The Giving Hub FAQ
What is The Giving Hub?
The Giving Hub brings cash and product donations together, combining the ease of online giving in one place. Launching November 25th, just in time for the giving season. It’s available at no cost to your organization through the end of the year.
Is this to receive items shipped to organizations or for organizations to receive monetary donations?
Both! Donors can make multiple donations for either.
Will The Giving Hub only run for this season or is it an ongoing campaign?
This is one Giving Day event that we are hosting from November 25th - December 31st. Giving Tuesday is December 2nd. After that, The Giving Hub will close. We hope to have more opportunities to share these features with you in the future.
Is this just for Giving Tuesday? Can we ask donors to give monthly?
The Giving Hub is not monthly at this time. This is a singular event that we are hosting during the giving season. However, you will have the donor's information so if you want to reach out to them and say thanks, or request monthly giving, you can do so.
Is this free to non-profits through the holidays? How much after that?
This event runs from Nov 25th to the end of the year. It will end then, and you will not be billed for anything from Bonterra or be subscribed to any of our products.
Do you have to purchase a Bontera subscription to participate?
You do not have to purchase a subscription to Bonterra. It's free to participate, and setting up an Amazon Business account is free. The transactions have a small fee that we ask the donors to cover, which is successful 85% of the time.
What's the difference between this and a giving platform? Is this something helpful to have even if you have a dedicated giving platform without confusing donors?
This tool is NOT meant to replace your everyday-giving page. You can continue to have your giving platform, and use this also in order to;
- create an opportunity for you to receive gifts via your Amazon Business account
- target a different audience. The Giving Hub gives you an additional channel on Giving Tuesday that is going to be aggressively amplified during the AWS Re:Invent conference as well as by Amazon Business and Bonterra
How does this benefit Amazon and Bonterra?
Amazon Business and Bonterra have a partnership with many initiatives. This project is one we are all excited to work on, and hosting this for you all allows us to share the idea and test it. We want to make this standard functionality across our tools and this is the first step in that.
In previous years, what is the average dollar amount/items that a nonprofit typically raises through participating?
This is our first year to have this kind of push with Amazon Business. However, GiveGab is a product that many of our clients use to host their own giving days and/or everyday-giving.
What’s it like for Donors?
If our current donors would like to make a donation, how do we share with them?
Each organization will also have their own page so they can share their unique url however they like.
Can we put a link/donate button in our description to have donors go directly to our site?
You will be able to create your profile how you like, and add a link to your own site if you’d like. However, they will be able to donate directly through your Giving Hub url.
What's the difference between this and just posting a wishlist link on your webpage?
The Giving Hub brings together cash donations and in-kind donations into one place. The Giving Hub also allows you to view donor information so that you can follow up with them and say thanks. Additionally, the in-kind donations are actually donated as cash from the donors, and then Amazon Business fulfills the purchases through your account so you can count these donations towards your revenue. To learn more, skip to the Amazon Business section below.
How does the search feature work for finding nonprofits? How does a donor search for my nonprofit?
Search works by donors entering cause and/or location on The Giving Hub Platform. As an organization, you can add up to 3 causes to tag in your account which will help donors be directed to your Giving Hub page. You are also able to share your specific url with them.
Is there any collateral we can use to get the word out?
You can share your Giving Hub profile page which will help them learn more about your organization.
How do we get donor data?
The donor data will live in your Giving Hub portal after a donor has completed their purchase.
How Do I Set it Up?
How long does it take to get set up?
Most organizations have been able to register in under 30 minutes.
What is the deadline to set this up?
Giving starts on Nov 25th, so ideally before then. But you can still register after that. Most organizations can complete their onboarding in under 30 minutes.
Can you clarify every platform we need to set up?
You will need to register on The Giving Hub and create an Amazon Business account. Most orgs can do it in under 30 minutes, and you can view the steps here https://www.thegivinghub.org/info/onboarding-guide
If we don't already have a GiveGab account, how can we set that up?
You can begin registration here https://www.givegab.com/giving_days/gt2026/groups/new
What if you already have a givegab account?
If you already have a GiveGab account, you can still register for this particular giving day here https://www.givegab.com/giving_days/gt2026/groups/new
If I have a OneCause Account, recently purchased by Bonterra, do I need to set up a new account?
Yes, The Giving Hub lives on a different platform. You can do that here https://www.givegab.com/giving_days/gt2026/groups/new
Amazon Business
Is it required to add an Amazon Business account?
If you wish to collect item donations, it does require a free Amazon Business account. If you do not, then you will be able to only accept cash donations.
Can you remove the Give Items option on your Giving Hub page?
If you don't add any items to your Giving Hub account, the donors will only be presented with the Give Cash option.
Is having an Amazon wishlist required?
Having a wishlist is not required.
Does the organization choose the items or can those gifting select whatever they want?
The organization chooses them..up to 15 different items from Amazon Business.
Why is there a max of 15 items on the wishlist?
That is so that we don't overwhelm the donors, but you can have multiple of those items.
Can you just add the wishlist URL or does it have to be individual ASIN's or URL's entered every single time?
For this first version of this feature, it needs to be the ASINs, or the url to that product. In the future, we hope to connect a full wishlist.
Are donated items shipped to the organization or does the donor have to input the organization’s shipping information?
The items are automatically fulfilled by Amazon Business. When registering in The Giving Hub, the organization provides the address they would like items shipped to and Amazon Business does the rest. There is no need for the donor to worry about this step.
Does this support adding multiple shipping addresses for orgs who have regional offices
If you have different orgs that have multiple shipping addresses, then it's recommended that each does their own registration. The YMCA is an example of an org that has done it this way so they can each collect their own donations.
Can you restrict how many of each item is purchased?
At this time, you cannot restrict how many of each item is donated. However, if you receive too many of an item, you can return it through your Amazon Business account and use the cash towards something else.
If we are receiving too many donations of an item, can we change the item?
Yes, in your Giving Hub portal, you can remove and add products.
Is the purchase of items on Amazon Business automatic?
Yes. When a donor selects items and completes their purchase, the exact cash amount for that item will be sent to your bank account, and at the same time, Amazon Business will process the order on your account and begin fulfillment.
So the donors are not donating items directly, they are sending the cash amount to my bank account, and Amazon Business fulfills a purchase for that item automatically?
Yes, the donation money that is sent by the donor would be sent to your bank account. Simultaneously, an order will be placed on your Amazon Business account for the item the donor selected. That order will then use the default payment method on your Amazon Business account, either Credit Card or Invoicing. You can then use the cash received in your bank account to cover the charge for the order. The end result is a wash.
Why is this better for me?
By not receiving a donated item, but instead receiving the cash, you can then count that cash towards your revenue.
Can you describe the advantage of invoicing for those of us who already have Amazon Business accounts?
Invoicing happens later while credit card charges are instant. If you are not able to cover these fees upfront, invoicing is a good option. Remember that you will be sent the cash donations immediately so you will already have the cash available when the orders are placed.
When, for example, would we encounter a moment where we need to pay an invoice?
At the end of your billing cycle, you will need to pay your Amazon Business invoice. However, keep in mind that you will be sent the cash donations immediately so you will already have the cash available when the orders are placed.
We typically don't receive much information from Amazon Business for the folks who purchased from our wishlist. Will The Giving Hub allow us to collect any donor contact info?
You WILL be able to see donor information for items donated, it will be available in your Giving Hub portal.
Donations
Can donors donate money or do they have to donate items?
Donors can choose to donate either cash or items per transaction.
How and at what frequency are contributions deposited?
Funds are disbursed into your bank account on a 5 day rolling basis. For more information, please go here.
If the donor wants to donate cash, how do we receive this into our bank account?
Bonterra uses Stripe as a payment gateway. When you set up your Giving Hub profile, you will add your bank account information. Here is a more information about that process.
So, the cash disbursements come from Stripe rather than CyberGrants or FrontDoor through Bonterra?
The donations are collected and delivered via Stripe not CyberGrant or Frontdoor.
My organization does not have a Stripe account. Is that a problem?
Not at all, it’s not required for you to have a Stripe account. Bonterra uses Stripe as a payment gateway, but you do not need to set anything up with them.
If donors don't elect to cover the transaction fee, is that charged to the nonprofit?
There is a 3% processing fee, and a 1% platform fee. We ask the donors to cover it, but it’s not always the case. However, there is an 85% success rate of donors covering it.
Will organizations incur fees for donations if the donor does not cover it? (i.e. someone donates $50 but we only receive $47 after fees?)
Yes. But 85% of the time, donors will cover the fees.
Is the fee for cash contributions a percentage or a flat amount?
There is a 3% processing fee, and a 1% platform fee.
What is the notation on our bank statement?
It will show as coming from Bonterra.
Can a donor give money towards the purchase of an item? For example, an item is $100 but a donor can only donate $50.
They would either need to cover the full price of the item, OR make a cash donation. They can choose the amount they would like to donate.