To accept payments on Zeffy, your Canadian nonprofit or charity must complete Stripe verification. This guide walks you through each step with links to troubleshooting help if you get stuck.
In Canada, Stripe requires verification of three things:
Verification of the nonprofit entity itself – charity registration or business registration documents
Verification of directors, board, or leadership – documentation showing who is responsible for the organization
ID verification of one authorized representative – a government-issued ID and selfie
Before you begin, collect the documents you'll need based on your organization type:
For registered charities:
CRA charity number
Charity registration document (Notice of charity registration, Form T3010, or CRA document showing charitable status)
For other nonprofit organizations (incorporated or non-registered):
Business registration documents (Articles of Incorporation, Notice of Articles, Company Summary, etc.), or
A signed resolution (recommended) – this also satisfies directorship verification. See Business Registration & Directorship Verification for instructions on how to fill it out.
For all organizations:
Government-issued ID for your representative
Important: PO Boxes are not accepted as a legal address in Stripe. You must provide a physical address.
Log in to your Zeffy account
Go to the Finances tab in the left menu
Click the verification button — either a yellow warning banner or a "Complete verification" button
Choose the correct organization type to ensure you're asked for the right documents:
Registered charity – requires CRA number and charity registration documents
Nonprofit organization – requires a signed resolution with your non-profit details and directors
For registered charities: Enter your CRA number and upload a document confirming your charitable status.
Accepted documents:
Notice of charity registration from the Canada Revenue Agency
Charity Information Return (Form T3010)
Registered Charity Basic Information report
Official Donation Receipts
Any CRA document confirming charity registration status
For other nonprofits: Submit business registration documents or a signed resolution.
Accepted documents:
Government-issued document showing entity name and address
Corporate profile report
Notice of Assessment from CRA (dated within 12 months)
Articles of Incorporation or Association
Notice of Articles
Company Summary
Search for an entity on the register (Québec only)
Business license
Partnership agreement or registration
Signed resolution confirming authority to open the account (recommended)
Document requirements:
Issued within the last 12 months
Electronic color version (no scans, no black and white)
Shows your legal name and address exactly as entered in Zeffy
Stuck? If your document is rejected, verify that your legal entity name and address match exactly what's shown on your document. For help with the signed resolution, see Business Registration & Directorship Verification.
Stripe requires verification of your organization's directors. You'll first be asked to enter all directors' names and emails in Zeffy.
Stripe will compare this against public government data. If the list matches, you can simply confirm. If not, you'll need to upload a document listing all directors.
Accepted documents:
Board meeting minutes or resolution
Government document showing entity name and directors
Corporate profile report
Articles of Incorporation or Association
Notice of Articles
Notice of Change of Directors (e.g., Form 6, Form 4006, Form 3006)
Critical requirement: All directors entered in Zeffy must appear on the document with names matching exactly. For example, "Jonathan Clyde Brown" must appear as "Jonathan Clyde Brown," not "John Brown" or "Jonathan C. Brown."
Stuck? Even small differences in director names cause rejection. See Business Registration & Directorship Verification for troubleshooting tips on name matching and using the signed resolution template.
An authorized representative (board member, executive director, or authorized signatory) must upload a government-issued ID and take a selfie.
Accepted IDs:
Driver's license
Passport
Provincial ID
The name on the ID must match exactly what you entered for the representative in Zeffy.
Stuck? If your ID or selfie isn't being accepted, see ID Verification: Requirements, Setup, and Troubleshooting for photo quality tips, selfie guidance, and browser recommendations.
Enter your organization's bank account information for receiving payouts. Personal bank accounts are not accepted.
You'll need:
Bank account number
Institution number and transit number
Account holder name (must match your organization name)
After entering all information and uploading documents, Stripe will review your submission within 24-72 hours.
Check back the next day to confirm no additional information is needed. If the warning banner or button disappears, your verification is complete.
If your organization doesn't have formal directors, charity registration, or official organizational status – for example, if you're a small group, PTA, sports team, student club, informal committee, or community group – you can still complete verification.
Understanding "directors" for Stripe's purposes:
Stripe's use of the term "directors" is generic. Even if your group is informal, you can list the people who are responsible for running the organization as your "directors."
For these cases, "directors" can include:
PTA officers or committee chairs
Team coaches or club leaders
Treasurers or secretaries
Anyone with signing authority or financial responsibility
Anyone who helps manage or oversee the organization's activities
What to do: List these people as your "directors" for Stripe's purposes and include them in your signed resolution document. This satisfies both the business registration and directorship verification requirements. See Business Registration & Directorship Verification for step-by-step instructions.
Verify the following:
Your legal entity name matches exactly as shown on your document (including spelling and punctuation)
Your address matches exactly (e.g., if your document shows "Road," don't enter "Rd.")
The document is a color electronic version, not a scan or black-and-white copy
The document was issued within the last 12 months
Remember: your "Doing Business As" name is separate from your legal entity name
Even small differences cause rejection. Ensure names on your document match exactly what you entered in Zeffy:
No abbreviations or nicknames
Include all middle names as shown
Do not include titles or positions next to names
See Business Registration & Directorship Verification for more help.
Effective March 31, 2025: Accounts without completed verification may face temporary suspension of payment processing. Complete your verification promptly to avoid disruption.
Stripe is required to collect, verify, and maintain identity information from Canadian organizations under regulations from FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada). These requirements apply to all platforms integrated with Stripe in Canada, not just Zeffy.
This verification promotes transparency and prevents financial crimes such as terrorist financing, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Business Registration & Directorship Verification - Step-by-step for the signed resolution template
