Why Electronic Giving at Mary Queen of Peace?
It's timely. By setting up a recurring contribution that is scheduled to come out of your account on the day you specify, you establish your gift to God as a priority in your budget. You can even give on days besides Sundays, i.e. Holy Days of Obligation.
It's simple. You will not need to remember if you gave this month or to send in your offering check when you are out of town. You can make changes online at any time.
It's secure. An electronic gift cannot be lost or stolen.
There are no distractions. Instead of remembering to write your contribution check and bring it to church with you, you can be assured that your gift has already been processed.
It benefits the Church and the people we serve. Electronic giving saves the Church time and money. It saves the Church money by reducing the number of envelopes that are mailed out. It saves the Church time due to the reduction of envelopes needing to be counted by our weekly volunteer team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Electronic Giving?
Electronic Giving allows members and friends of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church to make contributions using the modern means of payment which is widely available and growing in demand by a large segment of society. There are two ways in which electronic payments can be processed:
Direct Debit Giving is used to automatically transfer funds from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account. If you are already using direct debit to make mortgage and car payments or to pay utility bills, then you know how it works. To donate using Direct Debit, complete the 'ACH DIRECT DEBIT" donation form above, complete and return to the Parish office with a voided check.
Online Debit/Credit Card Giving lets you go to our church website to set up a schedule of automatic donations or make one-time donation. By setting up a password protected profile, you will be able to log in at any time to make donations, change a recurring donation, plan or view your personal giving history. Many people who give electronically prefer this method as it provides quick control of their giving and up to date records available online through the secure web site. To sign up using Online Debit or Credit Card, click on the "DONATE ONLINE NOW" button above.
What are the major advantages of electronic giving by Direct Debit?
Direct Debit is about convenience for parishioners who like to use these types of payment options. Electronic giving eliminates frequent check writing and helps parishioners stay on track with pledges even when they are unable to attend services. The church in turn benefits from a reduction in the volume of check and cash contributions that must be handled and manually processed in the church office.
How does Direct Debit Giving work?
A. Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.
How are my automatic contributions deducted and transferred?
A. First, you sign and return an authorization form to the church indicating the amount you wish to contribute on a regular basis. Contributions are then transferred through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network—the same network already used by families to make mortgage and utility payments or to receive payroll earnings and Social Security income. Direct Debit goes by other names including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), automatic payment, or simply, ACH.
When will my contribution be debited from my account?
A. A debit to your account will occur each month on the date you specify on your authorization form.
How will I keep track of contributions in my check register?
A. Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date. Electronic contributions will appear on your bank statement.
What can I use to prove I made a contribution?
A. Your bank statement will show an itemized list of electronic transactions that can be used as proof of your contributions.
Is giving by Direct Debit risky?
A. It is certainly less risky than writing checks or carrying cash to church. To process electronic donations, the church uses Vanco Services, LLC—an established and highly-regarded company that moves funds directly from church members' bank accounts to the church's account on the same day without any delay. Vanco processes contributions for more than 10,000 churches and nonprofit organizations.
How much does Direct Debit giving cost?
A. It costs you nothing and it costs the church very little. It is the lowest cost method of transferring funds.
What if I try electronic giving by Direct Debit and don’t like it?
A. You can cancel your authorization at any time by notifying the church.
Can I put different amounts in offerings and have all of them withdrawn at different times?
A. You can set up to contribute to different offerings at different times; however, you will have to do each one separately. You will receive a receipt for each one.
What if I change bank accounts?
Contact the Parish Office with the change in your Bank Account information.
How can I sign up for electronic giving by Direct Debit?
A. Complete, sign and return an ACH authorization form to the church office.
What is the difference between giving by Direct Debit and giving by Credit or Debit card payment?
A. The only difference is the account which is charged for payment when scheduled. Under Direct Debit giving, a charge is made to your checking account.Under Debit/Credit card giving, a charge is made to your debit or credit card.
Many families have grown accustomed to making payments through a debit or credit card rather than through a checking account. In many cases they find it better in their situations to take advantage of the points programs of these cards and reduce the number of checks they write. For these people, Debit or Credit card giving fits into a practice in which they are already involved with other regularly scheduled payments.
Through the personal profile which you set up, you have the ability to easily access giving information and modify any payments you have set up within a few clicks. However, the transactions and changes are made through a secure web site which is protected with a personal password which you select
Why would I set up an online giving account using a Credit or Debit Card?
A. When you set up an online account you have the quickest form of processing available because paperwork is not being processed.. People who are already using this type of service to pay utility bills and other regular recurring payments might find this to be a helpful option.
How can I verify payments have been made online giving account using a Credit or Debit Card?
A. Your bank/credit card statement provides an itemized list of electronic transactions. The Online Giving Account also allows you to run reports to track your giving.
How do I create an online giving account?
A. Click on the "DONATE ONLINE NOW" button at the top of this page. If you have not already done so, create your safe and secure Online User Profile. Log in to the system and complete the Online Payment fields. Be sure to designate your intention for your donation, along with the Payment Frequency and Payment Start Date. The second screen will allow you to enter in your Debit/Credit Card information
Why Give?
A. Think of all the gifts God has given you: faith, family, friends, talents, skills, money and possessions. All that we are and all that we have really belongs to God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God gave each of us. In return, God asks us to generously share what He has given to us. Your financial support helps our parish build God’s kingdom on Earth through our various ministries and organizations. We help each other strengthen our Faith which puts us on the path to Heaven! May God continue to shower you with His many blessings.
