Our Story

We built DonorBooks because nonprofits deserve better

Every dollar a nonprofit raises should go to their mission — not to a platform taking a cut. We built DonorBooks to make that a reality.

The fundraising platform problem

Most fundraising platforms make their money by taking a percentage of every donation — typically 3–8% on top of payment processing fees. For a nonprofit raising $100,000 a year, that's up to $8,000 that never reaches the people they serve.

Some platforms add a "tip jar" — a pre-checked box that asks donors to cover platform fees. This creates friction, confusion, and erodes donor trust.

We think that's wrong. So we built DonorBooks differently.

What $100K raised looks like

Typical platform

5% platform fee + 2.9% processing

$92,100

you keep

DonorBooks

0% platform fee + 2.9% processing

$97,100

you keep

$5,000 more for your mission every year.

What we believe

These aren't just words on a wall. They're the principles behind every product decision we make.

Mission first

Every feature we build starts with one question: does this help nonprofits raise more money for the causes they serve?

Radical transparency

No hidden fees, no tip jars, no percentage cuts. You keep 100% of every dollar your donors intend for your mission.

Built for speed

From signup to live campaign in under 5 minutes. Nonprofits shouldn't need a tech team to run a fundraiser.

Community-driven

We listen to the nonprofits we serve. Our roadmap is shaped by the organizations using DonorBooks every day.

Our journey

2023

Founded after watching a food bank lose $12,000 to platform fees in a single year.

2024

Launched beta with 12 nonprofit partners. First $1M raised through DonorBooks.

2025

Expanded to event ticketing, auctions, and peer-to-peer fundraising. 500+ orgs onboarded.

2026

MVP launch. Helping nonprofits of every size keep 100% of what their donors give.

The people behind DonorBooks

TK

Tom Kelly

Co-Founder & CEO

Former nonprofit director who spent years frustrated by platforms that took a cut of every donation. Built DonorBooks to fix that.

DB

The DonorBooks Team

Builders & Believers

A small team of engineers, designers, and nonprofit veterans who believe technology should amplify impact, not extract from it.

Join the nonprofits keeping 100%

Start your first campaign today — no credit card required, no platform fees, ever.

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About | DonorBooks