Whether you’re raising funds for a local community programme, an animal shelter, or a nationwide non-profit, building trust with your donors is the cornerstone of any successful crowdfunding campaign. On BackaBuddy, one of the most important ways to establish that trust and ensure your hard-earned funds are paid out without friction is by completing your organisation’s verification process.

If you’ve recently decided to register your organisation on BackaBuddy and are wondering what comes next, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly what documents you need and the steps you must take to get your charity verified.

Why Does Verification Matter?

Before we dive into the steps, it’s helpful to understand why verification is an essential part of the process. BackaBuddy’s dedicated team manually reviews every cause before payouts are processed. This process ensures the integrity of the platform, safeguards donors, and ultimately adds a layer of absolute credibility to your campaign.

When your organisation is verified, this verified status will be displayed on your organisation page, and all future campaigns your organisation creates will automatically carry that verified status. This shows donors that you are a legitimate, vetted entity ready to make an impact.

What Documents Do You Need?

To avoid any delays, it’s best to gather your documentation before you begin. For charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs), BackaBuddy requires a few specific items to confirm your identity and banking details.

Here’s exactly what you need:

• A Valid NPO Certificate: Official proof of your registration as a non-profit, such as such as a CIPC /NGO/NPO certificate.
• For Unregistered Organisations: A copy of your organisation’s constitution drafted and signed by the founder.
• Proof of Identity: A clear copy of the Identity Document, Passport, or Driver’s License of the founder.
• Proof of Bank Account: A Bank Confirmation Letter (ideally dated within the last 3 months) for the account where you want the funds sent.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Verifying Your Organisation

Once you have your documents ready, the actual submission process takes just a few minutes.

Step 1: Log in to your profile:
Head over to BackaBuddy and sign in to the account you used to register your charity.

Step 2: Navigate to your organisation’s profile:
Look at the main menu and click directly on your organisation’s name to open your dashboard.

Step 3: Access the Verification tab:
Within your organisation’s profile, find and click on the “Verification” tab.

Step 4: Upload your documents:
Here, you will be prompted to provide your essential identification and supporting documents (your NPO certificate, ID).

Step 5: Submit your Charity’s banking details:
Fill in your organisation’s bank account details and upload a recent Bank Confirmation Letter. Double-check that all account numbers are typed correctly and that the name on the Bank Confirmation Letter matches your organisation’s name or your founder’s name!

Step 6: Complete the optional questionnaire:
You will see a short, optional survey. Taking a minute to fill this out helps the BackaBuddy team better understand your crowdfunding needs and connect you with more supporters down the line.

Step 7: Save and submit:
Click “Save” to send your details straight to the BackaBuddy vetting team.

Next Steps

Once you hit save, your job is done! The BackaBuddy team will carefully review the documents and banking information you’ve provided.

An important note on timing: You can upload your documents at any point, but the vetting team will typically only review them after your campaign has received its first donation. Because banking verification is processed through their partner banks, you should allow 3 to 5 working days for your campaign to reflect as officially verified once the review begins.

If the team needs any additional information or references to validate your campaign, they will reach out to you directly.

Ready to Start Fundraising?

With the administrative side sorted, you can focus on what really matters: telling your story and rallying your community. 

If you need inspiration, practical tips, or want to learn from other successful campaigns, be sure to explore BackaBuddy’s Blog, The Giving Lab. From crafting the perfect campaign story to mastering social media promotion, it’s packed with free resources designed to help your charity thrive.