Connect your group to Stripe

Online payments let members pay for events by card. The money goes to your group’s own bank account through Stripe, the payment company Grouperly works with. Grouperly never holds it.

You don’t need a Stripe account first

Connect Stripe sets up a Stripe account for your group as part of connecting. The account belongs to the group, and you reach it from Grouperly whenever you need it.

Who does it

A group owner or admin starts it from Settings → Payments.

The person who fills in Stripe’s form becomes the account’s representative. Stripe checks who they are and contacts them about the account. That’s usually the treasurer, so it’s best if the treasurer does it, or sits with whoever does.

Have these ready

• The group’s bank account: the routing and account numbers, for payouts.
• The group’s EIN (its federal tax ID), if it has one.
• About the representative: legal name, date of birth, home address, a phone number for a verification code, and the last 4 digits of their Social Security number. If Stripe can’t verify them from that, it asks for the full number or a photo ID.
• A sentence about the group, or a website. Stripe asks what the account is for. “Scout troop collecting camp and dues payments from families” is fine.

It takes about 10 minutes.

Choosing the business type

Stripe asks what kind of business the group is. Choose the one that matches how the group handles taxes:

• The group has its own EIN, for example a registered nonprofit, or a club or association with a tax ID: choose the nonprofit or company type that fits, and enter the EIN.
• The group belongs to a larger organization, such as a scout unit with a chartered organization, a school group or a league team: ask that organization which EIN the group uses, and whether the group may use it for payments, before you start.
• The group has no EIN: Stripe’s Individual type uses the representative’s own Social Security number. The payments are then reported under that person’s name.

Caution

Any tax form from Stripe goes to whoever’s tax ID is on the account. If you’re not sure which to use, ask your organization or an accountant before you start. Getting it right now saves trouble later.

The name on card statements

Stripe asks for a statement descriptor: the name families see on their card statements, up to 22 characters. Use something they’ll recognize, such as TROOP 1075 BSA or RIVERSIDE PTA. Payments show under your group’s name, not Grouperly’s.

Step by step

1. In Grouperly, open your group, then Settings → Payments, and click Connect Stripe.
2. Fill in Stripe’s form.
3. When you finish, Stripe sends you back to Settings → Payments.
4. Once Stripe has approved the account, it says Online payments are on. If it says Stripe setup isn’t finished instead:
   • Continue Stripe setup adds what Stripe still needs. The screen lists it.
   • Refresh status checks again, if you’ve only just finished.

Then give an event a price. Members who RSVP see what they owe and a Pay online button.

Payouts

Stripe sends the money to the group’s bank account weekly, on Mondays. The first payout can take a little longer while Stripe checks the new account.

• Your group’s Money page in Grouperly lists every payment, fee, refund and payout. Leaders can download it as a spreadsheet.
• Open Stripe dashboard, in Settings → Payments, shows payouts, the bank account and Stripe’s tax forms.

What families see

• What they owe on the event, then Stripe’s secure checkout page, with your group’s name.
• Your group’s name on their card statement.
• A receipt by email.

When the treasurer changes

Email support@grouperly.com, and we’ll help you hand the account over to the new treasurer. Don’t connect a second Stripe account: the group’s payment history stays with the one it has.

What it costs

Stripe’s card fee, passed on at cost, plus Grouperly’s 1% on the Free plan. See Fees for online payments.