What Is PCI Compliance and Why Does It Matter?

Modified on Sat, Aug 2 at 12:27 AM

You may have seen that donations made through GiveSendGo are processed by a PCI Level 1–certified payment processor. But what does that actually mean—and why does it matter? We'll unpack that in this article.


What Is PCI Compliance?

PCI stands for Payment Card Industry. The PCI Security Standards Council sets strict rules for how payment information (like your credit or debit card number) is handled and protected online.


When a company says they’re PCI compliant, it means they’re following those rules.


What Does "Level 1" Mean?

There are four levels of PCI compliance, and Level 1 is the highest. It applies to organizations that process a high volume of payments and requires:

  • Annual audits by qualified security assessors

  • Routine vulnerability scans and penetration testing

  • Strict security policies and monitoring systems

In short: it's serious security, verified regularly.


Why It Matters for Givers

When you donate through GiveSendGo, your payment is processed through a PCI Level 1–certified processor. That means:

  • Your card details are encrypted and never stored on our platform

  • Transactions meet the most rigorous industry standards

  • You're protected by the same protocols trusted by major global payment platforms

Translation: you can give confidently, knowing your payment is secure from start to finish.


Still Need Help?

If you have questions about payment security or want to know more about how we protect your information, our support team is here to help. Just click Contact Us at the bottom of this page—we’re happy to walk you through anything.

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