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5 Best Credit Cards for Nonprofits of September 2023

Last updated on September 21, 2023
Edited byRyan Lane
Fact checked and reviewed

⏰ Estimated read time: 4 minutes

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

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.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

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.

Here are the best credit cards for nonprofit from our partners

Credit cardNerdWallet ratingAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn 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

1%-5%

Cashback

$900

Apply now

on Chase's website

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Apply now

on Capital One's website

4.2/5

Best for 2% cash back, free employee cards

$150

2%-5%

Cashback

$1,200

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

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

1x-3x

Points

100,000

Points

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

1x-2x

Points

N/A

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

3x-12x

Points

130,000

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

UPDATED OFFER
UPDATED OFFER

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
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Purple and blue sparkles meaning updated offer label startIntro offerGreen sparkle meaning updated offer label end
Purple and blue sparkles meaning updated offer label startNewGreen sparkle meaning updated offer label end
Intro offer
$900

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

NerdWallet rating 

5.0/5
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Purple and blue sparkles meaning updated offer label startIntro offerGreen sparkle meaning updated offer label end
Purple and blue sparkles meaning updated offer label startNewGreen sparkle meaning updated offer label end
Intro offer
$900

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
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200

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
  • High spending requirement to hit full welcome bonus, annual bonus offers

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

NerdWallet rating 

4.2/5
Apply now

on Capital One's website

Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200

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
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points

Pros

  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • Bonus categories
  • Transfer partners

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • No intro APR offer

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

5.0/5
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points

Our pick for

Rewards with no annual fee + intro APR

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Read Review
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
N/A

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

NerdWallet rating 

4.9/5
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
N/A

Our pick for

Travel rewards, hotel card (up to 12X points)

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Read Review
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
3x-12x Points
Intro offer
130,000 Points

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • Automatic elite status
  • Luxury perks

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • No free anniversary night

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

NerdWallet rating 

5.0/5
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
3x-12x Points
Intro offer
130,000 Points

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 a welcome 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 September 21, 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.