VCEDC Stripe & PayPal Donation Integration
Overview
The VCEDC donate page is being upgraded to include both Stripe and PayPal, with configuration changes to maximize net fundraising ahead of the annual December campaign. Previously, only PayPal was present on the donate page; Stripe had been used only for a one-off Women in Business event.
Related client: [1]
Source meeting: [2]
Stripe Setup
Access & Credentials
- Melissa (Asymmetric) now has the Stripe login credentials, shared securely via text during the 2025-11-10 meeting.
- The account is tied to Kathy Schmitz's email address.
- Credentials should not be shared via email or meeting chat due to donor financial data sensitivity.
2FA / Admin Management
- Stripe's 2FA is currently tied to Kathy's phone number. Because Kathy will be recovering from surgery during the critical pre-launch period, Tracey Pilsner needs to be added as a Stripe admin so she can handle 2FA challenges independently.
- Brad (previous developer) is currently listed as an admin but has been inactive for 90+ days. His access should be removed post-launch, once the new site is confirmed stable.
Action Items
- [ ] Tracey: Add herself as a Stripe admin to manage 2FA during Kathy's recovery.
- [ ] Melissa: Connect Stripe to the donate page.
- [ ] Tracey/Kathy: Remove Brad's admin access after launch is confirmed.
PayPal Setup
Current State
- PayPal is already present on the existing donate page via a button/HTML embed (no direct login required for Melissa to implement).
- Funds currently transfer to U.S. Bank; VCEDC is working to relink to People's Bank (their primary account). A board member who is VP at People's Bank confirmed the bank now accepts PayPal transfers. This bank-linking work is handled by Tracey and VCEDC's treasurer and does not block Melissa's implementation.
"Donor Covers Fees" Option
- VCEDC is not currently using the PayPal "donor covers fees" option, meaning the organization absorbs transaction fees on every donation.
- Estimated annual cost of not having this enabled: ~$150–$200/year in lost funds, with individual large donations (e.g., $1,000) incurring fees of ~$65.
- This setting is configured within the PayPal account when the donation button/link is created — not on the website side.
Action Items
- [ ] Tracey: Log into the PayPal account and enable the "donor covers fees" option on the donation link.
- [ ] Tracey: Confirm all PayPal linkage and settings with Melissa before launch.
- [ ] Kathy (post-recovery): Coordinate transfer of PayPal payout destination from U.S. Bank to People's Bank.
Donate Page Configuration
The updated donate page will offer both Stripe and PayPal as payment options. This mirrors common nonprofit best practices — offering multiple payment rails reduces friction and increases conversion.
| Processor | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Existing — needs fee config update | Enable "donor covers fees"; confirm bank link |
| Stripe | New addition | Credentials obtained; needs page integration |
Fundraising Context
- VCEDC's annual fundraising campaign kicks off the first week of December.
- Snail mail letters go out ~December 2nd; email blast follows later that week or the following week.
- The new website is contractually targeted to launch by December 15th, but an earlier launch is possible if content is ready.
- The donate page improvements should be live before the mail campaign lands to capture online donations at peak intent.
Security Notes
- Stripe credentials contain access to donor financial data. Share only via secure channels (text, not email or meeting chat).
- 2FA codes expire quickly — coordinate live when Melissa needs to log in for setup.
- Consider setting up Google Authenticator or a similar TOTP app on the Stripe account to reduce dependency on SMS-based 2FA tied to a single person's phone.
Related
- [2]
- [1]
- [3]