How to Set Up Stripe for Your Nonprofit

Why Stripe?

Stripe is one of the largest payment processors in the world. It powers payments for Amazon, Shopify, Lyft, and millions of businesses in 46 countries. It’s also PCI Level 1 certified — the highest level of payment security in the industry.

For nonprofits and community organizations, Stripe is ideal because:

• No monthly fees. You only pay when you process a transaction.
• Direct bank deposits. Funds go straight to your organization’s bank account — typically within 2 business days.
• Works with apps like SpiritPay. Stripe’s Connect platform lets POS apps process payments directly to your account.
• Transparent pricing. 2.7% + $0.05 for in-person transactions (tap/chip/swipe).

What You’ll Need

Before starting, have these ready:

• Organization name (as registered)
• EIN (Employer Identification Number) if your org has one, or your SSN if it doesn’t
• Bank account for receiving payouts (routing + account number)
• An authorized representative — someone with authority to act on behalf of the organization (usually the treasurer or president)
• A phone number and email for verification

Don’t have an EIN? Many small booster clubs and community groups don’t. You can apply for one free at IRS.gov — it takes about 5 minutes online. Alternatively, you can use your personal SSN if you’re operating as a sole proprietorship or unincorporated group.

Step-by-Step Setup

Common Questions

How long does setup take?

About 10 minutes of active work. Most accounts are verified instantly. Some may require 1–2 business days for additional review.

Does the whole board need to sign up?

No. One authorized representative sets up the account. Multiple people can use the POS app — only one person needs to be the Stripe account owner.

What if our treasurer changes?

You can update the authorized person on the Stripe account. Log into the Stripe Dashboard, go to Settings → Account Details, and update the representative information. The banking and payout settings stay the same.

Is our information safe?

Yes. Stripe is PCI Level 1 certified (the highest security standard in the payment industry) and uses bank-level encryption. Your EIN, SSN, and banking information are stored by Stripe — not by SpiritPay or any other app that connects through Stripe.

What are the fees?

Stripe charges per transaction, not monthly:

• In-person (tap/chip/swipe): 2.7% + $0.05
• Online payments: 2.9% + $0.30

If you use SpiritPay, these Stripe fees are included in the service fee that’s added to the customer’s total — your organization doesn’t pay them directly. Learn how the service fee works →

Do nonprofits get a discount from Stripe?

Stripe does offer discounted rates for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits processing donations through Stripe’s nonprofit program. However, for in-person POS transactions at concession stands, the standard rates apply. The SpiritPay service fee model means this cost is passed to the customer anyway, so the rate doesn’t affect your organization’s bottom line.

Next Steps

Once your Stripe account is connected, you need:

1. A Stripe M2 card reader ($59 from Stripe or ~$79 shipped through SpiritPay)
2. An iPhone or iPad with SpiritPay installed
3. Your product menu set up in the app (hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, etc.)

The whole process — Stripe setup, reader delivery, and menu configuration — can be done in under a week. Most organizations are ready to accept cards at their next event.