Introduction¶
CiviSEPA is a comprehensive CiviCRM extension that enables SEPA-compliant direct debit processing for European organizations. Whether you're managing membership fees, processing donations, or handling recurring contributions, CiviSEPA provides the tools you need for efficient, automated payment collection.
What is SEPA?¶
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a European Union regulation that standardizes direct debit payments across EU member states. It allows organizations to collect payments directly from supporters' bank accounts through a mutual agreement called a "mandate."
Key SEPA concepts: - Mandate: Written authorization from the debtor allowing you to collect payments - Direct Debit: Automatic collection of funds from a bank account - SEPA compliance: Adherence to EU regulations for payment processing
What CiviSEPA Does¶
CiviSEPA transforms CiviCRM into a powerful SEPA direct debit management system, handling the complete payment lifecycle from mandate creation to bank reconciliation.
Core Functionality¶
Mandate Management - Create and manage SEPA mandates for contacts - Support for both one-time (OOFF) and recurring (RCUR) payments - Automatic mandate reference generation with customization options - Full mandate lifecycle tracking from active to completed status
Payment Processing - Automated payment batching based on collection dates - Smart grouping by payment type (first, recurring, one-off) - Bank-ready XML file generation in multiple PAIN formats - Comprehensive payment status tracking and reconciliation
Dashboard & Monitoring - Real-time overview of all payment groups and their status - Visual indicators for urgent actions and deadlines - Detailed reporting on mandates, collections, and failures - Batch management with manual and automated processing options
Key Benefits¶
For Organizations - Reduced administrative overhead: Automated payment processing eliminates manual collection tasks - Improved cash flow: Predictable, recurring revenue through automated collections - SEPA compliance: Built-in compliance with EU direct debit regulations - Comprehensive reporting: Detailed insights into payment patterns and failures
For Supporters - Convenient giving: Set-and-forget recurring donations or membership payments - Flexible payment options: Support for various frequencies and amounts - Transparent process: Clear mandate terms and payment notifications
Use Cases¶
Membership Organizations¶
- Recurring membership fees: Automated annual or monthly membership renewals
- Tiered memberships: Different payment amounts based on membership levels
- Grace period handling: Automatic management of failed payments and member status
Fundraising¶
- Recurring donations: Monthly or quarterly donor programs
- Campaign-specific giving: Dedicated mandates for specific fundraising campaigns
- Major gift processing: Secure handling of large one-time donations
Integration Ecosystem¶
CiviSEPA works seamlessly with the broader CiviCRM ecosystem:
Core CiviCRM Integration - Full integration with Contributions, Memberships, and Events - Support for CiviCRM's financial types and accounting features - Compatible with CiviCRM's reporting and dashboard systems
Essential Extensions - CiviBanking: Automated bank statement import and payment matching - Little BIC Extension: Automatic bank code lookup for mandate creation - Form Processor: External form integration for mandate updates
Specialized Integrations - Twingle API: Seamless integration with Twingle donation forms - sepacustom: Framework for organization-specific customizations
Payment Processing - SEPA Payment Processor (separate extension): Online payment processing for events and contributions - PSP-SEPA: Integration with external payment service providers
Requirements¶
Technical Requirements¶
- CiviCRM: Version 5.75 or higher
- PHP: Compatible with CiviCRM's PHP requirements
- Database: MySQL/MariaDB with automatic schema updates
- Server: Standard CiviCRM hosting requirements
SEPA Requirements¶
- Legal entity: Must be a legitimate organization authorized to collect payments
- Bank account: European bank account capable of SEPA direct debit processing
- Creditor identifier: SEPA creditor ID from your bank or national authority
Getting Started¶
The typical CiviSEPA implementation follows these steps:
- Installation: Install CiviSEPA from the CiviCRM Extension Directory
- Configuration: Set up creditor information and banking parameters
- Testing: Create test mandates and validate the complete workflow
- Integration: Connect with banking systems and complementary extensions
- Training: Educate staff on daily operations and troubleshooting
- Go-live: Begin processing real payments with proper monitoring
Support and Development¶
Maintenance: CiviSEPA is actively maintained by SYSTOPIA with contributions from the broader CiviCRM community.
Professional Support: For implementation assistance, customization, or enterprise support, contact SYSTOPIA at info@systopia.de.
Community Resources: - GitHub Repository: Source code and issue tracking - Extension Directory: Official extension listing
Contributing: CiviSEPA welcomes community contributions through GitHub pull requests, documentation improvements, and testing feedback.
Ready to get started? Continue to the Administration section for installation and configuration instructions.