Stripe
Everything you need to know about using Stripe as your payment processor with Fundraise Up.
Stripe is the payment processor that handles most of the financial transactions for Fundraise Up. You must connect an active Stripe account to use Fundraise Up, as it processes all credit cards, ACH payments, and other payment methods when supporters donate to your organization.
Connecting Stripe to Fundraise Up is a straightforward process. The setup typically takes just a few minutes and requires minimal technical knowledge.
Most organizations interact with their Stripe account primarily to:
- Monitor payout information.
- Handle occasional payment disputes.
- Update banking details.
- Access transaction history.
This article explains how Stripe works with Fundraise Up and provides instructions for managing this essential integration.
How Stripe and Fundraise Up work together
Once connected, Stripe works behind the scenes, securely processing payments while Fundraise Up creates the optimized donation experience for your supporters.
The donation flow
When a supporter makes a donation:
- They enter payment information on your Fundraise Up checkout form.
- The data is sent to Stripe. Stripe collects and encrypts this information.
- Stripe processes the payment, applying security checks and calculating fees.
- The donation amount, minus transaction costs, is added to your Stripe balance.
- Based on your payout schedule, Stripe transfers the funds to your connected bank account.
Roles and responsibilities
Clear separation of responsibilities keeps your donation system secure and efficient.
Fundraise Up handles:
- Donation forms and checkout experience.
- Supporter communications and receipts.
- Reporting and analytics.
- CRM integrations.
- Recurring plans management.
Stripe handles:
- Payment processing.
- Financial compliance.
- Transferring funds to your bank.
- Payment dispute resolution.
Knowing these roles helps you find the right place for information and support.
Donation data in Stripe
When Fundraise Up sends donation information to Stripe, it only includes the Donation ID
as metadata. This minimal data transfer protects supporter privacy while ensuring Stripe transactions link back to donations in your Fundraise Up Dashboard.
Other donation details like supporter information, campaign data, and custom fields remain in your Fundraise Up account but are not transferred to Stripe.
Supported countries
To use Fundraise Up, your organization's Stripe account must be based in one of the following countries:
🇦🇺 Australia | 🇱🇻 Latvia |
🇦🇹 Austria | 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein |
🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇱🇹 Lithuania |
🇧🇷 Brazil | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg |
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
🇨🇦 Canada | 🇲🇹 Malta |
🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
🇩🇰 Denmark | 🇳🇴 Norway |
🇪🇪 Estonia | 🇵🇱 Poland |
🇫🇮 Finland | 🇵🇹 Portugal |
🇫🇷 France | 🇷🇴 Romania |
🇩🇪 Germany | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
🇬🇮 Gibraltar | 🇸🇰 Slovakia |
🇬🇷 Greece | 🇸🇮 Slovenia |
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 🇪🇸 Spain |
🇭🇺 Hungary | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
🇮🇳 India | 🇨🇭 Switzerland |
🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇦🇪 UAE |
🇮🇹 Italy | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
🇯🇵 Japan | 🇺🇸 United States |
Set up your Stripe account
To accept donations through Fundraise Up, you need to connect a Stripe account. You have two options: connect an existing Stripe account or create a new one.
Connect an existing Stripe account
If your organization already has a Stripe account:
- Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe in your Fundraise Up Dashboard.
- Click Connect Stripe account.
- Follow the prompts to authenticate and link your account.
Create a new Stripe account from Fundraise Up
If your organization doesn't have a Stripe account:
- Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe in your Fundraise Up Dashboard.
- Click Create new account.
- Click Activate Stripe account and follow Stripe's setup instructions.
Setting up a Stripe account is free. Stripe will require verification documents similar to what any financial institution would need. You can start using your account immediately, but be sure to complete Stripe's verification process to maintain full account functionality.
Test Fundraise Up without waiting for Stripe activation
You don't need to wait for your Stripe account activation to start testing. While live donations require a fully activated Stripe account, you can begin exploring Fundraise Up features right away:
- Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe.
- Click Set up test account.
Settings for Stripe test account
This allows you to test all donation features while your main Stripe account activation is in progress. Learn more about Test mode in Fundraise Up →
Statement references
If you see Fundraise Up mentioned on bank statements with Stripe transactions, it usually means your Stripe account was created through the Fundraise Up platform. This reference doesn't indicate additional charges — it's just an account origination identifier.
Important clarifications:
- Fundraise Up doesn't process donations directly; Stripe handles all payment processing.
- Transaction costs are deducted from donations at the time of processing, not charged separately.
- Fundraise Up doesn't assess fees through your Stripe account.
Payment methods
Stripe processes most of the payments made through Fundraise Up checkout forms, handling credit cards and bank transfers securely. Stripe supports payments in over 130 currencies, allowing organizations to accept donations from supporters around the world.
Below are the payment methods supported by Stripe in Fundraise Up:
Cards | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Discover, Cartes Bancaires, JCB, China Union Pay |
---|---|
Bank debits | ACH Direct Debit, Pre-authorized debit in Canada, Bacs Direct Debit, SEPA Direct Debit, BECS Direct Debit |
Bank redirects | iDEAL |
Wallets | Apple Pay, Google Pay |
Fees
Like Fundraise Up, Stripe functions on a transactional fee model. There are no costs to open a Stripe account and no contractual obligations.
Stripe charges fees based on the payment method used to process a donation. You can find more details on Stripe's website.
The Fundraise Up platform fee is separate from Stripe's processing fees. We do not vary our fees based on the payment method used.
Stripe nonprofit discount
Stripe offers reduced processing fees for eligible nonprofit organizations. Learn how to switch to Stripe's nonprofit rate →
How funds reach your organization
Fundraise Up never holds your funds. All donations are immediately sent to Stripe after a successful transaction. Stripe then transfers these funds to your bank account according to your payout schedule.
The time between when a donation is made and when it appears in your bank account depends on:
- Your Stripe payout schedule.
- The payment method used.
- Your bank's processing times.
Payout options and scheduling
Stripe offer flexible ways to receive your funds:
- Automatic deposits on a schedule you define (daily, weekly, or monthly).
- Manual withdrawals that you initiate when desired.
All payout and bank account management happens directly through your Stripe account, not through the Fundraise Up Dashboard.
Disputes and chargebacks
A Stripe dispute occurs when a supporter questions a payment with their card issuer. These can appear as:
- Inquiries or retrievals: Requests for additional transaction information.
- Chargebacks: Full payment reversals where funds are immediately withdrawn from your account.
When facing a dispute:
- Access the guided dispute response process in your Stripe Dashboard.
- Provide comprehensive documentation about the donation.
- Submit your response within the required timeframe.
Prompt, detailed responses with supporting evidence significantly improve your chances of resolving disputes favorably.
Stripe Terminal for in-person donations
For organizations hosting fundraising events, Stripe Terminal integration offers a way to accept in-person payments that connect with your Fundraise Up account.
Stripe Terminal supports multiple payment types including chip cards, contactless payments, and magnetic stripe cards, making it versatile for different donation scenarios. Fundraise Up provides API endpoints that work with Stripe to enable this integration.
Learn how to process in-person donations with Stripe Terminal →
Support and troubleshooting
For questions about:
- Fundraise Up functionality: Contact support@fundraiseup.com.
- Stripe account or payouts: Contact Stripe support directly.
Each platform specializes in different aspects of your donation processing, so reaching out to the appropriate team ensures the fastest resolution to any issues.