Accepted Credit Cards

The “Accepted Credit Cards” feature in the finance module of Retention CRM allows member-based organizations such as Associations, Chambers of Commerce, and Nonprofits to specify which credit cards their organization can accept for online payments. This is important because it provides members, donors and other constituents with familiar and convenient payment options, increasing the likelihood of successful payments.

• Offering a seamless payment experience: Constituents won’t be discouraged by a limited selection of payment methods.
• Encouraging larger payments: Constituents might be more comfortable contributing larger sums if they can use their preferred credit card.
• Streamlining the payment process: Accepted cards are clearly displayed, reducing confusion for constituents.

Important Note: This setting only applies to Retention CRM’s built-in payment processors. If you use PayPal Express, credit card options are controlled by PayPal itself.

How to Use ‘Accepted Credit Cards’ in Association Management

Let’s break down the fields and settings you see:

• Label: This is the name that appears for the credit card option on your payment form (e.g., Visa, Mastercard).
• Value: An internal identifier (usually not displayed to donors).
• Order: Use the arrows to arrange the credit card options in the order you want them to appear on the form.
• Enabled? Check the box to allow payments using that specific credit card.

In the provided example for a nursing association, all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) are already enabled.

Add a New Accepted Credit Cards

The “Add Accepted Credit Cards” button allows you to define additional payment options. Here’s how to fill it out for the nursing association:

• Label: Enter a clear and concise name for the new card option (e.g., “Hospital Credit Card”).
• Value: Leave this blank, as it’s an internal identifier.
• Order: Choose a position where you want this new option to appear on the form (use the up/down arrows).
• Enabled? Check the box to allow payments using this new credit card.

Note: Before adding a new option, ensure your chosen payment processor actually supports it.

More Use Cases for Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Nonprofits

University Alumni Association

Use Case: Encourage alumni to donate to their alma mater’s specific programs (e.g., Engineering Scholarship Fund, Athletics Boosters Club).

Accepted Credit Cards

• Label: Visa
• Value: visa (default)
• Order: 1 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: Mastercard
• Value: mastercard (default)
• Order: 2 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: Alumni Association Credit Card (University-issued)
• Value: alumni_association_card (internal identifier)
• Order: 3
• Enabled?: Yes

This scenario allows alumni to use familiar credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) but also highlights the university’s own credit card as a payment option. This might incentivize payments by offering alumni points or rewards redeemable for university merchandise or future events.

Environmental Chamber of Commerce

Use Case: Streamline the payment process for businesses that support the chamber’s sustainability initiatives.

Accepted Credit Cards

• Label: Visa
• Value: visa (default)
• Order: 1 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: Mastercard
• Value: mastercard (default)
• Order: 2 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: Business Cards (Corporate Amex, etc.)
• Value: business_card (internal identifier)
• Order: 3
• Enabled?: Yes

By enabling business cards, the chamber caters to its primary donors (businesses) and simplifies the payment process for their accounting departments. This might encourage larger payments as businesses won’t need to use separate expense accounts for charitable payments.

Animal Rescue Nonprofit

Use Case: Increase donations for specific adoption or foster care programs through targeted campaigns.

Accepted Credit Cards

• Label: Visa
• Value: visa (default)
• Order: 1 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: Mastercard
• Value: mastercard (default)
• Order: 2 (default)
• Enabled?: Yes (default)
• Label: “Lucky Pup” payment (recurring monthly payments)
• Value: lucky_pup_monthly (internal identifier)
• Order: 3
• Enabled?: Yes

This creative approach allows the rescue to highlight a specific program (“Lucky Pup”) alongside traditional credit card options. The “Lucky Pup” donation payment could be linked to a recurring monthly payment, providing a stable source of income for the rescue.