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 (typically the primary admin or a Finance sub-role).

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)

Select Run test payment on the processor page.
A test card form appears. Enter the test card number 4242 4242 4242 4242, any future expiry date, and any three-digit security code.
Select Run test payment. 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”). The limit is 22 characters.
In the Processing fee policy field, choose how Stripe’s fee is handled: Absorb fees (your org pays the fee, recommended) or Pass through (a surcharge is added to each member’s payment). If you pass through fees, add the copy members see at checkout in the Display copy field.
Select Save settings.

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 account needs verification” — Stripe needs more information before your account can accept live payments. Select Complete Stripe setup 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 declined — select Try another test card for a link to Stripe’s list of test cards. The card 4242 4242 4242 4242 always succeeds.
“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.