Set Up Online Giving Payment Processing

Before your organization can accept electronic payments through DonorDock Online Giving Forms, you must connect at least one supported payment processor. DonorDock supports Stripe, PayPal, or a combination of both.

Organizations may use PayPal alone if it is their preferred processor. However, DonorDock recommends Stripe because it provides access to additional payment methods, recurring giving frequencies, digital wallets, and other Online Giving features that are not available through PayPal alone.

Once you connect a payment processor, that provider processes gifts submitted through your DonorDock Online Giving Forms and automatically records them in DonorDock.

Choose Your Payment Processor

If your organization does not already have an account with the processor you want to use, you will need to create one directly with Stripe or PayPal before completing the connection in DonorDock.

Connect Stripe

Stripe provides the most complete Online Giving experience in DonorDock. Depending on the donor's device, location, and your organization's Stripe configuration, Stripe can support credit and debit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App, and recurring giving.

To connect Stripe for the first time:

1. In the navigation menu of DonorDock, select Online Giving

2. On the left, click the toggle to enable Stripe

3. Click the purple Connect with Stripe.

4. You will be redirected to Stripe, where you can sign in to an existing Stripe account or create a new account

5. Select the Stripe account you want to connect to DonorDock

6. Click Connect to authorize the connection

Once the connection is complete, you will return to DonorDock and Stripe will be available for Online Giving Forms.

Connect PayPal

PayPal may be used on its own or alongside Stripe. When PayPal is enabled, donors can choose PayPal as a payment option when completing a gift through your Online Giving Forms.

To connect PayPal:

1. Navigate to Online Giving.

2. Locate the global Online Giving settings.

3. Scroll to the PayPal section under Payment Types.

4. Turn on Enable PayPal.

5. Enter the email address associated with your organization's PayPal account.

6. Click Save Configuration.

Once saved, PayPal will be available as a payment option on your published Online Giving Forms.

Enable PayPal Instant Payment Notifications

PayPal uses Instant Payment Notifications, or IPN, to notify DonorDock when a PayPal payment completes successfully. IPN must be enabled in your PayPal account so DonorDock can automatically create Gifts from PayPal transactions.

To verify or enable IPN:

1. Sign in to your organization's PayPal Business account.

2. Open Account Settings.

3. Navigate to the notification settings.

4. Locate Instant Payment Notifications and select the option to update the setting.

5. Review the current IPN status.

6. If IPN is disabled, select Edit.

7. Turn on Receive IPN Messages.

8. Save your changes.

Once IPN is enabled, successful PayPal transactions made through your DonorDock Online Giving Forms can be communicated back to DonorDock and recorded as Gifts.

Using Stripe and PayPal Together

Organizations do not have to choose exclusively between Stripe and PayPal. You can connect Stripe for your payment processing and also enable PayPal as an additional payment option for donors who prefer it.

Disconnect Stripe

Stripe can be disconnected from DonorDock at any time. Before disconnecting, keep in mind that removing the connection will stop Stripe payments from syncing into DonorDock.

1. Navigate to Online Giving in DonorDock

2. Locate the Stripe toggle on the left in your Online Giving settings

3. Turn off the Enable Stripe toggle

4. Scroll down and click Save Configuration

5. The Stripe connection will be removed, and the saved Stripe configuration in DonorDock will be cleared

Once Stripe is disconnected, Stripe payment options such as credit card, ACH, and supported digital wallets will no longer be available on your Online Giving Forms.

Existing recurring subscriptions in Stripe are not automatically canceled when Stripe is disconnected from DonorDock. Those subscriptions may continue to process in Stripe according to their existing schedule, but the resulting payments will no longer sync into DonorDock while the connection is disabled.

Receiving Funds from Stripe and PayPal

DonorDock tracks the Gift, but the payment processor handles transferring funds to your organization's bank account. Both Stripe and PayPal have their own payout schedules, settlement times, bank account configurations, and fee structures.

For Stripe, you can review and manage payouts in your Stripe Dashboard. ACH payments may take additional time to settle before those funds become available for payout.

For questions about payout schedules, settlement timing, bank account verification, processor fees, or other processor-specific account settings, refer directly to Stripe or PayPal support.

DAFpay and Payment Processing

DonorDock Online Giving Forms can also include DAFpay, powered by Chariot, which lets eligible donors make one-time gifts directly from a Donor-Advised Fund. DAFpay is separate from your Stripe or PayPal configuration and does not replace the need for one of those processors when accepting standard electronic payments.

Next Steps

Once you connect your payment processor, you can start creating Online Giving Forms and configuring the payment, frequency, tracking, branding, and follow-up options available to donors.