Donations instead of tip

[eclaire7]

We are non profit and we do not accept tips for our cashiers but we would like to ask for an additional donation after the purchase. Simply being able to change the word "tip" to the word "donation" would suffice. But something like a round up option would be even better. 

[#2]

Hi @GoldenIsles @FandF719 @PunchGallery and others who have posted here! I am following up to let you know that we talked to the head of Retail products, and he confirmed this is not on the roadmap for 2025. He did however thank us for bringing visibility to the feature request and will consider it in planning for 2026. We will keep you updated here and in Product Updates if there is development. Thanks so much for writing!

[FOTOT]

We are a non profit and would also like to change the word "tip" to "donation" during the purchase process. We aren't interested in a round up option.

[MayaP]

Hello @eclaire7,

Thank you for reaching out! We understand your request and appreciate your efforts as a nonprofit. While we currently don’t have an option to directly change the word "tip" to "donation," we can definitely explore ways to provide a round-up feature for donations. We’ll pass along your feedback to the team for further consideration and keep you updated on any developments. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to let us know!

[MayaP]

Thanks for adding your insight as well @FOTOT! 

[michellestubs03]

Is there a way to add a custom "donation" button at checkout? Even a text box might work for now. Perhaps you could partner with organizations like Happy Homes Properties to offer charitable options to your customers.

[GoldenIsles]

Hello, This feature proposed by @FOTOT and hundreds more before them is critical to Square's customer retention. Let me tell you why.

Our small non-profit retail shop is enacting a donation program at checkout that allows customers to donate 1%, 3%, or 5% of their transaction total to the local land trust, another non-profit. In doing so, we have signage and trained staff but the missing link in ensuring a good customer experience is Square displaying the donation as a "tip". It is not a tip and should not be presented as such. Square should give the retailer the option to change the word "Tip" to "Donation". Additionally, while your engineer is coding it, I'd recommend you accommodate a wider array of businesses by giving another option to include the word "Gratuity" and/or "Contribution". It is important to get this wording right because this pop-up during checkout is sacred to a retailer's relationship with their customer. At the pinnacle of the purchase process, a customer needs to feel complete confidence that the dollars and pennies they are donating are going directly to the cause we're asking them to support. There is no need to change the way the tip process functions, just the word. This change would be a major upgrade to Square and could play a role in converting small businesses from other POS systems to Square.

The lack of a solution hinders the image and success of your Square retailers. It is off-putting, distasteful, and inappropriate for our business to request "tips". For Square to respond by telling our staff to identify it is for a donation dodges responsibility and hangs your retailers out to dry. That is so cumbersome and challenges retail staff to have an awkward position. It doesn't have to be awkward if the Square device presented the donation opportunity clearly. I challenge your team of retail experts to please think through the customer experience and incorporate this upgrade because it is critical to your retailers' operations. 

Thank you! Please give this request the care it deserves.

[PunchGallery]

We've been wanting this same feature for years as well. We accept "tips" but they are actually used as donations that support the programming of our non-profit arts organization. During checkout, we have to verbally explain that "all tips support art and music programming" and that we operate with a volunteer staff that doesn't accept tips.

Please give us the ability to change the word "tips" to "donation" on the checkout screen.

Thank you!

Punch Gallery

Thorp, Washington

[GoldenIsles]

@Square Any updates to this request? 

[FandF719]

We are all still waiting for a donation option. This is an incredibly simply thing to implement. What exactly is the hold up? 

[kristen]

Hi @GoldenIsles @FandF719 @PunchGallery and others who have posted here! I am following up to let you know that we talked to the head of Retail products, and he confirmed this is not on the roadmap for 2025. He did however thank us for bringing visibility to the feature request and will consider it in planning for 2026. We will keep you updated here and in Product Updates if there is development. Thanks so much for writing!

[GoldenIsles]

@kristen@FandF719 @PunchGallery @michellestubs03 @eclaire7 
I received your note that this is not in the road map for 2025 but may be considered for 2026. How many retailers do you believe this request impacts? I ask this because it is clearly more than just the 4-5 active members on this thread. Has your team researched how impactful this improvement will be?

This is very important for us and other retailers. Does the Head of Retail Products realize what is happening on Square devices? People are asked to Tip but the staff have to awkwardly say "that's not a tip, it's a donation for X organization but Square will not let us change the word from Tip to Donation." It's slowing us down and hurting our opportunity to donate to the St. Simons Land Trust. Why is this easy upgrade being dismissed? It seems like low hanging fruit? There are other threads on this community forum that mention this request to change the word, "Tip", not just the four participating retailers on this thread. Would it be helpful if Square customer service team researched the word tip in all community threads to get a more accurate account of how many requests there are? There are certainly more retailers who would want and use this feature if it were enacted - retailers not active on forums. 

Is Steph Grodin the Head of Retail Products? May I please request her email address or direct line to connect with her over a 5-minute call to discuss this product improvement opportunity to Square?