What is Good Steward Partnerships?

Good Steward Partnerships is a mission-driven referral network that will connect businesses with merchant processing providers and direct 50 percent of our referral commissions to trusted nonprofits. GSP does not act as a payment processor, ISO, or merchant underwriter. We simply refer merchants, support them, and direct our residual commissions to charity once the program launches.

 

Is GSP a nonprofit?

No. GSP is a for-profit business that donates half of its earnings to nonprofits. This structure allows us to remain sustainable while maximizing generosity.

 

How does GSP make money?

 

GSP earns revenue through referral commissions received from our merchant processing partner. Half of these referral commissions are donated.

 

Does participating in GSP cost extra?

 

No. GSP does not add any fees, surcharges, or mark ups. The processing provider sets the rates. Our charitable giving comes entirely from the referral commissions we earn. Businesses do not pay higher rates because they participate in GSP.

 

Does GSP ever receive or handle business funds?

 

No. GSP never receives business revenue for donation purposes. All charitable giving comes from GSP’s own commissions.

 

Will GSP be available nationwide?

 

Yes. The Merchant Partner Path will be available nationwide.

What merchant processors does GSP work with?

 

GSP collaborates with trusted merchant processing providers that meet our standards for transparency and ethical pricing. We are currently finalizing our processing partnership. Once this agreement is complete, we will make a public announcement.

 

Do businesses pay extra to participate?

No. Businesses never pay GSP to participate and do not pay higher processing rates because of our program.

 

What pricing structure do your merchant partners use?

Different processors offer different models, but any processor partnering with GSP must offer Interchange-Plus pricing. This ensures transparent pricing by separating interchange fees from processor markup.

 

Do your merchant partners charge hidden fees?

 

No. Any processor partnering with GSP must offer clear, ethical pricing with no junk fees or confusing tiered plans.

 

Does GSP handle customer payment data?

 

No. GSP never handles funds or cardholder data. All processing is handled by PCI compliant processing partners.

 

Do I need to switch processors?

 

Yes. Businesses that participate in the Merchant Partner Path will process through the provider we refer once the partnership is finalized. The onboarding process is simple and we will guide you through it when the program launches.

 

Are there contracts or early termination fees?

 

Our goal is to work with processors that offer simple agreements and no early termination fees whenever possible.

 

How long does onboarding take?

Most businesses can switch within 24–48 hours, and many can keep existing hardware.

 

Will switching disrupt my business?

 

No. Our processing partners coordinate a smooth transition to avoid downtime.

 

Where do the donated funds come from?

 

Donations come entirely from GSP’s referral commissions. They never come from the business’s revenue.

 

Is this tax-deductible for the business?

 

No. GSP makes the donation, so the business cannot claim a charitable tax deduction for those gifts.

 

Can any business join the Merchant Partner Path?

 

Most can, but we verify each applicant. Some industries may be declined based on stewardship and compliance standards.

 

Can government agencies participate?

 

Yes. GSP can work with local government entities such as cities, counties, districts, authorities, and out-of-state public agencies.

For ethics compliance, GSP does not work with Colorado state government agencies directly. All other United States businesses, nonprofits, and local government organizations are eligible to participate.

 

How soon does impact begin?

 

Impact will begin once the Merchant Partner Path launches and the business starts processing through our referred partner.

How does the 50 percent giving model work?

GSP donates 50 percent of our referral commissions. These funds are placed into the Good Steward Partnerships Trust, a dedicated account used only for nonprofit distribution.

 

Does the business choose the nonprofit?

Yes. Businesses processing under 50,000 dollars per month select from GSP’s Core Nonprofit Partners, a curated list of 10 trusted organizations. Businesses processing 50,000 dollars per month or more may designate any qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

 

Why is the threshold set at 50,000 dollars per month?

 

The 50,000 dollar monthly processing threshold exists to ensure that charitable distributions are meaningful, consistent, and administratively manageable. Below this level, individual merchant contributions are typically too small to support a dedicated nonprofit in a way that creates real impact. By pooling the donations from merchants under 50,000 dollars per month into our Core Nonprofit Partners, we avoid sending extremely small checks and create larger, more valuable quarterly donations.

Once a business processes 50,000 dollars or more per month, its contribution becomes large enough to support a designated nonprofit on its own. At that point, the business may choose any qualified 501(c)(3) to receive its portion of GSP’s charitable distributions.

 

How does a business move from Tier 1 to Tier 2?

 

A business is eligible to move into Tier 2 once it processes 50,000 dollars or more in a single calendar month through a GSP referred processor. After meeting this threshold, the business may select any qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If processing volume drops below 50,000 dollars in future months, the business may retain its designated nonprofit unless low volume becomes ongoing, in which case GSP may temporarily revert the account to the Core Nonprofit Partner list to maintain meaningful distribution standards.

 

How often does GSP donate?

 

Donations are distributed quarterly through the Good Steward Partnerships Trust.

 

Can businesses track donations?

Yes. GSP provides quarterly summaries and transparent reporting.

 

Can businesses claim charitable tax deductions?

 

No. Donations are made by GSP from our own commissions.
Merchant processing fees may be deductible as normal business expenses. Merchant processing fees paid by the business are typically treated as ordinary business expenses. This means the full amount of those fees may be deductible as an operating expense. Businesses should always consult their tax professional for guidance on their specific situation.

 

Every situation is different, so businesses should consult their CPA or tax professional to understand how these fees apply in their specific tax situation. 

 

Do nonprofits recognize the businesses that support them?

 

Yes. GSP encourages nonprofit partners to attribute the donations they receive to the businesses that generated those funds. Each nonprofit may handle this differently, but we promote clear and transparent recognition.

 

Each nonprofit may express this recognition differently, but we strongly promote transparent acknowledgement of the businesses driving the support. 

 

What is the Good Steward Partnerships Trust?

 

The Good Steward Partnerships Trust is a dedicated account created solely for holding and distributing the donation portion of GSP’s referral commissions. These funds are kept separate from GSP’s operating revenue.

 

Why do you use a trust?

 

Using a trust ensures financial integrity, transparency, accountability, and consistent support for nonprofits.

 

How does the trust distribute funds?

 

Each quarter, GSP directs the trust to send donations to the nonprofit selected by each business. Funds in the trust cannot be redirected to GSP for profit or used for any purpose other than nonprofit distribution.

 

Can businesses or nonprofits view trust activity?

 

Yes. GSP provides transparent reporting and verifiable records of all distributions.

Can any type of business participate?

Most can, but some industries may be declined based on stewardship standards.

 

Is there a minimum processing volume?

No. Businesses of all sizes can participate.

 

How fast does GSP respond?

Typically within one business day.

 

How do I get started?

Complete the Contact form. Our team will reach out personally to begin the process.