How to Configure Campaign Gateway Settings
Overview
Campaign Gateway Settings let you control how donors can pay on your campaign for each configured currency and gateway. This includes enabling or disabling payment types such as single payments, recurring donations, and installments, as well as setting the default and maximum number of months for recurring and installment plans.
Who Can Use This?
This feature is available to users with the Client Admin role only.
Before You Begin
At least one payment gateway has been configured for a currency in your campaign’s Checkout tab (see: Setting Up Campaign Payments & Checkout)
You know which payment types you want to offer donors: single payment, recurring, and/or installments
Step-by-Step Guide
To access Campaign Gateway Settings:
1. Log in to your CauseMatch Dashboard
2. Navigate to Campaigns and open your campaign
3. Click the Checkout tab
4. In the Payment Gateways section, locate the currency and gateway entry you want to configure
5. Click the Settings (⚙) icon next to the entry
The Campaign Gateway Settings dialog will open for the selected currency.
Payment Options
This section controls which payment types donors can choose from at checkout. The options available depend on what the selected gateway supports.
Enable the payment types you want to offer by checking the relevant boxes:
Single Payment: donor makes a one-time donation
Recurring: donor’s card is charged monthly for a set number of months (shown only if the gateway supports recurring payments)
Allow recurring without limit of months: donor commits to an open-ended monthly donation with no set end date (shown only if the gateway supports unlimited recurring but not fixed-month recurring)
Installments: the total donation amount is split across a set number of monthly payments (shown only if the gateway supports installments)
The payment options shown depend on the configured gateway. Not all gateways support all payment types.
Recurring Settings
This section appears when Recurring is enabled. Configure how recurring donations work for donors on this campaign.
Maximum months: the highest number of months a donor can select for their fixed-term recurring donation
Default months: the number of months pre-selected for donors at checkout
Allow recurring without limit of months: when enabled, this overrides the fixed-month configuration above. Donors will only see the open-ended recurring option at checkout and will not be presented with a month selector
Tip: Setting a sensible default (e.g. 12 months) nudges donors toward a longer commitment without forcing it.Installments Settings
This section appears when Installments is enabled. It works the same way as Recurring Settings but applies to installment plans.
Maximum months: the highest number of installment months available
Default months: the number of installments pre-selected for donors at checkout
Description on Donor’s Statement (CMPay only)
If your campaign uses CMPay as the payment gateway, you can set how your organization’s name appears on the donor’s bank or credit card statement.
Enter a custom label in the Description on Donor’s Statement field, which is limited to 11 characters due to credit card issuer restrictions
A live preview shows exactly how the full statement descriptor will appear to the donor
This field is limited to 11 characters. The limit is imposed by credit card issuers and cannot be changed.
Click Save when done. The dialog will close, and your settings will be applied to the campaign.
Tips & Best Practices
Enable Single Payment at minimum. Always keep Single Payment enabled so donors can complete a one-time gift even if they don’t want a recurring plan.
Set a realistic recurring default. A default of 3–6 months is a good starting point for most campaigns. Donors can always adjust it.
Match installment defaults to your campaign timeline. If your campaign runs for 6 months, a 6-month installment default makes sense. Longer defaults can feel unexpected for donors.
Use the CMPay statement descriptor carefully. 11 characters is short. Prioritize your organization’s recognizable name or abbreviation so donors can identify the charge on their statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why don’t I see Recurring or Installments options in the Payment Options section? A: The payment types shown depend on which gateway is configured for that currency. Not all gateways support recurring or installment payments. If you need these options and they’re not showing, contact CauseMatch support to check whether a different gateway can be configured for your account.
Q: Can I set different recurring settings for different currencies? A: Yes. Campaign Gateway Settings are configured per currency and gateway. Open the Settings icon for each currency entry separately to configure its payment options.
Q: What’s the difference between Recurring and Installments? A: Recurring means the donor commits to donating the same amount every month for a set number of months; each month is a new full donation. For example, a $100 recurring donation over 12 months means $100 is charged each month, totalling $1,200. Installments means a single donation amount is split and charged in equal parts over multiple months; the total is fixed from the start. For example, a $1,200 installment donation over 12 months means $100 is charged each month, but the donor has committed to a total gift of $1,200.
Q: What happens if I change the recurring maximum months after the campaign is live? A: Changes to payment options will take effect immediately for new donations. Existing recurring donors are not affected; their commitments continue under the terms set when they donated.
Q: Can donors choose how many months to pay? A: Yes, as long as the number they choose is within the maximum months you set. The default is pre-selected for them but they can change it at checkout.
Related Articles
Configuring Payment Gateways (Client Admin)