Voluntary contribution refunds on Zeffy
The optional contribution made to Zeffy is not automatically refunded when you refund a donor's payment. This is because the transaction fees Zeffy covers on your behalf are still paid, even if the payment is later refunded. Donors therefore have the option to maintain their contribution to support the platform.
How donors request a contribution refund
Donors can request a refund of their contribution on their own, from the link in their receipt email or from their donor dashboard:
The donor opens their confirmation email receipt.
They click "Learn more" next to the receipt details.
From there, they can submit a request to refund their voluntary contribution to Zeffy.
The refund is processed automatically if the payment meets the eligibility rules. For example, bank payments can only be refunded after 60 days, and payments older than 180 days can't be refunded. The donor will receive an email confirming the refunded amount, which typically takes 5 to 10 business days to appear on their original payment method.
Nonprofits cannot refund contributions to Zeffy themselves. Since contributions are processed through Zeffy rather than paid directly to the organization, donors request these refunds on their own, and our team can also process them.
Why contributions are separate from donations
The contribution to the organization and the voluntary contribution to Zeffy are treated as separate transactions. Even when a donation is refunded, Zeffy still covers the processing fees associated with that payment. The voluntary contribution helps Zeffy maintain its 100% fee-free model for nonprofits.
What to tell your donors
If a donor asks about the contribution, you can explain that you choose to fundraise with Zeffy so that 100% of their donation goes to your mission—not toward paying fees. Their voluntary contribution supports thousands of nonprofits across North America by making high-quality fundraising technology accessible to all.
For more information about how Zeffy's model works, see What is the voluntary contribution to Zeffy?.