Question:

I am looking for INDEPENDENT research papers that review the mechanism
for acceptepting credit cards online via a merchant account.  I am NOT
looking for information resources (such as infomerchant.net) that are
owned or in any way affiliated with any industry tie.  I am NOT
looking for information on PayPal or NetworkForGood.org or any of the
other means that do not require a merchant-account.

The items necessary which I need the research to minimally address are:

 (1) SURVEY of the average discount rates paid for card-not-present
transactions (hopefully by non-profits)

 (2) SURVEY of most popular processors used online (with market
percentages identified)

 (3) SURVEY of hidden charges commonly encountered _OR_ average
net-costs in accepting funds online


Bonus Questions (only after other questions are addressed):

 (A) What "market penalty" does a company encounter by not accepting
Discover and/or Amex?

 (B) Do check accounts tend to "expire" less often than credit cards? 
(i.e., Is there a long-term benefit to accepting checks as opposed to
credit cards' whose expiration dates have to be updated in terms of
automatic recurring billing?)

 (C) To Whom do discount rates get paid?  (to the bank or the
processor? are there kick-backs to the processor?)

 (D) are there any advantages for non-profits?  (i.e., discounted rates, etc.)

 (E) comparison charts showing different merchange account fees for
online transactions

 (F) some information that describe the mechanics of accepting credit
cards online (i.e., distinguishing gateways from processors from
merchant accounts, etc.)


Background:

I am trying to put together a research paper to forward over to my
favorite non-profit that wishes to accept credit cards and setup
recurring donations.  I'd like to have a clear, succinct
research-based guide for what options one has to accept donations
online.  I'm sure I'm re-inventing the wheel, so I'd like assistance
in finding other research to help me along.  However, I specifically
want the points above addressed to best provide a point of reference
for making decisions on whether organizations are getting good deals
or not.

-Jonathan