--- title: How Donation Refunds Work description: Learn how DashPledge donation refunds work, how to request a refund, and how refunds can affect student fundraising progress, campaign totals, transaction history, and payouts. url: "https://dashpledge.com/docs/how-donation-refunds-work/" updated: "2026-08-18" category: "Donations & Donors" --- # How Donation Refunds Work ## Understanding donation refunds If a completed DashPledge donation needs to be refunded, the refund should be handled through the appropriate DashPledge refund process. Do not make another donation, create an offsetting transaction, or attempt to manually change fundraising totals to correct the original payment. Refunds affect the original transaction and can also affect the fundraising progress associated with that donation. ## When might a refund be needed? A refund may be requested or reviewed for reasons such as: - Accidental duplicate donation - Incorrect donation amount - Donation made to the wrong fundraiser - Donation made through the wrong student mini-fundraiser - Donor requests a refund - Payment or transaction issue requiring review Submitting a refund request does not necessarily mean the refund will be completed immediately. The transaction may need to be reviewed first. ## How do I request help with a refund? If you're a donor and believe a completed donation needs to be refunded, contact DashPledge Support or follow the available refund instructions. Provide enough information to identify the donation, such as: - Donor name - Email address used for the donation - Approximate donation date - Donation amount - School or organization - Campaign name - Student fundraiser, if applicable - Reason for the refund request Never send your full card number, card security code, password, or other payment credentials. ## What happens after a refund request? The donation is reviewed to identify the original transaction and determine the appropriate next step. If the refund is approved and processed, the payment processor handles the return of the applicable funds through the original transaction. The time it takes for the refunded amount to appear can depend on the payment processor, card issuer, or financial institution. ## Can organizers issue refunds? Authorized DashPledge administrative or organizer tools may provide refund-management capabilities according to the permissions and refund workflow available for the fundraiser. Organizers should use the provided refund process rather than manually modifying donation records. If you're unsure whether a transaction should be refunded, review the donation before taking action. ## What happens to the campaign total after a refund? When an eligible fundraiser donation is refunded, the fundraising totals should reflect the updated transaction status. The refunded fundraiser amount should no longer be treated as successfully raised funds. This helps keep campaign reporting aligned with actual completed donations. ## What happens to a student’s fundraising total? If the original donation was made through a **student mini-fundraiser**, that donation may have contributed to: - The student's individual fundraising progress - The overall campaign total When that eligible donation is refunded, the associated fundraising progress should be adjusted accordingly. ## What if the donation was made through the main campaign? A refunded donation made through the **main campaign page** affects the overall campaign fundraising total. Because the donation wasn't made through a student mini-fundraiser, there may be no individual student fundraising amount to adjust. ## What happens to achievements after a refund? If a student's fundraising achievement depends on an amount that changes because of a refund, DashPledge may need to recalculate the student's eligible fundraising progress. Achievement behavior depends on the campaign's milestone rules. Do not manually create donations or activity to restore an achievement after a refund. ## What happens to the DashPledge tip? A DashPledge tip is separate from the fundraiser donation. Refund handling for a transaction can depend on the components of the original payment and the applicable refund process. If your refund question specifically involves a DashPledge tip, identify that when requesting assistance so the complete transaction can be reviewed. ## Are payment-processing fees refunded? Payment-processing fee treatment can depend on the payment processor and the circumstances of the transaction. A refund of the donor's payment does not necessarily mean every processing-related fee is returned to the organization or platform. Organizers should review the applicable transaction and payout information when needed. ## How long does a refund take? After a refund is successfully initiated, the time required for the funds to appear back in the donor's account can vary by payment method, payment processor, card issuer, or financial institution. DashPledge cannot control how quickly an individual bank posts a completed refund after it has been processed. ## Will I receive confirmation of the refund? Applicable refund or transaction information may be communicated using the contact information associated with the donation. Keep any refund confirmation for your records. ## What if I don't see the refund yet? First, confirm that the refund was actually processed rather than only requested. If it was processed, allow time for your financial institution to post the returned funds. If an appropriate amount of time has passed and the refund still doesn't appear, contact your financial institution and DashPledge Support as appropriate. ## What if I donated to the wrong student? Do not make another transaction simply to offset the original donation. Contact DashPledge Support and explain: - Which student mini-fundraiser received the donation - Which fundraiser you intended to support - The donation amount - Approximate transaction date The original transaction should be reviewed before deciding whether a refund or another correction is appropriate. ## What if I donated to the main campaign instead of a student? The donation still supports the overall school or organization campaign. However, it may not be associated with an individual student's fundraising progress. If you want the transaction reviewed, contact DashPledge Support rather than automatically requesting a refund and donating again. ## What if I was charged twice? First, verify whether there are actually two completed donations. Check: - Donation confirmation emails - Transaction amounts - Dates - Payment-account activity If duplicate completed transactions exist, contact DashPledge Support so the transactions can be reviewed. ## Can a refunded donation still appear in donation history? Authorized organizer records may retain information about the original donation and its refunded status. This is important for accurate transaction history, reporting, and auditing. A refund should not erase the fact that the original transaction occurred. ## Should a refund be deleted from DashPledge? No. A refunded transaction should generally remain part of the transaction history with the appropriate refunded status. Deleting the record could make fundraising totals, reports, and payment reconciliation inaccurate. ## Refunds and payouts If a donation is refunded, the refund can affect the organization's available or future payout information depending on the timing of the original transaction and refund. Organizers should review the **Payouts** area for applicable payout information. ## What information should I never provide? Never send: - Full payment card number - Card security code - Online banking password - DashPledge password - Stripe password - Other payment credentials DashPledge Support should not need those credentials to identify and review a donation. ## What's next? For related help, see: - **How to Make a Donation on DashPledge** - **What to Do If You Have a Donation Problem** - **How to Find Your Donation Receipt** - **Understanding DashPledge Tips and the 0% Platform Fee** Organizers who need information about how refunds affect their organization's funds can also visit **Payouts & Stripe**.