PayPal and Non Profit

vinsnash

Can anyone offer any insight to using PayPal in a non profit environment?

Vins Nash

tford

Did you Google it? What does this have to do with AwareIM?

vinsnash

I was hoping there was an AwareIM nonprofit client using the AwareIM PayPal interface that could share some insight as to how that was working as far as reconciling the PayPal transactions, transfer from PayPal to bank, and payments applied to member records using an AwareIM application. It would be nice to know any unforeseen considerations that have to be addressed prior to playing with real money.

The "Library" sample looks simple and straightforward but I've learned not to take anything for granted. No doubt there are quirks that will occur. If someone "has been there and done that" and can provide a few things to look out for, so much the better.

Vins Nash

rocketman

Hi Vins,

The Library sample is as easy as it looks Also - although I'm only just about to start playing around with it myself so can't offer any insights, If you Google "PayPal SOAP" there does seem to a very useable interface that would enable account checking and reconcilliation within an AwareIM app.

Will bookmark this thread and let you know how I get on.

The one criticism of the library app is that if a payer fails to click the "Return to website" button after completing the payment on the PayPal site (and they often don't) , the transaction doesn't get completed in Aware and the transaction is left in an unverified state.

I wonder if anyone has done anything with PayPal IPN (Instant Payment Notifcation) that they'd like to share here?

vinsnash

Thanks for the response. We're moving ahead slowly. Our application will differ in that individuals won't be enrolling and paying. Our unit commanding officers or administrative officers will do all enrolling and and paying. That considerably lessens the numbers needing training.

I was under the impression that PayPal returned automatically to the supplied URL. Having cash show up in the bank without having been applied to memberships will be a problem.

rocketman

If you look at teh library app, you'll see that the Paypal routine is called from a process so I guess Aware is sending the url to PayPal from within the rule engine. The user has to return so that the rest of the process can complete and mark the transaction as verified.

Have you signed up for the PayPal developer sandbox area. Here you can test to your hearts content using dummy accounts - no real money is needed in this area.

vinsnash

I didn't even notice a "sandbox" area. Thanks for the tip.

Vins Nash

rocketman

Just make sure you DO set up dummy accounts and not use real ones otherwise real money WILL change hands.

Have fun .... good luck

vinsnash

rocketman,

I've signed up for the sandbox testing site. Now the questions is can I just substitute the Library URL "https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" with "https://www.sandbox.paypal/cgi-bin/webscr" after I've set up dummy accounts? Can't be that simple, right?

Vins

rocketman

yes it can