diff --git a/client/gatsby-node.js b/client/gatsby-node.js
index e3a4f80e66..a898d5f5fe 100644
--- a/client/gatsby-node.js
+++ b/client/gatsby-node.js
@@ -192,7 +192,8 @@ exports.onCreateWebpackConfig = ({ stage, rules, plugins, actions }) => {
         ),
         STRIPE_PUBLIC_KEY: JSON.stringify(process.env.STRIPE_PUBLIC_KEY || ''),
         ROLLBAR_CLIENT_ID: JSON.stringify(process.env.ROLLBAR_CLIENT_ID || ''),
-        ENVIRONMENT: JSON.stringify(process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development')
+        ENVIRONMENT: JSON.stringify(process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development'),
+        PAYPAL_SUPPORTERS: JSON.stringify(process.env.PAYPAL_SUPPORTERS || 404)
       }),
       new RmServiceWorkerPlugin()
     ]
diff --git a/client/src/redux/index.js b/client/src/redux/index.js
index cd4483b61b..b3d04e1d15 100644
--- a/client/src/redux/index.js
+++ b/client/src/redux/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* global PAYPAL_SUPPORTERS */
 import { createAction, handleActions } from 'redux-actions';
 import { uniqBy } from 'lodash';
 
@@ -161,10 +162,8 @@ export const userSelector = state => {
 
 export const sessionMetaSelector = state => state[ns].sessionMeta;
 export const activeDonationsSelector = state =>
-// this default is mostly for development where there are likely no donators
-// in the local db
-// If we see this in production then things are getting weird
-  sessionMetaSelector(state).activeDonations || 4040;
+  Number(sessionMetaSelector(state).activeDonations) +
+  Number(PAYPAL_SUPPORTERS);
 
 function spreadThePayloadOnUser(state, payload) {
   return {
diff --git a/sample.env b/sample.env
index 4edd3a5dd7..e556cb0891 100644
--- a/sample.env
+++ b/sample.env
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ JWT_SECRET='a very long secret'
 STRIPE_PUBLIC=pk_from_stipe_dashboard
 STRIPE_SECRET=sk_from_stipe_dashboard
 
+PAYPAL_SUPPORTERS=1703
+
 LOCAL_AUTH=true
 PEER=stuff
 DEBUG=true