Simplifying donations: How Paysoft Impact is transforming nonprofit fundraising

This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.

In this interview, we talk with Chad Roberts, founder of Paysoft Impact.

Tell me about yourself and your company and it's services. 

I’m Chad Roberts. Straight out of school, I volunteered for my alumni association, helping with fundraising, which was my first real exposure to nonprofits. That was 16 years ago now. From there, I started building websites for alumni associations and nonprofits. It wasn’t long before I got into online fundraising, focusing specifically on individual giving.

Working with different payment providers, I started to realise how many systems nonprofits had to juggle just to collect donations. I thought, “It would be really cool if this was simpler and worked better for them.” That’s how my company started. I partnered with a developer, and we brainstormed the idea of an online platform specifically for nonprofits. We wanted to make it easier for donors to sign up for debit orders online, instead of having to deal with forms.

Now, we’ve grown into a payment processor exclusively for nonprofits. Every one of our clients is an NPO or NPC, and we handle everything from debit orders and credit cards to instant EFT. We’re part of the Paysoft group, but our branch, Paysoft Impact, focuses entirely on nonprofit organisations, making sure they have a payment system that suits their unique needs. 

Our main goal is to simplify the donation process for nonprofits so they can focus on their work, not on managing payments.

What inspired you to focus your career on the nonprofit sector? 

It honestly happened by chance. I didn’t set out to work in the nonprofit sector, but I’m really grateful it turned out this way. I enjoy consulting and helping nonprofits with their systems. Being a payment processor could be a very one-dimensional business, where all you do is process payments and hope nothing goes wrong. But what I love about this space is that I get to work closely with nonprofits and help them improve their operations.

After dealing with hundreds of clients, I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and how different nonprofits handle things. It’s rewarding to be able to share that knowledge and give them recommendations that actually make a difference in how they operate. Plus, it’s a very sharing sector — nonprofits are all working toward improving society, and they’re always happy to share what’s working for them. I love that about this industry.

What do you find most rewarding about working with nonprofits?

One of the most rewarding things for me is seeing how our system can help nonprofits build a stable base of monthly donations. Nonprofits often struggle with fluctuating revenue, and having a solid group of monthly donors can make a huge difference.

We’ve had clients who started with no monthly revenue at all, and over the years, they’ve built it up to tens of thousands. Every time they add a new monthly donor, it’s like adding another brick to their foundation, giving them something they can rely on during difficult times. That steady growth is really satisfying to see because I know we’re helping them achieve long-term sustainability. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in this sector? How have you overcome them?

 There are a few, but one of the biggest challenges we face is with smaller nonprofits that don’t have the budget to afford advanced systems like ours. It’s often a “chicken and egg” situation. They can’t afford the system, but they can’t grow their monthly donations without it.

Our solution has been to offer payment channels that don’t require a monthly subscription, like credit and debit card options, so they can start with something simple and affordable. Then, as they grow, they can build up to a more advanced system that includes debit orders. It’s been a delicate balance, but I think we’ve found a way to make our platform accessible to nonprofits of all sizes.

Another challenge is our commitment to working exclusively with nonprofits. There have been opportunities to work with SMEs and corporates, which would have brought in higher revenue, but we’ve chosen to stay focused on the nonprofit sector. That commitment helps us understand nonprofits better and develop a system that truly serves them. But it also means we can’t rely on higher-paying clients to offset costs, which sometimes makes things tricky. 

One of the most rewarding things for me is seeing how our system can help nonprofits build a stable base of monthly donations.

How do you help nonprofit clients accomplish their missions more effectively?

Our main goal is to simplify the donation process for nonprofits so they can focus on their work, not on managing payments. We provide an all-in-one solution that includes debit orders, credit cards, EFT, and more. Nonprofits no longer have to sign up with multiple service providers for different payment methods. We take care of it all under one roof.

We also integrate with popular CRMs, so donations are automatically tracked and recorded. This allows nonprofits to manage their donors and payments all in one place, reducing administrative work and helping them focus more on their beneficiaries and fundraising efforts. 

How do you see the nonprofit sector evolving in the next 5-10 years? How are you preparing for those changes? 

I think we’re going to see the nonprofit sector becoming much more systems-oriented. It’s already happening to some extent, but I expect it to accelerate. Nonprofits will need stronger database management and donor communication systems as more donations move online.

What I’ve noticed is that there’s still a gap — a lot of older nonprofits don’t have robust systems in place, even though they’ve been around for decades. Some are still using outdated methods, like handwritten records, or they’ve cycled through various CRMs without finding one that works for them long-term.

I see a shift towards more transparency as well. Donors are becoming more demanding about where their money is going, and nonprofits will need to step up their reporting and impact tracking. We’re preparing for that by continuing to offer seamless integration with CRMs and expanding our payment options so that nonprofits can collect donations through any method they prefer.

Can you share an example of a nonprofit client you're especially proud to have worked with and why?

Definitely! One that comes to mind is Ladles of Love. They were one of our very first clients, and when they signed up, they didn’t have any monthly donations. Over time, they’ve built a great monthly giving campaign, and it’s been amazing to watch them grow steadily.

Another client I’m proud to work with is the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute).  They’ve been running a highly successful monthly giving campaign for years, with donors giving as little as R25 a month. When they decided to use our system for their call centre, it was a proud moment for us because they’re such a well-respected organisation. Earning their trust was a big deal for us.

Lastly, we’re currently working on an exciting project with BackaBuddy, the crowdfunding platform which has helped nonprofits raise millions of over the years. We’re developing a new integration with them, and I’m proud of what we’re building together. It’s going to be a game-changer for their fundraising platform.

What do you wish more people understood about working with nonprofits?

I wish people understood just how many roles the average nonprofit staff member has to take on. In most nonprofits, especially the smaller ones, you’ve got one person handling fundraising, issuing tax certificates, managing beneficiaries, and even doing admin work. It’s not that they’re inefficient — it’s that they’re wearing five different hats!

When a system doesn’t work perfectly or a tax certificate isn’t sent out on time, it’s easy to get frustrated. But people need to remember that nonprofit staff are often doing the work of multiple departments in a regular business. They’re not just sitting around — they’re juggling a lot.

We also handle multiple payment methods in one system. Nonprofits don’t need to sign up with different providers for debit orders, credit cards, or EFTs. We take care of it all.

The nonprofit space is a challenging one to work in, whether you're nonprofit staff or a service provider. What do you do to take care of yourself?

I keep it pretty simple. I love reading, and I enjoy walking the dogs. Living near Newlands Forest is a big plus — it’s a great place to unwind. I also love spending time by the ocean. I’m into fishing and water sports, so whenever I can, I head out to the sea. Mozambique is my favourite destination, though I don’t get to go as often as I’d like!

What do you think sets your company or services apart in the nonprofit services sector? In other words, why should nonprofits work with you?

The main thing that sets us apart is that we’re fully dedicated to nonprofits. Every one of our clients is a registered NPO or NPC, and that allows us to really focus on their specific needs. We’re not just offering a generic payment solution — we’ve built something that understands the challenges nonprofits face.

We also handle multiple payment methods in one system. Nonprofits don’t need to sign up with different providers for debit orders, credit cards, or EFTs. We take care of it all, and we integrate with CRMs to make managing donations simple. Plus, we issue tax certificates automatically, which saves a lot of time for nonprofits.

In the end, we make things easier so that nonprofits can focus on what they do best — serving their communities and beneficiaries. 

• Find out more about Paysoft Impact in our #Classifieds.