Help Center

4Planet connects verified product purchases to real conservation projects around the world.

Here's how to get started:

1. Verify a product — Tap an NFC tag or scan a QR code on any 4Planet-partner product. No account needed to try. Go to Verify on the main menu or visit /verify.

1. Create a free account — Sign up to save your verifications, receive tax receipts, and track your cumulative impact over time. Go to Sign Up at the top of any page.

1. Set your impact preferences — After signing in, go to Dashboard → Wallet to choose which charities receive your support and in what proportions.

1. Explore missions — Browse active conservation projects at /missions. Each mission shows real-time funded progress, verified impact metrics, and the charity behind it.

That's it. Every verified purchase now automatically funds conservation. You'll see your impact grow in your dashboard.

Creating an account

Visit /auth/sign-up and enter your email address and a strong password. We'll send you a verification email — click the link to activate your account.

You can also sign up as a Partner or Charity Manager during the onboarding process. Choose "Join as Partner" or "Join as Charity" on the sign-up page.

Signing in

Go to /auth/login and enter your email and password. If you've enabled MFA, you'll be prompted for your authenticator code.

Forgot your password?

Click "Forgot password?" on the login page. We'll email you a reset link valid for 15 minutes.

Updating your profile

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Profile to update your name, email, or notification preferences.

Deleting your account

Contact support@4planet.io to request account deletion. We'll process it within 30 days in compliance with privacy regulations.

Your dashboard is your home base on 4Planet. Here's what each section does:

Impact — Your cumulative impact across all verified purchases: total donated, number of verifications, charities supported, and your current badge tier.

Wallet — Set and adjust your allocation preferences. Choose which charities receive your support and at what percentages (must total 100%).

History — A full log of every product you've verified, with timestamps, donation amounts, and which charities benefited.

Receipts — Download CRA-compliant tax receipts for all your verified donations. Receipts are usually ready within 24 hours.

Settings — Update your profile, change your password, configure MFA, and manage notification preferences.

For Partners: Your dashboard also includes Campaigns, Integrations, Settle, and Statements sections.

For Charities: Your dashboard includes Missions, Donations Received, Withdrawals, Tax Receipts, and Team sections.

Passwords

Use a unique, strong password for your 4Planet account (12+ characters, mix of letters, numbers, symbols). Never reuse passwords from other services.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

We strongly recommend enabling MFA for all accounts — it's required for Partner and Charity accounts that can initiate fund movements.

To enable MFA: Dashboard → Settings → Security → Enable MFA. Use any TOTP app (Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password).

Save your recovery codes when you enroll. These are the only way to regain access if you lose your device.

Separate accounts for each team member

Never share login credentials. Each person on your team should have their own account. Invite team members from Dashboard → Settings → Team.

If you lose access

1. Try the "Forgot password?" flow on the login page.
2. If you've lost your MFA device and recovery codes, contact support@4planet.io. We'll verify your identity before restoring access.

Suspicious activity

If you notice unrecognized logins or activity, immediately change your password and contact support@4planet.io.

What data we collect

• Account info: email, name, and optional profile details you provide.
• Verification events: product scanned, timestamp, location (city-level only, if permitted), donation amount.
• Payment info: we do not store card numbers. All payments are processed directly by Stripe.

How we use your data

• To track your cumulative impact and generate tax receipts.
• To generate anonymized, aggregated impact reports for missions and charities.
• We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

Your rights (PIPEDA / GDPR)

• Access: Request a copy of all your personal data by emailing privacy@4planet.io.
• Correction: Update your profile at Dashboard → Settings → Profile.
• Deletion: Email privacy@4planet.io to request account deletion.
• Portability: You can export your verification history as CSV from Dashboard → History → Export.

Cookie & tracking policy

We use essential cookies for authentication and optional analytics cookies (you can decline these on first visit). We do not use advertising trackers.

Full details in our Privacy Policy at /privacy.

How 4Planet handles money

4Planet is powered by Stripe Connect. This means donations flow directly from partners to charities — 4Planet never holds, pools, or has access to your funds. We are a platform facilitator, not a money transmitter.

For Supporters

When you verify a product, the partner's donation is allocated according to your preferences in the Wallet section. You choose which charities receive support and at what percentages. This allocation is tracked automatically with each verified purchase.

You don't hold a cash balance — allocations are recorded in our system and transferred directly from the partner to the charity when the partner settles via Stripe.

For Partners

Your Shopify store (or other connected source) generates allocations tracked in your partner dashboard. Campaigns automatically calculate how much is owed to each charity based on verified sales. When you're ready to settle, you initiate a Stripe payment directly to each charity's connected account.

Only KYC-verified partners can initiate settlements. Complete your verification to unlock this feature.

For Charities

Funds arrive directly in your charity's connected Stripe account after a partner settles. You manage payouts to your bank account from within Stripe — 4Planet doesn't intermediate your withdrawals.

Why Stripe Connect?

Stripe Connect is the industry-standard approach for marketplace payments. Using it means 4Planet never touches your funds — every payment goes partner → charity directly via Stripe's regulated infrastructure. This protects both parties and keeps 4Planet legally clean as a platform, not a bank.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Yes — if the receiving charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). All charities on 4Planet go through a verification process, and only registered charities can issue CRA-compliant receipts.

When does my receipt arrive?

Tax receipts are usually generated within 24 hours of a verified purchase. The charity's authorized signing officer must e-sign the receipt batch before receipts are sent. This typically happens weekly.

Where do I find my receipts?

Dashboard → Receipts. All your receipts are listed here, sortable by date, charity, or amount. Click "Download PDF" to save any receipt.

We also email your receipt to the address on your account. Check your spam folder if you don't see it.

What's on the receipt?

• Your name and address (from your profile)
• Charity name, registration number, and address
• Date of donation
• Donation amount
• Unique receipt number (for CRA records)

What about transfer receipts (for Partners)?

Transfer receipts are informational documents showing fund movements from partner wallets to charity wallets. They are not tax receipts. Supporters and donors receive the tax receipts issued by the charities.

Missing a receipt?

If a receipt is more than 72 hours overdue, email support@4planet.io with your transaction reference. We'll investigate.

Can't log in

• Check your email is correct (no typos or extra spaces).
• Use "Forgot password?" to reset if needed.
• If you have MFA enabled and lost your device, contact support@4planet.io.
• Clear browser cache/cookies and try again.

Verification not registering

• Ensure NFC is enabled on your phone (Settings → Connections → NFC).
• For QR codes: allow camera access in browser settings.
• Try tapping the NFC area of the tag (usually the center or back of the product).
• If scanning repeatedly fails, visit /verify and enter the product code manually.

Missing donation after verifying

• Donations appear after the partner settles funds — this may take up to 7 business days.
• Pending allocations show in Dashboard → Wallet as "Pending Settlement."
• If no allocation appears after 7 days, contact support@4planet.io.

Receipt not arriving

• Check your spam/junk folder.
• Verify your email address is correct in Dashboard → Settings → Profile.
• Receipts require the charity's e-signature, which happens weekly. Wait 5–7 business days after the verification date.

Page loading slowly or not loading

• Try refreshing (Ctrl/Cmd + R).
• Check /status for any active incidents.
• Try a different browser or disable browser extensions.

Error codes

• 401: You're not logged in. Sign in and try again.
• 403: You don't have permission. Contact your account admin.
• 429: Too many requests. Wait a minute and try again.
• 500: Our server had an error. Check /status — we're likely already investigating.

For anything else, email support@4planet.io with a screenshot.

Verifying a product proves it's part of an authentic 4Planet campaign and triggers a donation to conservation.

Method 1: NFC tap

Hold your phone near the NFC tag on the product (usually on the label, back, or packaging). Your phone should prompt you to open the verification link. Tap it to complete verification.

NFC must be enabled on your device: Settings → Connections → NFC (Android) or Settings → Preferences → NFC (iOS 13+).

Method 2: QR code scan

Open your camera app (or a QR scanner) and point it at the QR code on the product. Tap the link that appears.

Method 3: Manual entry

Visit /verify on any browser. Enter the 12-digit product code printed on the product's label.

Do I need an account?

No — you can verify without an account. However, only signed-in users can: - Save their verification history - Set allocation preferences - Receive tax receipts - Earn impact badges

How many times can I verify the same product?

Each unique product code can be verified once per account. Scanning the same code again won't generate additional donations.

Can I verify products from non-partner brands?

No. Only products with authentic 4Planet NFC tags or QR codes from verified partner brands count. Counterfeits or unofficial codes will show an error.

Here's what happens behind the scenes when you verify a product:

1. Verification confirmed — Your tap or scan is authenticated. The product's campaign is identified and a donation amount is calculated based on campaign rules.

1. Allocation created — The donation is allocated to charities according to your impact preferences (or the campaign's default split if you haven't set preferences).

1. Allocation recorded — The transaction is tracked in your dashboard. No funds move yet — partners initiate settlement periodically via Stripe.

1. Partner initiates settlement — The partner manually settles their accumulated allocations. 4Planet never triggers this automatically — it's always partner-initiated for compliance reasons.

1. Funds reach the charity — After settlement, funds appear in the charity's wallet. The charity can then request a withdrawal to their bank account.

1. Tax receipt issued — The charity's authorized officer e-signs the receipt batch. You receive a CRA-compliant tax receipt by email within 5–7 business days.

How long does this take?

• Allocation: instant
• Settlement: up to 7 business days (depends on the partner)
• Withdrawal to charity bank: 5–7 business days
• Tax receipt: 5–7 business days after settlement

You can track your pending allocations in Dashboard → Wallet at any time.

Your allocation preferences control where donations go when you verify a product.

How to set preferences

1. Sign in to your account.
2. Go to Dashboard → Wallet.
3. Click "Add Charity" to search for and add charities you want to support.
4. Set a percentage for each charity. The total must equal 100%.
5. Click "Save Preferences."

What if I don't set preferences?

If you haven't set allocation preferences, donations follow the campaign's default charity split defined by the partner. You can check this on any product verification page before completing verification.

Can I change my preferences anytime?

Yes — update them anytime from Dashboard → Wallet. Changes apply to future verifications only. Past allocations can't be changed after settlement.

How many charities can I support?

There's no limit. You can split your donations across as many 4Planet-verified charities as you like, as long as the percentages total 100%.

Can a partner override my preferences?

Some campaign products are locked to specific charities (e.g., a campaign specifically for ocean cleanup). In these cases, the campaign's allocation takes priority and your preferences don't apply. This is disclosed on the product verification page.

Every verification you make is saved to your account history.

Viewing your history

Dashboard → History shows every product you've verified, including: - Product name and brand - Date and time of verification - Donation amount - Charities that benefited - Settlement status (pending / settled)

Filtering your history

Use the date range picker and status filter to find specific verifications. You can filter by charity, brand, or amount range.

Exporting your history

Click "Export CSV" from Dashboard → History to download a spreadsheet of all your verifications. This is useful for personal financial records or tax preparation.

Why does my history show "Pending Settlement"?

The partner hasn't settled yet. Settlement happens when the partner manually initiates a transfer — this can take up to 7 business days. Pending allocations will convert to settled once the partner acts.

Annual impact summary

Every January, we send you an annual impact summary: total donated, charities supported, CO₂ offset equivalent, and other impact metrics. Think of it as your "Spotify Wrapped" for the planet.

4Planet recognizes your growing impact through a badge system that celebrates your contribution to conservation.

The three tiers

• 🌱 Changemaker — You've made your first verified purchase and started your conservation journey.
• 🌿 Guardian — You've verified 10+ products and consistently supported conservation across multiple brands.
• 🌳 Champion — You've verified 50+ products and made a significant, sustained contribution to conservation missions.

How badges are earned

Badges are based on your total verified purchase count — not dollar amount. This means every verification matters equally, regardless of price.

Where badges appear

Your current badge tier is displayed on your dashboard and on your public impact profile (if you've made it public). It may also be displayed on partner product pages when you're signed in.

Coming soon

Future badge milestones include mission-specific badges (e.g., "Ocean Defender" for verifying ocean-impact products) and co-branded badges from partner brands.

Greenwashing — companies claiming environmental impact without proof — is a widespread problem. 4Planet is designed from the ground up to make it impossible.

How we prevent greenwashing

1. Product-level verification — Every donation is tied to a specific, physically verified product. You tapped the actual item. There's no way to claim impact for products that weren't sold.

1. Stripe-powered, not promises — Settlements flow directly from partner to charity via Stripe Connect. Funds can only be directed to verified, KYC-approved charity Stripe accounts — never back to the partner.

1. Real-time fund tracking — Every allocation, settlement, and withdrawal is recorded on an immutable ledger. Charities, regulators, and 4Planet's compliance team can audit fund flows at any time.

1. Third-party verified charities — Only CRA-registered (or equivalent) charities can receive funds. We verify registration documents, tax IDs, and banking details before onboarding.

1. Partner-initiated settlement (the legal firewall) — Partners must manually settle funds. If a partner delays or defaults, their account is suspended and funds remain earmarked for the charities — they cannot be reclaimed by the partner.

1. Published impact metrics — Every mission has impact metrics verified by the charity (e.g., "$10 = 1 coral replanted"). We cross-reference these against CRA-filed annual reports.

What if I suspect a brand is misusing 4Planet?

Report it to compliance@4planet.io. We investigate all reports within 48 hours.

4Planet partners are brands that embed verified conservation giving into their products and checkout.

Who can become a partner?

Any registered business that sells physical products and wants to authentically link their sales to verified conservation impact.

How to apply

1. Visit /partners and click "Apply Now."
2. Complete the application form: business name, website, product categories, and a brief description of your impact goals.
3. Our team reviews your application within 1–3 business days.
4. You'll receive an approval email with onboarding instructions.

What happens after approval?

You'll be invited to create a Partner Dashboard account. From there you'll complete onboarding: - Business verification (KYC documents) - Payment integration (connect Shopify or other platform) - Create your first campaign

Free trial

All partners start on the Base plan. Upgrade to Enterprise anytime from Dashboard → Billing.

Can I integrate without Shopify?

Yes. We support WooCommerce, custom integrations via REST API, and manual entry for offline sales. Contact support@4planet.io for integration help.

4Planet offers two partner plans. You can upgrade anytime.

Overage charges

If you exceed your monthly transaction limit, additional transactions are billed at $0.15 each. You'll receive an email alert at 80% of your limit.

Annual billing

Save 20% by switching to annual billing (Dashboard → Billing → Switch to Annual).

Cancellation

Cancel anytime from Dashboard → Billing. Your plan continues until the end of the billing period. Settled funds and receipts are always accessible even after cancellation.

Partner verification (Know Your Customer / KYC) is required before you can settle funds to charities. This is a regulatory requirement, not a discretionary policy.

Why is KYC required?

4Planet facilitates fund flows between businesses and registered charities via Stripe Connect. To comply with anti-money-laundering (AML) regulations and Stripe's Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, all partners must verify their identity before initiating settlements.

What documents are needed?

• Business registration number (e.g., CRA Business Number, provincial registration)
• Tax ID (GST/HST number for Canadian businesses)
• Business address (registered mailing address)
• Authorized representative's government-issued ID (passport or driver's license)

How to submit

1. Dashboard → Verification → Start Verification.
2. Upload the required documents.
3. Our team reviews within 1–3 business days.

What is "Restricted Mode"?

Before KYC approval, your account is in Restricted Mode. You can create campaigns, collect allocations, and use the dashboard — but you cannot settle funds. The restricted mode banner in your dashboard will guide you.

Re-verification

If your business information changes significantly (new owners, address change, restructuring), contact support@4planet.io to update your verification.

Partner accounts support multiple team members with different permission levels.

Roles

• Owner — Full access including billing, KYC, and settlement initiation. One per account.
• Admin — All features except billing and account deletion. Can invite/remove members.
• Member — Can create campaigns, view reports, and fund campaigns. Cannot settle or access billing.
• Viewer — Read-only access to dashboard, campaigns, and reports.

Inviting team members

1. Dashboard → Settings → Team → Invite Member.
2. Enter their email address and select their role.
3. They'll receive an invitation email. They must accept within 7 days.
4. If they don't have a 4Planet account, they'll be prompted to create one.

Changing roles

Owners and Admins can change any team member's role from Dashboard → Settings → Team.

Removing a member

Click the three-dot menu next to any team member and select "Remove." Their access is revoked immediately.

Audit log

All significant actions (settlements, KYC submissions, campaign changes) are logged in Dashboard → Audit Log. Available on Starter and above.

Prerequisites

• You need a Shopify store (Basic plan or above).
• Your 4Planet partner account must be created (free tier is fine for setup).

Step 1: Connect your store

1. Dashboard → Integrations → Add Integration → Shopify.
2. Enter your Shopify store URL (e.g., yourstore.myshopify.com).
3. Click "Connect." You'll be redirected to Shopify to authorize the 4Planet app.
4. Review the permissions and click "Install App."
5. You'll be redirected back to your 4Planet dashboard. The integration status should show "Connected."

Step 2: Test the connection

Go to Dashboard → Integrations → Shopify → Test Connection. This verifies that orders can flow from Shopify to 4Planet.

Step 3: Map products to campaigns

1. Dashboard → Campaigns → [your campaign] → Linked Products.
2. Click "Add Products" and search for products in your Shopify catalog.
3. Select the products to link. Orders containing these products will now generate campaign allocations.

Step 4: Place a test order

Place a small test order in your Shopify store and verify that an allocation appears in Dashboard → Wallet within 5 minutes.

Troubleshooting

• If the integration shows "Disconnected," try re-authorizing from Dashboard → Integrations → Shopify → Reconnect.
• If test orders aren't syncing, see the Shopify Sync Troubleshooting guide below.

Disconnecting

Dashboard → Integrations → Shopify → Disconnect. This stops new order syncing but doesn't affect past allocations.

A campaign links your products to one or more charities. Every verified sale from a linked product triggers a donation allocation.

Creating a campaign

1. Dashboard → Campaigns → Create Campaign.
2. Name & description: Give your campaign a name (e.g., "Ocean Cleanup 2025") and a short description shown to supporters.
3. Charity allocation: Add one or more verified charities and set the percentage split (must total 100%).
4. Link products: Optionally link specific Shopify products. Leave blank to apply the campaign to all products.
5. Donation amount: Set the per-transaction donation amount (e.g., $2 per order) or a percentage of the order value.
6. Campaign dates: Set start and optional end dates. Leave end date blank for ongoing campaigns.
7. Click "Launch Campaign."

Campaign states

• Draft: Created but not launched. No allocations generated.
• Active: Generating allocations for linked products.
• Paused: Temporarily stopped. No new allocations. Past allocations are preserved.
• Ended: Campaign has concluded. No new allocations. Past allocations remain.

Editing a campaign

You can edit name, description, and linked products at any time. Changing the charity split only affects future allocations — past allocations are locked.

Multiple campaigns

You can run multiple campaigns simultaneously (e.g., one for ocean cleanup, one for reforestation). Products can be linked to only one campaign at a time.

Automatic funding (Shopify integration)

When your Shopify store is connected and orders are placed for products linked to a campaign, allocations are generated automatically based on your campaign rules. No manual action needed.

Manual direct funding

You can also contribute a lump sum to a campaign:

1. Dashboard → Campaigns → [your campaign] → Fund Campaign.
2. Enter the amount you want to contribute.
3. Confirm. Funds will be loaded to your partner wallet and allocated to the campaign's charities proportionally.

Direct funding is useful for one-time donations, end-of-campaign top-ups, or campaigns that aren't linked to Shopify.

Minimum funding amounts

There's no minimum per-transaction amount set by 4Planet, but Stripe requires a minimum payment of $0.50 CAD per settlement. Allocations below this threshold accumulate until the minimum is met.

Checking your wallet balance

Dashboard → Wallet shows your current balance, pending allocations (waiting for settlement), and settled amounts. The breakdown shows how much is owed to each charity.

What happens to unfunded campaigns?

A campaign can be active with zero balance. Allocations will accumulate as orders come in. Only at settlement time do funds need to be available in your wallet.

Settlement is the process of paying accumulated allocations from your account directly to charity Stripe accounts.

The golden rule: settlement is always partner-initiated

4Planet never automatically charges you or moves funds. Only you can trigger a settlement. This is a deliberate design choice that protects your compliance as a business — you remain in control of every fund movement.

How to settle

1. Dashboard → Settle.
2. Review the pending allocations table: charity name, amount owed, and the individual transactions contributing to it.
3. Verify the total and click "Settle Now."
4. You'll be redirected to a Stripe Checkout session to complete the payment.
5. Stripe processes the payment directly to each charity's connected account (typically 1–2 business days). Charities are notified automatically.

When should I settle?

Settle at least monthly. Allowing allocations to accumulate for more than 90 days without settling may trigger a compliance review.

What if my card is declined?

Stripe will notify you of any payment failure. Update your payment method in Stripe's hosted checkout and retry. If the issue persists, contact support@4planet.io.

After settlement

• Charity Stripe accounts are credited by Stripe within 1–2 business days.
• A transfer receipt is generated (Dashboard → Statements → Transfer Receipts).
• Supporter tax receipts are queued for the charity to e-sign.
• The allocation ledger clears to zero for the settled charities.

Settlement failures

If a Stripe payment fails, you'll receive an email notification with the error details. Retry after resolving your payment method.

Transfer receipts

A transfer receipt is generated every time you settle funds to charities. It shows: - Date and time of settlement - Amount settled to each charity - Your partner account details - A unique receipt number

Transfer receipts are informational records for your accounting — they are not tax deductible receipts. Donors receive those directly from the charities.

Find and download transfer receipts at Dashboard → Statements → Transfer Receipts.

Monthly statements

Monthly statements summarize your activity for the billing period: - Total transactions processed - Total amount allocated - Total amount settled - Overage charges (if any) - Platform subscription fee

Statements are available from Dashboard → Statements → Monthly Statements. They're also emailed to the account owner at the start of each month.

Exporting data

Dashboard → History → Export CSV lets you download a complete log of all transactions, allocations, and settlements in a spreadsheet format. Useful for reconciliation with your own accounting system.

Tax deductibility of your subscription

Your 4Planet subscription fee is a business expense and may be deductible as a marketing or operational cost. Consult your accountant. We provide a GST/HST-compliant invoice for each billing cycle.

The 4Planet REST API is available on Base and Enterprise plans. Use it to build custom integrations, automate workflows, and receive real-time event notifications.

Getting your API key

1. Dashboard → Settings → API Keys → Generate Key.
2. Copy your key and store it securely — it won't be shown again.
3. Include the key in the Authorization header: Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY

Base URL

https://4planet.io/api/v1/

Core endpoints

• GET /partner/campaigns — List all campaigns
• POST /partner/campaigns — Create a campaign
• POST /partner/allocations — Record a manual allocation
• GET /partner/wallet — Get wallet balance and pending allocations
• POST /partner/settle — Initiate settlement (requires KYC verification)
• GET /partner/statements — List statements and transfer receipts

Webhooks

Configure webhook URLs in Dashboard → Settings → Webhooks. Events are sent as HTTP POST requests with a JSON body and an X-4Planet-Signature header for verification.

Available events: - allocation.created — New allocation from a verified purchase - settlement.completed — Funds settled to charity - receipt.ready — Tax receipt generated and signed - verification.failed — Product verification error

Rate limits

100 requests/minute on Growth, 1000/minute on Business. Exceeding limits returns HTTP 429.

Full API documentation at /docs/api (requires login).

Orders aren't appearing in 4Planet

1. Check integration status: Dashboard → Integrations → Shopify. Status should be "Connected." If "Disconnected," reconnect.

1. Verify products are linked: Dashboard → Campaigns → [campaign] → Linked Products. Ensure the Shopify products are listed.

1. Check order status in Shopify: 4Planet only syncs orders in "Paid" status. Draft or pending orders don't trigger allocations.

1. Time delay: Orders typically sync within 5 minutes. Wait and refresh.

1. Re-authorize the app: Sometimes Shopify app tokens expire. Go to Dashboard → Integrations → Shopify → Reconnect and re-authorize.

Allocations created but wrong amount

Check your campaign's donation amount settings. If you've changed the amount, the change only applies to new orders, not historical ones.

Duplicate allocations

Contact support@4planet.io. Duplicates can happen if a webhook fires twice during a Shopify outage. We'll remove the duplicate manually.

Integration disconnects repeatedly

This usually indicates a Shopify permission scope change. Reconnect and ensure all required permissions are granted during the OAuth flow. Required permissions: read_orders, read_products.

Test orders in Shopify development mode

Test orders placed in Shopify's development/sandbox mode aren't synced by default. Use real test mode with your live store and a $0.01 product to test the flow.

Still stuck?

Email support@4planet.io with your Shopify store URL and the order number of a missing order. We'll trace it.

What is Restricted Mode?

Restricted Mode is a state where your account can operate partially but cannot settle funds to charities. It's triggered automatically when:

• KYC (identity verification) is incomplete or expired
• Your account has been flagged for a compliance review
• Payment issues (subscription lapsed, failed payment)

What can you still do in Restricted Mode?

• Create and edit campaigns
• Collect allocations from Shopify orders
• View reports and history
• Invite team members

What you cannot do:

• Initiate fund settlement to charities
• Request API keys (Growth/Business features)

How to exit Restricted Mode

The restriction banner in your dashboard will tell you exactly why you're restricted and what steps to take. Usually it's one of:

1. Incomplete KYC: Submit or re-submit your verification documents.
2. Payment issue: Update your payment method at Dashboard → Billing.
3. Compliance review: Our team will contact you within 2 business days with next steps.

Account suspension

Suspension (full access removal) is reserved for serious policy violations: fraudulent activity, misrepresentation of impact, or repeated non-compliance. If your account is suspended, you'll receive an email with the reason and an appeal process.

Suspended accounts cannot access the dashboard, but existing allocations and settled funds remain intact.

4Planet is free for charities, with no subscription fees or feature gating.

Who can apply?

Any CRA-registered charity (or international equivalent) focused on conservation, environmental protection, or humanitarian causes aligned with our mission.

How to apply

1. Visit /charities/landing and click "Apply as a Charity."
2. Complete the application: charity name, registration number, mission description, website, and contact details.
3. Our team reviews applications within 1–3 business days.
4. You'll receive an approval email with onboarding instructions.

What happens after approval?

• Your charity is listed in the 4Planet charity directory and is searchable by supporters and partners.
• You'll be invited to create a Charity Dashboard account.
• Complete your KYC verification to unlock withdrawals.

International charities

We support charities registered in Canada, the USA, UK, Australia, and the EU. For other countries, contact partnership@4planet.io to discuss eligibility.

Can we be listed without partnering with a brand?

Yes. Being listed makes your charity discoverable by supporters (who can direct personal allocation preferences your way) and by partners looking for charities to fund. You don't need a direct partner relationship to receive funds.

Charity verification is required to request fund withdrawals and to issue CRA-compliant tax receipts.

What documents are needed?

• Charity registration number (CRA charity number, e.g., 12345 6789 RR0001)
• Latest CRA registered charity information return (T3010) or equivalent
• Authorized signing officer's ID (government-issued photo ID)
• Bank account details (void cheque or bank letter for the charity's operating account)

How to submit

1. Dashboard → Verification → Start Verification.
2. Upload the required documents.
3. Our team reviews within 1–3 business days.

What is your signing officer's role?

The authorized signing officer is the person who signs tax receipts on behalf of the charity. This must be the same person identified in your CRA filings. They'll be prompted to e-sign receipt batches in the dashboard.

Re-verification

If your signing officer changes, or your registration expires, you must re-submit verification documents. Unverified charities cannot request new withdrawals.

Annual re-verification

To maintain verified status, we require annual confirmation of your CRA standing. We'll send a reminder 30 days before your verification expires.

How donations reach your charity

1. A supporter verifies a product linked to a campaign that includes your charity.
2. The partner's wallet is earmarked with an allocation for your charity.
3. When the partner settles, Stripe processes the payment directly to your connected Stripe account.
4. The transfer appears in your charity dashboard in real time.

Your charity balance

Dashboard → Wallet shows: - Available balance: Funds received from settled partner transfers via Stripe. Ready to pay out. - Pending allocations: Funds allocated but not yet settled by partners. - Total received (all time): Cumulative funds ever received.

Seeing which partners are funding you

Dashboard → Donations shows a breakdown by partner, campaign, and time period. You can see exactly which campaigns are generating allocations for your charity and their settlement status.

When do funds arrive?

• Pending → Settled: when the partner manually initiates settlement (up to 7 business days)
• No automatic settlement: you cannot force partners to settle. If a partner consistently delays, contact compliance@4planet.io.

Exporting donation records

Dashboard → Donations → Export CSV gives you a complete record of all inflows. Useful for grant reporting, annual reports, and audits.

Impact metrics translate dollars into real-world conservation outcomes. When you define them, supporters see "Your $10 planted 3 trees" instead of just a dollar amount.

How to set impact metrics

1. Dashboard → Missions → [your mission] → Impact Metrics.
2. Click "Add Metric."
3. Define:
4. - Outcome (e.g., "coral fragments planted", "kg of waste removed", "hectares protected")
5. - Amount per unit (e.g., $10 CAD per coral fragment)
6. - Start date (when this metric applies from)
7. Click "Save."

Best practices

• Use specific, measurable outcomes (not "ocean health improved").
• Base amounts on your actual operational costs, verified against your budget.
• Update metrics annually to reflect current costs and project scope.
• Cross-reference with your T3010 or equivalent annual report filings.

Where metrics appear

• On your charity's profile page (/charities/[your-charity])
• On mission detail pages (/missions/[mission])
• On supporter donation receipts and annual impact summaries
• On partner-facing dashboards when they browse charities for campaigns

Multiple metrics

You can define multiple metrics for different outcomes (e.g., "$10 = 1 coral replanted AND $50 = 1 reef monitoring survey funded"). All active metrics display on your profile.

Do metrics get verified?

We cross-reference metrics against your most recent annual report and may request supporting documentation for unusually high or low ratios. False metrics are grounds for removal from the platform.

Available reports

From Dashboard → Reports:

• Donations by Partner: Total received from each partner, broken down by campaign and settlement date.
• Donations by Month: Month-over-month trend of incoming funds.
• Settlement History: Every settlement event with partner name, amount, and date.
• Pending Allocations: Funds allocated but not yet settled (shows which partners owe what).
• Supporter Count: Number of unique supporters who've directed allocations to your charity (anonymized).

Exporting data

Every report has an "Export CSV" button. Exported files include: - All visible columns - Date range (matches the filter you've set) - Your charity name and export timestamp in the filename

Date range filters

Use the date picker to filter any report by custom date range (useful for grant reporting periods).

Annual summary report

Dashboard → Reports → Annual Summary generates a formatted PDF summary including total received, number of donors, top partner brands, and impact metrics achieved. Suitable for inclusion in grant applications and donor reports.

API access to reports

Growth-tier partners have API access; charities don't have a public API yet. For bulk data needs or custom integrations, contact support@4planet.io.

4Planet uses Stripe Connect, which means settled funds go directly into your charity's connected Stripe account — not through 4Planet. You control payouts to your bank account from within Stripe.

Prerequisites

• Your charity must be KYC-verified on 4Planet.
• Your Stripe Express account must be fully onboarded (bank account added and verified).
• You must have e-signed any pending tax receipt batches.

How funds reach your bank

When a partner settles, Stripe sends the payment directly to your Stripe Express account balance. From there, Stripe automatically schedules payouts to your connected bank account on your payout schedule (typically 2–7 business days after funds land in Stripe).

You can view your balance and manage payout settings in your Stripe Express dashboard — accessible from your 4Planet charity dashboard under Settings → Stripe Account.

Changing your payout schedule

In your Stripe Express dashboard you can set payouts to daily, weekly, or monthly. For most charities, weekly is a good balance between cash flow and admin overhead.

Why does my withdrawal capacity differ from my balance?

You can only release amounts covered by e-signed tax receipts. If you have unsigned receipt batches, e-sign them first (Dashboard → Tax Receipts → Pending Signatures) to unlock the full balance.

Bank account changes

Update your bank account directly in the Stripe Express dashboard. For security, Stripe verifies new bank accounts before funds can be sent to them.

Stripe account issues

If your Stripe Express account is restricted or requires additional information, Stripe will email you directly. You can also check your account status at Dashboard → Settings → Stripe Account. Contact support@4planet.io if you need help resolving a Stripe restriction.

When supporters donate through 4Planet, they're entitled to CRA-compliant tax receipts. Your charity's authorized signing officer must e-sign each batch of receipts before they're sent to donors.

How receipts are generated

When a partner settles funds that include your charity, 4Planet automatically generates a CRA-compliant receipt for each donor. Receipts batch weekly (every Monday) and appear in Dashboard → Tax Receipts → Pending Signatures.

How to e-sign a batch

1. Dashboard → Tax Receipts → Pending Signatures.
2. Review the batch summary: number of receipts, total amount, date range.
3. Click "Review Receipts" to see individual receipts if needed.
4. Click "Sign Batch." You'll be prompted to confirm with your password (or MFA code).
5. All receipts in the batch are digitally signed and sent to donors by email.

Who can sign?

Only users with the "Authorized Signing Officer" role can sign receipt batches. This role is assigned during KYC setup. To change the signing officer, contact support@4planet.io.

What happens if I don't sign?

• Donors don't receive their receipts until you sign.
• Your withdrawal capacity is capped at the amount of signed receipts.
• After 30 days, we'll send a reminder. After 60 days, a compliance flag is raised.

Receipt information

Each receipt includes your charity's CRA number, the donor's name and address, the donation date, amount, and a unique receipt serial number. All are pre-populated — you're signing to authorize, not filling in data.

Correcting a receipt error

If a receipt has incorrect information (wrong amount, wrong donor name), contact support@4planet.io before signing. Do not sign incorrect receipts.

Charity roles

• Primary Manager — Full access including KYC, withdrawals, bank account management, and team administration. One per charity.
• Authorized Signing Officer — Can e-sign tax receipt batches. Must match CRA filing. Set during KYC.
• Staff — Can view reports, donations, and pending allocations. Cannot request withdrawals or sign receipts.

Note: The Primary Manager and Authorized Signing Officer can be the same person (common for smaller charities) or different people.

Inviting team members

1. Dashboard → Settings → Team → Invite Member.
2. Enter email address and select the role.
3. The invitee receives an email and must accept within 7 days.

Changing the signing officer

To change the Authorized Signing Officer (e.g., when your Executive Director changes), contact support@4planet.io. This requires re-verification of the new officer's ID.

Removing a team member

Dashboard → Settings → Team → [member] → Remove. Access is revoked immediately.

How does the Primary Manager change?

Transferring primary manager status requires verifying both the outgoing and incoming manager's identities. Contact support@4planet.io to initiate this process.

When a brand partner selects your charity for their campaign, you'll receive a partnership request. You can accept or decline.

Getting notified

Partnership requests appear in Dashboard → Partnership Requests and are also emailed to your Primary Manager.

Reviewing a request

Click "View Details" to see: - Partner brand name and website - Campaign name and description - Proposed charity allocation percentage - Estimated monthly allocation (based on partner's current sales volume) - Campaign duration

Accepting a request

Click "Accept Partnership." The partner's campaign will now show your charity as a beneficiary and supporters will see your charity's mission when they verify products.

Declining a request

Click "Decline" and optionally add a short note (visible to the partner). Declining doesn't prevent the partner from making future requests.

Are partnerships exclusive?

No. You can accept partnerships from as many brands as you want simultaneously. Your charity can appear in unlimited campaigns.

Can a partner remove your charity from their campaign?

Yes — partners control their campaign charity splits. If a partner removes your charity, you'll receive a notification. Existing allocations and settled funds are not affected.

Can I initiate a partnership?

Yes. Contact a specific brand directly, or email partnership@4planet.io and we'll facilitate introductions.

KYC verification review: 1–3 business days after documents submitted.

Receipt batch generation: Weekly (every Monday). Receipts for settlements completed before midnight Sunday will be batched the following Monday.

Receipt e-signature processing: Immediate after signing officer approves. Donors receive receipts within 1 hour.

Withdrawal review: 1–3 business days after submission.

Withdrawal bank transfer: 2–5 business days after approval (depends on your bank's processing time).

Total withdrawal timeline: 3–8 business days from request to bank deposit.

Partner settlement: This is controlled by the partner, not 4Planet. Partners are expected to settle at least monthly. If a partner hasn't settled within 90 days, contact compliance@4planet.io.

Support response times

• Email (support@4planet.io): within 2 business days
• Urgent / compliance issues: within 1 business day
• Partnership inquiries: within 3 business days

What counts as a business day?

Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Eastern Time, excluding Canadian statutory holidays.

Expedited processing

Expedited withdrawal processing (same-day review) is available on a case-by-case basis for emergencies. Contact support@4planet.io with your request and the reason.