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FAQ

Clear answers for finance teams and boards.

The questions finance directors, treasurers, and trustees most often ask — answered plainly, and with the courtesy your team deserves.

01

SNDR vs. going direct

How is SNDR different from using a bank or payment processor directly?

Traditional banks and payment processors are excellent at moving money on their own rails. SNDR works alongside several of those regulated rails at once and adds the layer nonprofits tend to need most: one onboarding, one compliance model, and one consolidated, audit-ready view designed for IRS-990 filers.

If you work with each provider directly, your team handles the compliance and reconciliation for every one, then brings it all together for your board and auditor. SNDR is glad to take that coordination off your plate.

Is SNDR a bank?

No — SNDR is a technology platform rather than a bank, card processor, or custodian. Your funds are held and moved by regulated partners, while SNDR provides the governance, compliance, and reporting layer that ties them together. You'll find the full detail on our Trust & governance page.

02

Your money & safety

Who actually holds our money?

Your funds are held by SNDR's regulated partners: FDIC-insured U.S. banks for traditional balances, and insured institutional custody for any stablecoin balances. SNDR itself never takes custody — its role is to coordinate the movement and give you clear, complete reporting.

What happens if a partner bank or provider has an issue?

SNDR is built on multiple regulated partners rather than a single point of failure, so if one partner has an issue, activity can move to another. Traditional balances stay at FDIC-insured institutions, and stablecoin balances are protected by custody insurance (they aren't bank deposits).

03

Compliance & audits

How does SNDR make audits and Form 990 filing easier?

Every transfer, conversion, and approval is captured in one consolidated, exportable record — organized the way a nonprofit's audit and Form 990 call for. Rather than reconciling statements from several providers in different formats, your team and your auditor can work from a single, audit-ready view.

It's why SNDR was built specifically for 990 filers, rather than adapted from a general commercial product.

Do we have to be a 990 filer or ECFA-accredited to use SNDR?

SNDR is built for U.S.-based mission-driven nonprofits and is a natural fit for IRS-990 filers. ECFA accreditation isn't required — and if your organization already follows ECFA-style governance, you'll find it aligns comfortably with how SNDR works.

How do our board and auditors get visibility?

Through a single dashboard and exportable records that cover payment status, settlement timing, the FX rate applied, and supporting documentation across every rail and country. It's designed around the questions boards and auditors actually ask — and to make audit preparation noticeably lighter.

04

Stablecoin & reserves

Is the stablecoin option required, and is it safe?

It's entirely optional. SNDR uses it only where traditional banking can't reach — such as restricted regions or remote field locations — and only with your governance approval. Where it's used, balances sit in insured, institutional-grade custody, held to the same documentation standards as a traditional transfer.

How does the yield-bearing reserves option work — is it speculative?

Idle reserves can earn a return benchmarked to SOFR — a rate the Federal Reserve Bank of New York publishes each business day, so your finance committee can verify it independently. Balances stay fully liquid and remain in insured custody; they aren't traded. The return comes from a published benchmark rate, not from taking any market position.

05

Reach, pricing & getting started

Which countries and currencies can you reach?

Funds reach 200+ countries, with instant settlement in 50+ currencies and, in most non-G10 corridors, delivery 1–3 days faster than correspondent banking. That's made possible by combining regulated bank rails, local in-country rails, and — where it's genuinely needed — stablecoin.

How is pricing structured?

It's transparent and predictable: competitive FX with no hidden spreads, and clear per-transfer costs. Because pricing depends on your corridors and volume, a short 15-minute call is the quickest way to get accurate numbers for your actual flows.

What does onboarding involve and how long does it take?

It's a short intake, verification of your organization and authorized users, and configuration of the rails that suit your field locations. Pilot partners receive priority onboarding with hands-on, white-glove support throughout.

Still have a question?

We'd be glad to help — fifteen minutes with an NGO payments specialist, no obligation.

Request a demo Join the pilot cohort