THE BASICS
1. What does ChurchGiving do?
ChurchGiving is the largest religious donation processor in the country. It serves churches nationally in order to provide the infrastructure, technology, and support to cater to a more technical church member. Our major program is to process automatic monthly recurring gifts from church members to a ChurchGiving-enrolled church. These gifts come out of a church members' bank or credit card account. The program has been written about in over 500 newspapers and magazines.
2. What day are transfers made?
Recurring monthly gifts are taken on the 5th of the month or the following business day after the 5th in the case of the 5th falling on a weekend or holiday. We send out monthly email reminders to church members to let them know about the deduction.
3. Can this be changed?
No. All automatic donations are processed on the 5th of the month, or if the 5th is not a business day, then the following business day. However, you can always make a one-time donation at anytime of the month.
4. Can deductions come out weekly?
Although most church collections do happen on a weekly basis, stewardship experts have found that those that are committing gifts on a monthly basis instead of a weekly basis support their church with more of their resources.
5. Can ChurchGiving handle special / second collections?
Yes, we can handle all of the second and special collections you have. We can also help collect capital campaign pledges, ticket sales, funds for auctions, and many other types of collections. Call our sales department to find out more: 1 (866) PARISH 1.
6. How do we sign up our church?
We can email or fax an enrollment form upon request. Remember, there's no set up fees. Call us at 1 877-276-7410.
PROMOTING THE CHURCHGIVING PROGRAM
1. How many church members should sign up?
While results vary, within the first year of using ChurchGiving, about 10%-15% of church members should participate in the ChurchGiving program. ChurchGiving looks at church member envelope households to get this percentage.
2. How can we increase that number?
There are several types of campaigns in the ChurchGiving enrollment kit. If you'd like to see a sample kit, we can provide one to you. Call us at 1 877-276-7410 or use the contact us section to electronically request this kit.
3. What are some of the methods used by your clients to reach church members?
We've seen our client churches use telephone, door-to-door, and website integration campaigns. However, we've found the most effective way to increase enrollment is a two-fold approach involving our direct mail campaign combined with 2-3 commitment Sundays each year - where church members bring their enrollment cards to the church and find out more about the program.
4. What is the largest reason church members give for signing up?
While many believe convenience is a big reason behind the large number of church members that have contributed to ChurchGiving's success, our research and polling shows that most church members realize this is the most effective way to support their church and list that as their primary reason for using our service.
5. Can you help us promote ChurchGiving to our church community?
Absolutely. The account manager that we will assign to you is going to be your main source of ideas as to how to promote ChurchGiving. They can provide samples of what other churches have done successfully, and guide you through the mailings and responses to maximize the number of enrolled church members from your church.
6. What material do we get upon signing up?
You will get an enrollment kit and a consultation from one of our giving consultants. The enrollment kit will include sample commitment card layouts and sample letters from your church to its members.
TECHNOLOGY
1. How secure are these transactions / your website?
Our site uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to ensure that your personal and sensitive data - credit card number, email address, name, address, etc. - is transmitted safely and securely every time. In addition, we use internal security measures to further increase your data security. Since we deal with credit card and bank account numbers, we transfer that information via SSL. SSL encrypts your data before it is transmitted. If someone "listens in" on the wire, they'll only get encrypted information.
2. What is an ACH Transaction?
An ACH transaction is an electronic fund transfer through the Federal Reserve Bank from a checking or savings account.
3. What church software does ChurchGiving work with?
We have begun several relationships with church software vendors. The largest, PDS, already accepts ChurchGiving file imports which significantly cuts down on the data entry work for church business managers.
4. Can ChurchGiving handle one time contributions?
Absolutely. If you don't see this as an option during the enrollment process, please contact our account team at 1 877-276-7410.
COST OF OUR SERVICES
1. Who does ChurchGiving charge?
ChurchGiving withholds its fee before transferring it to the church. For tax purposes, the church member is still credited with 100% of the donation. Thus, the church is technically "charged."
2. How much does ChurchGiving charge?
ChurchGiving withholds $1.00 and 1.00% from each church member's monthly transaction. Typically, this fee represents a drop in the bucket compared with the increased giving that ChurchGiving represents.
3. How much are the credit card charges?
We pass through our very low negotiated credit card charges directly to you, without adding anything to it.
MasterCard: 2.06% + 10 cents
Visa: 2.06% + 10 cents
American Express: 2.85% + 15 cents
Discover: 1.95% + 15 cents
4. How much will ChurchGiving charge for insufficient fund transactions?
When a credit card or bank account cannot be charged, just the $1.00 fee is charged - not the 1.00%.
5. Do we need a minimum number of church members to use the program?
There typically is a minimum depending on the size of your church. It is typically not mandated until the 4th month of service.
6. Are there any setup fees?
There are never any setup charges for our service.
7. Are there any other hidden charges?
Nope, that's it. $1.00 and 1.00%. That's all we charge. The only thing additionally your church pays is the very low negotiated fee to the credit card companies. Most times, our fee is paid by the difference received at the church for one church member (previous year of giving as compared with one year on ChurchGiving).
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
1. How do church members manage accounts?
Church members can log in to their account by using the login area at the top of ChurchGiving's website. Once logged in, church members will have the option of altering their gift, adding additional gifts or collections, and deleting their account. church members also can see gifts provided to their church year to date and print up annual giving statements. IMPORTANT***: If you have not received a username and password from ChurchGiving, we have changed our login procedures. Please call 1 877-276-7410 or click on the Forgot Password Link directly above the Log In Button at the top of each ChurchGiving page.
2. How do churches manage their account?
Churches also log in to their account at the top of the ChurchGiving website. If you are a church that has not been trained on ChurchGiving for Church Administrators; or all of our administrative tools for churches, please contact an account representative for ChurchGiving at 1 877-276-7410.
3. Do church members have to re-specify their donation each year?
No. Many church members choose to use our inflation indexing option which increases your gift by about 3.5% each year (determined by the COLA index). We remind church members to annually increase their gifts if they have the means to do so.
4. Do church members receive receipts for tax purposes?
Church members can print statements once they've logged in.
5. How about something to put in the plate?
ChurchGiving understands the important part of the presentation of gifts during church services. To offer the same reflection process, we provide church members donation slips, which are tear-off postcard-sized coupons to represent that week's gift.
6. When can church members change gifts?
Up until the 3rd day of every month.
7. Can churches change church member information at any time?
Yes. However, for a payment method or amount to be changed, the church must make the change prior to the third day of the month that the change will be affecting.
8. Can church reports be imported into church software applications?
We export our reports on our website to an excel format that is easy to import into church software such as PDS (Church Data Systems). We will work with other software vendors to make sure your transition is smooth.
9. How do church members discontinue the service?
Church members can log in and delete their gifts or contact their church to delete them. Again, the change cannot take place after the 3rd of the month in order to affect the same month.
10. How do churches discontinue the service?
While we've never had this happen since every church we have has affirmed their satisfaction with the program, churches can give us 30 days notice by emailing their account manager or by calling us. Good to know that it is easy and has never happened before, right?
ENROLLMENT
1. What Payment Methods are accepted?
Church members can donate using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. They can also contribute through bank transfers. Currently, 56% of church members use bank transfers and 44% of church members use credit cards.
2. Is there a maximum gift amount?
ChurchGiving has processed donations for $30,000 and $40,000 - there is no maximum amount that we can process on an individual transaction or as a monthly amount.
3. Is there a minimum amount?
We suggest contributing to ChurchGiving only if your donation is over $10.00.
4. Different Enrollment Methods
Church members can enroll on commitment cards that are distributed at the church or by going online to enroll by visiting ChurchGiving.com.