Recurring Donations User Guide

How to Set Up and Manage Recurring Donations with OnlineGiving.org

Recurring donations can help your church maintain steady support all year long. This article covers how to set up, manage, and even cancel recurring gifts using OnlineGiving.org’s platform, all while keeping things super convenient for your donors.

For many churches, financial support can ebb and flow depending on attendance, affected by factors like summer vacations or holiday travels. That’s why recurring donations have become such a crucial tool for churches. By setting up a recurring donation, donors ensure their contributions continue, even when they aren’t physically present. For donors, it’s as simple as selecting a donation frequency—whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—and letting the system handle the rest.

Steps to Set Up Recurring Donations

First, as a donor, start by entering the amount you wish to give. Then, just below that, there’s a button that says “Give Recurring”. Once clicked, you'll be prompted to select how often you want to give—whether every week, every two weeks, or once a month. After choosing your preference, simply click “Make Donation”, and you’re done. It’s that easy.

If you want to schedule a donation for a future date, OnlineGiving.org offers that option as well. Enter the amount, use the calendar feature to choose a specific date, and hit “Make Donation”. Your gift will be set to go out exactly when you want it to.

Managing and Canceling Recurring Donations

Sometimes plans change, and adjustments may be necessary. Managing your gifts is just as easy. To view or edit your recurring donations, log into your account, head to the “Your Account” dropdown in the top right, and select “Recurring Donations”. From there, you can see all your active donations and make adjustments. You can change the amount, frequency, or even switch to a different payment method, all available right from the edit page.

If you need to cancel a recurring donation, it’s just a few clicks away. Go to your account, find the recurring donation you want to cancel, click “Edit”, and at the bottom of the page, you’ll see the option to cancel it. Confirm the cancellation, and your donation will no longer be processed.

Flexibility for Donors

This level of control gives donors peace of mind, knowing they can adjust their giving based on their circumstances. There’s also flexibility in managing where donations go. For instance, you can change the donation’s destination—from the general fund to a specific ministry—without needing to cancel and start a new donation.

Recurring donations not only provide a steady stream of support for your church but also offer donors the flexibility to give on their own terms. Whether it’s scheduling for a future date, making edits, or canceling donations, the process is designed to be easy and donor-friendly.

Recurring Donations User Guide

Setting up recurring donations through Online Giving makes it easy for donors to contribute consistently, while also offering flexibility and convenience. Churches often rely on recurring giving as a reliable financial resource, particularly during times of lower attendance. With Online Giving, donors can select their preferred giving interval, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and manage their donations easily through their account.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up, manage, and cancel recurring donations on the donor's website, helping you understand the various options and steps available.


Key Takeaways:

  • Flexibility: Set up recurring donations with various giving intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.).
  • Convenience: Convert one-time donations into recurring gifts directly from the "Thank You" page.
  • Control: Easily manage, edit, or cancel recurring donations at any time from your account.

Table of Contents


How to Make a Recurring Donation

Recurring donations can be an essential tool for churches, allowing donors to provide consistent financial support. Here’s how to set up a recurring donation:

  1. Enter Gift Amount: Start by entering the donation amount you wish to give.
  2. Click the “Give Recurring” Button: Below the gift amount field, click the “Give Recurring” button.
  3. Select Recurring Frequency: When prompted, choose your desired donation frequency (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
  4. Click “Make Donation”: Complete the process by clicking the “Make Donation” button.

How to Make a Future Scheduled Donation

Setting up a future scheduled donation works similarly to how you’d schedule payments with your bank. Here’s the process:

  1. Enter Gift Amount: Input the desired donation amount.
  2. Click the “Payment Date” Dropdown: Find the dropdown menu located above the “Make Donation” button.
  3. Select Desired Payment Date: Use the calendar picker to choose a specific date for the donation to be processed.
  4. Click “Make Donation”: Confirm your scheduled donation by clicking the “Make Donation” button.

How to View Recurring Donations

You can easily view your recurring donations at any time through your Online Giving account.

  1. Log In to the Giving Website: Go to your church’s Online Giving website and log in.
  2. Click “Your Account”: In the top right of the page, click the “Your Account” dropdown.
  3. Select “Recurring Donations”: From the dropdown menu, click “Recurring Donations” to view your current recurring gifts.

How to Edit Recurring Donation

How to Access Recurring Donations Page

To edit your recurring donations, follow these steps:

  1. Log In to the Giving Website: Enter your credentials and log in.
  2. Click “Your Account”: In the top-right corner, open the “Your Account” dropdown.
  3. Select “Recurring Donations”: Choose “Recurring Donations” to access your recurring gift settings.
  4. Click “Edit” Button: Next to the recurring gift you wish to modify, click the “Edit” button.

Overview of Edit Recurring Donation Page

From this page, you can make the following changes:

  • Change Gift Amount: Adjust the amount you’re giving.
  • Change Recurring Type: Modify the frequency (weekly, monthly, etc.).
  • Change Gift Fund/Sub-fund: Allocate your donation to a different fund if necessary.
  • Change Payment Method: Switch to a different saved payment option.
  • Change Next Gift Date: Select a new start or next scheduled date for your recurring gift.

After making the necessary changes:

  1. Click “Update Donation”: Once you’ve made all necessary changes, click the “Update Donation” button to save them.

How to Cancel Recurring Donation

How to Access Recurring Donations Page

If you need to cancel a recurring donation, here’s how to access the page:

  1. Log In to the Giving Website: Log in to your account.
  2. Click “Your Account”: Open the “Your Account” dropdown in the top-right corner.
  3. Select “Recurring Donations”: Click on “Recurring Donations” from the dropdown to view your recurring donations.

How to Cancel Recurring Gift from Edit Gift Page

  1. Click “Edit” Button: Find the recurring gift you wish to cancel and click “Edit.”
  2. Click “Cancel Recurring Donation”: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Cancel Recurring Donation” button.
  3. Click “Confirm Removal”: To finalize, click “Confirm Removal” to cancel the recurring gift.

FAQ

  • Can I change the frequency of an existing recurring donation?
    Yes, you can adjust the frequency at any time by editing your recurring donation through the “Recurring Donations” page.
  • What if I want to switch the fund my donation goes to?
    Simply go to the “Edit” option for your recurring donation and choose a different fund or sub-fund.
  • Is there a way to pause my recurring donation?
    While there isn't a pause option, you can cancel your recurring donation and set up a new one at a later date.
  • How will I know if my donation was successfully set up?
    You will receive a confirmation email after setting up a recurring donation, and it will also be listed in your “Recurring Donations” page.
  • Can I schedule a donation for a future date?
    Yes, both one-time and recurring donations can be scheduled for a future date using the calendar picker during setup.

If you have any further questions, please contact our support team for assistance!

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