| Quick answer: For a nonprofit, ‘free’ has two meanings that matter: free to set up and use, and free of fees on the money that moves. Many platforms are free to build on but take a percentage of every cash gift, quietly reducing what reaches your programs. MyRegistry’s giving list is free to create, brand, and embed, with no platform fee on cash contributions, standard payment processing still applies, as it does anywhere. For a lean team, that difference is real money. |
Every nonprofit has heard ‘it’s free!’ about a platform and later discovered what free meant. For small organizations where every dollar is accounted for, the distinction between free-to-build and free-of-fees isn’t pedantic, it’s the difference between your donors’ generosity reaching your programs or reaching a processor. Here’s what to look at, honestly.
The Two Meanings of Free
Free to set up is table stakes, almost every platform lets you build a list at no cost. The real question is what happens when money moves. Does the platform take a percentage of each cash gift? Are branding or embedding gated behind a paid tier? Is there a cap on items or a fee to remove it? ‘Free’ is decided at the moment of transaction, not at signup.
‘Free’ is decided when money moves, not when you sign up.
What a Cash-Gift Fee Actually Costs
| Cash raised | At 2.5% platform fee | You lose |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $1,950 reaches you | $50 |
| $10,000 | $9,750 reaches you | $250 |
| $25,000 | $24,375 reaches you | $625 |
That money didn’t come from your budget, it came from your donors’ intent. They gave it to your programs; a percentage went elsewhere. For an organization counting every dollar, that gap is worth understanding before you choose a platform.
What MyRegistry’s Free Actually Includes
Creating the list, adding items from any supplier, quantities, impact descriptions, your logo and branding, embedding it on your website, group gifting, real-time tracking, and a cash fund with no platform fee on contributions. Payment processing applies — that’s unavoidable anywhere money moves online, but there’s no platform cut on top.
| Feature | MyRegistry Giving List | Single-store list |
|---|---|---|
| Add items from any store | Yes | No — one retailer |
| Cash gift funds | Yes | Rarely |
| Your logo & branding | Yes | Minimal |
| Embed on your website | Yes | Limited |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | Within that store |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| See what free actually covers — start on MyRegistry for Nonprofits . |
Why This Matters Most to Small Teams
Large organizations absorb platform fees and paid tiers as a cost of doing business. A two-person nonprofit cannot. For a small team, a free-to-use, no-platform-fee tool with branding and embedding included is the difference between having professional donation infrastructure and not having any at all. The technology gap that once separated small and large organizations largely closes here, which is the point.
What to Check on Any Platform
Cash-gift fees. The most common place a ‘free’ platform takes a cut. Ask the percentage directly.
Gated features. Are branding, embedding, or tracking behind a paid tier?
Item or usage caps. Some free plans limit list size.
What’s unavoidable. Payment processing exists everywhere, judge platforms on what they add on top of it.
A Real-World Scenario
A small nonprofit chose a ‘free’ platform and ran a $12,000 cash campaign. Afterwards they worked out that a percentage had been deducted from every gift, several hundred dollars their donors had intended for the program. They moved to a giving list with no platform fee on cash contributions, kept the branding and embedding they’d assumed were premium features, and the next campaign’s full amount reached the work. Nothing about their fundraising changed except what survived the transfer.
| ✔ Pros — Judging ‘Free’ Honestly | ✘ Cons — Judging ‘Free’ Honestly |
|---|---|
| • Free to create, brand, and embed | • Payment processing applies everywhere |
| • No platform fee on cash gifts | • Always verify current terms yourself |
| • Branding and tracking included, not gated | |
| • Real money kept for small teams |
| ★ Expert recommendation: When comparing platforms, ignore the signup price and ask one question: what happens when money moves? Check cash-gift fees, gated features, and caps. A free giving list with no platform fee means your donors’ intent reaches your programs, which matters most when the team is smallest. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free giving list really free?
Creating, branding, and embedding are free, and there’s no platform fee on cash contributions. Standard payment processing applies, as it does anywhere money moves online.
Where do ‘free’ platforms usually charge?
Most commonly a percentage of each cash gift, and sometimes by gating branding, embedding, or tracking behind a paid tier.
Why does this matter more for small nonprofits?
Large organizations absorb fees as overhead; a two-person team can’t. Free, ungated tools are what give small nonprofits professional infrastructure at all.
The Bottom Line
Judge ‘free’ by what happens when money moves, not at signup. See what’s included, free, at MyRegistry for Nonprofits.
