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Many nonprofit operators have a sole interest in giving back to society — these individuals aren’t obsessed with profits or growth. Instead, they recognize the importance of incrementally making the world a better place, improving the social fabric of society, and pursuing their personal passions.
Nonprofit organizations are still considered businesses under the law, and because of the increased scrutiny that these businesses have, it’s essential to separate your nonprofit’s expenses from your personal expenses.
The easiest way to separate these expenses is with a business credit card. In this guide, we’ll show you our favorite business credit cards for nonprofit organizations.
What To Look for in a Business Credit Card for Nonprofit Organizations
In general, nonprofit organizations have a lot of traditional business expenses, such as office supplies, rent, and overhead.
They also tend to run lean on expenses, so getting a business credit card that reflects the nonprofit is essential. Even though nonprofits can avoid huge annual fees, what they don’t have to compromise on is earning rewards.
In this guide, we’ll show you our favorite business credit cards for nonprofit organizations, with a focus on low annual fees, high rewards for office spending, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$750
$750
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
Earn flexible rewards
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
One of our favorite business credit cards for nonprofits is the Ink Business Unlimited card. This credit card allows you to earn simple rewards with the option to earn transferable rewards.
This credit card starts with no annual fee and offers an amazing welcome bonus. And throughout all of this, you will get 1.5% cash-back on all your purchases without any caps. You don’t need to pay attention to any fancy bonus categories or any earning ceilings.
Just focus on running your business and rack up your points! You can add unlimited employee cards with no extra fees.
This card offers another keystone benefit: 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months. This could help you manage any rolling balances that you don’t pay off immediately without amassing huge interest fees, but of course, you’ll need to ensure that all of your balance is paid off when this 0% period ends to avoid paying high interest rates.
Many business credit cards don’t offer protection and coverage for your purchases, but the Ink Business Unlimited card has zero liability protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage.
Lastly, you can get primary rental car coverage and other travel insurance benefits when traveling for business.
With the Ink Business Unlimited card alone, you won’t earn Ultimate Rewards points, but if you pair this card with an Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card your 1.5% cash-back can be converted to 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points per $1.
You can redeem your rewards for cash-back, travel through the Chase Travel portal, Amazon, gift cards, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Up to $750
Up to $750
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
Pros
Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
Travel insurance and purchase protection
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
No annual fee
Cons
Spending caps in bonus categories
Low points earning outside of bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fees
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after 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
10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
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
Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Ink Business Cash card is the sister credit card of the Ink Business Unlimited card. It shares a lot of the same benefits and features, but there are a few key differences.
The card has the same purchase protections, like zero liability protection, an introductory APR benefit, no annual fee, and no-additional-fee employee cards.
You’ll also enjoy the primary rental car collision damage waiver and travel coverage perks.
Now, let’s compare the 2 cards in the context of nonprofit organizations. Whereas the Ink Business Unlimited card earns a flat 1.5% cash-back, the Ink Business Cash card earns up to 5% cash-back in certain bonus categories.
Specifically, you can 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
2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
1% cash-back on all other purchases
Your 5%, 2%, and 1% cash-back is convertible to 5x, 2x, and 1x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar if you have an Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
For nonprofit organizations that spend a lot of money on office supplies or the other categories in this list, it could make sense to hold this card.
One thing you’ll also want to note is that the bonus categories have a $25,000 cap per cardmember year; after you pass this cap, you’ll earn 1% cash-back.
Bottom Line: We generally would recommend the Ink Business Cash card over the Ink Business Unlimited card for small-scale nonprofit organizations that primarily spend money at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points
$330
No annual fee
18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).
The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.
Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.
Pros
2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost
Cons
No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status
Charges foreign transaction fees
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
*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 us, and other factors.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
APR: 18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Our next credit card is the Amex Blue Business Plus card, and we love this card because it allows you to maximize your rewards! We think that you’ll love this card because you can earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year. After that, you’ll earn 1x.
This card is one of the best choices you have, especially if you’re a smaller nonprofit. If you maxed out the cap, you would earn 100,000 points per year, worth around $2,200 according to our valuations.
That’s where we derive a large portion of the value of our points from. Other options include booking travel through AmexTravel.com, statement credits, gift cards, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel
100,000 points
$2,000
$95
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Pros
3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Rental car insurance
Extended warranty coverage
Cons
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
The Ink Business Preferred card is yet another outstanding business credit card you can use for your nonprofit business.
This card boasts a huge welcome bonus and the ability to earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent on select business categories (up to $150,000 per cardmember year):
Internet, cable, and phone services
Shipping expenses
Travel
Ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
This card earns Ultimate Rewards points directly, so you don’t need to have another card, as you would with the Ink Business Unlimited card, to use transfer partners.
In addition to awesome 3x points earning potential, you’ll get some fantastic cell phone insurance. With this coverage, you can get up to $1,500 in value from up to 3 claims every 12-month period with a maximum of $600 per claim and a $100 deductible per claim.
It doesn’t end there because you’ll also get purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and primary rental car insurance.
Of course, you can add employee cards for no additional fee, as well.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.
Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
$250
$0
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Looking for a way to keep tabs on your office supply costs and business travel expenses while earning cash-back? Then The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be a good fit.
This card offers expense management solutions that are designed to give companies more control, along with a much clearer picture of their business spending. In doing so, the more you spend, the more cash-back you can earn.
Pros
2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in spend, then 1% back thereafter
No annual fee
Travel and purchase protection
Cons
Not ideal for those who spend a lot on a specific category like groceries or gas
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% – 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
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 us and other factors.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars
If you’re looking for a no-frills system that allows you to invest all of your rewards back into your nonprofit, the Amex Blue Business Cash card is a great way to rack up cash-back quickly.
The Amex Blue Business Cash card earns 2% cash-back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year), then 1% after that. The cash-back is automatically credited on your statement, so you don’t need to worry about redeeming your rewards.
Also, this card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases (as shown in the table above), which is a neat way to avoid interest on purchases made.
Additional features include no annual fee for the primary and any employee cards and access to Amex Offers (see rates & fees).
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
(Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
(Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
$0
0% Intro APR for the first 9 months after account opening,Ongoing APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable
The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is an excellent option for business owners looking for straightforward earning with no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and no minimum when redeeming your miles.
Earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Get unlimited 1.5 miles on every purchase with your business credit card with no blackouts or seat restrictions, and no minimum to redeem.
Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.
Use your miles on flights, hotels, vacation packages and more—you can even transfer miles to any of our 15+ travel partners.
We’ve got you covered with zero fraud liability if your card is lost or stolen. Plus, get automatic fraud alerts via text, email or phone call.
0% intro APR for 9 months; 18.24% – 28.24% variable APR after that.
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0% Intro APR for the first 9 months after account opening,Ongoing APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable
The very last credit card we’ll be discussing is an underrated card option. Capital One isn’t as well-known as Chase and American Express when it comes to rewards, but the Capital One Spark Miles Select card is a great choice.
This card earns an uncapped 1.5x miles on every purchase you make, plus a welcome bonus that can add a nice chunk of miles to your balance. This card has no annual fee and also earns 5x miles on hotels and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.
Other perks include zero fraud liability, no foreign transaction fees, no-fee employee cards, extended warranty and protection, and more.
These miles are worth around 1.8 cents each, according to our valuations.
Final Thoughts
Running a nonprofit organization is extremely tough and rewarding at the same time. That’s why you should make your business management seamless with the right business credit card.
The major banks consider nonprofits as legitimate businesses, so you likely qualify for a business credit card as a nonprofit organization.
Our favorite business credit cards for nonprofits are focused on Chase and Amex because they offer incredible benefits with a proven loyalty program.
We hope you’ve found this guide useful to help you pick the best business credit card for your nonprofit organization.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
Can nonprofits get credit cards?
Yes! Nonprofits are still considered businesses, so these organizations should be eligible to get credit cards.
Which credit card is best for a nonprofit?
The best bank for nonprofits will depend on tons of factors. You can’t go wrong with Chase and American Express because they offer awesome rewards, great customer service, and plenty of credit card options.
Do nonprofits pay credit card fees?
Yes. From credit card processing fees to annual fees, you will almost always have to pay fees since you are still considered a business.
Do churches count as charities for cash-back credit cards?
In general, it depends on the initial filings and NAICS industry codes you choose when registering your church with the government. Consult your local tax and legal professional for more advice.
Can a nonprofit get a line of credit?
Yes. Nonprofits are businesses, just like for-profit companies. As a result, nonprofits can access business funding like credit cards, lines of credit, and so on.
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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