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Payment Processors
Connect a secure payment processor to accept donations and payments through CauseVox. CauseVox supports Stripe and PayPal. You can connect one or both.
The two are independent integrations. PayPal is not a payment method inside Stripe, and connecting Stripe does not give you PayPal — each is connected separately and each processes its own transactions.
What each processor supports
| CauseVox feature | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| One-time donations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring donations | Yes | No |
| Pledges and installments | Yes | No |
| Event ticketing | Yes | Yes |
| Peer-to-peer registration fees | Yes | Yes |
| Auction payments | Yes | No |
Buyers checking out on a ticketing form or a peer-to-peer registration form see PayPal alongside card, exactly as donors do on a donation form, whenever PayPal is connected to that campaign.
Important: If PayPal is your only connected processor, you cannot accept recurring donations, pledges, installments, or auction payments. Those features need a connected Stripe account. Connect both processors if you want PayPal as a donor option without losing the rest of the platform.
Where each one is connected
Stripe and PayPal are connected in different places:
| Processor | Where to connect | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Settings > Organization > Payment Processors | Connect once, then assign an account to each campaign |
| PayPal | Campaign Settings > Payment Processing | Connected per campaign |
Stripe
Payment Methods
- Debit and credit cards
- Google Pay and Apple Pay
- ACH bank transfers
Processing Fees
Stripe's standard fees (may vary):
| Rate Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Nonprofit | 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction |
Tip: Apply for Stripe's nonprofit rate directly through Stripe to reduce fees.
Connecting a Stripe Account
- Go to Settings > Organization
- Click Payment Processors in the sidebar
- Click Connect a Stripe Account
- Confirm the redirect to Stripe
- Log in to your existing Stripe account or create a new one
- Authorize CauseVox to connect
- You'll be redirected back to CauseVox
Once connected, your Stripe account appears in the list and can be used in campaigns.
Multiple Stripe Accounts
You can connect multiple Stripe accounts if needed:
- Click Connect another Stripe Account
- Follow the same connection process
Different campaigns can use different Stripe accounts.
Selecting a Stripe Account for a Campaign
- Go to Campaign Settings > Payment Processing
- Click the Stripe account you want this campaign to use
A campaign uses one Stripe account at a time.
Removing a Stripe Account
- Go to Settings > Organization > Payment Processors
- Find the account in the list
- Click Remove
- Type "REMOVE ACCOUNT" to confirm
Warning: Removing a Stripe account disconnects it from all campaigns using it. You'll need to connect those campaigns to a different account.
PayPal
Payment Methods
- Debit and credit cards
- PayPal balance and linked accounts
- Venmo (US only)
Processing Fees
PayPal's fees (may vary):
| Rate Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Nonprofit | 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction |
Tip: Apply for PayPal's discounted nonprofit rate directly through PayPal.
Connecting a PayPal Account
PayPal is connected per campaign, not once for the whole organization.
- Go to Campaign Settings > Payment Processing
- Click Connect PayPal Account
- Complete the PayPal onboarding window
- Return to CauseVox and wait for verification
PayPal reviews the connection before it goes live. Until verification finishes, the page shows a "Waiting for verification..." status and PayPal will not appear as an option on your forms. Once approved, the page confirms your merchant ID is connected.
If the onboarding window closes early, click Connect PayPal Account again to relaunch it.
Removing a PayPal Account
- Go to Campaign Settings > Payment Processing
- Click Disconnect in the PayPal section
Currency
Set the campaign's currency in Campaign Settings > Payment Processing. Your Stripe or PayPal account must support the selected currency for transactions to process.
Troubleshooting
PayPal doesn't appear on my donation form. Confirm PayPal shows as connected and approved in Campaign Settings > Payment Processing for that specific campaign. PayPal connected on one campaign does not carry over to another.
I can't turn on recurring donations, pledges, or an auction. These require a connected Stripe account on the campaign. PayPal alone will not enable them.
A form says no payment processor is connected. The campaign needs at least one of a selected Stripe account or a verified PayPal connection before it can accept live payments.