Church AI Agent: Your Friendly Giving Assistant

Have you ever wished you could ask a quick question about your giving without hunting through menus, logging into multiple pages, or waiting for office hours? Maybe you want to know how much you’ve given this year, when your next recurring gift is scheduled, or which funds your church is currently collecting for. Perhaps you simply want to make a donation but aren’t sure where to start. The Church AI Agent is here to help—and it works just like texting a helpful friend who knows your church inside and out.

A Chat Assistant Built for Church Giving

The Church AI Agent is an AI-powered chat assistant that lives right on your church’s giving page. It appears as a friendly chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of the screen—the same kind of button you may have seen on other websites when you need help. You click it, type a question in plain English, and get an instant answer. No technical knowledge required. No complicated forms to figure out first. Just a simple conversation.

Whether you want to make a one-time gift, set up a monthly donation, check your giving history, download a year-end statement for taxes, or find out what events are coming up at your church, the Church AI Agent can point you in the right direction. It is available around the clock, every day of the week, so you can get answers at 6:00 in the morning before work or at 10:00 at night after the kids are in bed.

Designed for Everyone—Especially If Technology Feels Overwhelming

We know that not everyone feels comfortable with new technology. If you have ever felt nervous about using a computer or smartphone for church giving, please know that this tool was designed with you in mind. You do not need to understand what “AI” means or how it works behind the scenes. All you need to know is how to type a question—or even click one of the suggested buttons—and read the reply. Think of it as having a patient, knowledgeable church volunteer available whenever you need one.

Many donors tell us they appreciate being able to ask questions in their own words instead of clicking through page after page. You can type “How much have I given this year?” or “I want to give $50 to missions every month” and the assistant understands what you mean. It will guide you step by step, one question at a time, without rushing you or using confusing jargon.

Your Church, Your Giving, Your Conversation

Every church configures its own giving page, funds, and information, so the Church AI Agent on your church’s website knows about your specific church—not some generic template. It can tell you about your church’s service times, upcoming events, available giving funds, and store products. When you are logged in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website, it can also show you your personal giving history, recurring gifts, payment methods on file, pledge progress, and more. Your conversation stays private between you and the assistant.

In this article, we’ll overview how to use the Church AI Agent on your church’s giving page.

Church AI Agent — Donor Guide:

The Church AI Agent is a conversational assistant on your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving page. It helps you make donations, look up account information, learn about church events and services, submit prayer requests, register for activities, and connect with church staff—all through a simple chat window. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get started and get the most out of your conversations.

Key Takeaways

Easy to Find: Look for the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of your church’s giving page. Click it to start a conversation anytime, day or night.
Ask in Plain English: Type questions naturally—like “I’d like to give $100 to the building fund monthly” or “What’s my giving total this year?”—and the assistant responds with clear, helpful answers.
Guest or Logged In: You can ask general church questions and start donations as a guest. Log in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website for full access to your personal giving history, recurring gifts, statements, and more.
Secure by Design: When you are logged in with a payment method on file, the assistant can process your gift directly in the chat—no redirect needed. For guests or first-time donors, it provides a secure link to the giving page to enter payment details. The assistant will never ask you to type a full card number or bank account number into the chat.
Help When You Need It: If the assistant cannot answer your question, it will connect you with your church’s contact information or OnlineGiving.org support at support@onlinegiving.org.

What Is the Church AI Agent?
- Where to Find It
- What It Can Do
Getting Started
What You Can Ask
Logged In vs. Guest Access
Tips for Best Results
Privacy and Security
Managing Your Conversation
Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Church AI Agent?

The Church AI Agent is an AI-powered chat assistant built into your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving page. It uses artificial intelligence to understand your questions and provide helpful, conversational responses—much like texting with a knowledgeable church staff member who is always available.

Unlike a static FAQ page that lists answers you have to search through, the Church AI Agent listens to what you ask and responds directly. You can ask follow-up questions, clarify what you need, and get personalized guidance based on your situation. Whether you are a first-time donor or a longtime member who gives every week, the assistant adapts to your needs.

Where to Find It

When you visit your church’s giving page, look in the bottom-right corner of your screen. You will see a chat bubble or button—often with a message icon. This is the Church AI Agent. It stays visible as you browse the giving page, so you can open it whenever a question comes to mind. On a phone or tablet, the bubble works the same way; just tap it to open the chat panel.

What It Can Do

Here is a quick summary of what the Church AI Agent can help you with:

Make donations: Start a gift, choose a fund, set an amount, and set up recurring giving. Logged-in donors with a payment method on file can complete the gift right in the chat.
Check your giving: View your year-to-date total, recent donation history, recurring gift schedule, and year-end tax statements (when logged in).
Manage your account: See payment methods on file, active recurring gifts, pledge progress, and recent store orders (when logged in).
Learn about your church: Find service times, contact information, upcoming events, and store products.
Take action: Submit a prayer request, register for an event like VBS, volunteer, or get connected with a real person at your church.

Getting Started

Opening and using the Church AI Agent takes just a few simple steps. If you can send a text message on your phone, you already have the skills you need.

How to Open the Chat

Go to your church’s giving page in your web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet.
Look for the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Click or tap the chat bubble to open the conversation panel.
The chat window will slide open, showing a welcome message from your church’s assistant.

That’s it—you are now ready to chat. The assistant does not require any special app download or account setup just to open the chat window.

Welcome Message and Quick-Action Buttons

When you first open the chat, you will see a friendly welcome message. This greeting is customized by your church and might say something like, “Hi! I can help you give, check your history, manage recurring gifts, and more. How can I help?”

Below the welcome message, you will often see quick-action buttons—clickable suggestions for common tasks. These might include options like:

“I’d like to give”
“Check my giving history”
“When’s my next recurring gift?”
“What are your service times?”

These buttons are shortcuts. Instead of typing your question, you can simply click or tap one of them and the assistant will respond as if you had typed it yourself. This is especially helpful if you are not sure what to ask or prefer not to type on a small phone screen.

How to Start a Conversation

Open the chat bubble as described above.
Read the welcome message and review the quick-action buttons.
Either click a quick-action button for a common task, or type your question in the text box at the bottom of the chat window.
Press Enter on your keyboard or tap the send button to submit your message.
Wait a moment while the assistant thinks—you will see a brief “Thinking...” indicator.
Read the assistant’s reply. If it provides a link, click the link to go to the secure giving page or registration form.
Ask a follow-up question if you need more help. The assistant remembers the context of your conversation.

If you are using a phone or tablet, you may also see a microphone button that lets you speak your question instead of typing. This voice feature works in many modern browsers and can be a wonderful option if typing on a small screen is difficult. Simply tap the microphone, speak your question clearly, and the words will appear in the text box for you to review before sending.

What You Can Ask

The Church AI Agent understands a wide range of questions about giving, your account, church information, and more. You do not need to use exact phrases—just ask naturally. Below are examples organized by category, along with what you can expect in response.

Giving Questions

These questions help you make donations and learn about giving options at your church.

“I’d like to give”

This starts the donation flow. The assistant will guide you through choosing a fund, amount, and frequency. If you are logged in with a payment method on file, your gift can be processed right in the conversation. Otherwise, the assistant provides a secure link to your church’s giving page with your choices pre-filled.

“I want to give $100 to the building fund monthly”

When you include specific details like an amount, fund name, and frequency, the assistant has everything it needs. If you are logged in with a payment method on file, it will confirm the details and process the gift using your last saved payment method—right in the chat. If you are a guest, it provides a link to the giving page with those choices pre-filled so you only need to enter payment details.

“What funds can I give to?”

The assistant will list the giving funds currently available at your church—such as General Fund, Missions, Building Fund, Benevolence, or any special campaigns your church has set up. This is helpful when you want to designate your gift but are not sure what options exist.

Account Questions

These questions access your personal giving information. They require you to be logged in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website. If you are not logged in, the assistant will let you know and offer to help once you sign in.

“What’s my giving total this year?”

The assistant will show your year-to-date giving total along with a summary of your recent gifts. For example, it might reply, “Your 2026 total is $1,250 across 8 gifts,” followed by a brief list of your most recent donations with dates and amounts.

“Show my giving history”

You will receive a list of your recent donations, including the date, amount, and fund for each gift. You can also ask for a specific number, such as “Show my last 5 gifts.”

“When’s my next recurring gift?”

The assistant will tell you the date, amount, and fund of your next scheduled automatic donation. This is especially useful when you want to confirm that your recurring gift is still active and scheduled correctly.

“Get my year-end statement”

You can request a summary of your giving for tax purposes. Ask for a specific year, such as “Get my 2025 year-end statement,” and the assistant will provide your annual giving total and gift breakdown—the information you need for tax receipts and personal records.

“What recurring gifts do I have?”

The assistant lists all your active recurring donations, showing the amount, frequency (weekly, monthly, etc.), and fund for each one. This helps you keep track of all your automatic gifts in one place.

“What payment methods do I have on file?”

You can see which credit cards or bank accounts are saved to your profile. The assistant will list your payment methods without displaying full card numbers—just enough information for you to recognize which card or account is which.

“Show my pledge progress”

If your church is running a pledge campaign, the assistant can show how much you have pledged, how much you have given toward that pledge, and your progress percentage.

“What are my recent orders?”

If your church has an online store, you can ask about your purchase history. The assistant will list your recent orders with dates and items.

Church Information Questions

These questions do not require you to be logged in. Anyone visiting the giving page can ask them.

“What are the service times?”

The assistant will provide your church’s worship service schedule along with contact information such as address, phone number, and website.

“What events are coming up?”

You will receive a list of upcoming church events with dates and brief descriptions. This is a great way to stay connected with what is happening in your church community.

“What products do you have?”

If your church operates an online store, the assistant can show available products—such as books, merchandise, event tickets, or other items your church sells.

Other church information questions you can try:

“What is the church address?”
“How do I contact the church office?”
“What is the church website?”
“Are there any special offerings this month?”

Action Requests

Beyond answering questions, the Church AI Agent can help you take action and connect with your church community.

“I’d like to volunteer” or “Register for VBS”

These requests trigger your church’s registration flow. The assistant will guide you to the appropriate sign-up form or registration page for volunteering, Vacation Bible School, small groups, or other church activities your church has configured.

“I have a prayer request”

You can share a prayer request through the chat. The assistant will collect your message and submit it through your church’s prayer request system so your church’s prayer team can lift up your need.

“I need to talk to someone”

When you need human help, the assistant provides your church’s contact information—phone numbers, email addresses, and office hours—so you can reach a real person on staff.

Logged In vs. Guest Access

The Church AI Agent works for everyone who visits your church’s giving page, whether or not you have an account. However, what you can access depends on whether you are logged in.

Guest Access (Not Logged In)

As a guest, you can:

Ask general questions about your church (service times, events, contact info)
Learn about available giving funds and campaigns
Start a donation as a guest donor
Browse store products
Submit a prayer request
Get connected with church staff contact information
Register for church activities and events

As a guest, you cannot access personal account information such as your giving history, recurring gifts, payment methods, or year-end statements. If you ask for this information without being logged in, the assistant will politely let you know that you need to log in first and will offer to help once you do.

Logged In Access

When you log in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website, you unlock the full capabilities of the Church AI Agent. Logged-in donors can access everything guests can, plus:

Year-to-date and historical giving totals
Recent donation history with dates, amounts, and funds
Active recurring gift details and next payment dates
Year-end giving statements for tax purposes
Payment methods on file
Pledge campaign progress
Store order history

The assistant may greet you by your first name when you are logged in, making the conversation feel more personal. It will never ask you to log in again if you are already signed in—it simply accesses your information and presents it in a clear, easy-to-read format.

Tips for Best Results

The Church AI Agent is smart, but how you ask your questions makes a difference. Follow these tips to get the best answers every time.

Be Specific

Specific questions get specific answers. Compare these examples:

Less helpful: “giving”
More helpful: “How much have I given in 2026?”

Less helpful: “funds”
More helpful: “What funds can I give to?”

Less helpful: “donate”
More helpful: “I want to give $50 to missions every month”

Include details like dollar amounts, fund names, dates, and frequencies whenever you can. The more context you provide, the faster the assistant can help you.

Ask One Question at a Time

The assistant works best when you ask one question, read the answer, and then ask your next question. Instead of typing “How much have I given this year and what are my recurring gifts and when is my next payment?” try breaking it into separate messages:

“What’s my giving total this year?”
“What recurring gifts do I have?”
“When’s my next recurring gift?”

This approach gives you clearer, more detailed answers for each topic.

Use the Quick-Action Buttons

When you see quick-action buttons below the welcome message, use them! They are the fastest way to start common tasks without typing. Your church has chosen these suggestions because they are the questions donors ask most often.

Start a Fresh Conversation When Needed

If your conversation has gotten long or you want to start over on a new topic, look for the New Chat button (often shown as a + icon in the chat menu). Clicking it clears the current conversation and begins a fresh one with the welcome message and quick-action buttons. This is helpful if you were asking about giving history and now want to start a completely new donation.

Follow Links to Complete Actions

When the assistant provides a link—to a registration form, event page, or giving page—click it to complete your action. For logged-in donors with a payment method on file, giving is processed directly in the chat. For guests, secure actions like entering payment information happen on the official giving page.

Privacy and Security

Your privacy and security are important. Here is how the Church AI Agent protects your information.

Your Data, Your Control

The assistant only accesses your personal giving data when you are logged in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website. If you are browsing as a guest, the assistant has no access to your account information and cannot see your giving history, payment methods, or any personal details.

Private Conversations

Your chat conversations are private. The assistant processes your messages to provide helpful responses, but your conversation is not shared publicly or with other donors. Church administrators may review anonymized conversation data to improve the assistant’s helpfulness, but your personal financial details are handled with the same care as any other giving transaction on OnlineGiving.org.

Daily Message Limit

For security purposes, there is a daily limit of 100 messages per conversation. This protects against misuse and ensures the system remains fast and responsive for all donors. If you reach this limit, you will see a friendly message letting you know to try again later. For most donors, 100 messages per day is far more than enough for any giving-related questions.

Secure Payment Processing

When you are logged in and have a payment method on file (a credit card, debit card, or bank account previously saved to your account), the Church AI Agent can process your gift directly in the conversation. It will ask you to confirm the amount, fund, and frequency, and then complete the transaction using your last saved payment method—just like a text-to-give experience. You will receive a confirmation message in the chat once your gift is processed.

If you are a guest or do not have a payment method on file, the assistant provides a secure link to your church’s official giving page. Your donation choices (amount, fund, frequency) are pre-filled so you only need to enter your payment details on that secure page.

In either case, the assistant will never ask you to type a full credit card number, bank account number, or other sensitive payment credentials directly into the chat. Saved payment methods are referenced securely by name (for example, “Visa ending in 4242”) and never displayed in full.

What to Do If Something Seems Wrong

If you ever receive a response that seems incorrect or unexpected, you can start a new conversation, rephrase your question, or contact OnlineGiving.org support directly at support@onlinegiving.org. You can also reach out to your church office for questions specific to your congregation.

Managing Your Conversation

The chat window includes a few simple tools to help you manage your conversation experience.

Conversation History

When you return to the giving page, the Church AI Agent remembers your recent conversation. Your previous messages and the assistant’s replies will appear when you reopen the chat, so you can pick up right where you left off. This is convenient if you stepped away to find your wallet and want to continue setting up a recurring gift.

Starting a New Chat

Open the chat menu (often a three-dot or menu icon in the chat header).
Click or tap New Chat (the + button).
Your previous conversation is cleared and the welcome message with quick-action buttons appears again.
Start fresh with a new question or quick-action button.

Copying a Response

If the assistant provides information you want to save—such as your year-end giving total or a list of recurring gifts—you can copy the response text. Look for a copy option on the assistant’s message to copy the text to your clipboard, then paste it into a note, email, or document for your records.

Using Voice Input

On devices and browsers that support it, you may see a microphone icon next to the text input box. Tap the microphone, speak your question clearly, and your words will appear as text in the input field. Review the text to make sure it captured your words correctly, then press send. This feature is available in many modern versions of Chrome, Safari, and Edge browsers.

Closing the Chat

To close the chat panel, click or tap the close button (usually an X in the top corner of the chat window). The chat bubble remains in the bottom-right corner so you can reopen it anytime. Closing the panel does not delete your conversation—your messages are saved for when you return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my information safe?

Yes. The Church AI Agent only accesses your personal giving data when you are logged in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website. The assistant never asks you to type full credit card numbers or bank account numbers into the chat. When you give through the chat, it uses your last saved payment method securely. Conversations are private and handled with the same security standards as all OnlineGiving.org services.

What if the AI doesn’t understand me?

Try rephrasing your question with more specific details. Instead of a single word like “giving,” try a full sentence like “How much have I given this year?” Ask one question at a time rather than combining multiple questions. You can also click one of the quick-action buttons to get started. If the assistant still cannot help, ask “I need to talk to someone” to get your church’s contact information, or reach OnlineGiving.org support at support@onlinegiving.org.

Can I make a donation through the chat?

Yes. If you are logged in and have a payment method on file, the assistant can process your gift entirely within the chat. Just say what you would like to give—for example, “I’d like to give $100 to the building fund monthly”—and the assistant will confirm the details and process the transaction using your saved payment method. If you are a guest or do not have a payment method saved, the assistant provides a secure link to the giving page with your choices pre-filled so you can enter payment details there.

Do I need to create an account?

No account is required to ask general church questions, learn about giving funds, or make a guest donation. However, if you want to view your giving history, recurring gifts, year-end statements, payment methods, or pledge progress, you will need to log in to your church’s OnlineGiving.org giving website. Your church can help you set up an account if you do not already have one.

What if I need help the AI can’t provide?

The assistant is designed to know when a question is beyond its scope. Ask “I need to talk to someone” and it will provide your church’s contact details. For technical issues with the giving page or the chat itself, contact OnlineGiving.org support at support@onlinegiving.org. For questions about your church’s policies, events, or pastoral care, contact your church office directly.

Is there a limit to how many messages I can send?

Yes. For security, there is a daily limit of 100 messages per conversation. This is more than enough for any typical giving session. If you reach the limit, you will see a message asking you to try again later. You can also start a new chat the next day.

Can I use voice to talk to the AI?

On many devices and browsers, yes. Look for the microphone icon next to the text input box in the chat window. Tap it, speak your question, and your words will appear as text for you to review before sending. Voice input is supported in most modern versions of Chrome, Safari, and Edge. If you do not see the microphone icon, your browser may not support voice input—you can still type your questions normally.

Will the assistant remember me when I come back?

Yes. When you return to your church’s giving page and reopen the chat, your recent conversation history will still be there. This lets you continue where you left off. If you prefer a clean start, use the New Chat button to begin a fresh conversation.

Can I use the Church AI Agent on my phone?

Absolutely. The chat works on smartphones and tablets just as it does on a computer. Open your church’s giving page in your phone’s web browser, tap the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner, and start chatting. The quick-action buttons are especially convenient on mobile devices where typing can be slower.

What churches offer the Church AI Agent?

The Church AI Agent is available on giving pages where your church has enabled it through OnlineGiving.org. If you see the chat bubble on your church’s giving page, the feature is active and ready to help you. If you do not see it and think your church would benefit from it, let your church office know or contact OnlineGiving.org support at support@onlinegiving.org.

We hope this guide helps you feel confident using the Church AI Agent on your church’s giving page. It is a simple, friendly way to handle your giving questions without the hassle of navigating complicated menus. Whether you are making your first donation or checking your tenth year-end statement, the assistant is ready to help—any time, any day.

If you have questions about this guide or need technical assistance, please contact OnlineGiving.org support at support@onlinegiving.org.

Church AI Agent - Donor Guide