Common Questions About Barnstorm

If you do not find the answer you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us for a more personalized and direct answer to your questions or needs.

• What if I have an existing merchant account?

  First, you will have to determine if the merchant account is an eCommerce Merchant account. If you have been accepting transactions online then you have the appropriate merchant account. If you have only been able to accept transactions in person then you will need to setup a merchant account through Barnstorm.

  If you do have a current eCommerce merchant account through FirstData, Chase Paymentech, or Transfirst or have a merchant account through a different provider that is connected to an Authorize.net or BluePay gateway, we will likely be able to integrate our services into your setup. Alternatively, we can setup a new ecommerce merchant account.

  Finally, if you do have an existing eCommerce Merchant account that needs to be connected to one of the gateways above to use our services, we can compare the pricing between connecting your existing account to a gateway and setting up a new eCommerce Merchant account through Barnstorm.

• How do you integrate with our current website?

  Barnstorm site engineers wrap the form with your navigation, your theme and your wording. Using your website as the blueprint, we build a new page that looks professional and is in accordance with your branding. However, we host the page on our secure servers so that supporters can complete transactions worry free and in accordance with Level 1 PCI Security. Integrating the Barnstorm form into the design of your website can increase support by up to 39% over non-branded solutions.

• What is a pledge and how does it compare to a donation?

  This is easier to think about if we consider only time. Both donations and pledges, within Qgiv, deal only with giving. In comparison, a donation is ongoing and a pledge is not. Pledges can be setup by the organization to fund certain projects over a certain amount of time. With donations, the giving is continuous and can be placed anywhere by the organization.

• Do I have to sign a contract with Barnstorm?

  When you sign up with Barnstorm you are doing so month-to-month. With a 96% retention rate, we are confident enough in our service that we do not feel the need to make you sign a contract or worry about early termination fees. Even further, Barnstorm can setup an eCommerce Merchant account that is also month-to-month, giving you complete freedom. If you are not happy with Barnstorm you can cancel our services at any time and you will not be penalized with cancellation fees.

• Can I use Barnstorm for more than just donations?

  Barnstorm is completely open to what your organization needs. Contributions, recurring payments and event registrations are just the beginning. Customizing the contributions or recurring payment options allows your supporters to contribute the way that they would like to. The event system is flexible enough to be used for many things outside of basic registrations. Use the Barnstorm virtual terminal in the office or at an event as an option to accept contributions, sell merchandise, or take payments. The options with Barnstorm are endless if you are creative enough.

• How quickly can we start accepting contributions?

  Typical setup time is 7-10 business days from the date that we receive all required documentation. This process typically includes establishing a merchant account in the campaign or organizations name, creating a donation form that matches the design and branding of your website, and training you on the administrative control panel. Once the account is setup through our online signup system, you can begin configuring the control panel so that everything is ready to go when the account has been fully approved.

• How long does it take for the contributions to be deposited into our bank account?

  Credit/debit card transactions are batched daily and typically deposited into your bank account within 48 hours (American Express has been know to take a bit longer). Echeck transactions can take 4 or more business days.

• Why don't we just use PayPal? Isn't Qgiv the same thing?

  Processing credit/debit cards is the extent of what PayPal and Barnstorm have in common. This is where PayPal stops and Barnstorm starts. Barnstorm’s feature set far outweighs the features of PayPal. Our services are completely tailored to the needs of political organizations, campaigns, and committees with reporting and customization galore. With the seamless integration of the Barnstorm form, donors will feel secure as opposed to being directed to a PayPal page. The Barnstorm form is designed for an easy and intuitive transactions process for everyone. The administrative control panel allows easy customization of almost any aspect of the form. Do not let your support run stagnant, boost support by using Barnstorm. In fact, we have proof! Integrating the Barnstorm form into the design of your website can increase support by up to 39% over non-branded solutions like PayPal.

• What sets Qgiv apart from the competition?

  There are many competitors that provide a service similar to Barnstorm. However, we provide the complete solution to your online contribution and registration needs. Barnstorm leads the industry in user friendliness on the front end contribution form and within the administrative control panel. Not to mention the unmatched level of service we provide to our customers. With a 96% retention rate we know that our service is one of the best available and have a guarantee to back it up. Try Barnstorm for 30 days and see the difference first hand.