Stripe

Once connected, Stripe works behind the scenes, securely processing payments while Fundraise Up creates the optimized donation experience for your supporters.

When a supporter makes a donation:

1. They enter payment information on your Fundraise Up checkout form.
2. The data is sent to Stripe. Stripe collects and encrypts this information.
3. Stripe processes the payment, applying security checks and calculating fees.
4. The donation amount, minus transaction costs, is added to your Stripe balance.
5. Based on your payout schedule, Stripe transfers the funds to your connected bank account.

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.

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.

To use Fundraise Up, your organization's Stripe account must be based in one of the following countries:

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.

If your organization already has a Stripe account:

1. Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe in your Fundraise Up Dashboard.
2. Click Connect Stripe account.
3. Follow the prompts to authenticate and link your account.

If your organization doesn't have a Stripe account:

1. Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe in your Fundraise Up Dashboard.
2. Click Create new account.
3. 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.

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:

1. Go to Settings > Payment methods > Stripe.
2. 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 →

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.

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:

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 offers reduced processing fees for eligible nonprofit organizations. Learn how to switch to Stripe's nonprofit rate →

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.

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.

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:

1. Access the guided dispute response process in your Stripe Dashboard.
2. Provide comprehensive documentation about the donation.
3. Submit your response within the required timeframe.

Prompt, detailed responses with supporting evidence significantly improve your chances of resolving disputes favorably.

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 →

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.