Donor Cover and Complete Cover Are Coming to Luminate Online and TeamRaiser!

Jason Durocher

Release 25.6 is bringing something exciting to Blackbaud customers using Luminate Online® and TeamRaiser®: for the first time, two Fee Cover options—donor cover and Complete Cover™ —currently scheduled for general availability this fall in 2025. 

These features are already driving results in other Blackbaud solutions. Now, peer-to-peer and digital fundraising teams using Luminate Online and TeamRaiser will be able to take advantage of the same cost-saving benefits. 

In this post, we’ll break down what these two features are, how they work together, and why they’re a game changer for reducing processing costs and improving fundraising ROI. 

What Is Donor Cover? 

Donor cover is a feature that gives supporters the option to help offset your organization’s processing fees by adding a small percentage on top of their payment. 

For example, if a supporter is making a $100 payment, they may be prompted to include a suggested additional amount (typically around 3%) to cover fees. They can accept or decline the amount. 

Key things to know: 

• The supporter chooses whether to add the extra amount. 
• If they do, the added portion goes toward helping cover the processing fees. 
• If they opt out, your organization pays the standard fee. 

This model is familiar and widely used in fundraising and ticketing platforms. It gives donors transparency and control, and it often results in higher net revenue per transaction. 

What Is Complete Cover? 

Complete Cover is exclusive to Blackbaud and offers a different—and more powerful—approach. For all eligible transactions under $3,000 processed through supported Blackbaud donation forms, Blackbaud covers 100% of the processing fees. Even if the donor opts out of covering any fees, your organization still pays nothing in processing costs for that transaction. 

Supporters are shown a suggested amount as a contribution to support the platform. They can adjust the amount or reduce it to zero—and either way, Blackbaud still covers the transaction fees for your organization. 

What makes this feature unique: 

• Processing fees are eliminated for eligible transactions under $3,000. 
• The donor contribution is optional and adjustable. 
• This feature is exclusive to Blackbaud and is not available on third-party processors. 
• All contributions to Complete Cover are used to offset processing fees and support ongoing investment in the Blackbaud Integrated Payments platform. 

How Do the Two Work Together? 

When both donor cover and Blackbaud’s Complete Cover are enabled on a form, Blackbaud will automatically determine which option to display based on eligibility: 

• Complete Cover is presented when the transaction is under $3,000 and meets all eligibility criteria (e.g., paid by credit card or digital wallet). 
• Donor cover is presented instead when: 
• The transaction is $3,000 or more, or 
• The donor uses an ineligible payment method (e.g., PayPal or Venmo) 

This smart logic ensures that your supporters always see the most relevant option—and your organization maximizes savings. 

When Can I Start Using These Features? 

Starting with Luminate Online and TeamRaiser Release 25.6, Fee Cover will be supported in all Luminate Online and TeamRaiser donation forms, TeamRaiser registration forms, events, APIs and personal fundraising forms. Release 25.6 is currently scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2025.

Have more questions?  

Visit our Fee Cover FAQ page for answers to common questions about donor cover, Complete Cover, and how they apply across different payment types. 

Related Articles:

The Business Case for Fee Covers: How Fee Cover Impacts Your Bottom Line 

Overcoming Fee Cover Concerns: What to Know About Donor Experience

Migrating from Custom Fee Covers to Native Features in Luminate Online & TeamRaiser

Donor cover and Complete Cover are more than product features—they’re tools to help your organization reduce costs, retain more revenue, and redirect savings toward mission impact. 

In the next post, we’ll walk through the financial benefits of adopting these features, including how some organizations are using them to help offset the cost of their software subscriptions. 

If you’d like to dive deeper, check out the Fee Cover Training available through Blackbaud University for more on enabling and using Blackbaud Integrated Payments and Fee Cover tools.