Connect Stripe and configure your payment processor

This guide shows you how to link your Stripe account to MapleGather so you can collect dues, event fees, and other payments from members. MapleGather takes no platform fee on any payment you process through Stripe.

Who can do this: Admins with the billing:configure-processor permission — usually your org’s primary admin or owner. A Finance sub-role does not hold it: for that role the processor settings open read-only.

Before you start

You need a Stripe account. If you don’t have one, go to stripe.com and create one — it’s free to set up.
You need admin access in MapleGather. If the Payment processor menu item is missing, ask your org’s primary admin to grant you the billing configuration permission.

Steps

Connect your Stripe account

In the admin sidebar, select Billing & payments, then select Payment processor.
On the Payment processor page, select Connect Stripe.
You’re taken to Stripe’s sign-in page. Sign in to your Stripe account and authorize the connection. If Stripe asks you to complete any verification steps, follow the prompts.
Stripe returns you to MapleGather. You’ll see Connected — accepting live payments.

Run a test payment (recommended)

On the processor page, the Test payment tab is open. Select Run test payment. It’s a one-click test charge — there’s no card to enter, and no real money moves. This confirms your integration is working.

Configure your payment settings

Select the Settings tab.
In the Statement descriptor field, enter the name you want members to see on their card statement (for example, “Acme Nonprofit”). It must be 5 to 22 characters — shorter or longer is rejected when you save. Leaving it empty is allowed and means no descriptor is set.
Select Save settings. The Stripe Settings tab has no processing-fee (surcharge) setting yet.

Verify

You’ll know it worked when:

The processor page shows Connected — accepting live payments with a green status.
The test payment shows a success confirmation with a Stripe charge ID.
Settings save with a “Settings saved” confirmation.

If something goes wrong

“Your Stripe connection needs attention” — Stripe needs more information before your account can accept live payments. Select Reconnect to return to Stripe and finish their onboarding. You can still run test payments while verification is pending.
“Setup was not completed” — you cancelled on Stripe’s side. Select Connect Stripe to try again.
Test payment failed — the message under Run test payment gives the reason. There’s no test-card choice in MapleGather; fix the cause it names and run the test again.
“Couldn’t reach Stripe” — a temporary outage. Wait a moment and try again.
“You don’t have permission to configure the payment processor” — contact your org’s primary admin to request the billing configuration permission.

For webhook delivery problems after connecting, see Webhook health degraded.