As of December 11, 2023, Action Network fundraising accounts no longer support WePay as a payment processor. Fundraisers previously using WePay can still raise donations by taking advantage of Action Network’s enhanced partnership with our payment processor Stripe. We have built the ability to move recurring donations to Stripe, so fundraisers will continue to provide revenue for your groups.
To complete your WePay to Stripe migration, follow the steps in this document. Please make sure to complete all steps.
Note that Stripe has a similar setup to Action Network. You, as a person, will need a Stripe login (your email and password) and that Stripe login can be an administrator on multiple Stripe accounts (which can represent your organization(s), different streams of money to your organization(s), etc.). Stripe accounts can have multiple logins as administrators as well, just like Action Network groups. So if you need to make multiple Stripe accounts for each of your groups, you can do so from one Stripe login, and invite colleagues to manage each Stripe account just like you can invite multiple admins to your groups.
1. Preparing to Onboard your New Stripe Account
Identifying your Business Information Requirements
Identifying the following business information requirements may help you prepare for creating and onboarding your new Stripe account:
- Business identification (address and website ownership) and bank account information. This can include but is not limited to: Bank details, Legal entity name and type, physical business address, EIN and/or tax ID, and beneficial owner personal information.
- Supportability of your business.
- The overall risk level of your business.
- A more detailed look at what information may be required can be found here.
You can learn more about getting started with Stripe's Getting Started Guide here.
Identifying your Necessary Stripe Administrators
At least one administrator of your Action Network group with the contributions permission should be an administrator on your Stripe account.
If multiple people in your group(s) will be responsible for migrating your Action Network fundraiser(s), ensure that those people are added as a member to the Stripe account. For example, if the person setting up Stripe is different from the person setting up your Action Network fundraiser, both people need an individual Stripe user login and access to the organization's Stripe account.
You can learn more about adding team members to Stripe accounts here.
Creating One Stripe Account per Action Network Group
This guide will walk you through the process of creating a new Stripe account for the purposes of this migration, rather than using a previously existing Stripe account.
Each group that is a fundraiser recipient in Action Network requires its own Stripe account if you want to keep the funding streams separate. You can use one Stripe account, but there will be no way for you to separate out the funds raised towards each different Action Network group. Therefore, we recommend creating one Stripe account per Action Network group in order to differ between funding streams.
You can learn more about creating and managing multiple Stripe accounts here.
2. Create a Stripe Login
The first step of your WePay to Stripe migration will require you to register a Stripe login and/or log in to an existing Stripe login. If you are a new user to Stripe, you will first need to register for Stripe so you have a Stripe user login associated with your email address. If you are an existing user to Stripe, you may use an existing Stripe login.
New Stripe User
New users to Stripe will first need to register for Stripe so you have a Stripe user login associated with your email address. Register for Stripe here.
After registering, you will be required to verify your email. Verifying your email will then prompt you to 'Activate Payments' by creating a new Stripe account.
Existing Stripe User
Existing Stripe users should be able to log in to Stripe here.
After verifying your login, you will be ready to create a new Stripe account.
3. Create a new Stripe Account
We recommend creating a new Stripe account for each Action Network fundraiser recipient. This allows each group that is a fundraising recipient in Action Network to keep the funding streams separate. You can use one Stripe account, but there will be no way for you to separate out the funds raised towards each different Action Network group.
Creating a new Stripe Account
From a New Stripe Account:
New users to Stripe should select the 'Activate Payments' button that appears after verifying your Stripe registration to begin account onboarding.
From an Existing Stripe Account:
Existing users to Stripe should log in to their Stripe dashboard here.
In the upper left corner of your Stripe dashboard, select the down arrow next to your account name.
Select New Account.
Users should then select the 'Activate Payments' button that appears after selection to begin account onboarding.
From Activate payments, Stripe will walk you through the account onboarding required to create a new Stripe account for your Action Network group. Be sure to complete each onboarding step, you must activate before you can continue! After your onboarding is complete, Stripe will typically inform you if your account is active, or ask for more details, within an hour.
Additionally, don't forget to add new team members to your new Stripe account if you need. See above for more details. To see an example of details required for a new Stripe account onboarding, you can view the images here.
Once Stripe tells you that your account is active, you may continue WePay to Stripe migration by following the remaining steps below.
4. Prepare Your Stripe Account and Donor Messaging for Migration
- Your Stripe account has been verified. See more here if you’re unsure of the verification status of your account.
- Ensure you have added a bank account for payouts. See more here for steps on how to add a bank account for payment.
- Verify that at least one administrator of your Action Network group with the contributions permission is also an administrator of the Stripe account you set up for your WePay to Stripe migration. You can learn more about adding admin to Stripe accounts here. You can learn more about adding admin to Action Network groups here.
- Adjust Stripe’s Radar Rules to minimize the number of migrated recurring that may fail. We recommend disabling the "Block if postal code verification fails" rule. You can do that by clicking the three dots on the right of that rule and selecting disable. You can learn more about Stripe Radar’s Risk controls here.
- Review your group's Recurring Donations Settings. Due to Stripe's security features and/or pre-existing recurring donation statuses, failed migration of recurring donations cannot be entirely mitigated. Because of this, we highly recommend reviewing your failed charge and canceled donation emails. Confirm the emails use the language your group wants for capturing donor attention and compelling donors to update payment information.
5. Connect your Group to Stripe
Reminder: Someone who is an administrator with the contributions permission on the group in Action Network and also an administrator of the Stripe account you set up for receiving funds will have to do this step. If you need to, have an existing Stripe administrator add this person as an administrator in Stripe, or invite someone who is already a Stripe administrator to be an administrator of your Action Network group and give them the contributions permission.
To connect your Action Network group to Stripe, create a new fundraising page or edit an existing fundraising page in which this group is a recipient and save. You will be prompted to set up or choose an existing Stripe account. Select to choose the existing Stripe account recently created for the purpose of this migration. Follow the steps until you reach the end and are back on the fundraising page you started with.
Note: We strongly recommend connecting each group with a separate Stripe account. Without separation it will be impossible to tell in Stripe what funds came from what group.
6. Test Your Fundraiser and Stripe Connection
We recommend testing your fundraiser and Stripe connection by donating $1 (or other small amount) with a valid card. In Stripe, verify you see the donation. Do not continue until you’ve verified your fundraiser is connected to Stripe.
7. Request Recurring Donations be Migrated
After successfully creating your Stripe account and connecting it to your fundraiser, your group should be ready to migrate any recurring donations from WePay to Stripe.
A group admin should send an email to support@actionnetwork.org with the request to migrate recurring donations from WePay to Stripe. For ease, we recommend that you copy and paste the text below, inserting the information specific to your group(s):
- Subject: Request to Migrate from WePay to Stripe
- Body: I would like to migrate my Action Network Group’s recurring donations from WePay to Stripe. [Insert Group Link].
Note: You are not required to use the template above in order to migrate donations from WePay to Stripe. However we do require the request to (1) come from a group admin and (2) include your group link. Not including this information in your email will result in a request for it, therefore extending the time donations cannot be processed.
After you’re done with this, you’re totally done! Email support if you see any issues or have any questions!