POST UPDATED at 4 p.m.:

Just about 3 percent of every donation made to

via credit card goes to pay swipe fees to payment networks and banks.

So it came as a relief to the Portland-based relief organization that, perhaps thanks to

from the Huffington Post, major credit card companies will

for donations to Haiti.

"It is certainly something that we’re very encouraged by," said Sylvia Ross, spokeswoman with Portland-based Mercy Corps.

Great

from the HuffPost, by the way, on how these payment networks and banks have profited off past disasters.

Visa, Master Card and American Express said yesterday they would waive

swipe fees on some donations. Ross said Mercy Corps only has been able to confirm that Wells Fargo Bank will waive fees. Her colleagues haven't had time to contact other banks.





Mercy Corps among charities eligible for the waiver. Visa Inc. listed Mercy Corps among charities eligible for the waiver. MasterCard Worldwide listed only The American Red Cross, AmeriCares, UNICEF, Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, United Way and CARE USA as receiving the waiver.

Tigard-based

was not on either list, but it is part of the

aid-group coalition, whose members

would receive merchant fee refunds.

today it would waive fees on donations to The American Red Cross.

"The whole effort is still in its infancy at this point," Ross said. Mercy Corps has received $3.5 million in donations since Tuesday toward relief in Haiti. She believes any donation received since the response began will have swipe fees waived.

Mercy Corps has planned to negotiate lower fees in the future, Ross said. She hopes maybe this response will lead to a permanent reduction or elimination of the fees for relief agencies. "We kind of look at this as the way credit card companies are (donating)," she said. "Because that’s money that’s going to go back to the mission."

Haiti earthquake

More coverage from The Oregonian and The Associated Press

»

»

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Also, if you're thinking of helping, follow relief-aid workers'

about what NOT to do at

. Mainly: Give to established relief organizations (they're more efficient and able to get help on the ground) and DON'T GO TO HAITI!!!!! (Hattip:

)

Know also that donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 on their cell phone to send a $10 donation to support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti, according to The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

And you can look up how much a charity spends on missions vs. internal expenses at

, or register at

to look up nonprofit federal tax returns.