---
title: This Is Why Google’s Free “Donate” Button Is a Bad Idea · DickersonBakker
description: "Nothing's as wonderful as the word “free” except Google Search Donations free \"Donate\" button. This is why Google's free \"Donate\" button is a bad idea."
---
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# DickersonBakker Blog
### This Is Why Google’s Free “Donate” Button Is a Bad Idea
April 11, 2019 By [Guest Contributor Paula Martin](https://blog.dickersonbakker.com/author/guest-contributor-paula-martin) [Categories Boards Campaign Planning Study Capital](https://blog.dickersonbakker.com/tag/categories-boards-campaign-planning-study-capital-)
*\[Originally posted on* [*advocace.com*](http://advocace.com/simple-development/entryid/3588/this-is-why-googles-free-donate-button-is-a-bad-idea) *on June 27, 2018 and repurposed for dickerson-bakker.com.\]*
I’m a bargain shopper (I think it’s a genetic thing). And I love to find a deal. There’s nothing quite as wonderful as the word “free”. Except when it comes to the “free” donate button that *Google Search Donations* is offering for non-profits. This is why Google’s free “Donate” button is a bad idea:
While at first blush, Google’s offer might be appealing, digging a little deeper might just change your mind.
In short, here’s the often-overlooked concerns on the free donate button Google offers. For donors, it’s a simple few clicks and *poof* they’ve donated to a cause they want to support.
In actuality, they’ve made a donation to a donor advised fund (Network for Good). Yes, you will get the money donated to your organization (through a check from Network for Good), **but, *you will not get any information about the donor.***
This means you cannot send a receipt to the donor, and you cannot send them a thank you for supporting your cause. This also means you cannot report on the good their gift did or ask for additional gifts from this donor. *You have no information on this donor at all!*
The donor will get a receipt from Network for Good, but they may not put 2 + 2 together and realize that it’s a receipt for their gift to your organization. And what good is a receipt if there is no heartfelt thank you to accompany it?
I have much respect The Agitator newsletter. They were the first (to my knowledge) to report on the downside of using the Google Search Donations donate button. [You can check out the post from Nick Ellinger here >>](http://www.theagitator.net/uncategorized/google-gives-a-gift-horse/)
Let’s talk about why it’s so important to do personal receipts and thank-you(s) for donors. [Just contact us to start the conversation >>](http://dickerson-bakker.com/contact?__hstc=253625366.ddbf27952b9ece2548b39b0c1c62b18d.1687890135498.1687890135498.1687890135498.1&__hssc=253625366.110.1687890135498&__hsfp=1561754925)
Written by:
## Guest Contributor Paula Martin
[Full Bio](https://blog.dickersonbakker.com/author/guest-contributor-paula-martin) | [More by Guest Contributor Paula Martin](https://blog.dickersonbakker.com/author/guest-contributor-paula-martin)
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