Unlock Recurring Giving with Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS)

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Jason Durocher
Jason Durocher
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in Blackbaud Luminate Online® Blog
Enhance your nonprofit's fundraising with Canadian Direct Debit in Luminate Online and TeamRaiser. Secure, recurring donations with lower transaction costs.Recurring giving serves as the backbone of sustainable fundraising. Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS), a trusted and widely-used payment system, now seamlessly integrates with Luminate Online and TeamRaiser. This integration enables your organization to offer a secure, straightforward, and reliable payment option, perfectly suited for fostering enduring donor relationships and driving meaningful, long-term impact.



Why It Matters

Lower Fees. Stronger Retention. More Mission Impact.

Fewer Fees, More Impact

Compared to credit cards, everyone knows that direct debit comes with significantly lower transaction fees—1% per donation. That’s a big difference when credit card fees can climb as high as 3.5%. Over time, this translates into more money going to your mission—not to the banks.

More Reliable Recurring Giving

Credit cards expire, get lost, are replaced frequently, and are more susceptible to fraud. These factors lead to failed recurring gifts, missed revenue, and frustrated donors. Direct debit, on the other hand, is tied directly to a donor’s bank account, rarely changes, and provides enhanced security—resulting in far fewer payment disruptions and a more reliable stream of income.

Boost Donor Retention

When donors don’t have to worry about updating payment info, they’re more likely to stick with your organization longer. Direct debit supports uninterrupted, long-term giving—which helps build stronger donor relationships and boosts lifetime value.

Less Admin Overhead

Fewer failed payments and fewer chargebacks means less manual work for your finance team. Direct debit makes reconciliation easier, freeing up your staff to focus on high-impact activities.

What Is Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS)?

Canadian Direct Debit, also known as Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD), lets organizations securely withdraw funds directly from a donor’s bank account—with their permission. For nonprofits, it’s a reliable, low-cost way to receive recurring donations. For donors, it’s a familiar and convenient way to give, without relying on credit cards.



This payment method runs through the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS), Canada’s primary system for moving money between banks. Managed by Payments Canada, ACSS processes billions of dollars in electronic payments every day—everything from payroll deposits to charitable donations.



By offering Direct Debit, your nonprofit can tap into a trusted Canadian payment method that works across all major financial institutions—including RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC.



It provides great flexibility and choice for your donors—meeting them where they are and with the payment methods they trust, making recurring giving easier for everyone.

Seamless Compatibility with Canada’s Leading Financial Institutions

One of the biggest advantages of offering Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS) is its broad compatibility across virtually every major financial institution in Canada. Because ACSS is a core part of Payments Canada’s payment infrastructure, it ensures that donors can contribute using their everyday banking provider—quickly, securely, and with confidence.

A Familiar and Trusted Payment Method

For many Canadians, direct debit is already a part of everyday life—used to pay mortgages, utility bills, gym memberships, and more. By offering this payment option for donations, your organization becomes part of a trusted financial routine, helping reduce friction and increase the likelihood of successful, recurring gifts.



Offering ACSS means meeting donors where they are—at their bank of choice—with a method they already know and trust.

Supported by the Country’s Largest Banks

ACSS transactions are supported by all of Canada’s “Big Five” banks: It’s also compatible with other major institutions and credit unions including:

How It Works: Direct Debit in Luminate Online and TeamRaiser

Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS) is now available in Luminate Online and TeamRaiser—and in many cases, it’s already enabled for your organization.

Getting Started Is Easy

If your donation forms already use Blackbaud Checkout with PCI v4.0 compliance, Canadian Direct Debit is now available—no extra setup required.



Donors will see “Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD)” as a payment option, making it simple to support your mission using the financial tools they already use every day.



Here’s how to ensure you’re ready to start accepting Direct Debit donations:
  1. Confirm Your Payments Setup

    Verify that your Blackbaud Integrated Payments (BBIP) account (formerly BBMS) is configured to process CAD transactions.
  2. Check Donation Form Settings

    In your Luminate Online admin panel, confirm that Direct Debit (Canada) is selected as a payment option in your donation form’s payment settings.
  3. For TeamRaiser Users

    Ensure your event’s donation flow includes Direct Debit. If you’re using a legacy Participant Center, an upgrade may be required to support this payment method.
  4. Test and Launch

    Run a test transaction to confirm everything is working correctly—and you’re good to go.

Conclusion: Start Accepting Canadian Direct Debit Today

Canadian Direct Debit (ACSS) is now available in Luminate Online and TeamRaiser—giving your organization a cost-effective, secure, and donor-friendly way to process recurring and one-time gifts. This payment method is especially valuable for engaging Canadian supporters who prefer giving directly from their bank accounts.



By offering Direct Debit, you can reduce payment processing costs, improve donor retention, and provide a familiar and trusted experience backed by Canada’s top financial institutions.

Helpful Resources to Get Started

Need help? Check the links above or connect with your team’s admin resources to confirm your donation forms are ready to support Direct Debit. If you need additional support, your Customer Success team is always here to assist.

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