How to set up recurring payments

In this article, you'll learn how to set up recurring payments. (If you want to set up recurring donations, read this article.)

Recurring payments/donations work with PayFactory, Stripe, and Authorize.net—they do not work with external checkouts!

Step one: set up a payment gateway

If you need more detailed instructions for this step, have a look at this article.

1. Go to Financial > Settings > Payment Gateways.
2. Click Add a payment gateway.
3. Select a provider.
   • If you select Stripe, click Connect to Stripe. Fill in the signup form (or log in with an existing Stripe account). Once you save, it will automatically connect to Populi.
   • If you select Authorize.net, enter the Login and Transaction Key they sent you after your account was approved.
4. Check the payment methods you wish to enable for this gateway.
   • ACH (e-checks and the like) are only available to U.S.-based bank accounts. If your school is not in the U.S. (or doesn't have a U.S.-based bank account), then you cannot use ACH payments.
   • If you'd like to accept e-checks and ACH payments through Stripe, please contact Populi Support.
   • To accept e-checks and ACH through Authorize.net, you'll need to sign up for eCheck.net™.
5. Finally, click Save to add the gateway.

Step two: select your gateway Uses

Under __ Transactions, you can specify which payment gateway you wish to use for different kinds of online payments.

1. Click the Tuition & Fees use name to select a gateway for it .
2. Select the gateway you wish to use for each payment type.
3. Click Save to finish.

Step three: enable recurring payments

To enable recurring payments for tuition and fees:

1. Go to Financial > Settings > Online Payments.
2. Scroll down to the Recurring Payment Options setting.
3. Select the recurring payments option you wish to enable:
   • The week-based options will charge the donor on the same day of the week at the chosen interval.
   • The second three options will charge the donor on the same calendar day at the chosen interval.
   • Payment Plan Based lets payers set up automatic payments determined by their payment plan.
4. Scroll back up and click Save Settings.

You can also go to the Recurring Payment Email Message setting and enter the text of the email you'd like sent every time the recurring payment is charged.

Once you finish these steps, your payers will have the option to set up recurring online payments. Read about how those work in this article.