Understanding the Meal Train Fee Structure
When a community comes together to support someone, services like Meal Train are invaluable for organization and coordination. However, if monetary donations are part of the support effort, it's crucial to understand the associated fees. The standard Meal Train page for scheduling meals is free to set up and use. The fees discussed here apply specifically to the 'Donation Fund' feature, which allows organizers to collect cash contributions online.
Breakdown of Meal Train Fees
The total amount deducted from a monetary donation via Meal Train is a combination of two separate charges:
- Platform Fee: MealTrain.com deducts a flat 5% platform fee from each and every donation. This goes directly to the company for the use of its service. For example, on a $100 donation, Meal Train would keep $5.
- Credit Card Processing Fee: In addition to the platform fee, there is a financial transaction or credit card processing fee. This charge is 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. This fee is charged by the payment processor, Stripe, which Meal Train uses to handle the secure transactions. This is a standard charge across most fundraising and e-commerce platforms.
How to Calculate the Total Cost
To figure out the total cost, you must combine both fees. If a donor gives $100, the recipient would receive approximately $92.70. Here is the calculation:
- Platform Fee: $100 x 5% = $5
- Processing Fee: ($100 x 2.9%) + $0.30 = $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20
- Total Fees: $5 + $3.20 = $8.20
- Recipient's Amount: $100 - $8.20 = $91.80
Alternatives to Consider
It is important for organizers to be aware of these costs, particularly when a significant amount of money is being raised. While the convenience of using Meal Train's integrated donation system is appealing, other options offer different fee structures. For instance, some alternatives, like Give InKind, allow for different types of support beyond meals, such as gift cards or services, and may have different pricing models or be entirely free for organizers. Another alternative, Take Them a Meal, focuses purely on meal coordination with no donation feature, so no fees are involved.
Comparison Table: Meal Train vs. Other Options
| Feature | Meal Train | Give InKind | Take Them a Meal | DIY (e.g., Google Sheet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to organize meals | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Cost to organize donations | 5% platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee | Donations via PayPal, Wishlists | Not available | Free (cash, gift, or online via separate service) |
| Additional support options | Yes, with Meal Train Plus upgrade ($10) | Yes, multiple services and wishlist integration | No | Fully customizable, but manual |
| Updates and communication | Integrated on the platform | Yes, integrated updates | Simple scheduling interface | Manual communication required |
| Recipient privacy | Private by default | Private page options | Private link access | Varies based on sharing |
| Best for | Quick, straightforward meal and donation setup | Comprehensive support beyond meals, including donations | Pure meal scheduling without fees or fuss | Maximum control and no fees, but more manual effort |
Does Meal Train Plus Affect the Donation Fee?
The $10 one-time fee for upgrading to Meal Train Plus is separate from the donation fund fees. The upgrade allows for more scheduling flexibility, such as multiple meal slots per day and adding other help activities like childcare or rides. It does not change the percentage taken from monetary donations; the 5% platform fee plus payment processing fees still apply to any cash contributions, regardless of whether the page is a standard or Plus version.
Is There a Way to Avoid Fees?
For those who want to avoid the fees associated with online donations, several options exist. The most direct method is for donors to give cash or gift cards to the recipient personally. The organizer could also specify in the Meal Train description that cash or gift card donations can be sent directly to the recipient's home or Venmo account. For people coordinating meal trains, another free option is to organize the entire process through a simple online document, such as a Google Sheet, and share it with participants. While less integrated, this approach ensures that 100% of any contribution, monetary or otherwise, goes directly to the person in need.
Conclusion
So, what percentage does Meal Train take? In summary, Meal Train takes a 5% platform fee from each monetary donation, in addition to a credit card processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. While the platform is a convenient tool for organizing community support, it's important for organizers and donors to be aware of these costs. For those seeking alternatives with lower or no fees, coordinating directly or exploring other free platforms may be a better option, especially when maximizing the benefit to the recipient is the highest priority.
Note: All fees are current at the time of writing, but are subject to change by MealTrain.com.
Key Considerations for Using Meal Train Donations
- Fee Structure: Meal Train deducts a 5% platform fee and a 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee from each monetary donation.
- Total Cost: A $100 donation results in approximately $91.80 for the recipient after all fees are subtracted.
- Meal Train Plus: Upgrading to Meal Train Plus costs a one-time fee of $10 and adds scheduling features, but does not affect the donation fees.
- Free Coordination: Organizing meals and scheduling deliveries is free on the basic Meal Train page.
- Alternatives: Consider cash/gift cards, direct transfers, or alternative free platforms like Take Them a Meal or Give InKind to avoid platform fees.
- Transparency is Key: Organizers should inform donors about the fee structure to manage expectations.
- Recipient Benefit: Direct giving methods ensure the recipient receives the full amount of the intended donation.
