How Ace of Hearts Foundation Uses Stripe, PayPal, and Square to Collect Donations
What Ace of Hearts Foundation accepts and how payments move
Ace of Hearts Foundation takes donations through three payment processors: Stripe, PayPal, and Square. Each one connects to a different way you might want to give — a credit card on their website, a PayPal account you already have, or a mobile payment if you're donating in person. The money doesn't go to the processor; it passes through them to the foundation's bank account, usually within one to three business days.
The foundation chose these three because they're common, they work on phones and computers, and they handle the security of your payment information so the foundation doesn't have to store your card number themselves. When you donate, you're sending money to Ace of Hearts Foundation, not to Stripe, PayPal, or Square — those companies just process the transaction and take a small fee (usually 2 to 3 percent of what you give).
Understanding which processor handles your donation matters if you need a receipt, want to dispute a charge, or are tracking your giving for tax purposes. Each one keeps its own record, and knowing which one you used tells you where to look if something goes wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Ace of Hearts Foundation accepts donations through Stripe (website), PayPal (account or guest), and Square (in-person or online), and money reaches the foundation within one to three business days.
- Each processor keeps its own transaction record, so your receipt and dispute process depend on which one you used to donate.
- Processor fees (typically 2 to 3 percent) are deducted from your donation before it reaches the foundation unless you choose to cover the fee yourself.
- If you donate through PayPal or Square, your transaction is protected by that platform's buyer protection policy, separate from the foundation's refund process.
- Recurring donations set up through any processor will charge you on the same day each month unless you cancel through that processor's settings.
Donating through Stripe on the foundation's website
When you give through Ace of Hearts Foundation's website, you're almost certainly using Stripe as the payment processor, even if you don't see the name. Stripe handles the form where you enter your card number, expiration date, and billing address. It encrypts that information so the foundation never sees your full card number — only a confirmation that the payment went through.
Stripe charges a fee of 2.2 percent plus 30 cents per transaction. If you donate $100, Stripe takes $2.50, and the foundation receives $97.50. Many donation pages offer a checkbox to "cover the processing fee," which means you pay an extra $2.50 so the foundation gets the full $100. This is optional; you can donate without covering it.
Your receipt comes from Stripe, not from Ace of Hearts Foundation directly. Stripe sends you a confirmation email with a transaction ID. If you need to dispute the charge or request a refund, you start with Stripe's support, though the foundation may also have its own refund policy. Keep that confirmation email — it's your proof of donation for tax purposes.
Donating through PayPal
Ace of Hearts Foundation may accept PayPal donations in two ways: through a PayPal Giving Fund link (if they're registered with that program) or through a standard PayPal payment button on their website. Both pull money from your PayPal account or let you pay with a card as a guest.
PayPal's standard fee is 2.2 percent plus 30 cents, the same as Stripe. If the foundation uses PayPal Giving Fund, the fee is lower — PayPal waives its fee entirely for registered nonprofits, so 100 percent of your donation reaches them. Check the foundation's donation page to see which PayPal option they use; if it says "PayPal Giving Fund," you know no fee is being deducted.
Your PayPal account holds a record of every donation you make. You can see the transaction in your PayPal activity, download a receipt, and dispute the charge directly through PayPal if something goes wrong. PayPal's buyer protection covers donations the same way it covers purchases — if you don't receive what you paid for, you can file a claim. For a donation, that's less common, but the protection exists.
Donating through Square in person or online
Square is the processor Ace of Hearts Foundation uses if they collect donations at events, fundraisers, or through a mobile payment link. Square's card readers plug into a phone or tablet, so volunteers can swipe or tap your card on the spot. Square also powers online donation pages for some nonprofits, though it's less common than Stripe or PayPal for that purpose.
Square's fee is 2.6 percent plus 10 cents per transaction — slightly higher than Stripe or PayPal, but the difference is small. On a $100 donation, Square takes $2.70. Like the others, many fundraisers offer the option to cover the fee yourself.
When you donate through Square, you receive a receipt by email or text, depending on what you provide. Square keeps the transaction in its system, and you can look it up through your email receipt. If you need to dispute a charge or request a refund, Square handles that through its customer support, though the foundation may also process refunds on their end.
How fees work and whether you should cover them
Every payment processor takes a cut. Stripe, PayPal, and Square all charge between 2.2 and 2.6 percent plus a small per-transaction fee. That money pays for the technology, security, and fraud prevention that keeps your payment safe. The foundation doesn't pocket it — it's gone to the processor.
When a donation page offers to let you "cover the fee," you're choosing to give extra so the foundation receives your full intended amount. If you want to give $100 and you cover the fee, you might pay $102.50 instead. This is entirely optional. If you don't cover it, the foundation receives $97.50 and uses that for their work. Neither choice is wrong — it depends on your budget and how much you want the foundation to receive.
Some donors cover the fee because they want their $100 gift to be $100. Others don't because they'd rather give more money to the foundation than to a processor. There's no rule. The foundation benefits either way.
Receipts, records, and tax deductions
Your donation receipt comes from the payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, or Square), not directly from Ace of Hearts Foundation. That receipt shows the date, amount, and transaction ID, and it proves you gave. For tax purposes, you also need a letter from the foundation itself stating that it's a registered nonprofit and that your donation is tax-deductible.
The foundation should send you that letter separately, either by email or mail. If you don't receive it within a few days, contact the foundation directly — the processor's receipt alone isn't enough for the IRS. Keep both documents: the processor's receipt and the foundation's tax letter.
If you set up a recurring donation (giving the same amount every month), the processor charges you on the same day each month and sends you a receipt each time. You'll need the foundation's annual tax letter to deduct all those gifts, not individual receipts for each month.
What to do if a donation doesn't go through or you need a refund
If your payment fails, the processor will tell you why — usually an expired card, insufficient funds, or a security block. Try again with updated information, or contact your bank if you think the block was a mistake. The foundation won't see a failed payment, so there's nothing to refund.
If your payment went through but you want to cancel it, start with the processor. If you donated through Stripe, contact Stripe support with your transaction ID. If you used PayPal, go to your PayPal activity and dispute the transaction. If you used Square, find your receipt and contact Square. The processor can reverse the charge and return your money to your card or account within a few business days.
You can also contact Ace of Hearts Foundation directly to request a refund. They may process it themselves or direct you back to the processor. Either way, refunds take three to five business days to appear in your account because the money has to move from the foundation's bank to the processor's bank to yours.
Recurring donations and how to cancel them
If you set up a monthly donation to Ace of Hearts Foundation, the processor charges your card or account on the same day each month. To stop it, you must cancel through the processor's website or app, not by contacting the foundation. If you only tell the foundation to stop, the processor will keep charging you because the foundation doesn't control the recurring payment — the processor does.
Log into your Stripe, PayPal, or Square account (whichever you used), find the recurring donation, and click "cancel" or "stop recurring." Do this before the next charge date if you don't want to be charged again. If you're charged after you cancel and the charge doesn't reverse automatically, contact the processor's support team with your cancellation confirmation.
Some donation pages let you manage recurring gifts directly on the foundation's website. If that's an option, use it — it's faster than logging into the processor. But verify that the donation has actually stopped by checking your processor account a few days later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see which processor handled my donation?
Yes. Check your email receipt — it will say "Stripe," "PayPal," or "Square" in the subject line or body. If you don't have the receipt, log into your bank or credit card account and look for the charge. The merchant name will tell you which processor was used. Stripe charges may show as "Ace of Hearts" or the foundation's legal name; PayPal shows as "PayPal"; Square shows as "Square."
Is my payment information safe with these processors?
Yes. Stripe, PayPal, and Square all use encryption and fraud detection to protect your card number and personal information. They're required by law to meet security standards, and they don't store your full card number after the transaction. Your bank or card issuer also monitors for fraud. If an unauthorized charge appears, report it to your bank immediately.
What if I donated but didn't get a receipt?
Check your spam or promotions folder — the receipt email may have landed there. If it's not there, log into your bank or card account and find the charge; the transaction ID is your proof of donation. You can also contact Ace of Hearts Foundation with the date and amount you gave, and they can look it up in their processor records and resend the receipt or provide a tax letter.
Can I change my donation amount or cancel a one-time gift?
A one-time donation can't be changed after it's processed, but you can request a refund from the processor within a reasonable time (usually 30 to 60 days). Contact the processor with your transaction ID. Recurring donations can be changed or cancelled through your processor account or the donation page itself before the next charge date.
Do I have to cover the processing fee?
No. Covering the fee is optional. If you choose not to, the foundation receives slightly less, but your donation still reaches them and still counts. If you want your full gift amount to go to the foundation, check the box to cover the fee. The choice is yours.