Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is E-Giving?
2. What is the advantage of E-Giving?
3. How is my electronic contribution automatically deducted from my account?
4. When will my contribution be deducted from my account?
5. Can I put amounts in different reserves and special offerings, and have them all withdraw from my account at different frequencies?
6. What do I use when I do my taxes? Will I get a statement of everything I gave online?
7. Can I look up all my donations online, even those that I have given while at church?
8. Can anyone who works at the church see my account number?
9. What do I do if I forget my username or password?
10. If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
11. What can I use to put into the collection basket when it comes around to me?
12. Without a cancelled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
13. Is Electronic Giving risky?
14. What if I change bank accounts, or get a new credit card or debit card?
15. How much does Electronic Giving cost?
16. What if I try it and don't like it?
17. What if I only want to give on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis?
1. What is E-Giving?
E-Giving is short for Electronic Giving. It is an automatic transfer program which allows you to make contributions without writing checks. (Return to top.)
2. What is the advantage of E-Giving?
It saves time! It saves work! It simplifies your life! You also help the organization stabilize its budget and save money. (Return to top.)
3. How is my electronic contribution automatically deducted from my account?
You may log onto your organization's E-Giving site, and give via debit card, or read the agreement and check the box for ACH transactions to make donations via checking or savings account at the site. Once you authorize the transfer, your specified contributions can be taken out one time, or on a regular basis as you choose. The contribution is transferred directly from your checking or savings account to the organization's account. (Return to top.)
4. When will my contribution be deducted from my account?
Within 24 hours for debit card transactions; 72 hours for ACH (checking or savings account donations). If you choose to give on a regular monthly basis automatically, you can designate when the donation should be processed. (Return to top.)
5. Can I put amounts in different reserves and special offerings, and have them all withdraw from my account at different frequencies?
You can set up to contribute to different reserves at different frequencies; HOWEVER, you will have to do each one separately. There is no way possible to split a single transaction into different amounts and frequencies. When you have completed giving to one fund for a certain frequency, simply go back and complete another. You will receive separate receipts for each. (Return to top.)
6. What do I use when I do my taxes? Will I get a statement of everything I gave online?
You may receive a statement from your organization with all your donation information (online and in person), however, you may print out a statement from the E-Giving site for all transactions that were made online through E-Giving, using the time period you designate. This can be used for tax purposes. (Return to top.)
7. Can I look up all my donations online, even those that I have given while at church?
No. The only transactions you can view online are the ones that were completed online. Please contact Melissa at the church office for complete donation information. (Return to top.)
8. Can anyone who works at the church see my account number?
No. No one at church has access to your account/debit card number. Only a couple of employees at the E-Giving service have access to this information. (Return to top.)
9. What do I do if I forget my username or password?
If you forget your password, click on the "forgot password" link. You can then enter your username, and your password will be emailed to the email address you registered. If you have forgotten your username, click on the appropriate link. This will bring up an email message that goes straight to your organization. Let them know you have forgotten your username, and give them information with which to identify you. You will receive an emailed message with your username, or a request for more information in order to verify your identity. Please allow 2 business days for username retrieval. You may also email E-Giving at e-giving@envelopeservice.com. (Return to top.)
10. If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
You may either make a notation is your check register at the time of the transaction, or you can make the notation at the time that an email is sent to you acknowledging your contribution. If you choose to contribute at regular automatic intervals, you can easily make the notations for the entire length of time that you are contributing all at once. (Return to top.)
11. What can I use to put into the collection basket when it comes around to me?
You may print out your acknowledgement page or the email that you receive when your transaction is processed. You will see that the information is inside an envelope shape... this is to make it easy for you to cut it out and put it in the collection plate. You may also write on your weekly envelope that you gave electronically. (Return to top.)
12. Without a cancelled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
You have the option of printing or saving either the payment acknowledgement page, or the emailed acknowledgements. In addition, your credit card or bank statement shows an itemized list of electronic transfers. Your organization also has proof of your donation. Any of these can prove your contribution. (Return to top.)
13. Is Electronic Giving risky?
Electronic Giving is less risky than check contribution. It cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail. You may choose in your profile to turn off account number save. With this option, you will have to enter your account number each time a transaction is made, but it will never automatically show on the page. (Return to top.)
14. What if I change bank accounts, or get a new credit card or debit card?
Update the information at the E-Giving site under the section "member profile." If you have set up recurring transactions and you do not update your account information, you may be deactivated until you update your info. This is to prevent your account from being declined over and over. (Return to top.)
15. How much does Electronic Giving cost?
It costs you nothing and saves you time. The organization pays nominal transaction fees... the lowest available. Debit cards cost the organization more than savings or checking account transfers. Because of this, you may choose to give by your bank account to save additional costs for your organization. In addition, the charges are transaction based, so if you can contribute once per month instead of weekly, again, saves the church money. (Return to top.)
16. What if I try it and don't like it?
You can cancel your automatic deductions anytime via the E-Giving website. (Return to top.)
17. What if I only want to give on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis?
You can choose these frequencies on your own when completing your E-Giving info on the site. You also have the option to have your contribution deductions run for only a certain period of time if you attend more than one organization through the year. (Return to top.)