How to connect Stripe and start accepting donations

To accept donations on Pageraise, connect Stripe from Linked Accounts in your dashboard sidebar. Stripe verifies your identity and links your bank account, and once that's done, donations go straight to you.

Stripe is the payment company that handles every donation on Pageraise. We use it because it's secure, widely trusted, and lets money move directly from your donors to you.

Why you need Stripe to get paid

On Pageraise, money goes from the donor, through Stripe, straight to your connected Stripe account. Pageraise never holds the funds. That's a big part of how we can run with no platform fee: we aren't sitting in the middle of your money.

It also means Stripe needs to know who you are and where to send the money. That's what the setup process is for.

How to connect Stripe, step by step

1. Sign in and go to Linked Accounts (it's in the sidebar).
2. Start the Stripe setup.
3. Follow Stripe's steps to verify your identity and link your bank account.
4. Once Stripe has everything it needs, your account is ready to receive donations.

Pageraise never stores your bank details. You enter them with Stripe, and Stripe keeps them.

What Stripe asks for and why

Stripe verifies the identity of every creator who receives money. This protects donors, protects you, and keeps fraud off the platform. During setup you'll be asked for information to confirm who you are and a bank account to receive payouts.

Stripe may also ask for more information later, for example an ID document. If that happens, your account can't receive money until those requests are completed, so it's worth taking care of them promptly.

Creating a fundraise before Stripe is ready

You don't have to wait. You can create your first fundraise before connecting Stripe. Until setup is complete, your fundraise shows as not yet accepting online payments, so donors will know it isn't ready yet.

We'd suggest finishing Stripe before you share your page widely, so the people who show up eager to help can actually give.

If you started Stripe setup but didn't finish

Life happens. If you started setup and stepped away, just open Linked Accounts and continue setup. It picks up where you left off, so you won't have to start over.

Why a donor's payment might fail on your page

If your Stripe account isn't ready (setup unfinished, or Stripe is waiting on extra information), donations to your fundraise can fail. A paused or ended fundraise also stops accepting donations. For the full list of reasons, see why a payment fails.

What happens after you're connected

Once you're set up, every successful donation lands in your Stripe account, minus Stripe's processing fee. Pageraise takes no platform fee. Donors can add an optional tip for Pageraise, and that tip never comes out of your money. You can read the details in fees and tips.

From there, Stripe sends money to your bank automatically on a rolling schedule. Our guide on how payouts work explains timing, and you can see your payout history at Payouts.

Common questions

Do I need a Stripe account before signing up for Pageraise?

No. You set up Stripe from inside Pageraise at Linked Accounts. Just follow the steps when you're ready.

Is it safe to give Stripe my bank details?

Your bank details go to Stripe, not to Pageraise. We never store them. Stripe is the payment company that processes every donation on the platform.

Why is my fundraise not accepting payments?

Most often, Stripe setup isn't finished yet, or Stripe is waiting on more information from you. Open Linked Accounts and continue setup. Also check that your fundraise isn't paused or ended.

Stripe asked me for an ID document. Is that normal?

Yes. Stripe may ask for more information after setup to verify your identity. Your account can't receive money until those requests are completed.

Can someone help me if I get stuck?

Of course. If you're signed in, click the Help button in the corner of the screen and ask Paige, our assistant. Paige can check your live Stripe balance and recent payouts, and can bring in someone from the team if you need a person.