Every dollar matters for a nonprofit. What isn’t spent keeping the lights on is pumped directly into the mission. The right small-business credit card can help a nonprofit organization put more money toward the work that matters most.
Aim for rewards that work for you. The best credit card for your nonprofit depends on your day-to-day activities and expenses. A business travel rewards card is great if your employees are regularly on the go. Focused on more local work? Look for a cash-back credit card that earns money on things like office supplies, wireless phone service and other everyday expenses.
Save on interest and fees. Some of the best business credit cards come with no annual fee, and a few offer 0% interest on purchases for the first year or longer. Those key benefits save your organization money. If you opt for a card that does carry an annual fee, make sure the rewards warrant the yearly charge.
All of our selections for the best cards for nonprofits are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates cards based on fees, rewards rates and redemption options, among numerous other factors.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Featured Partner
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,000
Recommended Credit Score
720-850excellent
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
- Earn an annual $200 cash bonus every year you spend $200,000 or more—that's enough to cover your annual fee and then some
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
- $150 annual fee
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
Our Nerdy picks for
Up to 5% cash back, no annual fee
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card2% cash back, free employee cards
Capital One Spark Cash PlusOverall rewards (up to 3X per $1 spent)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardRewards with no annual fee + intro APR
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American ExpressTravel rewards, hotel card (up to 12X points)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business CardHere are 5 credit card for nonprofit from our partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Up to 5% cash back, no annual fee | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months | 17.49%-23.49% Variable APR | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website | 4.4/5 Best for 2% cash back, free employee cards | $150 | N/A | N/A | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall rewards (up to 3X per $1 spent) | $95 | N/A | 20.24%-25.24% Variable APR | Apply now on Chase's website |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website | 4.9/5 Best for Rewards with no annual fee + intro APR | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Apply now on American Express' website | 5.0/5 Best for Travel rewards, hotel card (up to 12X points) | $95 | N/A | 20.24%-29.24% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Our pick for
Up to 5% cash back, no annual fee
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Regular APR
17.49%-23.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Regular APR
17.49%-23.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Regular APR
17.49%-23.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- BEST OFFER EVER: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 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
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Regular APR
17.49%-23.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Our pick for
2% cash back, free employee cards
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Annual fee
$150
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
720-850excellent
720-850 (Excellent)
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
Annual fee
$150
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
720-850excellent
720-850 (Excellent)
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Annual fee
$150
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
720-850excellent
720-850 (Excellent)
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
- Earn an annual $200 cash bonus every year you spend $200,000 or more—that's enough to cover your annual fee and then some
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
- $150 annual fee
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
Annual fee
$150
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
720-850excellent
720-850 (Excellent)
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
Our pick for
Overall rewards (up to 3X per $1 spent)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-25.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-25.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-25.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 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 Ultimate Rewards®
- 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
- 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.
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-25.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Our pick for
Rewards with no annual fee + intro APR
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 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.
- 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.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% - 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
- View Rates & Fees
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Our pick for
Travel rewards, hotel card (up to 12X points)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- Terms apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
690-850good - excellent
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: CREDIT CARDS FOR NONPROFITS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Up to 5% cash back, no annual fee
If your business's spending matches the bonus categories on the
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
, you can rack up some serious cash back. (If not, then look elsewhere.) There's an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash-back card, plus an introductory APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: 2% cash back and free employee cards
The
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no limit to how much you can earn. And you can earn an extra welcome bonus, and qualify for an annual bonus, if you hit certain spending requirements. Just make sure that you can pay off your spending in full each month, as this is a charge card that doesn't let you revolve a balance. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Overall rewards (up to 3X per $1 spent)
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere (assuming you spend enough to earn it), then gives you bonus rewards in common business spending categories. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Rewards with no annual fee + intro APR
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is a near-twin to the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Travel rewards, hotel card (up to 12X points)
Airport lounge access and a generous welcome offer make
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
an ideal card for conference hopping and other business travel. A tiered points structure makes it easy to earn rewards, whether you stay at a Hilton or not. Cardholders earn 12X points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 6X points on gas, shipping, dining and other travel expenses; and 3X points on all other purchases. Learn more and apply.Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card
Our pick for: Business card designed for nonprofits
The Charity Charge Nonprofit Business card was built for nonprofit organizations that have been in operation for at least two years. Your organization saves money with no annual fee, plus cash-back rebates at participating vendors and group purchasing discounts. Nonprofit organizations have real-time control over employee cards and can pause or cancel access online. Learn more.
Last updated on February 2, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business credit cards.