New York is the home of some of the biggest technology platforms in charitable giving, and the state regulates fundraising closely. This guide covers NYC giving tech, how those organizations are funded, and the Attorney General rules any donation product has to fit.
Where US charitable giving comes from
Total US giving in 2025 by source. Individuals give almost two thirds, which is the market donation platforms compete for.
NYC giving tech organizations to know
Two New York organizations that built technology for giving and run it as nonprofits, funded mostly by their own fees. Details were checked in October 2026.
DonorsChoose
Online crowdfunding platform where public school teachers post classroom project requests and donors fund them directly.
- Address: 134 W 37th Street, Floor 11, New York, NY 10018
- Phone: not published
- LinkedIn: Company page
- Funding: Not VC funded: a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by an optional 15% donor contribution (about 84% of donors opt in) plus corporate and foundation partners such as the Gates Foundation and Google.org; revenue was $150.8M in the fiscal year ending June 2025. (source)
- Founded: 2000
Candid
Nonprofit formed in 2019 from the merger of GuideStar and Foundation Center that publishes data on nonprofits, foundations and grants, selling subscription tools such as Foundation Directory and nonprofit profiles.
- Address: 32 Old Slip, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005
- Phone: (212) 620-4230
- LinkedIn: Company page
- Funding: 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 13-1837418) funded mainly by earned revenue plus grants: for tax year 2023 it reported $43.2M total revenue, of which about $33.0M was program service revenue (subscriptions and data services) and about $8.8M was contributions and grants. (source)
- Founded: 2019
New York rules a giving product has to fit
- Charity registration: a charity must register with the Attorney General before soliciting people in New York, with a $25 fee, and report material changes within 30 days, under Executive Law 172.
- Fundraisers and counsel: professional fundraisers and fundraising counsel register before working for a charity, at $800 a year, and professional fundraisers post a $10,000 bond, under Executive Law 173. A platform that takes a cut of donations should check whether that makes it a fundraiser.
- The registry: the Charities Bureau takes annual CHAR500 filings and publishes the registry of charities and fundraising professionals.
- Federal status: a New York not-for-profit corporation and federal 501(c)(3) status are separate steps; the second requires an application to the IRS.
Where the opportunity is
- Checkout and recurring giving: software that raises conversion on donation pages and turns one-time donors into monthly ones.
- Data: information about nonprofits and grantmakers, which is what Candid sells by subscription.
- Direct-to-cause crowdfunding: the DonorsChoose model, where donors fund a specific request and see the result.
How giving tech gets funded
Nonprofit platforms run on fees, subscriptions and grants: DonorsChoose asks donors for an optional 15% contribution, and Candid earns most of its revenue from data subscriptions. For-profit donation platforms raise venture capital; the site’s list of NYC venture firms shows who invests in New York software, and the AI startup financing guide covers grants and tax credits for software companies. Merchant cash advances that take a share of receipts are a poor fit for anyone whose income is donations.
Common questions
Does a giving app need to register in New York?
A charity must register with the New York Attorney General before soliciting New Yorkers, with a $25 filing fee. Professional fundraisers and fundraising counsel register separately, at $800 a year, and professional fundraisers post a $10,000 bond. A platform should check whether its model triggers those rules.
How are NYC giving tech companies funded?
Some are nonprofits funded by fees and grants, such as DonorsChoose and Candid. For-profit donation platforms usually raise venture capital.
Where do I check a charity’s New York registration?
On the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau registry at charitiesnys.com.
Related guides
Updated October 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm current requirements with the agency named before you act.