PayPal to eTapestry: How to Integrate Other Payment Processors

  • February 2, 2017
  • Sidekick Solutions
Category: API and Integration

PayPal™ is a cornerstone payment processor for most nonprofits. PayPal is easy to use and a known commodity to donors that give online, so even if you deploy Blackbaud® eTapestry® DIY forms and Blackbaud Merchant Services, chances are good that PayPal is a part of your payment processor portfolio.

If you use PayPal and eTapestry, you are probably wondering how you can make the two work together so that transactions processed in PayPal seamlessly transfer to your eTapestry database.

Let’s explore your three options for integrating PayPal and eTapestry.

  • 1. Manually enter PayPal transactions into eTapestry

    You might not consider manual data entry an integration, but technically it is a viable integration between PayPal and eTapestry.  Unfortunately, most organizations manually enter transactions processed by PayPal into eTapestry.

    It goes without saying, but manual data entry in eTapestry is a major drain on time.

    Steps to integrate PayPal with eTapestry

    1. Export transactions processed in a date range from PayPal
    2. Enter each account and transaction in the report into eTapestry

    Advantages:

    • Low cost, except for your time
    • Setup requires no additional infrastructure or technology

    Disadvantages:

    • Time consuming to enter each transaction one at a time
    • Requires consistent data entry on a recurring schedule to keep systems in sync
    • Potential for data entry or translation error

  • 2. Import PayPal transactions into eTapestry

    The alternative to manual data entry is to import transactions processed by PayPal into eTapestry. Imports beat manual data entry when dealing with a large volume of processed transactions from PayPal.

    Steps to integrate PayPal with eTapestry

    1. Export transactions processed in a date range from PayPal
    2. Create an eTapestry import template for accounts in a blank Excel file
    3. Create an eTapestry import template for accounts and transactions in a blank Excel file
    4. Copy and paste PayPal data into the eTapestry accounts-only import template
    5. Copy and paste PayPal data into the eTapestry account and transaction import template
    6. Import the accounts-only import file (important for this to be the first import)
    7. Import the accounts and transactions import file

    Advantages:

    • Low cost, except your time
    • Lower time commitment than manual data entry (when transaction volume is high)
    • Setup requires no additional infrastructure or technology

    Disadvantages:

    • Still requires an investment of manual effort and time
    • Requires consistent imports on a recurring schedule to keep systems in sync
    • Potential for data entry or translation error (although less likely than manual data entry)

  • 3. eTapestry PayPal integration

    Integration is the final, least intensive, and best way to transfer transactions processed by PayPal into eTapestry.

    An integration automatically transfers data from PayPal to eTapestry so you never touch the data. An automatic integration reduces data entry error and eliminates data entry completely.

    We’ve developed an integration between PayPal and eTapestry.

    With our integration, eTapestry users can seamlessly transfer transactions from PayPal to eTapestry.

    The integration is completely hands-free, requires no manual interface, and submits new data in real time. As you process new transactions in PayPal, new accounts and gifts are added to eTapestry (including recurring gifts).

    Benefits

    • No more manual data entry in multiple systems (or imports)
    • Real time sync of your data
    • Reduce potential for data entry error
    • No more waiting to send acknowledgements
    • No more random spreadsheets for imports

Ready to integrate eTapestry and PayPal? It is easy to get started. We take care of setup, hosting, and maintenance. Contact us to set up your integration.

PayPal payment processing for eTapestry 

PayPal is a common payment processor for most nonprofit organizations. In some cases, PayPal is preferred over the eTapestry DIY forms because of its ease of use and low transaction fees. But the time it takes to enter transactions from PayPal to eTapestry can be a major drain on time and staff energy.  Integrations are the best hope to reduce data entry time.

Integrations are complex, so contact us if you aren’t sure where to get started. We can help you to reduce or eliminate duplicate, double data entry so you can get back to more important tasks on your to-do list.

Note: The processes outlined in this post are the same should you choose to use other payment processors like Stripe, Chargify, or your bank.  We have eTapestry integrations for most common payment processors, so get in touch if you want to review your integration options.

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