Donations: using Stripe at Movement
Here's everything you need to know about using Stripe as your payment processor with Movement!
Stripe is the payment processor that handles the financial transactions for Movement. You must connect an active Stripe account to use Movement, as it processes all credit cards, direct debit payments, PayPal and other payment methods when supporters donate to your organisation.
Movement will connect to your Stripe account using Stripe Connect. The setup is straightforward and typically takes just a few minutes and requires minimal technical knowledge.
Most organisations interact with their Stripe account primarily to:
- Monitor payout information
- Handle occasional payment disputes
- Update banking details
- Access transaction history
This support article explains how Stripe works with Movement and provides instructions for managing this essential integration.
How Stripe and Movement work together
Once connected, Stripe works behind the scenes, securely processing payments while Movement creates the optimised donation experience for your supporters.
The donation flow
When a supporter makes a donation:
- They enter payment information on your Stripe checkout form
- The data is sent to Stripe. Stripe collects and encrypts this information
- Stripe processes the payment, applying security checks and calculating fees
- The donation amount, minus transaction costs, is added to your Stripe balance
- Based on your payout schedule, Stripe transfers the funds to your connected bank account
Roles and responsibilities
Clear separation of responsibilities keeps your donation system secure and efficient.
Movement handles:
- Donation forms and checkout experience
- Supporter communications and receipts
- Donation analytics
- CRM integrations
Stripe handles:
- Payment processing
- Financial compliance
- Transferring funds to your bank
- Payment dispute resolution
- Recurring plans management and reporting
Knowing these roles helps you find the right place for information and support.
Donation data in Stripe
When Movement sends donation information to Stripe, it includes some additional metadata, but no personally identifiable information (PII) beyond the email address and what supporters directly provide through the donation form. This approach protects supporter privacy while ensuring Stripe transactions link back to donations in your Movement Dashboard.
Supported countries
To use Movement, your organisation's Stripe account must be based in one of the following countries:
Set up your Stripe account
To accept donations through Movement, you need to connect a Stripe account. You have two options: connect an existing Stripe account or create a new one.
Connect an existing Stripe account:
Your account manager will provide you with a link to go through the Stripe connect process - you can either set up a new account or login to your existing account. Stripe will guide you through the process to connect your account to Movement.
Your Stripe account must be a Standard account. You must have an Administrator or Developer role in Stripe to connect the account.
Setting up a new account:
If you don’t have a stripe account, setting up a Stripe account is free. Set up your account by following the steps in the guided set up using the link that Movement has provided.
Stripe will require verification documents similar to what any financial institution would need. You can start using your account immediately, but be sure to complete Stripe's verification process to maintain full account functionality.
Check the required documents for your country of citizenship. Even if your country is listed in the document requirements, your organisation must be based in a country from the Supported countries table above to create a Stripe account.
Test Movement without waiting for Stripe activation
You don't need to wait for your Stripe account activation to start testing. While live donations require a fully activated Stripe account, you can begin exploring Movement features right away:
- Go to Settings > Donations > Stripe
- Click Set up test account
This allows you to test all donation features while your main Stripe account activation is in progress.
Payment methods
Stripe processes most of the payments made through Movement checkout forms, handling credit cards and bank transfers securely. Stripe supports payments in over 130 currencies, allowing organisations to accept donations from supporters around the world.
Below are the payment methods supported by Stripe in Movement:
Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Discover, Cartes Bancaires, JCB, China Union Pay
Bank debits: ACH Direct Debit, Pre-authorized debit in Canada, Bacs Direct Debit, SEPA Direct Debit, BECS Direct Debit
Bank redirects: iDEAL
Wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
Fees and Payouts
Like Movement, Stripe functions on a transactional fee model. There are no costs to open a Stripe account and no contractual obligations.
Stripe charges fees based on the payment method used to process a donation. You can find more details on Stripe's website.
You’ll see an ‘application fee’ listed in your Stripe dashboard — this is Movement’s processing fee. The Movement platform fee is separate from Stripe's processing fees. We do not vary our fees based on the payment method used.
Stripe nonprofit discount
Stripe offers reduced processing fees for eligible nonprofit organisations. Learn how to apply for Stripe's nonprofit rate by visiting Stripe's nonprofit page:
https://support.stripe.com/questions/fee-discount-for-nonprofit-organizations?locale=en-GB
How funds reach your organisation
Movement never holds your funds. All donations are immediately sent to Stripe after a successful transaction. Stripe then transfers these funds to your bank account according to your payout schedule.
The time between when a donation is made and when it appears in your bank account depends on:
- Your Stripe payout schedule
- The payment method used
- Your bank's processing times
Payout options and scheduling
Stripe offers flexible ways to receive your funds:
- Automatic deposits on a schedule you define (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Manual withdrawals that you initiate when desired
All payout and bank account management happens directly through your Stripe account, not through the Movement Dashboard.
Disputes and chargebacks
A Stripe dispute occurs when a supporter questions a payment with their card issuer. These can appear as:
- Inquiries or retrievals: Requests for additional transaction information
- Chargebacks: Full payment reversals where funds are immediately withdrawn from your account
When facing a dispute:
- Access the guided dispute response process in your Stripe Dashboard
- Provide comprehensive documentation about the donation
- Submit your response within the required timeframe
Prompt, detailed responses with supporting evidence significantly improve your chances of resolving disputes favourably.
Support and troubleshooting
For questions about:
Each platform specialises in different aspects of your donation processing, so reaching out to the appropriate team ensures the fastest resolution to any issues.