Apple Pay FAQ

To offer Apple Pay to your contributors, you must create a Candid account and claim your organization. Here are a list of questions as they pertain to your giving needs. To learn more about eligibility and other benefits with Candid, read their FAQ for that information.

What is Candid?

Candid is a nonprofit organization that specializes in clean, discoverable data to help fellow nonprofits grow. Through their transparency certification, you can increase the reach of your ministry's giving and enable Apple Pay for your contributors.

Read Candid's mission statement.

How do I claim my organization?

Candid has steps that can help you!

Create a user account, then search for your organization. Click Is this your organization? to begin claiming it. From there, Candid will walk you through the process.

If you can't find your organization, learn how to get your nonprofit listed.

How do I earn a Bronze Seal of Transparency?

After you've claimed your Candid profile, the Bronze Seal of Transparency is the lowest required level to begin taking advantage of Apple Pay.

Candid requires the following items:

Organization Name
Mission Statement
Subject Area
Mailing Address
Website
Primary Contact
Leader (and Co-Leader, if applicable)
Donation Information

See How to Earn a Bronze Seal of Transparency for more information.

What EIN do I use?

Use the same EIN you used when you created a merchant account with Vanco.

What is my donation platform?

Your ACST product is your donation platform. We work closely with our trusted processing partner Vanco to ensure all contributions given through Apple Pay are delivered.

What do I do if an error says that my organization is ineligible?

Some organizations may receive the following error:

"Your organization is ineligible. Please reach out to Donate_with_Apple_Pay@group.apple.com for further clarification."

We recommend that you do not contact Apple Pay directly and instead verify your EIN with the IRS and submit your IRS-issued affirmation letter to Candid.

See section 2 on the following page: What to do when government action prevents your organization from fundraising.

Do I need to notify anyone when my Candid account is approved?

Yes. Let us know when you've connected your Candid account, so we can accurately monitor your access to Apple Pay and notify you when it's almost time to renew.

How long does it take for my account to be approved?

On average, approval takes approximately 24 hours. However, it may take longer in some cases. Candid will notify you as soon as they've updated your account status. After that, your contributors can use Apple Pay.

Do I need to renew my Candid account?

Yes. Once every year. The date you set up your account determines when you must renew. In Giving Settings, we will let you know when your renewal period is close. Candid will notify you 60 days in advance as well.

The date that you renew your Candid account on will become your new renewal date for the following year.

What happens if my Candid account expires?

If your Candid account expires, you lose access to Apple Pay. You may need to resubmit some of your information to renew your account.

If an Apple Pay gift is in process when your account expires, that gift will still go through. However, the Apple Pay icon will not show for contributors from that point forward until you renew.

What happens to scheduled gifts if my Candid account expires?

Vanco will continue to process any scheduled gifts that use Apple Pay, even if your account expires. The status of your Candid account only determines whether or not contributors see the Apply Pay icon.

What would you like to know more about?