Every payment made through Ideali, whether it’s a donation, a membership payment or an event ticket, goes straight to your organization’s own Stripe account. Ideali never holds your funds. From there, Stripe pays the money out to your bank account on your payout schedule. Eligible accounts can also use Stripe Instant Payouts to send card and digital wallet payments to a debit card or bank account, usually within 30 minutes.

How Payouts Work

Many fundraising platforms collect payments into their own account and transfer them to you on a fixed schedule. Ideali works differently. Your Stripe account is connected directly to your campaigns, membership types and events, so when a supporter pays, the money goes straight to your Stripe account without passing through Ideali.

Getting money from your Stripe account to your bank is handled by Stripe. How quickly it arrives depends on the payment method and the type of payout:

• Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay (including Tap to Pay) — On a standard payout, funds are usually paid out 2–3 business days after the payment, depending on your country. With Stripe Instant Payouts, eligible accounts can send these funds to their bank or debit card any time, including weekends and holidays, and they usually arrive within 30 minutes. Some banks take longer.
• ACH bank transfers (US) — Funds usually become available in your Stripe balance about 4 business days after the payment is made. They are then paid out on your payout schedule, or can be sent with an Instant Payout once settled.
• PAD pre-authorized debits (Canada) — Funds usually become available in your Stripe balance about 5 business days after the payment is made, then are paid out on your payout schedule.
• Your first payout — For new Stripe accounts, the first payout is usually scheduled 7–14 days after your first successful payment while Stripe completes its checks.

Your bank’s own processing time, weekends and bank holidays can add extra time before funds appear in your account.

Instant Payouts: What You Need to Know

• You request them — Instant Payouts don’t happen automatically. You start each one from your Stripe Dashboard or the Stripe mobile app. Any funds you don’t send with an Instant Payout are paid out on your regular payout schedule.
• Eligibility — New Stripe accounts aren’t eligible straight away. Stripe usually requires some processing history (often at least 60 days) and an account in good standing. To check, log in to Stripe and go to Balances > Payouts. If you don’t see the Instant Payout option, your account isn’t eligible yet.
• Which funds qualify — Card and digital wallet payments can be paid out instantly as soon as the charge completes. Bank payments (ACH) only qualify after they settle.
• Stripe fee — Each Instant Payout includes a Stripe fee, currently 1.5% of the payout in the US and 1% in Canada. The fee is deducted from the payout and paid by your organization. This is a Stripe fee, not an Ideali fee, and it is separate from the payment processing fee charged on each transaction. Standard payouts have no extra fee.
• Where funds are sent — In the US, Instant Payouts go to an eligible debit card or a supported bank account. In Canada, they go to an eligible debit card in CAD. Not every bank or card is supported, so check Stripe’s list of supported banks and cards.
• Limits — You can make up to 10 Instant Payouts per day, and Stripe sets minimum and maximum amounts per payout and per day. Daily limits reset at midnight US Central Time. You can see your current limits in your Stripe Dashboard.
• Currency — Instant Payouts are made in your account’s local currency (USD in the US, CAD in Canada).

Things That Can Affect Your Payouts

• Stripe reviews — Ideali never holds your funds, but Stripe may pause payouts or hold funds if it needs to verify your account or review activity. If a payout is late, check your Stripe Dashboard and email for any requests from Stripe.
• Refunds, disputes and failed payments — These are taken from your Stripe balance. A bank payment (ACH or PAD) can still fail after the funds show as available, and Stripe will then remove those funds. If your balance isn’t enough to cover the amount, Stripe may debit your bank account. If you use Instant Payouts often, consider leaving a buffer in your Stripe balance.
• Bank processing — Once Stripe sends a payout, your bank may take extra time to post it, especially over weekends and holidays.

Why This Matters

When a platform holds your money, it can take days or weeks to reach you. That creates cash flow problems, especially when you need funds quickly for an urgent cause or a time-sensitive expense.

• No holding periods — Payments are never held by Ideali.
• No middleman — Funds go straight from your supporter to your own Stripe account.
• Fast access — Eligible accounts can use Stripe Instant Payouts to send card and digital wallet payments to their bank, usually within 30 minutes.
• Full visibility — Every transaction is recorded in Ideali and visible in your payments lists in real time.

What You Need to Get Started

To receive payments, connect a payment account in Ideali. Ideali currently supports Stripe as its payment merchant. Learn how to set up your payment account.

Tracking Your Payments

You can see every payment in Ideali as it comes in:

• Donations — Go to Donations in the left sidebar and click Payments. Learn more.
• Memberships — Go to Memberships in the left sidebar and click Payments. Learn more.
• Events — Go to Events in the left sidebar and click Payments. Learn more.

To check when a payout will reach your bank, or to start an Instant Payout, log in to your Stripe Dashboard and go to Balances > Payouts.

Note: Fees, limits and payout timing are set by Stripe and can change. For the latest details, see Stripe’s Instant Payouts documentation and Stripe’s payouts documentation.