Turn on payment methods
Before you start
Bank transfers (ACH), digital wallet payments, PayPal, and Venmo are only available to GoFundMe Pay customers and only for one-time or recurring donations. Only credit cards are accepted for ticket purchases, registrations, or in Live Events.
Also, bank transfers are only available to organizations in the United States.
You must first activate GoFundMe Pay in your account to turn on different payment methods.
Activate bank transfers and digital wallets
To turn on bank transfers and digital wallets:
- In your GoFundMe Pro account, select Settings
- Select Payment Processor Portal
- Next to GoFundMe Pay, select Edit
- Mark the checkbox next to the payment methods you want to offer including bank transfers and digital wallets (Apple Pay and Google Pay)
Bank transfers
When you turn on ACH/Bank transfers, supporters will have a Bank Transfer option on your donation pages.
They can search for and connect their bank account by selecting the button.
Important: Bank transfers can take 5-7 days to process. When they have finished processing, bank transfer donation statuses will change from "pending" to "successful" in your GoFundMe Pro reports.
If a supporter receives a bank transfer donation through their fundraising page, the donation will appear on their page after the donation finishes processing.
Digital wallets
When you turn on digital wallets, supporters can give with a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Note that supporters must use the right device and browser settings.
If you have digital wallets and bank transfers turned on simultaneously, supporters can donate by bank transfers by Use Another Payment Option.
Activate PayPal and Venmo
To activate PayPal and Venmo:
- Select Settings in your account menu
- Select Payment Processor Portal
- Next to PayPal, select Activate
- Mark the checkbox next to PayPal and Venmo
- Enter your bank account information
- Fill out the Account Owner information
- Agree to the terms and conditions and Save
Why do I need to include account owner information and the last four digits of their social security number?
PayPal is required to confirm their customer’s details under their Customer Identification Program (CIP). It is required for regulatory reasons to prevent fraud and tax evasion.
We recommend that you put the information for an executive at your organization.
Now, PayPal and Venmo are active in your account! It’ll appear as an option for donors on your donation pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can supporters use their bank account and routing number when donating using bank transfer/ACH?
Yes. However, by default, bank account verifications are handled by Plaid, which is the easiest and fastest way for donors to sign into their financial accounts to withdraw their donations.
Plaid supports over 12,000 financial institutions across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Alternatively, contact us to turn off Plaid so your donors can enter their bank account and routing numbers directly during checkout.
Why is Apple Pay or Google Pay not appearing on my donation form?
There are a couple of reasons why the added payment methods may not be appearing on your donation form. First, Apple Pay and Google Pay are activated when a browser and digital wallet match. For example, Google Pay will show on a Chrome Browser. Apple Pay will show on a Safari Browser.
Another possible reason is that digital wallets are not compatible with opposite browsers. For example, Google Pay will not appear on a Safari Browser.
Can I still use PayPal and Venmo if I don't have a PayPal account?
You do not need a current PayPal account to activate this integration. When you activate PayPal and Venmo, you'll be creating a new GoFundMe Pro PayPal and GoFundMe Pro Venmo account, all managed through the GoFundMe Pro platform.
Can I use my existing PayPal account?
No, you cannot integrate your existing PayPal account. However, everything you need for reconciliation appears in your GoFundMe Pro reports.
Do I access and manually transfer my funds through PayPal?
No, this integration does not create a separate PayPal account. Everything you need will happen through GoFundMe Pro.
Can international supporters donate with PayPal?
Yes, however, this integration only accepts donations made in USD. Also, PayPal charges an additional 1.5% cross-border fee.
I have recurring donors through PayPal. Can I migrate them to this account?
We don't support migrations from external PayPal accounts to PayPal for GoFundMe Pay.
I followed the instructions above, but my PayPal integration still needs to be made active.
If you followed the instructions and PayPal is still showing as ‘Inactive’ or 'Pending' please contact our Care team.
Can I refund a PayPal donation?
Yes, you can refund PayPal donations like other donations made on GoFundMe Pro.
Note: PayPal does not return the processing fee when you refund a supporter.
What are the PayPal and Venmo transaction fees?
The transaction fee is 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction.
Can I turn off PayPal?
You can turn off PayPal at any time. Just follow the same steps listed to deactivate PayPal.
How is Venmo different from PayPal?
Almost all the information for PayPal also applies to Venmo, but there are two differences:
- Venmo is only available for US-based organizations and consumers, and all Venmo transactions must be in US Dollars.
- The donation experience is also slightly different
How can donors donate with Venmo?
To donate via Venmo, supporters need to:
- Have a mobile device with the Venmo app downloaded
- Donate from their device’s default browser
- Safari for iOS (Apple) devices
- Chrome for Android devices
Note: If a supporter tries to make a Venmo donation but changes their device’s default browser from the initial default (For example, from Safari to Chrome), they may not be able to complete the donation.
For instance, if an iPhone user tries to make a Venmo donation with Chrome set as their default browser, they may be unable to finish checking out.
To ensure a good donation experience, we recommend letting donors know to use their device’s default browser.
Can I refund a Venmo donation?
Yes, refunding a Venmo donation will transfer the donor’s funds to their chosen payment method in their Venmo app.
- If a donor pays with their Venmo balance, refunds will appear back in their Venmo balance.
- If a donor pays using a stored credit card, refunds will apply to the credit card.
- If a donor pays using a connected bank account, refunds will appear back in their account.
Is there a limit to donation amounts when using PayPal or Venmo?
Yes, there are limits depending on which payment method is used:
- PayPal: No limits if it is a verified account
- Venmo: $3,000.00 limit
How do I receive funds raised through Venmo?
Venmo donations appear in PayPal payouts.
How do I reconcile funds raised through Venmo?
You can see these payout reports under Transactions and Payouts in your GoFundMe Pro account. View the Payment Type column in the report to determine whether donations came from PayPal or Venmo.
Can I set up crypto donations?
No, we currently do not have an integration to collect crypto payments. Instead, add a button to your donation page that directs donors to your preferred crypto payment solution.
Note: Data from crypto payments made through external solutions will not be stored on GoFundMe Pro.