Frequently asked questions

SuccessFund is a powerful tool that schools use to raise money. Coaches, teachers, parent group leaders, and other educators can easily create fundraisers, accept donations, and process payments through modern methods like credit cards, Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. SuccessFund also supports in-person card reader payments for events.

In addition to these modern payment options, SuccessFund provides versatile tools for crowdfunding, managing camps and clinics, handling concessions, selling tickets, securing banners and sponsorships, and running hundreds of other types of campaigns. Parents and the community can have peace of mind knowing that no SuccessFund fundraiser or campaign goes live without first being reviewed and approved by school administrators. This ensures that all activities comply with district policies and that all funds are safely deposited into approved accounts.

For Administrators:
School administrators use SuccessFund to gain full visibility into the fundraising activities across the district. It offers a modern, fast approval process that allows administrators to quickly review, document, and approve campaigns in real-time. SuccessFund becomes the system of record for all district fundraising, ensuring transparency and compliance with district policies.

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SuccessFund is designed for educators and school communities. Teachers, coaches, club leaders, and parent organizations (PTAs/PTOs) use SuccessFund to run successful fundraisers while ensuring compliance with school policies. District and school administrators rely on SuccessFund to streamline approvals, maintain financial transparency, and uphold trusted fundraising practices. It’s a secure and approved solution for school fundraising.

SuccessFund does not charge any subscription, upfront, monthly, or annual fees. Schools and districts are never invoiced. Creating, submitting, and running fundraisers on SuccessFund is free. Instead, SuccessFund applies a small payment services fee to each transaction. This fee includes all credit card processing, digital wallet payments (Apple Pay and Google Pay), PayPal, Venmo, and platform costs.

SuccessFund never asks donors or patrons for tips that go to the SuccessFund platform. Everything you see in your campaign is exactly what your group will receive. Fees typically range from 15 cents to $1, plus 5% per transaction, depending on the payment type (in-person vs online) and amount.

How are fees handled?

Campaign organizers can choose one of four ways to handle transaction fees:

1. Paid by campaign
   Patrons pay only the listed price at checkout. Fees are deducted from campaign proceeds.
2. Paid by patron
   Fees are added at checkout. The campaign receives 100% of the price it sets.
3. Optional at checkout
   Patrons are encouraged to help cover the fee at checkout. If they opt out, the fee is deducted from campaign proceeds.
4. Split between campaign and patron (legacy option)
   Patrons pay a small convenience fee at checkout, and a portion of the fee is deducted from the campaign.

A recommended option is selected automatically when you create a campaign. How your campaign handles the fee can be changed at any time under the Edit tab of your campaign.

How are transaction fees applied?

Fees are applied once per transaction, not per individual item.

For example, if a patron purchases multiple tickets or items in a single checkout, the fixed portion of the fee is applied only once to the entire transaction, not per item.

Example: Small in-person purchase

For a small in-person purchase like a $2 hotdog, the transaction fee would be at the low end of the fee range.

• Paid by campaign
  The patron pays the listed price. The fee is deducted from campaign proceeds.
• Paid by patron
  The patron pays the listed price plus the fee. The campaign receives the full listed price.
• Optional at checkout
  The patron is prompted to help cover the fee. If they opt out, the fee is deducted from campaign proceeds.
• Split between campaign and patron
  The patron pays a small convenience fee, and part of the fee is deducted from the campaign.

Example: Larger online payment

For a larger payment like $50 or more, the transaction fee would max out at $1 + 5%

• Paid by campaign
  The patron pays the listed price. The fee is deducted from campaign proceeds.
• Paid by patron
  The patron pays the listed price plus the fee. The campaign receives the full listed price.
• Optional at checkout
  The patron is prompted to help cover the fee. If they opt out, the fee is deducted from campaign proceeds.
• Split between campaign and patron
  The patron pays a small convenience fee, and part of the fee is deducted from the campaign.

Are in-person payments different?

Yes. In-person transactions using a SuccessFund card reader have discounted pricing, especially for smaller amounts. As with online payments, the fixed portion of the fee applies once per transaction, not per item.

Are there fees for cash or offline transactions?

No. Cash and other offline transactions can be logged, tracked, and reported in the SuccessFund mobile app at no cost. These transactions appear in the Results tab under the Transactions report.

Do we need hardware for in-person payments?

SuccessFund card readers are available at:
https://www.successfund.com/readers

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SuccessFund processes both online and in-person payments with ease. Patrons don’t need to set up any payment accounts—SuccessFund automatically accepts Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit or debit cards, and PayPal. Additionally, cash and check payments can be logged in SuccessFund for tracking purposes, whether they are made online or in person. This ensures that all contributions are accurately recorded and managed within the platform.

No. Transaction fees only apply when the payment is processed through SuccessFund. Logging payments made offline is free. Remember organizers and collaborators can log cash transactions using the SuccessFund mobile app as well making it easy to take cards or cash in person all at the same time.

SuccessFund only sends funds to bank accounts owned and managed by schools, districts, or other approved organizations. Funds are deposited on a weekly basis, and in most cases, districts allow donation dollars to be used immediately after the deposit arrives — but always follow your district’s specific use-of-funds process when requesting access.

Here’s how the payout process works:

• Contributions are aggregated over a 7-day period, then SuccessFund initiates a transfer.
• Transfers typically take 3–5 business days to arrive in the designated account.
• Most deposits arrive on Fridays, and on average, the total time between a transaction and a deposit is about 8 days.

To view your payout status at any time:

1. Go to your campaign and click the Results tab.
2. Click on the Payouts report to see a detailed list of all transfers, including dates, amounts, and payment status.

SuccessFund can accept Venmo because all funds are routed to an approved bank account, not to an individual. Donors don’t need to open their Venmo app to make a payment. Instead, they simply checkout on the fundraising page and select their preferred payment method. If they choose Venmo, the payment is securely pulled directly from their Venmo account. This method ensures a clear paper trail, provides oversight and visibility, protects against fraud, and allows for easy processing of refunds. Patrons will also receive a receipt for their transaction.

By default, campaigns can be sent for approval to any administrator with Approval Permissions at the school where the fundraiser originated. If no school-level approver is available, the request can be escalated to a district administrator.

SuccessFund does not enforce a rigid approval hierarchy, allowing administrators to manually route approvals as needed. This ensures:

• A first approver can be set, but subsequent routing is handled by administrators.
• Different roles may review different types of fundraisers (e.g., an Athletic Director for sports, a Fine Arts Coordinator for performing arts).
• Approvers can reassign requests to the appropriate person if responsibilities shift or staff changes occur.

To set a first approver:

1. Go to Administration > Schools.
2. Select your school.
3. Click Actions > Edit Information to configure the approver.

The district can also configure Final Approver permissions to determine who has the authority to finalize approvals.

Approver Instructions

Districts can provide customized Approver Instructions to guide approvers before they take action. These instructions appear on-screen during the approval process, helping approvers understand where to route a request under different circumstances. These instructions are the same for the entire organization or district.

To add approver instructions:

1. Go to Administration > Approval Settings.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Enter clear guidance for approvers (e.g., “If the fundraiser is athletics-related, route to the Athletic Director. If it involves performing arts, route to the Fine Arts Coordinator.”).

This ensures consistency in how approvals are handled, even when responsibilities overlap.

Campaign Statuses

Fundraising campaigns in SuccessFund progress through the following statuses:

• Draft – Only the organizer can see the campaign.
• Pending – The campaign is in the approval process. Approvers are notified when a campaign is waiting in their queue.
• Approved – The campaign has been approved through the district's process.
• Live – If payments are collected through SuccessFund, the campaign goes live before it can be shared and start receiving contributions.
• Closed – The fundraiser has ended, and the organizer has submitted the required closeout information.
• Archived – Campaigns can be archived to remove them from the active list while retaining records.

Revoking Approval

Administrators can revoke approval and return a campaign to "Pending" status if changes or further review are needed. This can be done by navigating to the Approval tab and selecting Possible Actions.

This structured approach ensures transparency, compliance, and proper oversight while keeping the approval process adaptable to each school and district's needs.

You can make changes to your products (including changing the price) at any time, even after approval. From your Campaign Page, click on Products, and select the product you want to edit. You can also duplicate or delete any product.

To add a collaborator to your campaign, go to the "Collaborators" tab on your campaign page.

• Existing SuccessFund User: If the person has already created a SuccessFund account, simply select their name from the list of available users.
• New SuccessFund User: If they haven't used SuccessFund before, send them an invitation link from the "Collaborators" tab.
• In-Person Payments: To give someone access to take in-person payments using the SuccessFund mobile app and a card reader, generate a Volunteer Code on the "Collaborators" tab. Anyone that already is a SuccessFund user and has access to the campaign can simply log in on the mobile app to take payments without using the Volunteer Code.

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It sounds like your approver might not have the right permissions to approve your request. To be able to approve something in SuccessFund, they need to have a specific approval role assigned to them by a school or district administrator.

If you're not sure about their permissions, you can try reaching out to your district administrator. They can check if your approver has the correct role and fix it if needed.

Another possibility is that you and the approver you are trying to send to are actually at different schools. If you are an administrator, you can see the schools assigned to each user under Administration > Users. If you are a campaign organizer with defaulter user permissions, you can verify what school your user belongs to by clicking on the profile picture in the top right.

If you're still having trouble, our support team is always happy to help.

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Find answers to common questions related to signing in here.

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After creating your fundraiser, you can submit the draft for approval. Your approval will be processed online without a paper form. You will be notified via email once your fundraiser has been approved.

Not necessarily. Many districts require you to use SuccessFund to get your fundraiser approved, but once approved, how you collect payments can vary depending on district policy.

Using SuccessFund to collect payments is recommended because it simplifies tracking, speeds up payouts, and supports secure options like credit/debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay. It also helps keep your fundraising fully transparent and aligned with district reporting requirements.

That said, some districts may allow other approved platforms or outside vendors to be used for payment collection. Be sure to review your fundraiser approval and district policy to understand what’s allowed.

— for example, a restaurant spirit night where supporters dine in and a portion of sales goes back to the school — those payments may be handled entirely outside of SuccessFund.

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Select Share from the toolbar at the top of your fundraising page. There you can download flyers, QR codes, get sharing links, and share your fundraiser on social media. Use the leaderboard to track progress by student. Unique links can be used to credit contributions to individual students automatically.

Crowdfunding and Donations:
Yes, you can run crowdfunding or donations-only fundraisers on SuccessFund. These are ideal for collecting donations of any amount from supporters, as donors can enter their contribution amount directly.

Product or Service Sales:
Absolutely! You can list and sell any product or service that complies with district and SuccessFund policies, as well as federal, state, and local laws. You can configure prices, quantities, and product variations. Supporters who prefer to donate without receiving a product can use the “donate” button on your fundraiser.

Event Tickets:
Yes, SuccessFund is well-suited for selling event tickets, both for pre-sales and door admissions. While it doesn’t offer individually assigned seating, you can create seating sections with limited availability and different price points. Buyers receive an email receipt with a QR code, which can be scanned using the SuccessFund mobile app for easy ticket verification.

Concessions:
You can sell concessions using SuccessFund, especially through its in-person card readers. This is a great option for events and activities requiring immediate, on-site payment processing.

Banners and Sponsorships:
Yes, you can sell banners and other sponsorships. SuccessFund tracks all sales, allowing you to manage orders and provide details to suppliers. Additionally, using the 'Banner Fundraiser (Fulfilled by SuccessFund)' template, SuccessFund can handle the entire process, including printing and delivery.

Auctions:
You can run auctions on SuccessFund. While it doesn’t support live online bidding, you can manage payments for winning bids through your SuccessFund campaign. Winners simply enter their bid amount and complete their transaction via SuccessFund.

PTA Memberships:
Yes, PTA memberships can be sold through SuccessFund. Be sure to note that any transaction fees are additional and separate from the membership price set by your local PTA bylaws.

Event Registrations:
You can sell registrations for events like athletic camps, skills clinics, or golf tournaments. SuccessFund allows you to customize registration forms, include waivers or liability agreements, and gather important participant details such as dietary restrictions or t-shirt sizes.

Pledge Drives or “A-Thons”:
While SuccessFund does not track pledges in real-time, you can use it to process payments once pledge amounts are finalized. Patrons can make their contributions through the “donate” button by entering their final pledged amount.

SuccessFund provides a versatile platform to manage various types of fundraisers, making it a flexible solution for your fundraising needs.

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Product delivery depends on how your campaign is set up.

If you're using a vendor, the vendor typically handles fulfillment directly. This might include shipping to the school, offering local pickup, or mailing items directly to supporters. The method will depend on the vendor’s agreement, which should be outlined during campaign setup.

If your group is managing fulfillment yourself — such as distributing items on campus or in classrooms — you’ll coordinate delivery. To help with this:

• Go to the Results tab and open the Result Details report. This report shows each transaction and includes detailed order information like supporter names, products purchased, variants (like size or flavor), and quantities.
• You can download this report as a CSV to create packing slips, delivery checklists, or class-by-class sort sheets.

The Product Sales report gives you a summary view — showing how much of each item you’ve sold overall. This is helpful for inventory planning and seeing which items were most popular.

If you’re running a fundraiser with one of SuccessFund’s integrated partners, fulfillment may happen automatically and digitally. If that’s the case, you’ll see a note in the campaign description outlining how items are delivered.

Also, if your fundraiser includes student participation, the Leaderboard tab is a great tool for fulfillment support. Each student has a unique link and can see which supporters donated or purchased through their link — helpful if they’re assisting with product delivery.

Note: If your campaign is donation-only and doesn’t include products, the Product Sales and Result Details reports may not display any fulfillment-related information.

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Yes. Select Edit from the toolbar at the top of your fundraising page. There you can edit any details of the fundraiser. You can also make any changes to your products by clicking on the Products tab. There you can add new products, update your prices, inventory, questions, and any other product details.

Yes, you can pause a fundraiser to temporarily stop taking payments. To do this, go to your All Campaigns tab, find the campaign you want to pause, click the three-dot menu on the right, and select Pause. You can resume your campaign at any time using the same steps.

If you need to stop selling a specific product, you can mark it as Sold Out from your Products tab instead.

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Yes. On the All Campaigns page, find the three dot menu on the campaign you’d like to duplicate. Duplicating a campaign will make an exact copy of your fundraiser. All of the fundraiser details will be copied to a new fundraiser draft without any prior approval or results.

Yes! You can view your fundraiser results in real time by going to the Results tab of your campaign. The Results Summary page gives you a quick overview of how your campaign is doing, including total funds raised, number of supporters, and links to more detailed reports.

From the summary page, you can click into:

• Result Details – shows responses to any checkout questions you asked. If there are multiple questions, scroll to the right to view all answers.
• Payment Types – breaks down how payments were made (credit card, PayPal, Venmo, cash, etc.).
• Product Sales – lists how many of each product and variant were sold
• Payouts – shows the status of the funds and when you should expect to recieve the next payout

You can also use the Switch Report button inside any report view to move between sections.

If your campaign tracks student or group participation, you can find those rankings by going to the Leaderboard tab. That’s where you’ll see who’s bringing in the most supporters or donations.

All of these tools update in real time, so you can monitor your fundraiser’s progress as it happens.

Yes, every contributor is sent an email receipt automatically detailing their online transaction. In-person transactions do not initiate receipts automatically, but can be sent via text if the patron requests. Simply add their phone number after the transactions has completed to send the receipt via text.

Yes. If you add a leaderboard to your fundraiser and populate it with a list of student names, supporters will select a name at checkout. The results will be aggregated by student so that you can give the appropriate credit.

We can provide these upon request. Please email support@successfund.com

SuccessFund is beneficial for districts in several key ways:

• Online Approvals: Districts can ensure compliance with their policies through SuccessFund’s online approval system. Administrators can quickly view and approve campaigns from any device, with all approvals and transactions stored and auditable indefinitely.
• Transparency and Visibility: SuccessFund provides district accounting with clear visibility into fundraising activities at each school. This includes detailed data on supporters, products sold, and the timing of money collection and distribution.
• District Fundraising Tools: Districts can equip fundraising faculty with tools to run more successful campaigns. SuccessFund supports modern payment methods, including Venmo, and offers robust tracking and online sharing features to maximize campaign effectiveness.

Overall, SuccessFund streamlines the approval process, enhances transparency, and provides valuable tools for effective fundraising, making it a strong asset for school districts.

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Yes. Every bank deposit from SuccessFund is paired with a detailed deposit report you can upload or reference in your accounting system. Each deposit includes your Allocation ID (sometimes called account code, GL code, or allocation number) so your finance team can route funds to the correct budgets.

How it works

1. Add the Allocation ID during approval
   • In the approval view, find Assigned Bank Account – Pending Confirmation and click Edit or Confirm.
   • Enter your Allocation ID. This is a free-form field. Use whatever format your district prefers, for example:
     • 200 Girls Athletics
     • 01-235-00-5741
     • 50% Athletic Booster / 50% Activity Funds
   • Click Confirm to save.
2. Edit it later if needed
   • You can add or update the Allocation ID at any time, even after a fundraiser has started collecting. Districts that need multiple codes often note the split right in the freeform field, like “50%… / 50%…”.
3. Where it shows up
   • The Allocation ID appears on every deposit and in the associated deposit report, so your finance administrator can allocate funds quickly and accurately.

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Yes. The fundraiser approval process will be customized by the district. Districts determine which questions are asked and which administrators have rights to review and approve. The SuccessFund approval process allows for a back-and-forth discussion between the faculty submitting the fundraiser and any reviewers so that any needed adjustments can be made and documented. Reviewers and approvers are notified by email when a fundraiser needs their review. Fundraisers are often reviewed and approved in minutes. Schools can identify a First Reviewer who receives every request at the school or group by default.

If you are an administrator and want to set a First Reviewer, Under Administration, Click Schools, Click on the School you want to configure, in the top right select Edit.

Yes. Each district can add and manage multiple bank accounts so that each school or organization can receive its own deposits. To add a bank account select Bank Accounts on the left hand toolbar under Administration.

To enable Google OAuth for SuccessFund, you must give access to the SuccessFund app.

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Multi-Factor-Authentication is important for account security. SuccessFund enforces MFA automatically for all email/password authentications for all users with elevated permissions. When users access their accounts through the district OAuth (SSO through Google or Microsoft), SuccessFund relies on the district systems administrators to manage MFA requirements for user accounts. SuccessFund strongly recommends MFA be enforced for all district and school administrators through the district OAuth provider.

Yes! SuccessFund supports Microsoft and Google out of the box. Other, custom SSO providers can also be configured on certain plans.

SuccessFund sends email notifications from a few different domains. Be sure to allowlist SuccessFund's sending domains so users can receive notifications about their campaigns and so administrators receive important alerts.

Request this list by sending an email to support@successfund.com

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SuccessFund is here to help you achieve your goals in a safe and streamlined way. If you need help with any configuration settings, you can reach support here.

It's easy to sign in using Google or Microsoft, but it's also easy to select a different email address from what you intended. Be sure you're using the same email address (often your district email) you used previously to be sure you're using the very same account. This is the most common reason you might not see campaigns you used to have access to.

If someone else is the organizer of the campaign you want to see, they may need to share access with you. They can do that by going to their campaign page, clicking on Collaborators, and adding you as a collaborator.

It's also possible that the campaign you can't see has been archived. To view Archived campaigns, from your All Campaigns tab, click on Filters, then Status, then select Archived Campaigns.

Can't See Your Campaigns in the Mobile App? Make sure you've done the following:

1. Downloaded the latest version of the SuccessFund mobile app.
2. Confirmed that your campaign is approved and Live.
3. Verified that you have access to view the campaign.

If you still can't see it, ask the campaign organizer to share access with you via the Collaborators tab in the web browser. There, they can also provide you a Volunteer Code to sign in with which doesn't require you to have a SuccessFund account.

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There are a few reasons that you might be getting stuck during sign in. Rather than list them all, the best thing to do is try signing in with your Google or Microsoft account. Remember to use the same email address that you've used previously.If that doesn't work, try signing in using an incognito window. If you're able to sign in that way, you'll want to clear your cache and cookies on your browser to correct the issue.

The best fix is always to upgrade to the latest version of the mobile app. You can upgrade the app here.

If you're still stuck, be sure you are able to log in on the web (even using a mobile web browser like safari or chrome). If you can sign in there, and the mobile app is up to date, then you'll be able to authenticate into the mobile app using the very same method.

You can change or merge the email address(es) on your account, but in order to protect your account security, this can only be done with help from SuccessFund support. Use the Chat to request a change or merge.

Multi Factor Authentication is required for users with elevated permissions. Text messaging is one way to fulfill this enhanced security requirement. Alternatively, you can sign in with Google or Microsoft or use an authenticator app.

MFA text messages are sent immediately. If your having trouble with verification through text, the easiest fix is to try a different authentication method like Google or Microsoft.

If that's not an option, and you need to verify through text, but are not receiving them, there are several steps you can take. First, verify that your phone has service and is receiving other text messages. If so, please wait at least 2 minutes to see if the text message is still coming, but has been temporarily delayed/caught by your network provider. Requesting multiple retries doesn't speed up the process. Finally, if you are still not receiving text messages and this is the only MFA process that will work for you, it's possible that the phone number was entered incorrectly. SuccessFund can reset this for you, in that case, chat in your request.

You can update the quantity of your products at any time. Simply go to your campaign page, click on Products, and select the product you want to update. From there, you can change the quantity, set it to "No Limit," or mark it as "Sold Out." Keep in mind that your quantity will automatically adjust as you make sales online or through the SuccessFund mobile app. If you log cash or offline payments, the quantity will also update accordingly.

Patrons can add multiple items to their cart simultaneously, provided you have enough inventory available and aren’t requiring product-specific questions. If your store includes product questions, patrons will need to answer those as they add items to their cart one at a time.

When an approver reviews a campaign, they have two options:

1. Approve and Forward: The campaign is passed on to the next approver in the chain.
2. Final Approval: If the approver has the final approval permission, they can give the campaign final approval, changing its status from "Pending" to "Approved." Only once a campaign is fully approved can it go live and start collecting funds.

If your campaign is still marked as "Pending," it’s possible that it was approved but forwarded to the next approver rather than given final approval.

To check the status:

1. Go to the Approval tab on your campaign page.
2. See whose queue the campaign is currently in.

Remember, you cannot Go Live until the status has changed from Pending to Approved. If you believe your campaign should have received final approval but hasn’t, you can add a comment in the Timeline section of the approval to bring attention to the matter.

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Yes, you can move a campaign’s status from "Approved" back to "Pending" if necessary. This might be useful if a campaign received final approval before all approvers had a chance to review it.

To do this:

1. Go to the Approval section of the campaign.
2. Navigate to Possible Actions.
3. Select Move to Pending.

This action will revoke the final approval, allowing you to approve and forward the campaign to any approvers who still need to review it. Remember, the campaign will need to receive final approval again before it can go live and start accepting payments.

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Your SuccessFund user is limited to being in one school or group at a time. To switch schools, click on your profile picture in the top right and select the desired school. After switching, you can create and manage campaigns at the new school.

If you are an administrator and need to receive approval requests from two different schools, it's best to use two separate logins with different email addresses. This ensures you remain visible in the approver list for both schools.

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To change a user's role in SuccessFund:

1. Navigate to the Administration tab.
2. Select Users to view all users within your organization.
3. Find and select the user whose role you want to change.
4. You can edit their name, email, role, and associated school or group.

Important Notes:

• You must have the appropriate permissions to change a user's role.
• You can only assign roles that are equal to or lower in permission level than your own. For example, if you’re a School Administrator, you cannot assign the role of District Administrator to someone else.

If you encounter any issues or have questions about permissions, please reach out to your SuccessFund administrator.

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Archived campaigns are filtered out of your campaign list by default. To view any archived campaigns, go to your All Campaigns page, click on Filters, click Status, select Archived, and click Apply.

If you’re an administrator encountering an error message or unable to find a campaign you should have access to, it’s likely due to insufficient permissions. You may need an upgrade to your current role.

What to Do:

• Check Permissions:
  Your current role might not grant you the necessary access to approve or view certain campaigns. Any administrator with equal or higher permissions can upgrade your role to a School Administrator, District Administrator, or another custom role defined by your district.
• Request an Upgrade:
  Reach out to your district's administrators to ensure you have the appropriate permissions.

How to Change Permissions:

1. Go to the Administration tab.
2. Under Users, find the user in question.
3. Click the three-dot menu to the right of the user's name.
4. Edit the user’s permissions as needed.

If you continue to have issues, contact your district’s SuccessFund administrator for further assistance.

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As of September 2025, SuccessFund has transitioned from the Zettle card reader to the SumUp card reader. The new SumUp reader includes added functionality and supports swipe payments—helpful for processing gift cards and older credit cards.

You can purchase a SuccessFund-supported card reader at successfund.com/readers.

To connect your SuccessFund card reader, follow these steps:

1. Download the SuccessFund App
   Install the SuccessFund app on your mobile device.
2. Log In
   Open the app and log in to view your campaigns.
   • If you’ve never logged into SuccessFund before, you can use a Volunteer Code to log in.
3. Connect the Card Reader
   The easiest way to connect your reader is by opening a campaign and initiating a payment. The app will automatically begin searching for nearby card readers.
4. Charge Your Reader
   Ensure your card reader is fully charged and powered on.
   • SumUp: press and hold the power button on the right side.
   • Zettle (legacy): press and hold the top power button.
5. Choose Your Reader Type
   When signing into the app, you may be asked which reader you have. To change your reader selection later:
   • Open the app
   • Select your campaign
   • Tap More (bottom right)
   • Tap Reset Card Reader Selection
6. Cancel a Payment (SumUp readers only)
   To cancel a payment in progress, press the power button on the right side of the SumUp card reader.
7. Update the App
   If you experience issues, make sure you are running the latest version of the SuccessFund mobile app.

ℹ️ Legacy Note (Zettle Readers)
Zettle readers are no longer being sold, but they are still supported in the SuccessFund app.

If you are having trouble connecting to the correct reader, uninstalling and reinstalling the app ensures you are running the latest version. If you click on Settings, and Reset Card Reader Selection, you can toggle between Sumup and Zettle readers.

📱 Reader Error Messages

Zettle – “Reader Damaged”

If your Zettle reader shows “Reader Damaged”, this means the device’s internal security system has permanently locked it. These readers are designed with tamper-protection mechanisms that automatically disable the device if they detect shock, impact, temperature extremes, or any sign of tampering. Once triggered, this security lock cannot be undone — even by Zettle or SuccessFund support.

SumUp – “Device Blocked, Please Contact Support”

If your SumUp reader displays “Device Blocked, Please Contact Support”, this also indicates a permanent security lock. SumUp’s card readers contain anti-tampering sensors that disable the device when exposed to extreme conditions (such as being dropped or overheated). This is a built-in fraud prevention feature to protect both you and your customers. Unfortunately, once the reader enters this locked state, it cannot be reset or reused.

What to Do Next

When you see either of these messages —

• Zettle: “Reader Damaged”
• SumUp: “Device Blocked, Please Contact Support”

…the device has reached end of life. You’ll need to replace it to continue taking payments.

You can easily order a new reader at successfund.com/readers.

SumUp Connection Error: “We lost connection to the SumUp server”

Connection Error

If you see an orange screen that says “Connection Error” when trying to take a payment, the most common cause is that location services were not allowed when the app was first installed.

The SumUp reader requires location permissions to communicate with the SuccessFund app. If this permission is denied, payments cannot be processed and this error appears.

How to Fix It

Option 1: Enable Location Services in Settings

1. Open your device Settings
2. Tap Privacy
3. Tap Location Services
4. Make sure Location Services are turned on
5. Scroll down and select SuccessFund
6. Change the setting to Allow While Using the App

After making this change, reopen the SuccessFund app and start the payment again.

Option 2: Reinstall the App

If you do not remember what you selected during the initial prompt or the setting doesn’t appear in the list, reinstalling the app will give you a new permission prompt.

1. Delete the SuccessFund app
2. Reinstall it from the App Store
3. When the app asks for permission to access your location, tap Allow

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Redeeming items sold through SuccessFund, such as tickets, concessions, or swag, is easy using the SuccessFund mobile app. Here’s how:

1. Scan Receipts:
   • Log into the SuccessFund mobile app.
   • Open your campaign and click on Scan.
   • Scan the QR code on the patron’s receipt.
2. Look Up Orders:
   • If the patron doesn't have their receipt, click on Lookup Orders in the app.
   • Find their transaction by name or email.

In-Person Sales:
By default, products sold in-person are auto-redeemed. To change this setting:

• Go to your campaign page using a web browser.
• Click on Edit, then Checkout.
• From this page, you can also adjust the setting to display a redemption QR code on every receipt.

Online Redemption:

• From your campaign page, click on Results.
• Find the transaction and click on Edit to redeem the item.

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Boosters, Parent Organizations, and other external groups can have their own separate SuccessFund group, manage users, and add direct deposit accounts, all while using the district's approval process.

For School or District Administrators:

1. Navigate to the Administration tab.
2. Click Schools and select the school you want to add the group to.
3. Click Actions and choose Add External Group.
4. Enter the name of the group president. This will send them an invitation, making them the owner of their group, which they can manage independently.

For Boosters or External Groups:If you’d like to set up your own group, contact us to help move your users and any existing campaigns.

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To delete (Archive) a campaign, from the All Campaigns page, find your campaign, click on the three dot menu to the right, and click Archive.
To view that archived campaign again, you can click on Filters, then Status, and then filter on Archived campaigns.
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Yes, to accept in-person payments, SuccessFund card readers connect via Bluetooth to any mobile device, including iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Android tablets, and some versions of Chromebooks (with limited functionality).

You need to download the SuccessFund mobile app to process payments for any campaign you have access to. The mobile device must have an internet connection—either through Wi-Fi or mobile data—to accept payments and redeem orders. This ensures that all funds collected are immediately processed safely.

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You can make most edits to your campaign from the Edit tab on your campaign page. Here’s a breakdown of what you can do:

Edit Tab Options:

• Change the Title and Description: Update the main details of your campaign.
• Adjust Dates: Modify the start and end dates of your campaign.
• Set or Update the Goal: Change the fundraising goal or toggle it on/off from the campaign page.
• Customize the Campaign URL: Create a custom URL for easy sharing.
• Change Campaign Colors: Match the campaign page colors to your school’s branding.
• Customize the Shop Button: Choose a label for the button, such as Shop, Register, Sign Up, Buy Now, Support, Get Tickets, Learn More, Get Started, or Sponsorship Options.
• Update Owner Info: Change the organizer’s information that appears on the campaign page and pre-made flyer.
• Manage Photos: Change the main picture and add multiple photos to your campaign.
• Add Checkout Questions: These questions are asked once at checkout (e.g., Delivery Address).

Products Tab Options:

• Edit Products and Product Questions: Customize each product, including specific questions asked every time a product is added to the cart (useful for registrations, etc.).

For any changes to products or product-specific questions, head over to the Products tab and select the individual product you want to edit.

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No, a mobile device can only connect to one card reader at a time to ensure each payment is processed correctly and to avoid order mix-ups. The Bluetooth connection between the device (iPad, Android tablet, iPhone, Android phone, etc.) and the reader works within a range of about 40 feet. If the device moves out of range, it will automatically search for a new reader, but only one can be paired at any time.

Running multiple card readers is a great way to speed up lines. Each person processing payments will need their own mobile device with the SuccessFund app and a card reader. Readers can be purchased at www.successfund.com/readers.

For those assisting without a card reader, Venmo payments can be accepted directly through the mobile app. You can also use the app to look up orders, scan receipts, or log cash transactions without needing a reader.

Yes, you can update the closeout responses anytime. Here's how:

1. Go to your campaign page in your browser.
2. Click on the campaign
3. Click on the approval tab at the top
4. Click on Possible Actions at the bottom

There, you can edit your closeout responses.

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When a refund is issued through SuccessFund, the full amount is withdrawn from your upcoming payout—not your bank account. A negative line item will appear in your payout report reflecting this deduction.

✅ Full Refund Only: SuccessFund does not support partial refunds. You must refund the entire transaction or not refund it at all.
🔁 Refund Timeline: Refunds are issued immediately and typically take 3–5 business days to process.
💳 Fees: SuccessFund refunds its own platform fee, but some credit card processing fees are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

Example:

• Patron pays: $5.25 (including $0.25 fee)
• You receive: $4.75
• Patron refunded: $5.25
• Your next payout includes a line like: (-$5.05) (reflecting the refunded amount minus non-refundable processor fees)

How to Process a Refund in SuccessFund

1. Go to the Results tab of your campaign
2. Click on the Transactions report
3. Find the transaction you'd like to refund
4. Click to open and view details
5. Click Issue Refund at the top of the page
6. Confirm the refund by selecting Issue Full Refund

You must have the 'Issue Refunds' permission to complete this action. If you don’t see the option, contact an administrator.

What If I See “Refund Not Available”?

If you get this message:

⚠️ Refund not available
Your upcoming payout balance of $23.75 is not enough to issue a full refund for this transaction.

This means your current upcoming payout balance is too low to cover the full refund. Since SuccessFund uses deposit-only accounts, it cannot pull money from your bank account.

To resolve:

• Wait until more funds are collected in the campaign
• Retry the refund once the balance is sufficient

How Refund Permissions Work

Only users with the Issue Refunds permission can process refunds.

To add the permission:

1. Go to Administration > Permissions
2. Select the user’s role
3. Enable Issue Refunds at the school/group or organization level

Only district-level admins can modify roles and permissions.

To assign a refund-capable role:

1. Go to Administration > Users
2. Click the 3-dot menu next to the user and choose Edit
3. Assign a role with refund permissions and click Save

🚫 You can’t assign permissions that you don’t already have.

What to Do with Negative Line Items

If you are a in a finance related role, Refund-related deductions will appear in your payout report like any other allocation.

Example Payout Summary:

• Total payout: $100.00
  • Baseball Car Wash: +$150.00
  • Cheer Camp Refund: -$50.00

Each line can be recorded individually in your accounting system, with the total deposit remaining accurate.

Refund Policy

Refunds are issued at the discretion of the campaign organizer and governed by your organization’s policies.

• Refunds must be issued through SuccessFund within 90 days of the original payment
• After 90 days, refunds must be handled manually by the school or district, outside of the SuccessFund platform
• Donors or patrons can request a refund via the Contact button in their email receipt or on the campaign page

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Online Payments:
These are made by patrons or donors on their own devices, like a phone or computer. To share your campaign online, you’ll need to provide a link to those you wish to sell to or collect donations from. You can find that link under the Share tab. You can also download and print out a QR code to your campaign page which will allow patrons or donors to scan and pay online on their own device

In-Person Payments:
In-person payments are processed using the SuccessFund mobile app and a SuccessFund card reader. Simply have an approved campaign, download the app, and open your campaign to take payments in person. In-person sales are limited to products set up specifically for in-person transactions. Custom donation amounts cannot be taken on the card reader, but can be taken as online payments.

Product Availability Options:
You can change these settings under your products tab, by clicking into each product you are selling.

• Online and In-Person:
  The product will be available both online through your store’s page and in-person through the SuccessFund mobile app. This is the default setting.
• Online Only:
  The product will only be available for purchase online and won’t appear in the mobile app.
• In-Person Only:
  The product will only be available in the mobile app for in-person purchases and won’t be listed on your online store.
• Unlisted:
  The product will be hidden from both your online store and mobile app, but you can still share a direct link to give special access.

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If you already have a SuccessFund account:
You can switch to a different school or group by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner and selecting My Info. From there, you can update your group information.

If you don't have a SuccessFund account yet:
Contact the external group’s administrator (typically the booster or PTA president) and ask them to send you an invitation.

To view or manage all campaigns in an external group:
You’ll need to ask the administrator to either make you an External Group Admin or add you as a collaborator on the specific campaigns you’d like to help with.

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There are three main ways to join a school or group on SuccessFund:

1. Sign up on SuccessFund.com:
   • Visit SuccessFund.com, choose your state and school, and sign up. You can either use Google or Microsoft for easy access or create a username and password.
   • As a default user, you'll be able to create your own campaigns, submit them for approval, and once approved, you can go live and manage them.
2. Invite from an Administrator:
   • If an administrator invites you, they can do so by navigating to Administration > Users > Add a User. Administrators can set your school and assign your role right away.
   • With administrator permissions, you may gain access to features such as viewing other campaigns, approving campaigns, managing bank accounts, and issuing refunds.
3. Join an External Group:
   • If you're part of an external group (e.g., a booster or PTA), the external group administrator can invite you to join.
   • If you're the president of an external group, a school administrator can create the external group for you and assign you as the administrator. They can do this by going to Administration > Schools, selecting the school, clicking Edit, and adding the external group. Once the group is created, the external group administrator can invite members.
   • If you already have a SuccessFund account, you can switch between schools or groups by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner and selecting My Info.

Important Note for Administrators:
You can only assign roles with permissions that match or are below your own level. For example, a school administrator can’t invite someone to be a district administrator.

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Yes, even if your campaign won’t use SuccessFund to collect money, you still need to create a campaign and submit it for approval. Once the campaign is approved, there’s no requirement to Go Live. After the campaign is complete, simply return to SuccessFund to close it, and the district closeout report will automatically be triggered.

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SuccessFund makes it easy for volunteers to take payments, scan receipts, and manage orders—no login required. All they need is your campaign’s 6-digit Volunteer Code.

1. Ensure Your Campaign Is Live

Before volunteers can accept payments:

• Your campaign must be approved and live
• You must have products added to the campaign

2. Share the Volunteer Code

Each campaign has a unique 6-digit Volunteer Code that grants volunteers access.

To find and share it:

• From a web browser, open your campaign and go to the Collaborators tab
• Copy the Volunteer Code and share it with volunteers.‍
• Volunteers can also be added directly from the mobile app by someone already logged into the campaign. To do this: open the app, open the campaign, tap More (bottom right), then tap Add Volunteers.

When volunteers use the code, they’ll be prompted to enter their name, allowing you to track sales by individual.

You can expire a code at any time from the Collaborators tab. Volunteers who used it will immediately lose access.

3. Volunteers Download the App

Volunteers should download the SuccessFund mobile app on their personal device (or a school-provided one).
They can search for it in the app store, or scan the QR code on the back of the card reader to download it quickly.

4. Log In Using the Volunteer Code

On the app’s home screen, tap Have a Volunteer Code? and enter the 6-digit code. Volunteers will enter their name to get started.

This gives them secure access to:

• Take card, Venmo, and cash payments
• Scan and redeem receipts
• Look up orders

If your receipts don’t include QR codes, enable them:
From a browser, open your campaign → click Edit → go to Checkout → toggle on Include a scannable code in each transaction receipt.

5. Connect the Card Reader (if needed)

To pair a card reader:

• Open the campaign in the app
• Begin a card payment to trigger the reader connection

Once connected, the volunteer is ready to go.

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Yes, any device that can download the SuccessFund mobile app can be used to accept in-person payments. This means that you might be able to use a computer like a Chromebook to accept payments using SuccessFund card readers if the app can be downloaded from the Google Play store to that device.

Important note: While the SuccessFund app can be downloaded to some Chromebooks, these devices are notoriously slow, out of date, or have weak internet connections. As a result, functionality might be limited. This is the case often enough that we don't typically recommend using a Chromebook.

The following drawbacks have been known to exist:

• Most Chromebooks have only front-facing cameras, and will not support receipt scanning for order fulfillment.
• Most Chromebooks do not allow for authentication with Google or Microsoft.
• Most Chromebooks process payments about 10 times slower than a smartphone.
• Some versions of Chromebooks are not current enough to support the SuccessFund mobile app at all.

Our recommendation: We always recommend using a mobile device like a tablet, iPad, iPhone, or Android phone for in-person payments with SuccessFund. If that option isn't available, we also recommend printing out the QR code or one of our flyers for your specific campaign so that patrons can scan and pay from their own devices.

If you must use a Chromebook, we recommend using a newer, top of the line device. Make sure that you are using the most current version of the app. Ensure that IT has enabled SuccessFund for Chromebooks on your network. Sign in using a volunteer code rather than your account. Expect that payments will take longer than the typical experience, and make sure you have a strong internet connection. If the first payment attempt fails, we recommend giving it a second try. If that doesn't succeed, we recommend using a different device.

The first user in your district to select Sign in with Microsoft will ask district IT to allow SuccessFund.

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An IT administrator can then search for and allow SuccessFund

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District users can now authenticate with Microsoft using the Sign in with Microsoft option

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If you're selling products, you can customize the Call to Action button on your campaign page. To do this:

1. Click Edit on your campaign page.
2. Navigate to Customize.
3. Choose from the available button options:
   • Shop
   • Register
   • Sign Up
   • Buy Now
   • Support
   • Get Tickets
   • Learn More
   • Get Started
   • Sponsorship Options

Select the option that best fits your campaign.

How do I remove the "Donate" button?

You can control whether the Donate button appears by adjusting your donation settings.

To remove the Donate button:

1. Go to your campaign page
2. Click the Donate button
3. Click Edit
4. Set donations to Disabled

This will remove the Donate button from your campaign page.

If you want donations hidden but still accessible by direct link, you can set donations to Unlisted instead.

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✅ What are Options?

Options (sometimes called Variants) let you offer different versions of a product—like sizes, colors, or ticket types—all within a single listing. Shoppers select the option they want from a dropdown menu before adding the product to their cart.

➕ How do I add an Option?

1. Click “+ Another Option.”
2. Name the option, such as:
   • T-Shirt Size
   • Ticket Type
   • Registration Category
   • Or something more general like “Option”
3. Add the selections (e.g., Small, Medium, Large).
4. You can add multiple option categories, each with its own list of selections (like Size and Color).
5. SuccessFund automatically creates all combinations (like “Red – Small”) so you can set prices, quantities, and availability for each one.

🛍️ What can I use Options for?

Here are just a few ideas—there are endless possibilities:

• Apparel sizes (Youth Small, Adult XL)
• Color or style preferences
• Ticket levels (General, Student, VIP)
• Meal choices
• Add-ons and upgrades

💵 Can each Option have its own price?

Yes. You can set a different price for each combination. For example, student tickets might be $10 while general admission is $20.

📦 Can I manage inventory by Option?

Absolutely. Each combination has its own inventory count. You can set different quantities and mark individual selections as sold out.

🧾 What does it look like for buyers?

Buyers see one product with dropdown menus for options. After choosing what they want, they can add it to their cart and check out. The correct price and available quantity are applied automatically.

🎯 When should I use Options, Separate Products, or Questions?

Use this...When you need...OptionsA single product with multiple choices that need separate prices or inventory.Separate ProductsUnique images, descriptions, or categories for each item (e.g., hoodie vs tee).QuestionsTo collect extra details that don't affect price or inventory (e.g., shirt size on a free registration). Great for registration or other follow-up info.

🧪 Example: Ticket Type Option

Selling tickets to an event? Add an option called Ticket Type with selections like:

• General Admission ($20)
• Student ($10)
• Senior ($12)

Each type can have its own price and inventory. Shoppers pick their ticket type from a dropdown, and you manage everything in one product.

Here's a great video on how variants/options work http://www.successfund.com/home/videos/how-to-add-variants-to-products-on-successfund

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Yes! While SuccessFund doesn’t include bidding tools, it’s perfect for collecting payments from auction winners.

To set up an auction item:

1. Go to the Products tab and create a new product.
2. In the pricing section, select “Variable Price.”
3. (optional) Enter a Minimum Price (e.g., $3.00) and a high Maximum Price to allow flexibility.
4. Use the description field to prompt: “Did you win the bid? Pay for your auction item here.”

After the auction ends, just enter the winning bid amount when collecting payment. You can use a card reader, share a QR code, or send a payment link. Cash and check payments can also be logged manually to keep your totals accurate.

SuccessFund tracks everything in your campaign dashboard — making auction payments fast, flexible, and easy to manage.

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A Variable Priced Product allows you to collect a custom payment amount without setting a fixed price in advance. This is perfect for situations like auctions, donation-based sales, or “pay what you can” items.

To set one up:

1. Go to the Products tab and click Add Product.
2. Select Single Option under product options.
3. Under pricing, choose “Variable Price.”
4. Set a Minimum and Maximum amount.
5. Add a clear description (e.g., “Enter the amount you’d like to give” or “Pay your winning bid here”).

When supporters go to pay, they’ll be able to enter any amount within your price range. You can collect these payments online, in person with a card reader, or through a QR code or donation link.

It’s a flexible, easy way to accept open-ended contributions while keeping your tracking clean.

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🎯 SuccessFund FAQ: How Do I Change My Notification Settings?

SuccessFund makes it easy to manage the notifications you receive about your fundraising campaigns, payouts, and more. Here’s a step-by-step guide to updating your preferences.

🔑 Accessing Notification Settings

1. Log in to your SuccessFund Account
   Start by logging in at successfund.com.
2. Open the “My Info” Page
   • Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
   • In the dropdown menu, click “My Info”.

✏️ Editing Your Notification Preferences

On the My Info page, you can customize how and when SuccessFund sends you emails:

📩 For Campaign Orders or Donations:

• Immediately: Receive an email as soon as someone places an order or makes a donation.
• Once a Day: Get a daily summary email.
• Once a Week: Get a weekly summary.
• Never: Disable emails for these updates.

📬 Other Notifications:

• Payouts: Check the box to get an email whenever payouts are deposited.
• Campaign Closures: Check the box to be notified when campaigns in your organization are closed.

🖼️ Adding a Profile Photo (Optional)

You can also add a friendly photo to help donors recognize your profile.

• Click the photo upload icon and choose a photo from your computer.

💾 Saving Your Changes

After you’ve updated your preferences:

• Click the green “Save” button at the top-right of the My Info page.
• Your new settings will take effect right away.

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Yes — absolutely. SuccessFund allows organizers to run brand-sponsored fundraisers even if their district hasn’t yet adopted the platform.

Here’s how it works:

• The campaign organizer (e.g. a PTA, coach, teacher, or booster club) selects your brand as a fundraising partner.
• They launch their campaign and submit it for approval — which includes your brand’s review, and SuccessFund’s internal approval process.
• If the district isn’t already using SuccessFund, the platform will notify the school about the fundraiser, keeping them informed.

The fundraiser can go live and start collecting funds — no district partnership required.

Do brand campaigns require coordination with school administration?

No, not directly. While each district may have its own internal fundraising policy, SuccessFund handles the process of notifying the school and guiding the organizer through proper steps. Your brand can confidently support fundraisers in any district in the U.S., with no manual school-by-school setup.

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Absolutely not. SuccessFund is available to any organizer — regardless of whether their school district has adopted the platform. That includes:

• School groups (clubs, sports, student councils)
• Parent organizations (PTAs, PTOs, booster clubs)
• School districts
• Brands and businesses
• Non-profits
• Community groups

Can I use SuccessFund in any state?

Yes. SuccessFund works in all 50 states. You can start a campaign and run a fundraiser no matter where you’re located in the U.S.

If my district isn’t partnered with SuccessFund, can I still run a fundraiser?

Yes — you can! If you are a school organizer your district does not officially use SuccessFund, the platform will still notify your school that a fundraiser is taking place. That way, your school stays in the loop. If your group, doesn't require school or district approval, it will be approved by the SuccessFund team.

You do not need district or organization-wide adoption to raise funds.

What happens when I submit a fundraiser?

Once you launch your campaign:

1. You’ll submit it for approval by the SuccessFund team.
2. In most cases, we review and approve fundraisers within 24 hours.
3. If your campaign involves a brand-based fundraiser (e.g. a Quick Quack or Swig partnership), the brand will also review and approve your fundraiser before it goes live.

Will my district still need to approve it?

If your district requires approval, yes — that will still take place in line with your normal process. But SuccessFund doesn’t require district-level partnership to host or process your fundraiser.

🏁 How to Get Started

Just follow these steps:

1. Create your SuccessFund account.
2. Launch your fundraising campaign.
3. Submit it for internal SuccessFund review.
4. Receive approval (usually in under 24 hours).
5. Start collecting funds — digitally, instantly, and securely.

You’re up and running — no red tape required.

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Can anyone sign up for SuccessFund and start a fundraiser?

Yes — any organizer can sign up and start a campaign on their own. Whether you’re affiliated with a school or not, SuccessFund makes it easy to launch a fundraiser with no gatekeeping or lengthy onboarding.

When you sign up, you’ll choose from one of three organizer types:

1. Booster or Parent Group

Best for: PTAs, PTOs, Booster Clubs, or parent-run school groups.

✅ You'll choose your state and school,
✅ Then enter your group name (e.g., "Abbeville Dance Booster").

You’re ready to go!

2. School or District

Best for: Teachers, coaches, club advisors, district staff, or school administrators.

✅ Choose your state and school,
✅ Then sign up with Google, Microsoft, or email.

This option is ideal if you’re managing campaigns for a classroom, team, or entire district.

3. Community or Other Organization

Best for: Nonprofits, local businesses, churches, and other groups not tied to a school.

✅ You’ll fill out a short form with your organization type, address, and contact details (e.g., CEO, Director of Fundraising, etc.).

You can use SuccessFund even if you’re not affiliated with a school at all — just select the “Community or Other Organization” option during signup.

What if I'm with a school, but my school or district doesn’t use SuccessFund yet?

No problem. You can still run your fundraiser. If your district hasn’t officially adopted SuccessFund, the platform will automatically notify your school about the fundraiser.

✅ Bottom Line

If you're trying to raise funds for a school, group, or cause — you can use SuccessFund.

Just sign up, select your organization type, and submit your campaign. Once approved, you're good to go!

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Do students need to create a SuccessFund account to participate in a fundraiser?

Nope — not at all.

Students, athletes, performers, and other participants do not need to create an account on SuccessFund to take part in a fundraiser.

How do participants track their progress?

If the fundraiser includes a leaderboard, participants enroll using the link shared by their organizer. Once enrolled, they’ll automatically get a personal results page and a share link — no login required.

From that page, participants can:

• See their fundraising total in real time
• View a list of supporters who donated or purchased through their link
• Share their personal link with friends and family to keep raising funds

What if a group doesn’t use a leaderboard?

That’s fine too! Donors will simply enter the student or participant’s name at checkout so their contribution is correctly credited.

The Bottom Line

SuccessFund keeps it simple for everyone.
Only the fundraiser organizer (and any collaborators) need an account.
Participants just enroll, share their link, and watch their progress grow — no login required.

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The Plan tab is your built-in fundraising expert—powered by AI and informed by thousands of campaigns across the country. It helps you create a clear, actionable roadmap to make your fundraiser a success, without needing to hire a consultant or start from scratch.

🔍 What does it do?

The Plan tab guides you through a short series of questions, then builds a customized, editable plan tailored to your fundraiser. It's designed to be smart, simple, and strategic.

Your plan includes:

• A goal calculator based on your number of participants and fundraising target.
• Channel strategy based on the people, resources, and communication tools you already have access to.
• A dynamic to-do list with step-by-step tasks.
• Pre-written content like social media posts, email templates, thank-you notes, and reminder messages—timed for the best impact.
• Built-in timelines and recommendations, so you know what to do and when to do it.

✏️ Can I make changes?

Absolutely. The Plan tab isn’t rigid—it’s flexible and conversational.

• Want to tweak a post? You can edit anything directly.
• Want to change the tone or strategy? Just tell the AI what you want to do differently (e.g., "Make this more playful," or "Shorten this email").
• Need to rework the whole plan for a bigger team or different timeline? The Plan tab can instantly adjust.

💡 Why is this helpful?

Planning a fundraiser often means starting from zero. The Plan tab changes that.

Instead of wondering what to do next—or relying on outdated templates—you get a living, breathing plan based on real data and best practices from fundraisers like yours. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned organizer, it helps you stay focused, save time, and raise more.

💰 How much does it cost?

Nothing. The planning tool is 100% free for SuccessFund users.

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Messages of Support are brief notes that donors or purchasers can leave when contributing to your campaign. These messages are publicly visible and displayed on your campaign page under the “Messages of Support” section. They’re a great way to build excitement, recognize participants, and show community engagement.

✏️ Where do I toggle the setting to disable or enable Messages of Support?

To manage this setting:

1. Go to your campaign's Edit tab.
2. Scroll down to the Checkout section.
3. Look for the checkbox labeled "Disable messages of support".
4. Check the box to turn off the Messages of Support feature.
5. Uncheck the box to allow supporters to leave messages.

⚠️ Note: This setting is only available to campaign organizers. Changes take effect immediately once saved.

✅ Why would I want to disable Messages of Support?

There are a few reasons you might choose to turn this feature off:

• You want to keep the campaign page clean and focused.
• You’re managing a private campaign or prefer to limit public visibility of contributors.
• You want to minimize moderation or distractions from the campaign’s main purpose.

📝 What happens when Messages of Support are disabled?

• The option to leave a message will no longer appear during checkout.
• The “Messages of Support” section will be hidden on the campaign page.
• Any existing messages will no longer be visible to the public.

If you re-enable the feature later, all previously submitted messages will reappear.

💬 Can donors still leave a message if it's disabled?

No. Once the setting is disabled, there will be no option during checkout to leave a message, and the display area on your campaign page will be hidden.

📝 How do I remove a single message of support?

• From your campaign page where you can see the messages, you can click next to the message to remove it.

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To access detailed product sales data for your campaign:

1. Click on your campaign from your dashboard.
2. Click the Results tab in the top menu.
3. Select Product sales from the dropdown or options.

What this report shows:

The Product Sales report provides a breakdown of sales data for each product variant sold through your campaign. It includes the following columns:

• Product: The name of the item sold (e.g., Alain Energy Drink, BSN COMPETITOR HOODED PULLOVER).
• Variant: The specific version or size of the product (e.g., Cherry Twist, XL, 2XL).
• Amount Sold: The total dollar amount collected for that specific variant.
• Qty Sold: The number of units sold for each variant.
• Remaining Qty: The number of units still available for sale. If the product has sold out, this column will display “Sold Out” in red.
• Tags: Any tags or internal labels attached to the product (if used).
• Total Fulfilled: The number of units that have already been fulfilled or delivered to customers.

🔍 Note: This report only shows products that have recorded at least one sale. Unsold products will not appear in this view.

This report is especially useful for tracking inventory, identifying your best-selling products, and managing fulfillment.

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Where a campaign exists

When a campaign is created, it belongs to the school or group that the organizer was in at the time of creation.

• The campaign’s location shows on the campaign page.
• That location determines who reviews the approval request, which administrators have visibility, and which bank account SuccessFund will default to for deposits (deposits are always confirmed before final approval).

Ways to move a campaign

1. From the Edit tab

• Open the campaign.
• Click Edit.
• In the Owner Info section, you can change the School/Group field to move the campaign to another school or group.
• Save your changes.

2. When removing a user

• Go to the Users tab.
• If you remove a user who owns campaigns or approvals, the system will prompt you to either:
  • Move those campaigns to another user, or
  • Delete them.

Who can move a campaign?

• Typically, district administrators have this ability.
• The user’s role must include the permission to View/Edit All Organization Campaigns.
• If the user does not have this permission, the School/Group dropdown will be disabled, and the following message will be displayed:
  “You do not have permission. Only administrators can change the school/group.”

Can a non Administrator move a campaign?
If you don't have the administrator ability to move a campaign, you'll have to create a new campaign from the new group. You can change where your user exists by clicking on your profile picture in the top right. Once you're in a new school/group, you can duplicate your old campaign. The new campaign will be in the new group.

Can I change the owner of a campaign?
If you want the campaign to be owned by a different person, add them as a collaborator (from your campaign page, click on "Collaborators"). Then, the new owner can duplicate the campaign (on the "All Campaigns" page, locate the campaign and click the three-dot menu on the right). The duplicated campaign will then belong to the new owner in their current school or group.

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SuccessFund campaigns don’t have strict rules or time limits (though your district or organization might). What really matters is how vigorously you promote your campaign. Sharing it wide and often is far more important than simply keeping it open longer.

In fact, campaigns that run indefinitely can lose momentum. The best results usually come from focused promotion over one to several weeks, where urgency encourages more people to act. If you need additional time, you can always extend your campaign dates later.

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To make sure SuccessFund and card readers run smoothly, it’s important that your organization’s network and email settings don’t block required services. Restrictions like firewalls, content filters, or email security tools can prevent payments from processing, files from uploading, or alerts from being delivered.

For in-person payments, the device running the SuccessFund mobile app must have an active internet connection. Without it, card readers will not be able to process transactions.

Your IT team should also add the following to the allow list:

• Core services: successfund.com, intercom.com, success-fund-fundraiser-files.s3.amazonaws.com
• Payment providers: zettle.com, izettlepay.com, izettle.com, sumup.com, paypal.com, paypalobjects.com
• Media & assets: images.unsplash.com, ik.imagekit.io

And for system notifications and alerts, allow emails from:

• @alerts.successfund.com
• @successfund.com
• @successfundteam.com

Taking these steps ensures that your district can process payments, use card readers, upload files, and receive important alerts without interruption.

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Why this happens:
In-person transactions (using the mobile app and card reader) work differently from online checkouts. When a patron taps their card in person, the system records the payment amount but does not automatically collect names, emails, or checkout question responses like online checkout does.

How product and checkout questions work in-person:

• Product questions are always displayed automatically at checkout.
  • If the question is required, it must be answered before completing the purchase.
  • If the question is optional, you can leave it blank and still move forward.
  • To adjust whether a product question is required, log in on a web browser, go to the Products tab, click the individual product, and update the question setting.
• Checkout questions only appear automatically if you have marked them as required.
  • If they are optional, you can still fill them out (along with patron name, phone, or email) by tapping the Options button on the checkout screen and selecting Customer Details.
  • Special note about requiring Name: The name field is always considered optional. If you want the name to be required on every in-person transaction, you’ll need to add at least one required checkout question (any question). This triggers the name field to also become required.

Tip:

• If you add an email under Customer Details, the receipt will automatically be sent to the patron.

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By default, external groups are Unmanaged, meaning they are autonomous and do not require district approval to run fundraisers. However, districts can enable Managed External Groups, which makes approval through the district required for every external group. Membership in these groups remains self-managed, but the approval requirement is a global setting—all external groups are either Managed or Unmanaged. You cannot pick and choose on a group-by-group basis.

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No — donors and patrons never need to create an account or log in. You can make your purchase or donation directly from the campaign link that was shared with you.

How do I find the campaign I want to support?

You should use the direct link given to you by the organizer, school, group, or participant. Each fundraiser has its own campaign page with all the details and a checkout button.

I created an account by mistake. What should I do?

That’s okay — you can simply ignore the account. To support a fundraiser, just return to the campaign link and complete your purchase there. You won’t need to log in.

Why don’t I need an account?

Our system is designed so that donors and patrons can give quickly and securely without creating extra logins. Accounts are only for organizers who are running fundraisers.

What happens after I purchase or donate?

You’ll receive an email receipt right away. If your purchase includes a digital voucher, it will also be delivered by email instantly.

Who do I contact if I can’t find the campaign link?

Reach out directly to the organizer, school, or group that told you about the fundraiser. They’ll be able to resend the correct link.

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What is the Payout Recording feature?

The Payout Recording feature helps finance teams and bookkeepers keep track of whether a payout from SuccessFund has been logged in their external accounting system. It does not record the payout for you in your accounting system — instead, it gives you a quick way to mark payouts as “Recorded” or “Not Recorded” within SuccessFund.

Why is this useful?

• Keeps finance/bookkeeping teams aligned on what’s been logged.
• Reduces the risk of missing or duplicating a deposit entry.
• Makes it easy to see which payouts still need to be reconciled in your accounting software.

How do I record a payout?

1. Go to the Payouts page.
2. Click View next to the payout you want to record.
3. Click Record Payout.
4. In the popup, choose:
   • Recorded → if you have already logged this payout in your accounting system.
   • Not recorded → if you haven’t yet logged it (this is the default).
5. Optionally, add Notes for your internal records.
6. Click Save.

What happens after I mark a payout as “Recorded”?

• The Recording Status will update from “Not Recorded” to “Recorded.”
• You and other team members will be able to quickly see which payouts are finished vs. still pending entry.
• This status only updates in SuccessFund — it does not push data to your accounting system.

Can I change the status later?

Yes. If a payout was accidentally marked as “Recorded” or “Not Recorded,” you can reopen the payout, update the selection, and save again.

Do my notes show up anywhere else?

Notes are saved with the payout record inside SuccessFund. They’re visible to your team members when viewing that payout, so you can leave reminders or clarifications.

Does this replace my accounting software?

No. This feature is simply a tracking tool to help bridge your SuccessFund payouts with your own accounting workflow. You’ll still need to enter deposits into your accounting system as usual.

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What is an offline transaction?

An offline transaction is a cash or check payment that you manually record in your campaign to keep your totals, inventory, and leaderboard accurate. Offline transactions have no processing fees.

How do I log an offline transaction?

1. Go to the Results tab on your campaign.
2. Click Transactions.
3. Select + Offline Transaction.
4. Enter the buyer’s Name, Email, and Phone (optional), and any other info. All fields are optional.
5. Click Save Transaction.

Once saved, your offline transaction will automatically:

• Update your inventory,
• Reflect on your leaderboard if you have one, and
• Count toward your fundraising goal if you have one.

Are there any fees for logging offline transactions?

No. Offline transactions are recorded for tracking purposes only and have no fees.

Can I edit or add details later?

Yes.
If you need to update product selections, product questions, or checkout questions:

1. Go back to the Results → Transactions page.
2. Click on the transaction you want to update.
3. Select Edit Transaction.
4. Add or change responses as needed.

Can I log offline transactions using the mobile app?

Yes!
The SuccessFund mobile app makes it easy to log cash payments on the go.
You can also answer product questions directly within the app as you record each sale.

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If you’re looking to donate, purchase, or simply view a live campaign, there are two easy ways to find it:

1. Ask the organizer or a participant for the link.
   Every campaign has a unique URL that can be shared directly.
2. Search for it on SuccessFund.
   Visit our campaign search page at https://www.successfund.com/search/ and enter the organizer name, district, school, or campaign name to locate any live fundraiser. If you can't find it here, it's possible the campaign isn't live yet. In that case, reach out to the organizer.

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What is organization verification?

Organization verification is a required step that confirms your organization is legitimate and that funds are sent to the correct place. This must be completed before you can add a bank account and receive payouts.

Who needs to complete organization verification?

Every organization on SuccessFund must complete verification, including:

• School districts
• PTAs and PTOs
• Booster clubs
• Foundations
• Other external or standalone organizations

For school districts, verification only needs to be completed once for the entire district. Individual schools do not need to verify separately.

Why is organization verification required?

Due to increasing risks around identity fraud and AI-generated impersonation, we take extra steps to protect schools and organizations. Verification ensures:

• Funds are sent to the correct organization
• Only authorized individuals can manage payouts
• Compliance with payment and banking regulations

What information is required to verify my organization?

You will be asked to provide:

• Legal organization name
• Organization address
• City, state, and ZIP code
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Confirmation that you are authorized to act on behalf of the organization
• Acceptance of the SuccessFund Terms of Use

All information should match official records.

What if my organization does not have an EIN?

If your organization does not have an EIN, select the “I don’t have an EIN” option during verification. You will be guided through the appropriate next steps.

What is Persona and why do I need to use it?

Persona is a trusted third-party identity verification provider. We use Persona to confirm that you are a real person and an authorized representative of your organization.

Persona verification typically takes only a couple of minutes and is used only for identity verification. Your information is not used for any other purpose.

What does the Persona verification process involve?

Persona may ask you to:

• Take a photo of a government-issued ID
• Take a quick selfie or short video

This helps confirm your identity securely.

What if Persona has trouble verifying my photo or ID?

If you run into issues:

• Try using a different device
• Use your mobile phone instead of a desktop computer
• Make sure you are in a well-lit area
• Avoid glare or blurry photos

Most verification issues are resolved quickly by switching devices.

How long does organization verification take?

In most cases, verification is completed within a few minutes. Some verifications may take longer if additional review is required.

Can I create campaigns before verification is complete?

Yes. You can create and manage campaigns, but you will not be able to add bank account details or receive payouts until verification is completed.

Who should complete verification for a school district?

A district-level administrator or authorized finance representative should complete verification. Once verified, all schools in the district can use the same verified status.

Is my information secure?

Yes. SuccessFund and Persona follow strict security and compliance standards. Your information is used only for verification and payout protection.

What if I still need help?

If you have questions or run into issues during verification, contact the SuccessFund support team through the Help Center. We are happy to help you get verified and up and running.

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What is barcode scanning?
Barcode scanning lets you ring up products by scanning the barcode in the SuccessFund mobile app instead of searching for items manually. When you scan a product barcode, the item is instantly added to your cart at checkout.

Do my products need barcodes already?
Most retail products already have barcodes on their packaging. If your product has a barcode, you can scan and save it to that product in your store.

How do I set up barcodes for my products?
From the app, tap More, then select Set Up Barcodes. Choose a product, tap Scan Barcode, and scan the barcode on the item. Once scanned, the barcode is saved to that product.

Can I use barcode scanning with product variants?
Yes. Barcode scanning works with products that have variants. You can scan and assign a barcode to each variant.

Do I need to set up barcodes every time?
No. Barcodes only need to be set up once per product or variant. After that, you can scan the item anytime during checkout.

Barcode Scanning vs Redemption QR Codes

What is the difference between product barcodes and redemption QR codes?
Product barcodes are linked to items in your store. Scanning a product barcode adds that item directly to the cart.

Redemption QR codes are tied to completed online purchases. These QR codes can appear on receipts for online orders when enabled. Scanning one pulls up the original purchase so it can be redeemed.

Where do redemption QR codes come from?
Redemption QR codes appear on receipts for online purchases when the feature is enabled. Customers can show the QR code on their phone or on a printed receipt.

What happens when I scan a code?
The scanner automatically detects the type of code.

• If you scan a linked product barcode, the item is added to the cart.
• If you scan a receipt QR code, the related order is pulled up so it can be redeemed.

You do not need to switch modes. Scan either one.

Do I need different scanners or buttons?
No. Both the Scan Barcodes and Scan Redemption Codes features support scanning both types of codes. The system handles the difference automatically.

Can I scan the same redemption QR code more than once?
No. Once an order has been redeemed, it cannot be redeemed again. This helps prevent duplicate redemptions.

Checkout and Usage

How do I check out using barcode scanning?
At the point of sale, tap Scan and scan the items you want to sell. Each scan automatically adds the item to your cart. When you are ready, tap View Cart to complete checkout.

Can I still add items manually?
Yes. Barcode scanning is optional. You can continue to add products to the cart manually.

What if a code does not scan?
If a code does not scan, you can add the item manually or search for the order to redeem it. If the issue continues, make sure the barcode or QR code is clear and has been properly set up.

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Donations allow supporters to contribute money directly to a campaign. Every campaign defaults to allowing donations, even if you are also selling products or registrations.

This lets supporters give even if they do not want to purchase an item or participate in an event. If needed, donations can be disabled or hidden at any time from the campaign’s donation settings.

How do I edit donation settings?

1. Go to your campaign page
2. Click the Donate button
3. Click Edit

From there, you can update all donation details.

What can I customize?

You can customize:

• Suggested donation amounts
• Donation name and description
• Donation image
• Placeholder text for custom amounts
• Where donations are available (online, in-person, unlisted, or disabled)

All changes update the live campaign immediately.

Can donors enter a custom amount?

Yes. Donors can always enter a custom amount, even if you set suggested amounts.

Can I remove donation tiers?

Yes. You can remove any suggested donation amount. Donors will still be able to enter a custom amount.

Can I change the suggested donation amounts?

Yes. Suggested donation amounts can be added, removed, or changed at any time, including while your campaign is live.

Will donations count toward individual students or participants?

Yes, if you add participants to the leaderboard.

When donors select a participant during checkout, the donation will count toward that individual’s total on the leaderboard.

I am selling products or registrations. Can I hide the Donate button?

Yes. You have full control over whether donations appear on your campaign.

If you do not want to accept donations, you can:

• Set donations to Disabled to remove the Donate button entirely, or
• Set donations to Unlisted if you want them hidden from the campaign page but accessible via a direct link

How do I bring donations back after they have been removed?

You can re-enable donations at any time.

To bring donations back:

1. Go to your campaign
2. Click the Products tab
3. At the top, click Store Options
4. Select Configure Donations
5. Update Where should this be available? to your preferred option (online, in-person, or both)

Once updated, the Donate button will appear again based on your selection.

Where are donations available?

You can choose where donations are available:

• Online and in-person
• Online only
• In-person only

This gives you control over where supporters can donate.

Do donations count toward my campaign goal?

Yes. All donations count toward your campaign total and goal progress.

Can I update donation settings after my campaign is live?

Yes. Donation settings can be updated at any time.

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