HARRISBURG – With more Pennsylvanians relying on cashless payments, the Senate today approved a bill by Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37) with strong bipartisan support to modernize how nonprofits raise money.
Senate Bill 416 would allow charitable organizations to accept electronic payments — such as credit cards, debit cards and online platforms like PayPal or Venmo — for raffle tickets. Under current law, nonprofits are limited to accepting only cash or checks for these transactions, which has made it harder to raise funds in today’s increasingly cashless society.
“I’ve heard directly from nonprofits across Allegheny County who are struggling to fundraise under outdated rules. This update is long overdue, especially for volunteer fire companies, youth sports leagues, churches and veterans’ groups that rely on fundraising to sustain their operations and services,” Robinson said. “Most people simply don’t carry cash or checks anymore. I introduced Senate Bill 416 to reflect the reality of how people live and give today.”
The legislation also adds safeguards to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of digital payment methods. Organizations must still comply with the Small Games of Chance Act, and all funds must be deposited into a dedicated account, just as current law requires for cash transactions.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
View Robinson’s remarks on the bill here.
CONTACT: Allison Dutrey