Google Checkout provides an API specifically for political contributions. This API is built on the XML API and allows political organizations to easily collect contributions. Political organizations can accept contributions through Google Checkout if they are a federal candidate or part of a political action committee registered with the Federal Elections Commission based in the United States.
For more information about creating a Google Checkout Political Organization account, please review this FAQ
(http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=134471). The following options are methods to integrate and process contributions for political organizations.
This symbol means the link opens up the page in a new window or tab so when you're done with that step, you can close the window or tab and go on to the next step.
What is it - A simple button that allows you to accept contributions from visitors to your website.
Time required - You perform a few steps in a straightforward operation that should take only a few minutes
Technical skills required - A working knowledge of how to add HTML to your website. It is as simple as copying and pasting HTML code (generated for you in the Google Checkout Merchant Center) onto your website. No complicated coding or technical tasks are required.
Recommendation - Contribute Buttons are great for quickly and easily accepting contributions.
Next step: How to sign create a Political Organization account and add Contribute buttons to your site(http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=134471).
What is it - A pre-integrated shopping cart is a cart that has already been integrated with Google Checkout by one of our integration partners. It displays the Google Checkout button and includes the underlying code to enable buyers to add items to the cart and complete the order through Google Checkout. Typically, a pre-integrated cart is developed by a third party and made available to anyone, so is off-the-shelf.
Note: Not all pre-integrated shopping carts support the Political Organization API. You'll need to check with your shopping cart provider for information regarding their implementation
Time required - If you already have a pre-integrated cart installed and running, adding Google Checkout typically requires only a few minutes to enter your Merchant ID and Key(http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=42963) on the shopping cart provider's website.
If you don't have a pre-integrated shopping cart and decide you need one, the amount of time varies quite a bit, depending on whether it's a hosted or deployed software solution. Each eCommerce platform is different.
Technical skills required - If you already have a pre-integrated cart installed and running, this integration method doesn't require any technical skills. You'll only need your Merchant ID and Key(http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=42963).
If you decide you need a pre-integrated shopping cart, the amount of technical skill varies quite a bit, depending on whether it's a hosted or deployed software solution. Each eCommerce platform is different. If you need additional guidance on how to integrate with Google Checkout, please contact your provider.
Recommendation - Pre-Integrated carts are great for political organizations who need more functionality than a Contribute Button but do not want to complete a custom cart implementation
What is it - If you're currently accepting and managing contributions using a shopping cart custom-built by you or an outside developer, you can integrate with Google Checkout via our Political Organization Application Programming Interface (API). When buyers visit your site and click the Google Checkout button, their contribution will be transferred to the Google Checkout flow where they can complete their transaction.
Time required - Integrating via a custom-built shopping cart is more complex than the previous options and will take more time. The amount of time you'll need to integrate will depend on the following:
For an integration estimate more specific to your political organization, we recommend you consult with the programmer or programmers who will be responsible for your integration.
Technical Skills required - The programmer responsible for integrating your website or shopping cart with Google Checkout via the API should have a strong working knowledge of:
Using the Checkout Merchant Center
What is it - The Google Checkout Merchant Center is available to everyone who creates a political organization account. It is a secure web application that allows you to perform the following Google Checkout order processing activities through your browser:
or refund contributionsBest for -
Time required - None. Just go to the Merchant Center website and start using it.
Technical skills required - None. Just Internet access.
Integrating Google Checkout with your pre-integrated order processing system
What is it - A pre-integrated order processing system is an order processing system that has already been integrated with Google Checkout by one of our integration partners (listed in the next step, whose link is below). It is generally included with a pre-integrated shopping cart and includes the underlying code to support receiving notifications about contributions and sending order processing commands for Google Checkout contributions. Typically, a pre-integrated order processing system is developed by a third party and made available to anyone, so is off-the-shelf. (Contrast with custom order processing below.)
If you are already using a pre-integrated cart, check with your provider to see if they support order processing for Google Checkout. If your integration provider doesn't support Google Checkout, then you can process contributions through the merchant center (above).
Note: Not all pre-integrated shopping carts support the Political Organization API. You'll need to check with your shopping cart provider for information regarding their implementation
Best for - Merchants who are using a pre-integrated shopping cart.
Time required - If you already have a pre-integrated cart installed and integrated with Google Checkout, enabling order processing usually only requires obtaining the API callback URL from your cart provider and entering it in your Google Checkout merchant account.
If you don't have a pre-integrated shopping cart and decide you need one, the amount of time to set up the shopping cart and enable order processing varies quite a bit, depending on whether it's a hosted or deployed software solution. Each eCommerce platform is different.
Technical skills required - If you already have a pre-integrated cart installed and integrated with Google Checkout, enabling order processing doesn't require any technical skills. You'll only need the API callback URL from your cart provider.
If you don't have a pre-integrated shopping cart and decide you need one, the amount of technical skill needed to set up the shopping cart and enable order processing varies quite a bit, depending on whether it's a hosted or deployed software solution. Each eCommerce platform is different. If you need additional guidance on how to integrate with Google Checkout, please contact your provider.
Integrating Google Checkout with your custom order processing system
What is it - If you're currently accepting and managing contributions using an order processing system custom-built by you or a third-party developer, you can integrate Google Checkout using our Application Programming Interface (API) to handle those contributions in your existing custom-built system.
An order processing integration is appropriate for you if you want to invest a bit more time in the integration process so you can fully automate order management processes.
If you do a custom integration of order processing:
Time required - Integrating a custom order processing system is more complex and will take more time. The amount of time you'll need to integrate will depend on the following:
For an integration estimate more specific to your organization, we recommend you consult with the programmer or programmers who will be responsible for your integration.
Technical Skills required - The programmer responsible for integrating your order processing system with Google Checkout via the API should have a strong working knowledge of:
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