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Why Was My Payment Declined?
Liz Myers avatar
Written by Liz Myers
Updated over a month ago

If your payment was declined while trying to complete a transaction with Instant Nonprofit, don’t worry - this can happen for several reasons. Below are common causes and steps you can take to resolve the issue.

1. Common Reasons for Payment Declines

Bank or Card Issuer Declined the Payment

Your bank or credit card provider may have flagged the transaction as unusual, especially if:

  • The charge is larger than your usual spending habits

  • The purchase was attempted from a different location than usual

  • Your card has insufficient funds or has reached its limit

What to do:

  • Contact your bank or card issuer and ask if they blocked the transaction

  • Request that they approve future charges from Instant Nonprofit

  • Try the payment again after confirming with your bank

Security & Fraud Prevention by Your Payment Provider

Banks and payment networks have automated systems that may decline a charge if they suspect fraud, even if you have enough funds.

What to do:

  • Log in to your bank or card provider’s app to check for fraud alerts

  • If you see a flagged transaction, approve it and retry your payment

  • Sometimes, your institution might send you a text, email, or a phone call to verify

Expired, Incorrect, or Restricted Payment Method

Your card may be expired, or the details entered may not match the information your bank has on file.

What to do:

  • Double-check your card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address

  • If using a prepaid or business card, confirm that it allows online payments

  • Try a different payment method

Payment Declined by Stripe (Our Payment Processor)

Stripe, the platform we use to process payments, may decline your payment for risk-related reasons, including:

  • High-risk fraud indicators

  • Payment method restrictions

What to do:

  • Ensure your billing information matches what your bank has on file

  • Try a different payment method

2. How to Fix a Declined Payment

Option 1: Try Again with the Same Payment Method

If your bank or card issuer confirmed there’s no issue, retry your payment.

Option 2: Use a Different Payment Method

  • Try a different debit or credit card

  • If available, use another supported payment method, such as Google Pay

Option 3: Contact Instant Nonprofit Support

If your payment continues to be declined after checking with your bank, reach out to us for assistance.

📧 Email: support@instantnonprofit.com
💬 Live Chat: (bottom right)
📲 Text or Call: 720-740-1360

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