Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.
Credit cards for nonprofits help minimize typical card costs by charging no annual fees and offering cheap introductory financing. They also pay rewards in common business spending categories like office supplies. We prioritized annual fees, rewards, and financing opportunities when evaluating the best options for your organization.
The best credit cards for nonprofits are:
- Chase Ink Business Cash®: (Best overall) Best for accessing robust cash back rewards as an office-oriented nonprofit organization
- Chase Ink Business Preferred®: Best for earning travel rewards as a national or global nonprofit
- American Express Blue Business CashTM Card: Best for earning cash back on a variety of expenses
- Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business: Best for small budgets
- Charity Charge Mastercard®: Best for discounts at more than 200 national vendors and no personal guarantee
- Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Best for fair credit (580 to 669)
For more details on how we evaluated business credit cards for this list, see our methodology.
Chase Ink Business Cash®: Best Overall Nonprofit Credit Card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
BEST FOR
Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- Top rewards for office supply spending
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Cash sign-up bonus
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- High balance transfer fee of 5%
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less.
Why we like it: Nonprofit owners looking for top cash back rewards and a card that charges no annual fee should stop here. Office-based nonprofits will find this card’s rewards program beneficial as it pays 5% cash back on common business spending categories like office supplies. You’ll also get midtier rewards when you use your card at gas stations and restaurants.
Ongoing rewards offered by Chase Ink Business Cash® are the best on this list, but the card offers much more than that. If you spend at least $2,500 per month for the first three months, you’ll be able to cash in big on an introductory bonus. Plus, this card offers a long interest-free financing period on purchases.
This small business credit card can elevate your nonprofit organization through the rewards program, cheap introductory financing, and lack of annual fee. You’ll be able to save on common card costs and earn cash back every time you swipe your card.
Chase Ink Business Preferred®: Best for National or Global Nonprofits
BEST FOR Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual feeInk Business Preferred® Credit Card
Pros
Cons
Why we like it: Chase Ink Business Preferred® is the perfect card if you own a national or global nonprofit because of its robust travel rewards program. You’ll reap the benefits of 3x points per $1 spent in multiple categories, including travel. While this is the only card on our list that charges an annual fee, business travel credit cards with similar reward rates typically charge several hundred dollars.
In addition to its high return rate, this card offers the largest introductory reward on our list. If you spend $15,000 within the first three months, you can earn thousands of bonus points that can be worth over $1,000 in travel.
When you redeem your rewards for travel, they’re worth 1.25 cents per point. You can increase the value of your points to 1.5 cents when you transfer your rewards to the Chase Sapphire Reserve personal credit card. You can boost your redemption value further to at least 2 cents per point if you transfer your points to one of the issuer’s airline partners.
American Express Blue Business CashTM Card: Best for Fixed-rate Cash Back Rewards
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BEST FOR
Earning 2% cash back every time you swipe and 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) for 12 months
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- No interest for 12 months
- Earn consistent 2% cash back rewards on every purchase
Cons
- Offers no cash sign-up bonus
- 2% cash back category is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Extended warranty protection: American Express provides up to an additional year of coverage on warranties of up to 5 years. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Purchase protection: The issuer will repair, replace, or reimburse you for an item purchased with the card that was damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Baggage insurance: If your luggage is damaged or lost when you travel on a common carrier, such as a plane, trip, ship, or bus, American Express will reimburse you for losses not covered by your own personal insurance.
Why we like it: You may find that your nonprofit spends in a variety of categories and doesn’t want to spend time tracking where to spend money to earn top rewards. Fixed-rate cards like this one allow you to earn the same rate of rewards no matter what you purchase. For example, whether you use your card on office supplies or at a gas station. This is the highest fixed-rate on our list.
In addition to offering ongoing rewards, this option enables cardholders to save money. Not only will you never pay an annual fee, but you’ll also be able to finance purchases with no interest for an extended period of time. However, make sure you repay those purchases before the introductory period ends, and the ongoing annual percentage rate (APR) comes into play.
Last but not least, American Express offers a unique expanded buying feature that lets you spend a predetermined amount over your limit. If you find yourself looking for extra financing, this feature could be your nonprofit’s saving grace.
Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business: Best for Small Budgets
Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business
BEST FOR
Businesses that spend less than $19,000 annually
- Introductory reward worth $200 after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No annual fee
- Ability to finance purchases with 0% APR for nine months
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- Can’t redeem rewards for travel or transfer to a travel partner
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for up to 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim.
Why we like it: Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business is best for nonprofit organizations that spend less than $19,000 per year on their credit cards. You can put 1.5% cash back in the bank every time you swipe your card. If your nonprofit spends more than $19,000 annually, Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business may prove to be a better option. However, that card charges an annual fee.
Outside of the ongoing rewards program, Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business also offers a sign-up bonus worth a couple of hundred dollars. Spend at least $1,000 per month for the first three months, and you’re well on your way to earning that bonus reward. Plus, you can also finance purchases with no interest for an extended period of time.
If you would rather earn miles to redeem for travel, Capital One also offers Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business. This is an identical card that offers travel points instead of cash rewards.
Charity Charge Business Mastercard®: Best for Vendor Discounts & No Personal Guarantee
Charity Charge Mastercard®
BEST FOR
Earning fixed-rate rewards redeemable for charitable donations
- No annual fee to use the Charity Charge Nonprofit Business card
- 1% Cash Back as an automatic rebate on your monthly statements
- Exclusive discounts at over 200+ national vendors through our partnership with Purchasing Point
Pros
- Automatically donates rewards for up to three non-profit organizations of your choice
- Donations are tax-deductible
- Unlimited rewards
Cons
- Low ongoing rewards
- No 0% APR period
- Balance transfer fee
- Vendor discounts: You’ll receive exclusive discounts at more than 200 national vendors through Purchasing Point. These include discounts on services at businesses such as FedEx and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. You can find all of the available vendors on the Purchasing Point’s vendor page.
- No personal guarantee: This card requires no personal guarantee, which means it doesn’t require a personal credit check. Plus, you aren’t personally liable for the company’s debt obligations.
- Extended warranty protection: Doubles the existing manufacturer’s warranty up to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
- Purchase assurance: Replaces new purchases that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
Why we like it: The Charity Charge Business Mastercard®, issued by Commerce Bank, is the only card on our list that specifically caters to nonprofits. It typically draws appeal from organizations that want to earn discounts at more than 200 national vendors. Plus, this card requires no personal guarantee. This means there’s no personal credit check and you—the business owner—are not personally liable for the debts.
While this card pays 1% cash back on all spending, it comes up short when compared to the top nonprofit credit cards on this list. For example, it does not offer any introductory rewards or interest-free financing. However, if your nonprofit values vendor discounts at merchants like FedEx and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, it could be right for you. You can find all of the available vendors on the card’s Purchasing Point vendor page.
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Best for Business Owners With Fair Credit
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
BEST FOR
Fair credit business owners (580 to 669)
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Earn fixed-rate rewards even with fair credit scores
- Rewards never expire
Cons
- High APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Reports to personal credit bureaus
- Purchase protection: Capital One will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended warranty protection: You’ll get additional warranty protection on eligible items that are purchased with your business card, up to 1 year past the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: You’re covered for damage due to collision or theft when you rent an eligible car with your Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business card.
Why we like it: This is the only card on our list that gives nonprofit owners with fair credit (580 to 660) an opportunity to build their credit scores. While improving your business and personal credit, you’ll also benefit from 1% cash back with no limits. This card’s rewards and terms are not the best on our list. However, it’s a solid option to use until you qualify for a traditional business credit card, which typically will require a personal credit score of at least 670.
If your personal credit score is below 580, consider a secured business credit card. Those cards have credit limits that are equal to your cash deposit and have fewer qualification requirements.
How We Evaluated the Best Nonprofit Credit Cards
We primarily looked for cards that charged no annual fees as most organizations look for ways to reduce costs. We also considered sign-up bonuses, ongoing reward programs, and any additional features like cheap introductory financing. These factors help nonprofits earn extra cash early on and reduce potential interest charges.
Applying for a Nonprofit Credit Card
As a nonprofit, you can apply for a business credit card with your employer identification number (EIN). Additionally, most business credit cards require a personal guarantee, which requires a personal credit check and means you become personally liable for the business’s debts. Typically, the owner of the nonprofit organization or the account holder provides the personal guarantee. However, we included one business credit card without a personal guarantee.
Bottom Line
Most nonprofit credit cards charge no annual fees, which can help your organization save money on typical card costs. However, these fee-free cards still offer lucrative perks, including big sign-up bonuses and top-tier ongoing rewards. Your organization’s spending habits, including whether you spend in one category or across several, typically determine which card best suits your needs.
For rates and fees on the American Express Blue Business CashTM Card, please click here.
