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.

‍

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 you 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 will only send funds to bank accounts owned and managed by schools, districts, or an approved organization. Money is deposited on a weekly basis. Access to the funds can vary by district, but in most cases, you can put donation dollars to use immediately following the deposit. Every district follows its own use of funds process, so be sure to follow the process outlined by your district for requesting funds.

SuccessFund will aggregate contributions over a 7 day period and then initiate a transfer. Transfers take 3-5 days from when they are initiated to when the deposit arrives. Deposits will typically arrive on Fridays. On average, the time between a transaction and a deposit is 8 days. SuccessFund does not invest or utilize your funds in any way.

Campaign organizers can view the status of the funds at any time. From your campaign page, click Results, then Switch Report, to Payouts.

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.

Find answers to common questions related to signing in 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.

‍

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.

SuccessFund does not charge any subscription, upfront, monthly, or annual fees, nor will schools or districts receive invoices. Creating fundraisers and getting them approved online is free. Campaign organizers won't be charged a portion of the amount raised at the end. Instead, a $1 + 5% fee is applied to each payment. For in-person transactions using SuccessFund card reader, that fee is discounted to as low as 15 cents at checkout.

Here’s how it works:
Online Donations: If a donor makes a $100 donation to your fundraiser, they will see a $6 fee at checkout. Donors can choose to cover this fee, which they do over 90% of the time. If they prefer, they can opt to deduct the fee from their donation amount.

For product sales, the fee is still $1 + 5%, but it operates slightly differently. The 5% is subtracted from the product price, and the $1 fee is added at checkout. For example, if you’re selling gourmet cookies for $20 and need to net $20 from each transaction, we recommend raising your price to $21 to cover the fee.

For in-person sales using a SuccessFund card reader, the transaction fee is discounted for smaller amounts. For a $1 bottle of water or a $2 hotdog, the patron would see a 15-cent fee. Remember, this fixed fee covers the entire transaction, not just the individual product.

Card readers can be purchased at https://www.successfund.com/readers.

Cash and other offline transactions: You can easily log, track, and report cash and other offline transactions using the SuccessFund mobile app. These transactions don’t incur any fees and can be viewed anytime under the Results tab, along with a detailed cash report.

‍

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.

‍

In SuccessFund, you can collect important information from your patrons during checkout through custom questions. By default, SuccessFund automatically gathers the purchaser's name, email, phone number (optional), and participant details (if using a leaderboard). However, you may need additional details, such as registration information or T-shirt sizes, which is where custom questions come in.

Product Questions are specific to individual items in your campaign. You can easily add these by:

1. Navigating to the Products section on your campaign page.
2. Clicking on the product you want to add a question to.
3. Scrolling down to the Questions section.

Here, you can choose from various question types like Single Select, Multi Select, Dropdown, Text, etc. These questions are asked every time a patron adds that specific product to their cart. Since these questions are tied to the product, patrons can only add one item with product questions to their cart at a time. For example, if you’re offering a tournament registration, you might ask for the participant’s name, a parent or guardian’s contact information, and a waiver agreement every time someone adds that registration to their cart.

Checkout Questions, on the other hand, apply to the entire purchase, not just individual products. You can set these up by:

1. Going to your campaign page.
2. Selecting Edit and then Checkout.

These questions are asked once during the checkout process, regardless of how many items are in the cart. This is useful when you need information like a delivery address, which should only be collected once per order rather than for each individual product. For instance, if a patron adds multiple items to their cart, you’ll only need to ask for their address one time, at the end of the checkout process.

‍

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.

‍

Find answers to common questions related to signing in here.

‍

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.

No, you don't have to collect money through SuccessFund. Most school districts allow you to collect funds in any way that aligns with district policy. For some campaigns, like a restaurant night, you might not need SuccessFund’s tools after approval. In such cases, the restaurant may simply send the school a check afterwards.

However, as the fundraising management platform for your school district, SuccessFund offers the easiest way to collect funds using modern payment methods, track your fundraising progress, manage sales and participants, and gather information at checkout. Plus, SuccessFund costs less than most other tools available for fundraising. While it's not required, using SuccessFund can provide you with valuable tools and features that can help make your fundraising efforts more successful.

‍

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.

‍

Once your fundraiser is complete, you can find a list of supporters and their contact information on the Results tab of your SuccessFund account. If you need shipping addresses, make sure to include an address field as a checkout question on your fundraising page. You can customize these checkout questions to gather necessary details, such as shipping addresses.

For specific product-related questions (like T-shirt sizes or registration details), you can configure these under the Products tab by clicking on each product. To view all responses at checkout, click the Switch Report button to access the All Results report. There, you can customize which columns are displayed or export the data into a spreadsheet for easier management and fulfillment.

‍

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.

‍

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.

To view your campaign results, go to your campaign page and click on the "Results" tab. To switch between reports, click the Switch Reports button. You’ll find several reports there:

• All Results: This report provides a comprehensive view of all transactions, including answers to checkout questions. You can download this data into a spreadsheet, customize which columns are displayed, and save your customized view by copying the URL.
• Cash: This report shows all cash collected over a specified time period and details about who submitted the cash.
• Payouts: This report displays all funds in the process of being deposited, along with the destination accounts.

Additionally, on the leaderboard section of your fundraising page, you can aggregate results by participant (such as students, classes, or grades) to compare performance. To add participants to the leaderboard, select "Leaderboard" on your fundraiser page and click the green "Add" button. Here, you can paste in a list of participants to track and compare their contributions.

‍

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

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.

Yes, you can move a campaign in two ways:

1. Move the campaign yourself:
   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.
2. Request a move without duplication:
   If you prefer to move the existing campaign to a new school without duplicating it, chat in with the campaign link and specify the new school and user you'd like it moved to.

‍

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.

‍

SuccessFund applies a $1 fee for online transactions at checkout. For low-priced items, such as a single $1 purchase, this fee can seem disproportionate. To avoid this, we recommend selling these items in-person using a SuccessFund card reader when possible. In-person transactions using a card reader have discounted fees. A patron who's cart only totals $1 or $2 for example will see a 15 cent fee. This is especially relevant for school stores, concessions, ticket sales, etc.

Any campaign selling products can sell in-person using a card reader. Card readers can be purchased at https://www.successfund.com/readers

If you would like to view a complete discount schedule for in-person payments, request one from support@successfund.com

‍

Leaderboards help you track contributions by student, class, or group. When a leaderboard is active, patrons and donors are prompted at checkout to choose the participant they’re supporting.

To add a leaderboard:

1. Go to your campaign page and click on the Leaderboard tab.
2. Add participants by pasting your entire roster of students or class/group names. You can enter multiple participants at once.
3. Each participant gets a unique link that directs patrons to your campaign page. When they donate or purchase, the specific participant is automatically selected. Alternatively, patrons can select a participant from a list if you share the general campaign link or QR code.

Viewing Leaderboard Results:

• Leaderboard results are aggregated under the Leaderboard tab.
• To view individual participant results, go to the Results tab, click on Switch Report, and select All Results.
• You can download or customize the report to view the columns you need.

This feature is optional but can greatly enhance tracking and engagement for your fundraiser.

‍

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.

No, custom donations must be made online, either through the link or QR code directing to your campaign page.

How to Handle In-Person Donations:

• Use a QR Code:
  You can still accept donations, payments, or registrations in-person by having supporters scan a QR code linked to your campaign page.

Using a Card Reader for In-Person Payments:

• Add Products via Web Browser:
  To accept payments with a SuccessFund card reader, you’ll need to add products to your store using a web browser. Navigate to your campaign page, click on the Products tab, and add your items. Once added to an approved campaign, these products will be available for purchase through the SuccessFund mobile app and card reader.

‍

To connect your SuccessFund card reader, follow these steps:

1. Download the SuccessFund App:
   Begin by downloading the SuccessFund app onto 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. Volunteer Codes can be found by logging in via a web browser. From your campaign page, click on Collaborators to retrieve your code.
3. Connect the Card Reader:
   The easiest way to connect your card reader is by opening a campaign and initiating a payment. The app will automatically start searching for nearby card readers.
4. Charge Your Reader:
   Ensure that your card reader is fully charged and turned on (hold the top power button) before attempting to connect.
5. Update the App:
   If you experience any issues, make sure you have the latest version of the SuccessFund mobile app.

Watch the Video:
For a step-by-step guide, watch this video that walks you through the connection process. http://www.successfund.com/home/videos/cardreader

‍

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.

‍

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.
‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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. Look at the URL at the top of your browser.
3. At the end of the URL, add /close and press Enter.

This will take you to the page where you can re-answer the closeout questions.

‍

How Refunds Work:

When a refund is issued, the funds will be withheld from your next payout and a negative line item will appear on your payout report. While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

How to Process a Refund in SuccessFund:

1. Go to the Results tab of your campaign and find the transaction you want to refund.
2. Select the transaction to open it and view the details.
3. Click the Issue Refund button at the top of the page.
4. Confirm that you’d like to issue the refund by selecting Issue Full Refund.

Note: This option will only appear if your user role has the 'Issue Refunds' permission. If you cannot issue a refund, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How to Assign the 'Issue Refunds' Permission:

The Issue Refunds permission can be added to or removed from a user role.

Only district-level administrators will be able to change the permissions of a role:

1. Go to Administration > Permissions.
2. Select the role you want to adjust.
3. You'll notice there are two different 'Issue Refunds' permissions:some text
   • One applies at the school/group level.
   • The other applies at the organization level.
4. Toggle these permissions on to grant users with that role the ability to issue refunds for the respective level (school/group or organization).

How to change someone’s role:

To give someone a role that has the ability to issue refunds:

1. Go to Administration > Users.
2. Click on the 3-dot menu to the right of the user and select Edit.
3. Edit the assigned role of that user to one with the right permissions, and click save.

Keep in mind that you cannot assign a user role with permissions that you yourself do not have. If you do not have access to adjust permissions, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How Much of the Fee is Refunded:

While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

Example: If a patron buys an item in-person for $5, they may pay a total of $5.25 (including a $0.25 checkout fee). Your campaign would receive $4.75 for that sale. If you issue a refund, the patron will receive the full $5.25 back. If the transaction was online, the patron will be notified of the full refund via email and text. On your next payout, a negative line item will appear, such as (-$5.05), which accounts for the amount you originally received minus any portion of the credit card processing fees that were non-refundable.

‍

If your upcoming payout does not have enough funds to cover the refund, you’ll need to either issue the refund manually or wait until there are sufficient funds. SuccessFund does not carry negative balances forward, so if the payout amount is insufficient, the refund cannot be processed until there are enough funds available.

‍

What should I do with the negative line item on my payout report?

Payouts work as normal. Negative line items will be added in with all other transactions for the specified campaign. If there are no other transactions for the specified campaign, the allocation amount will show as negative. This indicates a need to withdraw from the specified account code.

Example: A payout arrives with a $100.00 total. The Baseball Car Wash received a donation of $150.00 and shows a positive balance. The Cheer Camp, which issued a registration refund, shows a (-$50.00) deduction. Both allocations need to be made in your accounting system to accurately add up to the $100 deposit to your bank account.

‍

Refund Policy:
Refunds are issued at the discretion of the campaign organizer and are governed by their organization’s policies. Refunds can be processed through SuccessFund for up to 90 days from the payment date. After this period, refunds must be managed manually by the school, district, or organization.

Patrons, donors, and supporters should request refunds directly from the campaign organizer using the contact button found on their receipt, confirmation email, or campaign page.

‍

‍

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

1. Make sure your campaign is live:
   Before volunteers can take payments, ensure your campaign is live and you have products to sell. (It must be approved before going live.)
2. Share the Volunteer Code and distribute card readers:
   On the campaign page (viewable in a web browser), go to the Collaborators tab and copy the Volunteer Code. Share this code with your volunteers and distribute the SuccessFund card readers.
3. Download the SuccessFund mobile app:
   Each volunteer should download the free SuccessFund app on their mobile device. They can scan the QR code on the back of the card reader to get the app. Volunteers can use their own mobile device or one provided by the school.
4. Log in using the Volunteer Code:
   Volunteers will log into the app using the Volunteer Code.
5. Attempt a card payment to connect the reader:
   To connect the SuccessFund card reader, volunteers can open a campaign, and attempt to take a card payment.
6. Start taking payments:
   Volunteers can now take card payments, Venmo payments, cash payments, look up orders, and scan receipts using the app.

‍

Most campaigns benefit from having a donate button available for those who would like to contribute, but don't want to purchase a product or are unable to participate in the event. That said, if you are selling registrations, or concessions, it might be confusing to have a donate button on your page. To remove that button, navigate to the Edit tab and scroll down to Checkout. There's a checkbox there that reads "Prevent donations from being made on this campaign (only available when selling products)." If you check this box, and you have products listed for sale on your campaign, the donate button will disappear.

By default, approvals can be sent to any administrator who has Approval Permissions at the school the campaign originated from. If no approver exists at the school, campaign organizers can send the approval to a district administrator.

You can set a first approver in SuccessFund, but the system does not structure the entire approval chain. This design helps ensure that faculty know whom to send their submission to initially, but subsequent routing is handled manually by administrators. For example, the Athletic Director might need to review requests related to athletics, while someone else might review requests for performing arts.

Administrators can forward requests to the next appropriate person based on your school’s specific process, and SuccessFund does not enforce a rigid approval hierarchy. This flexibility allows you to avoid managing approval chains when staff roles change and enables approvers to reassign requests if needed.

To set the first approver:

1. Under the Administration tab, click on Schools.
2. Select your school.
3. Click on Actions and then Edit Information.

The district can configure "final approval" permissions, which determine who has the authority to finalize approvals. The final approver is anyone with the Final Approver permission configured by the district.

Additionally, the district can provide specific Approval Chain instructions for approvers under Administration > Approval Settings. This allows you to outline the process for routing approvals as needed.

‍

Find answers to common questions related to signing in here.

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.

‍

Yes. Every deposit made to your bank account is accompanied by a detailed report which can be uploaded to your accounting system. These reports include account codes needed to appropriately receipt or allocate funds into the correct budgets.

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 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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

How Refunds Work:

When a refund is issued, the funds will be withheld from your next payout and a negative line item will appear on your payout report. While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

How to Process a Refund in SuccessFund:

1. Go to the Results tab of your campaign and find the transaction you want to refund.
2. Select the transaction to open it and view the details.
3. Click the Issue Refund button at the top of the page.
4. Confirm that you’d like to issue the refund by selecting Issue Full Refund.

Note: This option will only appear if your user role has the 'Issue Refunds' permission. If you cannot issue a refund, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How to Assign the 'Issue Refunds' Permission:

The Issue Refunds permission can be added to or removed from a user role.

Only district-level administrators will be able to change the permissions of a role:

1. Go to Administration > Permissions.
2. Select the role you want to adjust.
3. You'll notice there are two different 'Issue Refunds' permissions:some text
   • One applies at the school/group level.
   • The other applies at the organization level.
4. Toggle these permissions on to grant users with that role the ability to issue refunds for the respective level (school/group or organization).

How to change someone’s role:

To give someone a role that has the ability to issue refunds:

1. Go to Administration > Users.
2. Click on the 3-dot menu to the right of the user and select Edit.
3. Edit the assigned role of that user to one with the right permissions, and click save.

Keep in mind that you cannot assign a user role with permissions that you yourself do not have. If you do not have access to adjust permissions, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How Much of the Fee is Refunded:

While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

Example: If a patron buys an item in-person for $5, they may pay a total of $5.25 (including a $0.25 checkout fee). Your campaign would receive $4.75 for that sale. If you issue a refund, the patron will receive the full $5.25 back. If the transaction was online, the patron will be notified of the full refund via email and text. On your next payout, a negative line item will appear, such as (-$5.05), which accounts for the amount you originally received minus any portion of the credit card processing fees that were non-refundable.

‍

If your upcoming payout does not have enough funds to cover the refund, you’ll need to either issue the refund manually or wait until there are sufficient funds. SuccessFund does not carry negative balances forward, so if the payout amount is insufficient, the refund cannot be processed until there are enough funds available.

‍

What should I do with the negative line item on my payout report?

Payouts work as normal. Negative line items will be added in with all other transactions for the specified campaign. If there are no other transactions for the specified campaign, the allocation amount will show as negative. This indicates a need to withdraw from the specified account code.

Example: A payout arrives with a $100.00 total. The Baseball Car Wash received a donation of $150.00 and shows a positive balance. The Cheer Camp, which issued a registration refund, shows a (-$50.00) deduction. Both allocations need to be made in your accounting system to accurately add up to the $100 deposit to your bank account.

‍

Refund Policy:
Refunds are issued at the discretion of the campaign organizer and are governed by their organization’s policies. Refunds can be processed through SuccessFund for up to 90 days from the payment date. After this period, refunds must be managed manually by the school, district, or organization.

Patrons, donors, and supporters should request refunds directly from the campaign organizer using the contact button found on their receipt, confirmation email, or campaign page.

‍

‍

‍

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

‍

‍

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.

Network restrictions can prevent card readers from connecting. Network administrators should apply our domain allowlist (including all subdomains) to ensure that network restrictions do not interfere with in-person payments.

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

‍

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

‍

To connect your SuccessFund card reader, follow these steps:

1. Download the SuccessFund App:
   Begin by downloading the SuccessFund app onto 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. Volunteer Codes can be found by logging in via a web browser. From your campaign page, click on Collaborators to retrieve your code.
3. Connect the Card Reader:
   The easiest way to connect your card reader is by opening a campaign and initiating a payment. The app will automatically start searching for nearby card readers.
4. Charge Your Reader:
   Ensure that your card reader is fully charged and turned on (hold the top power button) before attempting to connect.
5. Update the App:
   If you experience any issues, make sure you have the latest version of the SuccessFund mobile app.

Watch the Video:
For a step-by-step guide, watch this video that walks you through the connection process. http://www.successfund.com/home/videos/cardreader

‍

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.

‍

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.

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

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.

‍

How Refunds Work:

When a refund is issued, the funds will be withheld from your next payout and a negative line item will appear on your payout report. While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

How to Process a Refund in SuccessFund:

1. Go to the Results tab of your campaign and find the transaction you want to refund.
2. Select the transaction to open it and view the details.
3. Click the Issue Refund button at the top of the page.
4. Confirm that you’d like to issue the refund by selecting Issue Full Refund.

Note: This option will only appear if your user role has the 'Issue Refunds' permission. If you cannot issue a refund, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How to Assign the 'Issue Refunds' Permission:

The Issue Refunds permission can be added to or removed from a user role.

Only district-level administrators will be able to change the permissions of a role:

1. Go to Administration > Permissions.
2. Select the role you want to adjust.
3. You'll notice there are two different 'Issue Refunds' permissions:some text
   • One applies at the school/group level.
   • The other applies at the organization level.
4. Toggle these permissions on to grant users with that role the ability to issue refunds for the respective level (school/group or organization).

How to change someone’s role:

To give someone a role that has the ability to issue refunds:

1. Go to Administration > Users.
2. Click on the 3-dot menu to the right of the user and select Edit.
3. Edit the assigned role of that user to one with the right permissions, and click save.

Keep in mind that you cannot assign a user role with permissions that you yourself do not have. If you do not have access to adjust permissions, you’ll need to contact an administrator for assistance.

‍

How Much of the Fee is Refunded:

While SuccessFund refunds as much of the transaction fee as possible, some portions of the payment processing cost are non-refundable and will also be deducted from your next payout.

Example: If a patron buys an item in-person for $5, they may pay a total of $5.25 (including a $0.25 checkout fee). Your campaign would receive $4.75 for that sale. If you issue a refund, the patron will receive the full $5.25 back. If the transaction was online, the patron will be notified of the full refund via email and text. On your next payout, a negative line item will appear, such as (-$5.05), which accounts for the amount you originally received minus any portion of the credit card processing fees that were non-refundable.

‍

If your upcoming payout does not have enough funds to cover the refund, you’ll need to either issue the refund manually or wait until there are sufficient funds. SuccessFund does not carry negative balances forward, so if the payout amount is insufficient, the refund cannot be processed until there are enough funds available.

‍

What should I do with the negative line item on my payout report?

Payouts work as normal. Negative line items will be added in with all other transactions for the specified campaign. If there are no other transactions for the specified campaign, the allocation amount will show as negative. This indicates a need to withdraw from the specified account code.

Example: A payout arrives with a $100.00 total. The Baseball Car Wash received a donation of $150.00 and shows a positive balance. The Cheer Camp, which issued a registration refund, shows a (-$50.00) deduction. Both allocations need to be made in your accounting system to accurately add up to the $100 deposit to your bank account.

‍

Refund Policy:
Refunds are issued at the discretion of the campaign organizer and are governed by their organization’s policies. Refunds can be processed through SuccessFund for up to 90 days from the payment date. After this period, refunds must be managed manually by the school, district, or organization.

Patrons, donors, and supporters should request refunds directly from the campaign organizer using the contact button found on their receipt, confirmation email, or campaign page.

‍

‍

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

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.

‍