The PayPal/Venmo feature is an early release feature and is not yet a default for all provisioned instances of Slate. To enable the feature:

1. Select Database on the Slate navigation bar.

2. In the Configurations section, select Configuration Keys.

3. In the Database Configuration section, select Early Access Features.

4. From the list, select PayPal/Venmo.

5. Click Save.

Note: Changes to configuration keys may take up to 15 minutes to appear across all web nodes.

PayPal and Venmo can be enabled as acceptable payment methods in the standard Payment widget used in forms. These types of payment methods can be configured to be the only option in a Payment widget, or they can be configured to work along with Slate Payments.

To accept these types of payments, the institution must have an existing PayPal account, or one must be established during the setup process. The PayPal/Venmo capability can be used with or without using the Slate Payments method. 

Creating a PayPal/Venmo Account

To create a PayPal/Venmo deposit account in Slate and connect it to your institution's PayPal account.

Note: Venmo is owned by PayPal, so your institution only needs one set of account credentials (PayPal).

1. Select Database on the Slate navigation bar and click the Slate Payments Deposit Accounts link in the Configurations section. The Slate Payments Deposit Accounts page appears.

2. Click the  PayPal/Venmo Accounts link on the right side of the page. The Paypal/Venmo Accounts page appears.

3. Click New Account. A Paypal/Venmo Account popup appears.

4. Enter the following information:

• Deposit Account Name: Provide the internal (Slate) name of the account associated with your PayPal account.

• Memo: Provide a description of the account to use as an internal reference,

• Email to use for notifications: Provide the email address of the person or office to receive notifications pertaining to this account.

5. Click  Save.

6. From the Paypal/Venmo Accounts page, click the name of the account just entered. The account popup appears.

7. Click Connect this account to PayPal. The PayPal website opens.

8. Enter your institution's PayPal login credentials or follow the prompts to create a new account.

9. After completing the PayPal connection procedure, return to Slate and click into the PayPal account previously created. The account will be connected with a unique ID.

Once the account is connected to PayPal, the PayPal/Venmo processing options are available in the form payment widget, along with Slate Payments.

Multiple PayPal/Venmo accounts can be created and either associated with their own connected PayPal accounts or with the same connected account. 

Adding PayPal/Venmo to a Form

With the PayPal account connected, PayPal/Venmo can be enabled as a payment processor on any form that uses the embedded payment widget.

1. When editing the form, add the Payment widget and complete the fields as usual in the Edit Field popup.

2. For Embed Payment Form, select Enable Embedded Payment Collection in Form. The available payment methods appear, including Use Slate Payments and Use PayPal/Venmo.

3. Select either or both options as desired.

   If selecting the Use PayPal/Venmo option, also select the appropriate PayPal Account value from the list  (if more than one account has been added) to be used for payments processed on the form. 

Once configured on the payment widget, the PayPal and Venmo buttons automatically appear when the form is rendered.

The User Experience

When a user accesses a form with PayPal/Venmo enabled as payment methods, the option to connect to both platforms appears on the Payment widget.

If the Payment widget includes both Slate Payments and PayPal/Venmo, a tabbed display appears for the user to:

• Enter a credit card

• Enter ACH / Checking details

• Connect to PayPal

• Connect to Venmo (if applicable)

If only the PayPal/Venmo option is selected for the Payment widget (the Slate Payments option is not selected), only the PayPal and Venmo (if applicable) buttons appear for the user.

The user processes the transaction as follows:

1. On the Payment Widget, click PayPal. A popup appears for entering the required PayPal account credentials.

2. Enter PayPal credentials and log in to the PayPal account.

3. Select the PayPal method of payment and click Pay Now. The payment process completes and the Payment Widget appears with a message indicating that the payment has been authorized.

4. Complete and submit the form.

To complete the transaction using Venmo:

1. Open the form on the mobile device (Safari for iOS or Google Chrome for Android).

2. Tap Venmo. The Venmo app opens and applies the payment amount.

3. Finalize the transaction in Venmo and return to the form. A message appears to show that the payment has been authorized. 

4. Submit the form.

Fees

PayPal charges a standard rate of 2.49% + $0.49 for each payment. 

They offer a discounted rate for 501(c)(3) nonprofits of 1.99% + $0.49 for each transaction and have a team that can assist in the onboarding process. To receive the nonprofit rate, institutions must upload their exemption letter to their PayPal account, along with a voided check and/or bank statement. This information can be uploaded using this link. 

Payment Details and Auditing

Like other Slate Payments, the details for PayPal/Venmo transactions can be seen on both an individual record and in the Payment History section of Slate. These transactions are associated with both a Deposit Account and a Payment Account, and they have a payment type of "PayPal."

Because Slate logs the transactions in a similar manner to Slate Payments, these PayPal/Venmo transactions can be queried on, with the results exported to other offices on campus for the purpose of reconciliation. These details are also logged administratively, and will be visible within your PayPal account. 

Unlike Slate Payments, the transfer and settlement of funds is handled entirely out of Slate through your institution's PayPal account. Any configuration on the payout frequency, schedule, or additional questions should be directed to your institution's PayPal representative. 

Additionally, any refunds must be completed through your institutional PayPal account. If a payment is refunded in PayPal, a manual Payment Refunded activity can be added to the record in Slate (as is the case for all other external payment processors).