Understanding Payment Options for Your Campaign

We provide several payment methods to suit different supporters, though some require more manual oversight than others. This guide explains each one.

Which methods you can offer depends on your campaign type. Product fundraisers accept card, bank transfer and cash. Crowdfunding campaigns, colour runs and donation pages accept card payments only. See Which Payment Methods You Can Offer.

Stripe (Credit/Debit card) - recommended

We recommend Stripe for online payments. It is the easiest option for your supporters and the least work for you.

• Easy for Donors: supporters can quickly and securely pay using their credit or debit cards without leaving your campaign page.
• Automatic Reconciliation: payments are automatically tracked and marked as paid in your dashboard. No manual matching needed!
• Secure & Reliable: Stripe is a global leader in online payments, ensuring top-notch security for all transactions.
• Faster Payouts: funds collected via Stripe are typically processed and paid out to you more quickly.

Encouraging your supporters to use card payments via Stripe will save you significant administrative time and reduce the risk of errors.

Bank transfer

Bank transfers allow supporters to send funds directly from their bank account to an account you specify. While this option is available, it involves manual effort on your part.

• How it Works: donors are provided with your designated bank account number and a unique reference code for their specific contribution.
• Reference code: supporters must use the exact reference code provided when making their transfer. Without it, matching the payment to the right person is difficult and sometimes impossible.
• Manual Reconciliation Required: you will need to regularly check your bank statements, identify incoming transfers, match them to contributions using the reference code, and then manually mark those contributions as paid in your dashboard.

To mark a payment as paid: Navigate to your Raised Dashboard, select the fundraiser, select "View all orders", click "Manage" on the order you want to mark as paid, select "Modify" next to "Payment Status", check "Paid" and save this.

You will want to check you have received the funds in your bank account before marking as paid.

Consider bank transfers for specific situations where donors prefer it, but be prepared for the additional administrative work involved in tracking and reconciling these payments.

Cash payments

Accepting cash can be useful for in-person fundraising events or for supporters who prefer not to pay online. However, like bank transfers, this method requires careful manual management.

• How it Works: when a supporter commits to paying in cash, their contribution can be recorded in the system. It is your responsibility to then collect the physical cash from the supporter.
• Manual Collection & Tracking: you must arrange cash collection, keep accurate records of who has paid, and then manually update the contribution status in your dashboard.
• Security & Handling: be mindful of the security implications of handling and storing cash.

Cash works best at events where you control the handover. Keep a reliable record of who has paid so your campaign totals stay accurate.

Key considerations

• Prioritise Stripe: for ease of use, security, and minimal administration, always encourage Stripe (credit/debit card) payments where possible.
• Be Prepared for Manual Work: if offering bank transfer or cash, allocate time for manual reconciliation and diligent record-keeping.
• Clear Instructions for Donors: if using manual methods, ensure donors receive very clear instructions, especially regarding reference codes for bank transfers.