When someone registers for an event or gives a donation using an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Safari on a Mac), they can use their Apple Pay linked credit or debit card without entering the full details of their card. Apple Pay is a different method of entering a credit/debit card, and there's no additional cost. The payment is still processed by Stripe, charged the same processing fee, and follows the same lifecycle that a normal credit/debit card payment would.
Notice
Apple Pay is an iOS feature that can be used on Safari along with an iOS device.
Credit/debit cards are securely stored on an iOS device and authenticated using the device's passcode, thumb scanner, or Face ID. When using Safari on a computer, clicking the Apple Pay button will initiate a prompt on a phone.
Apple has established an application process through Benevity, and Apple relies on Benevity to verify the non-profit status of the organizations. Benevity's role is to gather information about charities and vet it when necessary.
The application process consists of three parts. Expand a section and follow the steps in order to use Apple Pay for donations.
Danger
Apple may not approve your organization for Apple Pay if it's not a registered non-profit, even if Benevity lists your church. If your church isn't a registered 501c3, you won't find an automatic listing on Benevity, and you will need to ask Benevity to manually create a profile for your church.
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Go to Benevity, click Register Now, and then search for your organization. Only registered 501(c)3 public charities automatically have a profile on Benevity.
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If your church is not listed, reach out to Benevity's Support Team and ask them to create your profile manually. You'll be asked for a Tax Exempt Status Letter from the IRS. If you don't have one, Benevity will accept a voided check as a substitute.
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If your church is listed, claim and sign in to make sure your account is complete.
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To complete your account, you'll be asked questions about licenses, hiring practices, the use of donor funds, and more.
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To use Apple Pay with Planning Center, you will only need to complete the first three steps of the approval process. The final steps are optional. Benevity also offers payment processing features that are not used by or required for Planning Center.
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Go to the Apple Pay section on Benevity and search for your organization.
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Follow the steps to request approval for Apple Pay.
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If you don't have an Apple Developer Team ID associated with an Apple developer account, you can use Planning Center's ID: 9JVJNE92L6
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Enter your Church Center URL into the Web domains box. It looks like this:
https://yoursubdomain.churchcenter.com
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The application is processed through Benevity, so please direct any questions about your application to Benevity Support. When approved, you will be notified by Benevity.
Once approved, go to the Settings tab on the Manage page in Giving, and check the box to enable Apple Pay.
Notice
If you have elected only to use debit card donations, Apple Pay respects this setting. If the card they select is a credit card, Giving will give the donor a helpful message, letting them know that only debit card donations are accepted.
Tip
Do you want to teach your donors how to give with Apple Pay? This article will show them how!