DreamFunnel
Help & how-to

No permanent address?
No bank account?
You can still get paid.

Stripe (the company that processes donations) needs to verify who you are — that's federal law, not a Dream Funnel™ choice. But you don't need to own a home or have a bank account to pass. Here's exactly how to do it.

1

Get an address that works for verification

Best: USPS General Delivery — free

Every US post office holds mail for people without a permanent address. It's called General Delivery and any adult can use it. Here's how:

  1. Find a post office in the town you spend the most time in (google "USPS post office near me").
  2. Walk in and say: "I'd like to receive mail at General Delivery." They'll show you the correct address to give people.
  3. The address looks like this:
    Your Legal Name
    General Delivery
    Main Post Office
    [City], [State] [ZIP]
  4. Use that address in Stripe's onboarding form. When mail arrives, bring a photo ID to the counter to pick it up.

Free. No monthly fee. No ID required to sign up (only to pick up mail).

Also OK: a shelter, church, or friend's address

Many shelters allow residents to use their address for mail. Ask case management. Same with community churches, community centers, and libraries — some run mail programs specifically for this. A trusted friend or family member also works if they say yes.

2

Get a way to receive the money

Easiest: Cash App Card — free, ~7-10 days to ship

Cash App is a mobile app that gives you a free Visa debit card. Stripe pays out to it just like a bank account.

  1. Download Cash App on any smartphone (or use a friend's).
  2. Sign up with a phone number and your legal name.
  3. In-app, tap Card → Get free Cash Card.
  4. Ship it to your General Delivery address (see step 1).
  5. When it arrives, note the 16-digit card number. You'll enter that in Stripe as your payout method.

Same-day: prepaid debit card from any store

Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and most gas stations sell reloadable prepaid Visa/Mastercard debit cards for $3–5. They work the same as a Cash App Card for Stripe payouts. You'll register the card online (they'll ask for a name and address — General Delivery is fine).

Also works: mobile bank accounts

Chime, Varo, and SoFi are real banks that work entirely from your phone. No branch visit, no minimum balance, no monthly fee. Sign up takes about 10 minutes.

3

You DO need a Social Security Number

This is one thing Stripe won't budge on — federal identity verification requires an SSN. If you don't remember yours or have lost your card:

  • Go to your local Social Security Administration office (find one at ssa.gov/locator).
  • Bring any photo ID you have — driver's license, state ID, passport, expired ID, or even a work badge. They'll help you look up your number.
  • Getting a replacement SSN card is free and takes about 2 weeks. But for Stripe you only need the number, not the physical card.
4

A photo ID helps but isn't always required

Stripe usually verifies you by SSN alone. If they ask for a photo ID (they sometimes do), any of these work:

  • State-issued driver's license or state ID (even expired)
  • US passport (even expired)
  • Military ID
  • Tribal ID

Don't have any of these? Most states offer non-driver ID cards for under $20 at the DMV. Some homeless outreach programs will pay this fee for you — ask at any shelter or homeless services office.

5

How long the whole thing takes

  1. Post office General Delivery: same day
  2. Order Cash App Card: 7–10 days to arrive
  3. Stripe onboarding once you have everything: ~10 minutes
  4. Stripe verifies you: usually instant, sometimes 1–3 days
  5. First donation lands: ~2 days after your first cause posts

Total: about two weeks from "no address, no bank" to receiving your first payout. Once you're set up, every donation after that arrives within days automatically.

Stuck on any of this?

Email support@dreamfunnel.net and tell us where you're stuck. A real person reads every email and will walk you through it.