You can sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through the Benevity Causes Portal so donations are deposited directly into your nonprofit's bank account. EFT is faster and more secure than checks, and it reduces the administrative work of depositing and tracking paper payments. Learn more about the benefits of EFT.
The sign-up steps depend on where your nonprofit is located. In the United States, the portal validates your bank details in real time when you connect your account. In Canada and other countries, you upload a bank document for manual review.
Signing up for EFT in the USA
If your nonprofit is based in the United States, you enter your bank details on the Connect Bank Account form. The portal checks your account format and ownership in real time when you select Connect Account.
- Log in to the Benevity Causes Portal.
- Select Donation Method in the left navigation.
- Select Update Donation Payment Method and choose EFT as your payment method.
- Review the country shown on the form. It is based on your nonprofit's registered country and cannot be changed here.
- Enter your bank details in the fields shown. For US accounts, this includes your Routing (ABA) number, Account number, Account type, and your organization's Legal name as it appears on the bank account.
- Optionally enter your Tax ID (EIN), business address, and phone number. These details can strengthen ownership verification.
- Select Connect Account.
If verification succeeds, you see a confirmation that your bank account is connected. Your bank details are saved, and you receive a confirmation email that your banking information was added or updated.
If verification cannot confirm your account on the first attempt, review the message on screen, correct any errors, and select Connect Account again. If verification still cannot confirm your account, you may be asked to upload a bank letter. Select Add File, upload a void check or bank letter, then select Upload bank letter so our team can complete a manual review.
Signing up for EFT in Canada
If your nonprofit is based in Canada:
- Select Donation Method in the left navigation.
- Select Update Donation Payment Method and choose your donation payment method.
- Fill out the required fields marked with a red asterisk (*).
- Upload the banking information for Canada and confirm the details on the form match the document exactly.
- Review the information and select Submit.
Canadian applications currently use document upload and manual review.
Signing up for EFT outside North America
If your nonprofit is outside Canada and the United States:
- Select Donation Method in the left navigation.
- Select Update Donation Payment Method.
- Fill out the required fields marked with a red asterisk (*).
- Upload the banking information for your country and confirm the details on the form match the document exactly.
- Review the information and select Submit.
Banking information varies depending on the country or region where your nonprofit is located. If your nonprofit is located outside Canada and the US, EFT is mandatory in order to receive donations.
Applications outside the United States currently use document upload and manual review.
Is my banking information secure?
Your banking details are securely stored using encryption. Benevity does not retain your full account or routing numbers in plain text. You receive a confirmation email whenever your banking information is added or changed, so you can identify any unexpected updates to your account.
What happens after I submit my EFT application?
Most US applications are verified automatically when you select Connect Account. If automated verification cannot confirm your account, or if your country uses the document upload process, your application goes to manual review. Processing times vary based on submission volume.
You receive an email when your application is approved or if we need more information. If your application is declined or marked invalid, see Why was my EFT application declined?.