How do causes receive funds?

There are 4 ways that Causes receive funds from merchants.

1. PayPal - this is the most common and preferred way Causes on Virtue receive funds. Once the store connects their account, Causes receiving funds via this donation method will receive funds into their PayPal Giving Fund account automatically, in line with PayPal Giving Fund donation distribution policies. This is because the store is fundraising for PayPal Giving Fund in support of the chosen charity/ies.

When supporting UK Charities on Virtue, you're donating to PayPal Giving Fund UK (PPGF), a registered charity (No. 1110538). Your donation is subject to processing fees of 1.4% + 20p. PPGF typically grants funds to recommended charities within 45 days (90 days if the charity has not enrolled). In the rare event PPGF can’t fund your chosen charity, it will (whenever possible) ask you to recommend another, and grant the funds to a similar charity if you don’t respond. See policies for PPGF UK.

When supporting Canadian charities on Virtue, your donation, less processing fees of [1.60% + $0.30], is to PayPal Giving Fund Canada (PPGF), a charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (No. 812867752RR0001), subject to its terms. PPGF typically grants funds to recommended charities within 45 days (90 days if the charity has not enrolled). In the rare event PPGF can’t fund your chosen charity, it will (whenever possible) ask you to recommend another, and grant the funds to a similar charity if you don’t respond. Your donation may typically be used for a tax credit in Canada, and you will be emailed an official donation receipt issued by PPGF for your records. See policies for PPGF Canada

2. Stripe - select Causes receive donations into their Stripe Account each month. Funds go to Charities directly from the card added to Virtue.
3. Manually - in some cases we can organise for the store to transfer donations manually / into the Cause's bank account or via their website. This method is typically used when an agreement of how funds will be distributed to the Cause already exists between the merchant and the Cause or when the Cause could not set up an alternative way of receiving funds.

Note that when merchants add partners via the Add My Cause feature, payouts are always manual from the merchant into the bank account provided by their Charity partner. To automate payouts, email [email protected] for more information.

4. Through Virtue - Virtue Impact Partners (like Clean Ocean Initiatives and Global Tree Planting Projects) receive funds directly from Virtue. When supporting our Impact Partners - technically, the store is purchasing impact units from Virtue. We work with our partners to allocate the funds to impact units purchased.

Here is a donations flow chart:

Updated on: 17/12/2025