Making test donations using ACH

Before we dive into performing a test donation using ACH US Direct Debit, let's first explore the various methods available for verifying ACH payments within Fundraise Up:

Manual Verification: Micro-deposits or Code-Based Authentication

This verification method allows donors to confirm their accounts through one of two options: either by receiving two small deposits or a single micro-deposit accompanied by a unique verification code. The method used is determined by the donor's banking institution.

Automatic Verification: Automated Bank Account Verification (ABAV)

ABAV streamlines the verification process by automating it entirely. In this approach, clients manually input their bank account details, but the verification occurs instantaneously in the background. This is facilitated by Stripe, which automatically validates the entered account and routing numbers to ensure the account is legitimate. Upon successful verification, the payment process initiates, which may take several days for the actual funds to be debited.

Instant Verification: Online Banking Authentication

This method provides an immediate verification process by allowing donors to authenticate their accounts via online banking. The verification typically completes within minutes, making it a swift and convenient option.

Pre-requisites:

• ACH must be enabled as a payment option in your Fundraise Up account
• The corresponding verification method must be enabled in the Payment Method and Virtual Terminal settings
• If you are reviewing test donations or using Virtual Terminal to make test donations, the View test data option must be enabled.

Manual Verification

Checkout and Campaign Pages

1. Confirm that the manual verification option is active in your ACH Payment Method Settings.
2. Go to your preferred checkout or campaign page while in Test Mode.
3. Choose USD as the currency and enter a minimum donation amount of US $95.00.
4. Select "Bank transfer" when you arrive at the "Payment option" page.
5. If prompted to agree to Stripe’s Terms and Privacy Policy, choose "Manually verify instead" under the "Agree and continue" button.
6. Use 110000000 as the routing number and 000123456789 as the account number.
7. Once you've entered the required information, proceed to complete the donation form as you normally would.

Virtual Terminal

1. Verify that the manual verification option is enabled in your Virtual Terminal Settings.
2. Use this Virtual Terminal Test Mode direct link, or activate Test Data Mode in your dashboard's header menu, then navigate to the Donations page and select the Virtual Terminal button. Alternatively, you can press the T key on your keyboard to open the Virtual Terminal on any Dashboard page.
3. Choose USD as the currency.
4. Complete all necessary fields and make sure to input a valid email address to preview emails sent to the donor.
5. In the "Payment Method" section, select "ACH."
6. Use 110000000 as the routing number and 000123456789 as the account number.
7. Select the "Make a donation" button to finalize your test donation.

Verifying the Bank Account

1. After making a test donation, go to the "Donations" tab in your test mode dashboard or use this link: Test Donations.
2. Open the donation record.
3. Select the "Verify donation" option, found in the top-right corner of the donation record.
4. To simulate successful verification, enter the code SM11AA.

Automatic Verification

Checkout and Campaign Pages

1. Confirm that the automatic verification option is active in your ACH Payment Method Settings.
2. Go to your preferred checkout or campaign page while in Test Mode.
3. Choose USD as the currency and enter a donation amount.
4. Select "Bank transfer" when you arrive at the "Payment option" page.
5. If presented with "Authorize via your bank" and "Use routing and account number" options, choose "Use routing and account number."
6. Use 110000000 as the routing number and 000123456789 as the account number.
7. Once you've entered the required information, proceed to complete the donation form as you normally would.

Virtual Terminal

1. Confirm that the automatic verification option is enabled in your Virtual Terminal Settings.
2. Use this Virtual Terminal Test Mode direct link, or activate Test Data Mode in your dashboard's header menu, then navigate to the Donations page and select the Virtual Terminal button.
3. Choose USD as the currency.
4. Complete all necessary fields and make sure to input a valid email address to preview emails sent to the donor.
5. In the "Payment Method" section, select "ACH."
6. Use 110000000 as the routing number and 000123456789 as the account number.
7. Select the "Make a donation" button to finalize your test donation.

Online Banking Verification

1. Confirm that the online banking verification option is enabled in your ACH Payment Method Settings.
2. Go to your preferred checkout or campaign page while in Test Mode.
3. Choose USD as the currency and enter a donation amount.
4. Select "Bank transfer" when you arrive at the "Payment option" page.
5. If presented with "Authorize via your bank" and "Use routing and account number" options, choose "Authorize via your bank."
6. Choose "Agree and continue."
7. Select "Test Institution."
8. Choose "Success" for a successful test scenario.
9. Select "Connect account."
10. Select "Done."

Simulated Outcomes

In order to simulate various test scenarios, you can make use of the bank details information provided in the table below:

For an in-depth understanding of ACH US Direct Debit, you can consult Stripe's ACH Guide.