PAYPAL FAQs

WHY DID BTOA ADD ONLINE DONATIONS?

We felt that during these times of virtual Dharma services, we could reach more people by offering a safe online donation option as a convenience. There was positive feedback accepting credit cards at our Bazaar, Obon Festival and special events at the temple and thought we would try it on our website.

WHAT IS PAYPAL AND IS IT SAFE?

PayPal is a company that provides a financial service for online payments. When a donation is made online, PayPal then sends the money electronically to BTOA’s bank account. PayPal is one of the leaders in providing secure online transaction services. It is a reputable organization, has a proven track record and offers a reduced service fee to non-profit organizations, like BTOA.
PayPal uses industry-standard security processes that you would expect any large financial institution to use. PayPal’s website is secure and the company uses encryption to a high standard. BTOA never sees credit card information whether the donation is made using a personal credit card or through a PayPal account.

DO I NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO MAKE A DONATION?

No, you do not need a PayPal account to make a donation. Online donations can be made using a personal credit or debit card. All major credit cards are accepted: VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. And, you can use a debit card if you prefer. Those that have a PayPal account may use their account to make a donation.

CAN I CONTINUE TO MAKE A DONATION WITH A CHECK?

Yes, check donations are still our preferred method. Please continue to write checks payable to Buddhist Temple of Alameda and mail them to BTOA at 2325 Pacific Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501. Online donations are an option for those who prefer using a credit/debit card; BTOA is charged a small service fee for the processing. For all donations, the temple is grateful for your generous dana.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF BTOA RECEIVED MY DONATION?

PayPal provides a list of donors who donated online to BTOA. We continue to publish a list of donors and the donations received in our newsletter, Upaya.

HOW QUICKLY DOES BTOA RECEIVE THE DONATION?

Once a donation is submitted, PayPal accepts the donation and then transfers the money less a small service fee to the BTOA bank account within 1-2 business days.

CAN I MAKE AN AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DONATION TO BTOA?

On the PayPal donation page, click the box for “Make this a monthly donation”. It is located under the “(Optional) Use this donation for”. By clicking this box, your donation will be automatically repeated each month and your PayPal account or credit card will be debited each month.

MORE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Please contact our Treasurer, Tom Hashimoto at Thomas.hashimoto@gmail.com.