash back rate drops to 1% after passing the $50,000 threshold).

There's also no annual fee, and Amex allows you to spend above your credit limit. Otherwise, standard credit card features such as an extended warranty and purchase protection come along for the ride.

• Opening Offer: Earn $250 when you spend $3,000 in the first three months
• Rewards Rate: 2% cash back on your first $50K/year of business purchases, 1% cash back on all subsequent business purchases
• APR: 17.49%-25.49%, variable (0% intro APR for your first 12 months)
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7%

Amex Blue Business Cash Eligibility

You'll need good to excellent credit (640+) to qualify for the Blue Business Cash card.

When To Choose Amex Blue Business Cash

The combination of a lengthy 0% APR period and a strong 2% cash back rate on your first $50K annually in business purchases make the Amex Blue Business Cash a strong credit card for nonprofits.

Spark Classic Rewards

If you or your organization lacks a strong credit history -- or doesn't have one at all -- the Spark Classic Card from Capital One might work best for your nonprofit. Designed for credit-building users, this card can help you strengthen your credit, allowing you to graduate to a better credit card down the line.

Spark Classic was constructed for those with weaker credit, but it still has some decent perks. Its 1% cash back will see you earning rewards at a nice clip, and the 5% cash back you'll earn on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel is a great bonus for organizations with significant travel needs.

Beyond that, the card comes with other standard benefits, such as free employee cards, no foreign transaction fee, and an extended warranty.

• Opening Offer: None
• Rewards Rate: Unlimited 1% cash back; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• APR: 29.74%, variable
• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Spark Classic Eligibility

You'll need only fair credit (580+) to qualify for the Capital One Spark Classic card.

When To Choose Spark Classic From Capital One

The Capital One Spark Classic is a solid credit card for nonprofits experiencing credit challenges. Just try not to carry a significant balance month-to-month, as this card sports a high APR.