To go live with your first campaign, you'll need to connect up your payout information via a brand new, dedicated Stripe Express account. You can connect either a US (or Puerto Rican) bank account or a debit card to receive payouts. The following restrictions apply:
You can only connect one payout method at a time.
You must be physically located in the US or Puerto Rico. (No PO Boxes.)
Businesses based in the US Virgin Islands or any other US territory or possession (with the exception of Puerto Rico) are not supported. The business must be located in the 50 states, Washington DC, or Puerto Rico.
Follow these steps if you're walking through this process for the first time! If you already have a payout method connected but would like to edit your information, please see our guide on changing existing information in Stripe.
Log into your Givebutter dashboard.
Navigate to the Payouts tab in the left-hand side panel.
Click the Connect button in the section that says Bank Account.
Click Get started with Stripe in the popup window that appears.
Stripe signup process 🏦
You will be directed over to Stripe to get set up. Enter your email address and phone number when prompted.
Your email will be the login email for your Stripe account, and you'll be asked to verify your mobile phone number with a 6-digit code – make sure you use valid information!
Enter the verification code sent by Stripe via text.
In the drop-down window, select Individual, Company, or Nonprofit Organization for the account type. (If you haven't filed paperwork to register your business entity, you're likely to be classed as an Individual account. If you aren't sure which option you should select, take a look at this article.)
If you choose Company, you'll be asked to enter:
Your business structure type (ie. sole proprietorship, private corporation)
Legal business name
EIN (or SSN, if you use this for tax purposes)
Registered business address
Website
Legal name, date of birth, and SSN of the owner of the account
Bank account or debit card information to receive payouts
If you choose Nonprofit, you'll be asked to enter:
Legal business name
EIN (or SSN, if you use this for tax purposes)
Registered business address
Website
Bank account or debit card information to receive payouts
If you choose Individual, you'll be asked to enter:
Your legal name
Date of birth
Home address
SSN
Website
Bank account or debit card information to receive payouts
Once the information is completed, you'll be asked to connect a payout method where you will receive disbursements. You can select your bank from the available options, add your bank account manually, or connect a debit card.
Once your payout account has been added, you will be redirected to your Stripe dashboard. You may be asked to verify your email address, complete a service agreement, or provide proof of identity documentation.
What is a service agreement? If you're prompted to add a service agreement, all you need to do is click Add, then Continue. Clicking Continue submits your service agreement. You do not need to upload, fill out, or write your own service agreement with Stripe.
If the signup process is interrupted 🔄
If you exited the Stripe signup process before completing all required information, you'll see the message "Your Stripe account is missing information" on your Givebutter Payouts page. This means that your Stripe account has been created, but it's not complete yet.
On your Givebutter Payouts page, click View Stripe Account, and you will be directed straight to your Stripe dashboard, rather than where you left off in the signup flow.
Click Update info in the notice near the top of your Stripe account.
You'll be taken to a page called Your Account. Click on the section called Payout Details.
You can also click on the user icon in the upper right corner of the page to access this page if you need to change your bank information at a later date.
In the side panel that appears on the right side of the page, enter your bank account or debit card details, and save when you're finished.
You may also be asked to verify your email address, complete a service agreement, or provide proof of identity documentation.
FAQ 🤔
Who can add payout information?
The payout account should be activated by someone authorized to handle your organization's finances. If that’s not you, please ask the relevant person to complete this form. You’ll be required to add pertinent business and tax information (if applicable).
Can I connect an international bank account?
Unfortunately not. At this time, we only support direct deposits for US bank accounts. Please record your interest in payout methods for other countries and currencies on our product roadmap!
Can I link an existing Stripe account? Can I use the same email address as my login?
No, it's not currently possible to link an existing Stripe account to Givebutter. The connection is only made with a Stripe account type called Stripe Express, which is not the same as a direct/regular Stripe account. If you have an existing Stripe account, you must use a different email address to create your Stripe Express account.
Can we get discounted nonprofit pricing with Stripe?
Unfortunately we are not able to offer discounted processing fees for nonprofits. Stripe's standard processing fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, regardless of whether or not you're a nonprofit. While we cannot offer a discount on processing fees, we hope that our many free features make up for this! Remember, you can always require donors to cover your processing fees.
Why is my campaign inactive? How do I make my campaign active?
There are a few reasons why a campaign would appear inactive, but the most common reason is that you haven't finished setting up your account yet – you must add valid payout information before you can go live with your first campaign.
Do I need to enter my personal information?
Your date of birth and U.S. Social Security Number will be a requirement for creating a Stripe account if you are connecting a personal bank account. Learn more. If you are fundraising as a Company or Nonprofit Organization, you may not need to enter your SSN or date of birth upon signup. It may be required at a later date, depending on Stripe's requirements. Your information is always secure, and is only used for identification purposes.
Is there another way to receive payouts? Can Givebutter send me a check?
Currently, the only way you can receive payouts is through your connection with Stripe Express. We cannot send a check or deposit funds outside of your connection with Stripe Express.
Are there any limitations on connecting a debit card?
Debit card transfers have a $9,999 limit (per withdrawal). If you plan to process more than $9,999 at a time, we recommend linking a bank account for uninterrupted deposits.
I don't want to connect my own payout information for disbursements. How do I send funds to someone else?
You can automatically send a campaign's donations to another Givebutter account! Check out our guide on how to send funds directly to a beneficiary account.