Stripe donations: how to accept them and what you actually need

Accepting donations with Stripe is one of the most straightforward ways for nonprofits and charitable organisations to collect funds online.

Stripe supports one-time and recurring payments, multiple currencies, and modern payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay. For qualifying nonprofits, Stripe also offers discounted processing fees.

However, Stripe itself is a payment processor. It does not automatically create donation pages, fundraising forms, or embeddable widgets for your website.

To collect donations online, you’ll need to decide how you want donors to complete the payment.

There are three common ways organisations accept donations with Stripe:

1. Using Stripe Payment Links
2. Building a custom donation form with Stripe’s APIs
3. Using a no-code checkout platform connected to Stripe

To help you choose the right path, here is a quick overview of how Stripe handles donations depending on your setup, before we jump into the more detailed breakdown:

More than half of all polled donors named online donation as their preferred method of giving, yet many donation sites still need to be made user- and mobile-friendly (fundraising statistics).

Stripe for donations: what it handles (and what it doesn’t)

Stripe processes donation payments securely and transfers funds directly to your organisation’s bank account. It supports:

• One-time donations
• Recurring monthly or annual donations
• International payments in 100+ currencies
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major credit cards

Stripe does not:

• Build full donation pages for you
• Create fundraising landing pages
• Manage donor communication beyond payment receipts
• Replace your website or CRM

That distinction is important when choosing how to set up your donation flow.

Stripe donations: eligibility & costs

To qualify for Stripe’s nonprofit benefits, your organization must meet specific criteria.

1. Eligibility requirements

• Charitable purpose: Donations must be tied to a specific cause. Stripe does not support personal crowdfunding or peer-to-peer money transfers.
• Official status: In the US, you typically need 501(c)(3) status. Similar tax-exempt status is required in other regions (e.g., Registered Charity status in the UK).
• Verification: You must submit your tax ID or official documentation through the Stripe Dashboard for manual review.

2. Discounted nonprofit fees

Stripe’s standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30, but verified nonprofits can significantly reduce their overhead:

Pro Tip: The nonprofit discount isn’t applied automatically. After your account is live, you must contact Stripe’s sales team or support to request the lower rate.

Read more about Stripe's fee discount for nonprofit organizations.

Three ways to accept Stripe donations (and which to choose)

Choosing the right setup depends on whether you are collecting funds online, in person, or through a dedicated website. While Stripe provides the infrastructure for all of these, a no-code checkout platform often provides the best balance of speed and professional features.

1. Online and social media donations

If you need to start collecting funds immediately without a website, Stripe’s native tools are the fastest option.

• Stripe payment links: Generate a simple URL in your dashboard to share via email, social media, or text.
• QR codes: Stripe can automatically generate QR codes from these links for use on flyers or presentation slides.
• The no-code advantage: While Stripe's native links are fast, using a platform like Checkout Page allows you to add "pay what you want" tiers, custom branding, and automated abandonment recovery, features that Stripe's basic links lack.

2. Website and app integrations

For organizations that want to keep donors on their own website, you need an integrated solution. This is where most nonprofits see the highest conversion rates.

• Embedded donation forms: Use Stripe Elements (which requires coding) or a no-code checkout platform (which is copy-and-paste) to add a form directly to your page.
• Stripe checkout: A secure, hosted page that takes the donor off-site briefly to complete the payment before returning them to your "Thank You" page.
• Platform integrations: Stripe connects with website builders like WordPress and Squarespace, as well as specialized CRMs like Salesforce and Donorbox.
• The no-code advantage: A dedicated no-code platform gives you a professional Stripe donate button and embedded form without needing a developer or a complex CRM setup. It allows you to launch a branded "storefront" for your cause in minutes.

3. In-person and specialized giving

For physical events or high-volume fundraising, Stripe offers hardware and advanced payment methods to reduce friction.

• Stripe terminal and tap to pay: Use card readers or your mobile phone (Tap to Pay) to accept contactless donations at galas or street fundraisers.
• Digital wallets: Ensure Apple Pay and Google Pay are enabled to allow for one-tap giving, which is essential for mobile-first donors.
• ACH and bank transfers: For large-scale donors, accepting bank transfers can significantly reduce the processing fees compared to credit cards.
• Recurring donations: Using Stripe Billing allows you to turn one-time donors into long-term supporters through automated monthly or annual subscriptions.

What makes a high-converting donation page

Choosing your implementation method is only half the battle. Once a potential donor clicks your link or button, the page design determines whether they complete the gift or click away.

While Stripe handles the secure transaction, a high-converting donation page focuses on reducing friction and building trust. Here is what separates a basic payment form from a professional fundraising page.

Use suggested amounts to guide donors

Vague calls to action like "please donate" often lead to "decision paralysis." Providing fixed donation tiers (e.g., $25, $50, $100) helps donors understand the impact of their gift and actually increases the average donation amount.

• The pro-tip: Use "variants" in your checkout platform to offer these fixed amounts alongside a "pay what you want" option for total flexibility.

Make recurring giving the default

A single $10 monthly donation is worth significantly more to your organization than a one-time $50 gift. The most successful donation pages make the "monthly" option highly visible or even the default selection. By using Stripe’s subscription logic, you can build a predictable revenue stream without any manual billing.

Capture lost revenue with donation abandonment

One of the most overlooked problems in fundraising is the "almost-donor." These are people who start filling out your form but get distracted and leave.

• The solution: Use a checkout platform that includes automated abandonment recovery. This sends a gentle, automated email to people who provided their address but didn't finish the payment, often recovering 10–15% of "lost" donations.

Optimize for mobile only donations

More than half of all online donations are now made on mobile devices, often through links shared on social media. If your donation page requires a lot of typing or has small, hard-to-click buttons, you will lose donors. Ensure your page supports one-tap giving via Apple Pay or Google Pay to make the process as fast as possible.

Build trust with a clear "thank you" experience

The moment after a donor clicks "submit" is when they feel most connected to your cause. Instead of a generic "Payment Confirmed" message, customize your confirmation email and success page to reinforce the impact of their gift. A personalized thank-you note is the first step in turning a one-time donor into a lifelong supporter.

How to set up your donation page with Checkout Page

If you don’t have internal development resources, building a custom Stripe integration may not be realistic. Even Stripe’s embedded checkout requires backend setup and ongoing webhook management.

In those cases, many nonprofits choose to connect their Stripe account to a no-code checkout platform. This allows you to create donation forms and pages while Stripe continues to handle payment processing and payouts.

Below is an example of how this works using Checkout Page.

Step 1: Create a new page

Start with a donation form template, or create a new page in your Checkout Page dashboard (see screenshots below).

Step 2: Donation type

What do the pricing types mean?

• One time: For one-off payments. Examples: donations, merchandise, event tickets, and membership fees.
• Subscription: Recurring donations (1, 3, 6, or 12 months), monthly donations, and annual membership fees.
• Pay what you want (PWYW): donors decide how much to give.

• For one-time donations, fill in a base price. You can add options (variants) at a later step!
• For subscriptions (recurring donations), choose a billing frequency.
• One form per frequency.
• You can link multiple forms seamlessly (we'll show you how at the end).
• For 'pay what you want', indicate the minimum donation amount.

Step 3: Add a description and image

It's recommended to add a description that accurately describes the payment form. You can add your organization's logo and brand colors to help potential donors recognize who they're donating to.

Step 4: Variants for donation amounts

If you have fixed donation amounts, use 'Variants' to display them on your form. Variants are useful for one-time and recurring donations.

Step 5: Add form fields

Add new form fields to collect donor information and billing information. Rearrange the fields as you desire.

💡 Keep the form simple with only the necessary fields

Step 6: Change the text on the button

The standard text on the form submission button is 'Pay', 'Submit', or 'Subscribe'. You can easily change this to something more suitable for giving, like 'Donate now', 'Donate', or 'Pledge this amount now'.

To change the button text, go to 'Design', then click 'Custom Labels'. Scroll till you find the right field to edit.

• Pay button: for one-time and pay-what-you-want forms
• Subscribe button: for recurring donations

If you prefer not to display the price (donation amount) because of the custom text, feel free to hide it. For example, a 'Donate now' button with no price after it.

Save when you're done and see the changes in the preview section!

Step 7: Customize the confirmation email

By default, donors will receive an automated confirmation email. You can update it to include a thank you note or add links to your website. Here's how to do it:

Send yourself a test email to see what it looks like! You can add HTML to the email body and use personalization tags by clicking [+].

📧 Read more about custom confirmation emails here.

Step 8: Test payments

Your donation form is almost ready! Navigate to 'Test Payments' to experience the donation process and make a test payment yourself. No actual payment will be made or received, but your registered email will receive a notification email of this submission.

Copy and paste the test credit card details into your form onto the form on the right (the preview area). Submit the "donation", and you should see the following message on the preview panel: [TEST] Payment confirmed!

The donation/payment form is now ready to be shared!

How to get a donation link

A donation link is a unique payment link that allows potential donors to donate online directly. Stripe processes all payments and donations.

🔗 Share it via email campaigns

🔗 Send the donation link by direct message

🔗 Link to it on social media posts

To get the shareable payment link for your donation form, look in the top-right corner and click 'Share & embed'. There are several other options to choose from:

How to create a donation page

The donation form we've created today can be used as a standalone donation page. You can also embed it on your website or donation page. This is what our completed donation form looks like!

To embed it into your website, copy and paste from 'Share & embed'. Our donation forms can be embedded into Framer websites, Instapage, Unbounce, Webflow, WordPress, and more.

How to get a donation QR Code

To generate a QR code for your donation form, go to 'Share & embed' and click the 'QR code' tab.

Download, print, and share the QR code to collect donations seamlessly online and offline (in person!).

Conclusion: Choosing the right way to grow your donations

Accepting donations with Stripe doesn't have to be a choice between a generic link or an expensive developer. By understanding the difference between a simple payment processor and a complete donor experience, you can build a fundraising flow that actually grows with your organization.

Whether you are launching a quick social media campaign or building a permanent "donate" section for your website, the goal remains the same: make it as easy as possible for your supporters to give. With the right setup, Stripe handles security while you focus on impact.

Start building your donation page today

If you’re ready to move beyond basic payment links and create a professional, high-converting donation experience, Checkout Page is here to help.

• Launch in minutes: Connect your Stripe account and create your first branded donation page today.
• Nonprofit discount: Verified nonprofits save 50% on all annual plans.
• No transaction fees: We never take a cut of your donations; you only pay Stripe’s processing fees.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to accept Stripe donations?

For most nonprofits without developer resources, connecting Stripe to a no-code platform like Checkout Page is the most practical option. You get branded donation pages, recurring giving, and embeddable forms without writing any code. Stripe Payment Links work for basic use cases but offer limited design control.

Does Stripe have a donate button?

Not natively. You can use a Stripe Payment Link as a basic donation link, but customisation is limited. Platforms like Checkout Page let you create a branded donate button connected to your Stripe account that embeds directly into your website without any code.

How do I create a Stripe donation form?

The quickest option is Stripe Payment Links, generated directly from your Stripe dashboard. For a branded form with fixed amounts, recurring options, and custom fields, a no-code platform like Checkout Page connects to your Stripe account and handles the form design without developer involvement.

How do I get a Stripe donation link?

Generate one directly from your Stripe dashboard using Payment Links. If you use Checkout Page, your donation link is created automatically and can be shared via email, social media, or turned into a QR code for in-person use.

What are Stripe's donation fees for nonprofits?

Verified 501(c)(3) organisations qualify for 2.2% + $0.30 per card transaction, down from the standard 2.9% + $0.30. American Express transactions are 3.5%. The discount isn't automatic; you need to apply through Stripe directly.

Can I accept recurring donations with Stripe?

Yes. Stripe supports recurring payments natively. Setting up flexible recurring options, monthly, quarterly, or annual, without code, requires a platform like Checkout Page, which lets you configure donation frequencies and manage donor subscriptions without developer involvement.

Can I accept donations with Stripe without a website?

Yes. A Stripe Payment Link or a Checkout Page hosted donation page can be shared as a URL via email or social media. You can also generate a QR code for in-person fundraising without a website.

Does Checkout Page charge transaction fees on donations?

No. The Checkout Page charges only a flat monthly fee. You pay Stripe's standard processing fees as normal. Verified nonprofits can apply for a 50% discount on any annual Checkout Page plan.

How quickly do nonprofits receive donated funds?

Funds go directly from the donor to your Stripe account, Checkout Page never holds funds. Payouts typically arrive within two business days in the US, Canada, and Australia. First transfers may take up to seven business days.