Understand Pending Authorization on an instant bank gift

This article covers gifts made through GiveCampus. Payment and recurring-gift options depend on the institution and the form.

In the Plaid checkout, bank-instant identifies the bank-linking method; it does not promise an instantly settled gift. A pending bank charge moves the contribution/payment to Pending Authorization. A successful processor charge and the corresponding payment confirmation update eligible records to Authorized. This is a payment-processing state, not an instruction for a school administrator to approve the gift manually.

For a gift that appears stuck, ask support to compare the actual processor charge, stored contribution/payment state and payment confirmation. Do not prescribe microdeposit entry merely because the payment is pending, or ask the donor to pay again without checking the existing transaction. Missing email is not proof that the charge failed; delivery and expected message type must be checked separately. Support must review the specific payment before estimating when its status will change.