e-Giving FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for Donors

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Giving

What is Electronic Giving (often abbreviated E-giving or eGiving)?

Electronic giving is simply another way for you to support the mission and ministry of your church.  For example, if you are currently giving on a weekly basis by check or cash, you will no longer need to write out 52 checks or prepare 52 church envelopes.  And, when travel, illness or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, electronic giving allows your weekly offerings to continue uninterrupted.

What are the benefits of eGiving?

Electronic giving HELPS YOU with a convenient payment option that allows you to schedule your regular donations or make one-time donations to specific church funds or programs.  E-giving HELPS YOUR CHURCH to support its mission and ministry throughout the year with a more predictable donation stream.

What payment methods are offered with eGiving?

1. Direct Debit Giving.  You fill out a form which authorizes an automatic transfer of funds from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.  In the financial industry this is known as an ACH transfer (an electronic, bank-to-bank money transfer that is processed through the Automated Clearing House Network).

• Online Giving.  Using your computer, you to go to the church’s website, click on a “donate” or “give” or “contribute” button, follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile, then set up an automatic donation plan, change your donation plan, make a one-time donation, or view your online donation history.

• Mobile Giving.  This technique lets you use your smartphone and a special app that makes it easy and convenient for you to give to your church anywhere, anytime.

• Other giving methods are available from Vanco Payment Solutions, but they are not accessible to our church at this time.

Is eGiving secure?

Yes.  Vanco maintains the highest level of Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security compliance to ensure the safety of donations processed through any of their giving methods — direct, online, mobile, and others.

Can I give to individual or specific funds?

Yes!  Your eGiving administrator determines which funds appear in your church’s giving form.  You can give to one or more funds in each transaction.

Can I set up recurring donations?

Yes!  Once you have created an online or mobile profile, you can log in and select the frequency of the transaction during the donation process.  If you are donating to multiple funds at one time, you can select different frequencies for each fund.

Can I select the date to schedule a recurring donation or to process a one-time donation?

Yes!  After you have logged in, you will be given the option to select a start date for your recurring donation, or you can choose to defer your one-time donation by selecting the processing date.

How quickly will my e-gift be processed?

Direct Debit (ACH), online, and mobile donations received before 3 pm CT Monday – Friday will be processed that day.  Direct Debit (ACH), online, and mobile donations received after 3 pm CT Monday – Friday will be processed the following business day.  If you enter a start date for your donation(s), processing will initiate on that date and follow the same timeframes.

How quickly will my donations be deposited?

Direct Debit, online, and mobile donations are electronically deposited into your church’s bank account within 2 to 4 business days.

How will my church know when a donation has been made?

Once funds are deposited, donations will appear on Vanco’s processing reports available to your eGiving administrator.

Will I receive a receipt?

An email address is a required item for your online or mobile profile.  So, when you log in to your online or mobile account and make a donation you will receive a receipt via email.

Will I be able to see all my donations in my giving history?

Yes!  When you are logged into your online or mobile account you will be able to view transactions in your giving history.  The giving history will include any electronic donations made to your church while you are logged in to your account.