What is a chargeback?

A chargeback happens when someone contacts their bank to dispute a charge — claiming it was unauthorized or unexpected — and the bank reverses the payment. The money is pulled back from your account, and the processor typically charges a dispute fee on top.

Chargebacks are handled by your payment processor, not your fundraising tool. Stripe manages the dispute process, lets you submit evidence, and applies its own dispute fee per its terms.

For donations, chargebacks are usually rare, but clear naming on the donor's card statement and a recognizable donation page help avoid the "I don't recognize this charge" disputes. Keeping the ask on your own branded site can reduce that confusion.