> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.maearth.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.maearth.com/resources-for-donors/questions-about-donations/verified-organizations.md). # Verified Organizations What does it mean for an organization to be verified on Ma Earth? A verified organization has completed an identity check through Stripe, our payment partner, in order to receive funds. #### What is KYC? KYC stands for "Know Your Customer." It's a standard identity check used by banks and payment providers worldwide. It confirms that an organization is who it says it is, and that funds are being sent to a legitimate recipient. For donors, it serves as a protection against fraud. #### How does an organization become verified? Every organization that receives funds on Ma Earth (either a land steward, or a host partner supporting a land steward's fundraising efforts) sets up a Stripe account as part of onboarding. During setup, Stripe collects and reviews identifying information about the organization and its representatives for its KYC process. This information may include legal documents and bank details. ***An organization is shown as verified once it has completed Stripe onboarding and has received more than $1 USD in donations through Ma Earth.*** #### What does verification mean on Ma Earth? Organizations with a "Verified" badge on Ma Earth have passed Stripe's KYC process; donations are going to a verified account. **Verification confirms identity. It is not an assessment of quality; that's what the application process is for.** Only projects chosen by the [selection committee](/resources-for-land-stewards/funding-round-3-hub/selection-committee.md) are invited to participate in a funding round. It is the application process—*not verification*—that assesses the quality of a project. [Endorsements](/resources-for-trusted-evaluators/endorsements.md) exist separately from verification; these are signals of trust from *within* the Ma Earth community (other organizations in the ecosystem) vouching for an organization they know and stand behind. *We encourage donors to read each project's story and updates to learn more about the work and the people behind it.* #### What about hosted projects? If a project is hosted by a [host partner](/resources-for-land-stewards/about-host-partners.md) organization, the host partner receives the funds and is responsible for the identity checks and compliance that apply in their country. #### Questions? [Contact us](https://maearth.com/contact). --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://help.maearth.com/resources-for-donors/questions-about-donations/verified-organizations.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.