You can accept echecks, also known as ACH or Direct Debit Payments, through your 4aGoodCause donation pages.
To accept eChecks your Authorize.net account must be enabled with the eCheck.Net service from Authorize.net.
Why accept echecks?
The majority of echeck processors, like Authorize.net, charge fees of less than 1% for processing, making echecks a lower-cost option than credit cards for nonprofits accepting donations.
Echeck processing from Authorize.net typically costs $10/month or 0.75% per transaction, whichever is greater for that month.
Plus, echecks have the highest donor retention rate among all monthly giving payment options. Because echecks are directly linked to bank accounts, donors can establish recurring giving arrangements that remain in effect as long as they wish to use that account. In contrast, credit cards have expiration dates that cause interruptions in donation processing.
How to sign up for eCheck.Net
Log into the Authorize.net Merchant Interface.
On the home page, under Products & Services, click eCheck.Net. Here you will see a link to the eCheck.Net application. Follow the instructions on this page to apply.
If the link to the application is not active, contact Authorize.net support and let them know. Your Authorize.net reseller may not have enabled it for you.
How to turn on the eCheck payment option on your campaign
Once you receive word from Authorize.net that your eCheck.Net service is approved and ready for processing, you can apply this payment option to any of your 4aGoodCause campaigns by checking the Echeck enabled checkbox in your campaign settings. Once checked this will offer donors an option to pay for their donation or registration with their checking account.
To add echeck payments follow these steps.
- Login to https://4agc.com as a Nonprofit User.
- Click on Campaigns on the left menu.
- You will be presented with a list of your current campaigns.
- Click the Menu icon on the right for the campaign you need to edit.
- Select Edit from the menu.
- Click the Campaign info tab
- Scroll down to the bottom of that page to click the button to Update Campaign Info.