SOURCE-BACKED REFERENCE ENTRY · VISA · OCTOBER 2026
MCC 8398:
Charitable Social Service Organizations
A classification for charitable social service organizations.
View the source & scope ↓THE CLASSIFICATION
What does MCC 8398 cover?
A classification for charitable social service organizations.
The code belongs to the Organizations & nonprofits group in this directory. The acquirer must confirm the appropriate assignment for the merchant and the relevant card network.
ILLUSTRATIVE BUSINESS FIT
What could a matching business look like?
- Charitable social service organizations
These examples illustrate the classification. They are not verified NUMUS customers or confirmed transaction-level assignments.
LOOK BEYOND THE LABEL
Risk & provider review
Donation payments need clear organization identity and fundraising purpose; recurring donations and third-party collection add review considerations.
Why this category sits here
- Organization verification
- Fundraising purpose
- Recurring gifts
Operating assumptions
Verified charitable activity with transparent use and collection arrangements.
What could raise the risk?
- Unclear beneficiaries
- Third-party fund collection
- Misleading campaign claims
Assessment basis: Individual business-category assessment. This is an editorial category assessment, not a bank’s rating, an individual merchant decision, a forecast of losses or a promise of approval.
How we assess risk & source references ↗No specific high-integrity-risk flag is reproduced here from the reviewed Visa classification section. This is not an exemption or a finding that no other requirements apply.
Questions worth preparing
- What goods or services generate the largest share of your sales?
- How and when do customers pay, and when are products or services delivered?
- Does a more specific network classification describe your actual business?
Your provider may also ask about transaction size, monthly volume, refunds, disputes, customer locations and delivery timing. Use your actual business facts when discussing the code.
CHECK THE REFERENCE
Source, date & scope
Code and classification reference: Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual, October 2026. Directory reviewed November 3, 2026.
Visa source · PDF page 103 · printed page 100 ↗Network descriptions and requirements can differ. This entry does not assert complete Mastercard coverage. Confirm current classifications and any special registration requirements with your acquirer.
Read the directory methodology →CONNECT THE NEXT PIECE
Build the payment setup around it.
THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE CODE
Find processing that fits
your actual business.
Your MCC is one piece of the conversation. Tell NUMUS what you sell, how you deliver it, and how your customers pay. We’ll help you take the next step.