Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure

The biggest difference between a non-profit organization and a business is that eligible non-profits have tax-exempt status with the government. So if you’re looking for a credit card for your organization, a business credit card may be a better option than a consumer credit card.

Finding the right card for a non-profit can be tough, though, because it largely depends on where you spend your money and whether you have unique needs. As a result, you may need to spend some time doing some research and comparing various cards.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of our top five business credit cards for non-profit organizations and when they’re a good fit.

Best for new non-profits: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

If you’re just starting your organization, it may take a while before your fundraising efforts are rewarded. In the meantime, it may be good to have a credit card that provides an introductory 0% APR promotion.

With the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, you’ll get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, after which the APR jumps to 17.74% - 25.74% Variable. That gives you more than a year to cover startup expenses and pay them off interest-free.

The card also offers a great flat-rate rewards program. Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.. Since you likely won’t have a lot of expenses while you’re still brand new, you can rest assured you’re getting a great rewards rate on every one.

As a startup organization, you’ll also want to avoid unnecessary expenses, which makes the card even more appealing because it doesn’t have an annual fee.

Best for office expenses: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

If your organization is based out of an office, large or small, it may help to have a credit card that offers bonus rewards on some of your overhead expenses.

The The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card gives you Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Rewards categories include:

• Airfare purchased directly from airlines
• Hotel rooms purchased directly from hotels
• Car rentals purchased from select car rental companies
• U.S. gas stations
• U.S. restaurants
• U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
• U.S. purchases for shipping
• U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers

The card also has an annual fee of $0 and an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the APR is 17.74% - 25.74% Variable.

Which card should you choose?

As with any type of business, it’s important to choose the business credit card that will give you the most value. If you need an introductory 0% APR promotion, for instance, the interest savings could be more valuable than any rewards you might earn on the card in the first year or two.

And if you spend a lot in one area, finding a card that offers bonus rewards in that category may be your best bet. Whatever you do, avoid the urge to go with the first offer you see. Take time to shop around and compare several top business credit cards before choosing one.

Also, keep in mind that many business credit cards require that you have good or excellent personal credit to get approved. If you’re not there yet, consider looking into credit cards for fair or bad credit, at least until you can improve your credit score and qualify for a better product.

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