Transparent, direct, and secure — every step of the way
Unlike traditional crowdfunding platforms that hold your funds, A Better Gift uses a direct payment model. When someone contributes to your request, the money goes directly to your bank account — we never hold or control your funds.
A Better Gift acts as your limited agent solely to facilitate the transfer of contributions. All payment processing is handled by Stripe, a PCI Level 1 certified payment processor trusted by millions of businesses worldwide.
Here's exactly what happens when someone contributes to your fundraising request:
Your friend or family member clicks to contribute and enters their payment information on our secure, Stripe-powered checkout form.
Stripe securely processes the credit card, debit card, or bank payment. Stripe handles all sensitive payment data — A Better Gift never sees or stores card numbers.
Through Stripe Connect, the funds (minus processing fees) are routed directly to your connected Stripe account. A Better Gift does not hold these funds at any point.
Stripe automatically deposits the funds to your linked bank account according to your payout schedule (typically within 2 business days for established accounts).
We've partnered with Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment processors, to handle all financial transactions on our platform.
By using A Better Gift, you also agree to Stripe's Services Agreement. Stripe is responsible for the secure processing and handling of all payment transactions.
We believe in transparent, simple pricing with no hidden fees.
| Contribution Amount | Processing Fee | You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $1.75 (2.9% + $0.30) | $48.25 |
| $100.00 | $3.20 (2.9% + $0.30) | $96.80 |
| $500.00 | $14.80 (2.9% + $0.30) | $485.20 |
The 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee goes entirely to Stripe for payment processing services. A Better Gift does not take any percentage of your contributions. We sustain our platform through optional contributions from donors who choose to support our mission.
How quickly you receive your funds depends on your account status:
Payout schedules are managed through Stripe and can be customized (daily, weekly, or monthly) in your account settings.
| Feature | A Better Gift | Traditional Crowdfunding |
|---|---|---|
| Funds Handling | ✓ Direct to your bank | Platform holds funds first |
| Platform Fee | ✓ $0 (No platform fee) | 0-5% of funds raised |
| Privacy | ✓ Private sharing only | Publicly listed campaigns |
| Who Sees Your Request | ✓ Only people you share with | Anyone on the internet |
| Payment Processor | ✓ Stripe (industry leader) | Varies (often proprietary) |
| Payout Control | ✓ Automatic to your bank | Manual withdrawal required |
Contributors can use the following payment methods:
All payment methods are processed securely through Stripe with the same fee structure.
No. We use Stripe Connect which routes funds directly to your connected account. A Better Gift never holds, controls, or has custody of contributed funds.
Refunds are processed through Stripe. If a contributor requests a refund within a reasonable timeframe, the funds will be returned from your connected Stripe account to the contributor's original payment method.
No. The only fee is Stripe's standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). There are no platform fees, monthly fees, setup fees, or withdrawal fees.
Yes. Stripe accepts payments from contributors worldwide. International transactions may incur additional currency conversion fees as determined by Stripe.
Identity verification is handled by Stripe during account setup. You'll need to provide basic information and, in some cases, a government-issued ID. This is required by financial regulations and helps protect against fraud.