Pono Payments is introducing a new Non-Profit Partner Program in Thurston County that will create an ongoing donation stream from the local business community to local non-profit organizations simply by redirecting operating fees businesses are already paying. The initial group of non-profit agencies benefiting from this program are Sidewalk, Family Support Center of South Sound, Community Youth Services, and City Gates Ministries.
Nearly every business has the need to accept credit and debit cards. Pono Payments provides this service and directs 50% of the net profits from the monthly fees paid for all electronic payment transactions to non-profit partners, with the businesses receiving a tax deduction for the donation made in their name. Essentially this reduces the costs for businesses to use Pono Payments services over their current provider while they help local non-profit organizations establish an ongoing and residual income stream for the life of the business’s relationship with Pono Payments.
“It’s time to rethink the idea that business success is based solely on financial profits”, shares Pono Payments founder Amanda Winegarner, “We believe that financial equity and social equity are on even ground, so we have taken the approach of transforming 50% of what would be financial income into donations that support social and environmental justice in the communities we offer our services.”
Pono Payments provides merchant accounts and payment technology to all businesses accepting credit, debit, ACH check, and gift/loyalty card transactions. Secure, efficient, and cost effective solutions are tailored to the unique needs and preference of each business.
Owners Keone Kealoha and Amanda Winegarner bring together complementary knowledge and experience to support this endeavor. Keone Kealoha has over 10 years of experience serving as a 501(c)3 non-profit executive director, sits on numerous NPO boards, and brings a history of non-profit bookkeeping and financial oversight to the company. Winegarner gained her expertise in the payments industry as a founding member, shareholder, and director of Fast Transact, Inc. out of Lacey, WA from 1998-2010. She provided consultation and support to business owners while assisting with the development of daily operations, national sales programs, and affiliate relationships as Fast Transact grew into the largest payment processor in Washington State and an Inc5000 company, processing over $600 million dollars in annual credit card sales.
About Pono Payments
Pono Payments is privately owned and operated out of the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Pono Payments is an agent of MeritCard Solutions. MeritCard Solutions is a Paysafe Company, registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Walnut Creek, CA, Deutsche Bank, USA, New York, NY, and Merrick Bank Corporation of South Jordan, UT.
