How PCI Compliance Boosts Donor Trust and Fundraising Success
October 17, 2024
This article was written by Raisa Rashid, Director at Pllenty, and Prabhjot Gadri, a Salesforce Consultant here at Belmar.
In today’s digital world, nonprofits face two big challenges: raising money and keeping donor information safe. One security breach could destroy years of trust, and damage relationships. That’s why a PCI-compliant service provider, like Pllenty, is so important.
Pllenty handles online donations securely, helps reduce costs, and offers tailored donation processes that fit your organization’s needs, making it an essential part of modern fundraising.
What’s PCI Compliance and Why Does It Matter?
PCI compliance means following the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a set of rules designed to keep credit card information safe. These rules aren’t optional — they’re required for any organization that processes payments.
For nonprofits like yours, protecting donor data goes beyond security. It’s about maintaining the long-term sustainability of your organization. A data breach doesn’t just put information at risk; it can destroy the support your mission relies on.
PCI compliance not only shields sensitive information but also helps create trust and loyalty from your donors, which is so important for your ongoing success.
Why Choose Pllenty?
Pllenty Inc. is a Canadian service provider that helps nonprofits securely process payments for donations, merchandise, or services. As a PCI-compliant provider, Pllenty follows strict rules to keep credit card information safe. They offer Canadian charity rates and streamline payment workflows by easily integrating with accounting systems, CRMs, and other platforms — saving nonprofits time and effort.
Pllenty makes it easy to add secure payment options to your organization’s current systems, whether for online forms, shopping platforms, or mobile payments.
Here are some more benefits:
Enhanced Security
PCI compliant providers use advanced security measures to protect donor information. Pllenty ensures the highest levels of security for donor payment information. This reduces the risk of data breaches and builds trust with donors, who can be confident that their financial information is handled securely.
Lower Transaction Costs
Unlike other software providers, PCI compliant processors can secure charity-specific rates from Visa and Mastercard. Pllenty leverages its expertise in payment processing to offer custom solutions tailored to each charity's needs, including the ability to set and pass on charity card rates, providing cost savings compared to standard payment processing services. Stop paying 4% and 5% fixed rates for card processing as a charity.
Direct Fund Transfers to Your Bank Account
Pllenty sends donations straight to the charity’s bank account, simplifying reconciliation and quick access to donations. This also means the charity, and not a third party, issues the tax receipts.
Increased Donor Confidence
Showing a commitment to security increases trust and encourages more donations. And a PCI compliant provider, like Pllenty, can offer specialized support, so nonprofits like yours can manage security issues quickly and easily.
Experience
Pllenty already serves as a PCI Service Provider for large corporations who have strong requirements for privacy, scale, and security. You enjoy all the benefits of this experience as a Pllenty customer.
The Real Cost of Not Paying Attention to Security
If donors don’t feel like their personal and financial information is protected, they’ll hesitate to give — especially after a data breach. That’s why PCI compliance is so important. It shows you care about protecting their information and gives them peace of mind that their donations are secure.
In a time when every donation counts, strong security can help boost your fundraising efforts and support your mission.
Choosing the Right Provider
Finding the right PCI-compliant provider means keeping your donations secure. Here are some steps to help you choose:
Check Their Reputation: Look for reviews and feedback from other nonprofits. A provider with a good reputation is more likely to meet your needs.
Look at Security Features: Find out what security measures they have in place. Some key features should include data encryption, secure payment processing, and regular security checks. Plus, providers should clearly explain how they protect information.
Consider Their Support Services: Consider how much support they offer. Do they have a friendly customer service team? Can they help you with problems quickly? Good support is important for resolving any issue.
See How They Integrate: Make sure the provider can easily connect with your existing systems, like your donor management software or website. A smooth integration will help you manage donations better.
Compare Costs: Look at the pricing of different providers. Make sure there are no hidden fees and their costs fit your budget.
Look for Customization Options: Every nonprofit is different. See if the provider offers flexible solutions that can be customized to fit your organization’s specific needs, like custom donation forms or branding.
Confirm Their Compliance: Make sure the provider is fully PCI-compliant. They should have proof of compliance and regularly check their security practices.
By choosing a reputable PCI-compliant provider, like Pllenty, you can improve your security and create a safer donation process for your organization and its valued supporters.
Take the Next Step
While many nonprofits pour their energy into their mission, securing payment processes is another important must-do. With Pllenty, you can prioritize the safety of your donations. Discover how Pllenty can support your efforts.
About Belmar
Belmar Consulting is an award-winning Salesforce implementation partner, who works with various organizations and enables them to succeed in their digital transformation journey. We combine our intimate knowledge of the public sector and the nonprofit industry with Salesforce to create and implement innovative solutions for our clients. Belmar’s dedication to delivering successful client projects means our clients are more effective in their role to fulfill their organizational missions.
