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Set up your Givingtech account

set up account, getting started, onboarding, checklist, connect Stripe, connect PayPal, email confirmation, CRA tax receipt, verify bank account, Plaid, add payment method, first steps

Now that you've registered, there are a few things to do to get your account ready. Each step takes about 5 minutes.

Your dashboard keeps track of them for you. Under Domestic donations, each item turns green once it's done.

1. Accept credit card payments (Stripe)

First, create or connect your Stripe account, so you can accept payments by credit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

  1. On your dashboard, click Connect your Stripe account. Or, in the menu, go to Manage › Payments and Receipts › Connect Stripe account.

  2. Click Connect Stripe and follow Stripe's steps to create a new account or sign in to an existing one.

For full instructions, read Accepting credit card and ACH payments.

2. Accept PayPal payments

Next, connect your PayPal account so you can receive donations by PayPal. All payments are deposited directly into your account.

  1. On your dashboard, click Connect your Paypal account. Or, in the menu, go to Manage › Payments and Receipts › Connect Paypal account.

  2. Enter your PayPal API details, save them, and connect your account.

For full instructions, read Accepting Payments by PayPal.

3. Create your email confirmation

When a donor makes a donation, they instantly receive a confirmation email. Our editor makes it easy to add your logo and message, and to merge in details like the donor's name and the donation amount.

To create it, click Create e-receipt template on your dashboard (Canadian charities: Create email confirmation). Or, in the menu, go to Manage › Payments and Receipts › Email confirmations.

You can create:

  • Different email confirmations for donation forms in different languages. For example, a French email confirmation for donors who give through your French-language form.

  • Different email confirmations for different donation forms, campaigns, ticketed events and projects.

If your organization is in the U.S., the U.K. or Australia, your email confirmation also serves as the tax receipt, so be sure to include the relevant tax wording.

  • If you'd prefer your tax receipt attached as a PDF, contact us and we'll help you set this up.

  • If your organization is in France, contact us and we'll help you set up your CERFA receipt.

For full instructions, read Creating custom email confirmations.

4. Canada only: create your CRA tax receipt

We automatically create a tax receipt in your name and attach it to the email the donor receives. To make it a CRA-recognized receipt, we need a few details from you.

  1. On your dashboard, click Create CRA tax-receipt. Or, in the menu, go to Manage › Payments and Receipts › CRA tax-receipt. You can also go straight to https://backoffice.givingtech.org/en/CanadaReceipt.

  2. On the CRA Canada Donation Tax-Receipt page, fill in:

    • Serial Number: the first number of your receipt series (for example, 100001). It must not overlap with numbers you use or have used.

    • Authorized Signature: an image of the signature of the person authorized to sign your receipts, as a PNG, JPG or GIF file.

    • Personal message (optional): a sentence or two to add to the receipt.

  3. Click Save.

The receipt uses the name and logo already in your account. To add or change your logo, go to Settings › Organization › Your logo. If you'd like to customize your receipt further, contact us and we'll be glad to help.

5. Verify your bank account

To receive grants and payouts from our international partner foundations and from donor-advised funds (DAFs), you need to verify your bank details.

  1. On your dashboard, under International donations, click Verify bank account. Or, in the menu, go to Manage › Financials › Your bank account.

  2. Click Connect with Plaid and sign in to your bank. If your bank isn't supported, enter your details under Enter your bank details and click Submit for review.

You can also click Verify your bank details under Payment and Banking details on your dashboard. To see what you sent us, click View submitted bank details.

Once you've submitted your bank details, you can't change them yourself. To change them, contact our support team. For more, read Registering for Givingtech to receive a Donor Advised Fund grant.

6. Add a payment method

Save a card that we can charge for any platform fees you owe.

  1. On your dashboard, under International donations, click Add a payment method.

  2. On the Payment Methods page, click + Add Payment Method and enter your card on Stripe's secure page.

  3. Your card is now listed. If you save more than one, click Make default on the one we should charge, or Remove to delete one.

7. Optional: fundraise internationally with tax receipts

Want donors in other countries to receive a local tax receipt? Our partner foundations can help.

  1. In the menu, go to Manage › International › Initial Application and fill in the form.

  2. Read about each country under International, and choose a foundation plan under Memberships.

  3. Apply to a foundation from Manage › Funding Applications.

If you don't see the International menu, ask your account owner for access. To learn more, read International Fundraising: Eligibility and GivingGlobal Pricing.

Donation forms, campaigns and much more

Once these steps are done, you're ready to fundraise:

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