Are you looking to setup the ability to receive online giving at your church? There are a wide variety of options out there. Here are a few online services we’re aware of that many churches use and which are relatively simple to setup. All use very secure encryption to protect the donation process.
Each differ a little in the way the work. However, in all cases once you have an account, receiving donations can be as simple as including a link on your website. When people click it they’ll be forwarded to the secure payment page and they can enter in their donation.
If you have questions about them they all also have active customer support.
Interac E-Transfer
Likely the simplest way to receive tithes and donations online is via Interac e-Transfers. All the major banks provide it as a service and so just about anyone with a bank account has the ability to send an e-transfer via email. To receive the donation all you need is an email address and a bank account. Most banks also allow you to register your email address for Interac e-Transfer Autodeposit, which will allow people to send you money and it will be automatically deposited in your account. Contact your bank for details.
You can learn more about e-Transfers here:
Tithe.ly
Tith.ly provides online and digital for churches and ministries. Their mission states:
“We’re focused on giving your church the tools it needs to increase giving and build the kingdom.”
Tithe.ly is used but thousands of churches and ministries including the Salvation Army, RZIM and Hillsong.
Tithe.ly’s Church Giving package offers a variety of features include:
- Ways to give:
- online website
- with mobile app
- through texting (extra cost)
- Tax receipts: Yes. They track all the transactions and allow you to print or email tax receipts.
- Fees:
- $0.30 and small percentage on each donation
- Text Giving has an extra monthly fee
- They also provide a “cover the fees” box which donors can select and cover the fees in their gift.
You can find out more about their pricing and features here:
Txt2Give
Are you looking to add a way for people to donate just by sending a text message? Txt2Give could be a possible solution. (Tithe.ly above also has that feature)
Txt2Give is purely dedicated to donations via text messages. Members just text “Give” followed by the number of dollars they want to donate to the phone number your church is assigned. That’s it. Many churches like this option because of its simplicity and the ability of members to donate right there during the service.
You can choose between a couple different price options to fit your needs.
CanadaHelps
CanadaHelps is one of the most common ways charities in Canada accept donations. They are what we use currently at ANiC. Here’s how they describe themselves:
“CanadaHelps is a Canadian Charity that provides other charities with open access to an affordable, online donation platform, and training so they can better connect with the people who support them. CanadaHelps is proud to have helped over 2 million Canadians make donations to charities they are passionate about, resulting in over $1 billion in total donations.”
CanadaHelps offers features including:
- Ways to give:
- online website
- also give from mutual funds, stocks, and other securities
- Tax receipts: Yes. They automatically handle tax receipts for you.
- Fees: a small percentage on each donation
Learn more about CanadaHelps:
PayPal
PayPal has long been a leader in online transactions and is now used by many churches and organizations to receive charitable giving. With a PayPal Business account you can begin receiving online donations via credit card or PayPal account:
- Ways to give: online website
- Tax receipts: No. They track all the transactions and email you notifications. But you need to produce and issue tax receipts yourself.
- Fees: $0.30 and small percentage on each donation
PayPal now offers the PayPal Giving Fund Canada (a registered charity) which allows charities in Canada to enroll and receive donations. The way it works is the PayPal Giving Fund receives the donations, provides receipts to donors and then grants the funds to charities without charging for its services.
To qualify for the program you need to have a PayPal Business Account, enroll in the PPGF, and be validated as a charity to receive donations.
- Ways to give: online website
- Tax receipts: Yes. They automatically provide receipts to donors.
- Fees: None.
- Receiving donations: once a month (15-45 days from date of donation).
Do you have experience with any of these or other online donation solutions? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Try also Charitable Impact https://www.charitableimpact.com/ (formerly known as CHIMP). It operates just like CanadaHelps but they charge a lower commission rate than CanadaHelps. Charitable Impact is based from Vancouver.