How to Set Up Online Giving for Your Church (Step-by-Step)

Online giving lets your congregation give tithes and offerings digitally — by card, bank transfer, or text — instead of only cash or check. Setting it up takes about an afternoon, and for most churches it increases both consistency and total giving because people can give anytime, set up recurring gifts, and never need to "remember the checkbook."

Here's a practical, step-by-step walkthrough.

Why online giving matters

Giving habits have changed. Fewer people carry cash, and many give from their phones. Churches that offer online giving typically see:

• More consistent giving, because recurring donations continue even when members travel or miss a Sunday.
• Higher total giving, since people can give in the moment — during a sermon, a campaign, or a text appeal.
• Less admin work, because digital gifts are recorded automatically instead of counted and entered by hand.

Step 1 — Choose a giving platform

Pick a platform that fits how your church works. Look for:

• Multiple methods — card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay / Google Pay, and text-to-give.
• Recurring gifts — let donors set weekly or monthly giving once.
• Low fees — card processing is usually ~2.2–2.9% + $0.30; ACH is far cheaper. A "cover the fees" option lets donors offset costs.
• Connected records — gifts should post to the donor's profile and your reports automatically, and ideally into your accounting.

All-in-one church platforms include giving alongside your people and accounting, so everything stays connected. Standalone giving apps work too, but you'll re-enter data elsewhere.

Step 2 — Connect your bank account

Online giving runs on a payment processor (Stripe is the most common). You'll:

1. Create or connect a processor account from inside your giving platform.
2. Verify your church's legal/EIN details and add the bank account where funds should deposit.
3. Confirm the small test deposits if prompted.

Funds then deposit directly to your church's account, usually within a couple of business days.

Step 3 — Set up your funds

Create the funds people can give to. Most churches start with:

• General / Tithes & Offerings (the default)
• Building Fund
• Missions
• Benevolence

Keep it short. Too many funds confuse givers. You can always add seasonal funds (a campaign, a mission trip) later.

Step 4 — Create your giving page and options

Set up the ways people give:

• A branded giving page or embedded form on your website.
• Text-to-give — a keyword members text to get an instant giving link. Display it on your screens during service.
• A QR code for bulletins and slides.
• Recurring giving turned on, so donors can schedule gifts.

Make sure the flow is short: amount → fund → pay. Every extra step costs you gifts.

Step 5 — Test it before you launch

Give a small real gift yourself (e.g., $1). Confirm that:

• The charge succeeds and deposits correctly.
• The gift appears on the donor's profile and in your giving reports.
• The donor receives an emailed receipt.

Then refund your test gift if your platform allows.

Step 6 — Launch and encourage adoption

Technology is only half the job — adoption is the rest.

• Announce it from the front, more than once. Show the screen, the keyword, and the QR code.
• Make it normal. Mention online and recurring giving as the default, not a backup.
• Lead by example. Have leaders set up recurring gifts first.
• Follow up with first-time digital givers to say thank you.

Step 7 — Keep your records clean

Because digital gifts are recorded automatically, your job shifts from data entry to oversight:

• Reconcile deposits against your giving reports regularly.
• Generate year-end contribution statements for donors (your platform should do this in a click).
• If your giving and accounting are connected, gifts post to the right fund automatically — no double entry.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up online giving for my church? Choose a giving platform, connect your church bank account through its payment processor, create your funds, build a giving page and text-to-give keyword, test it with a small real gift, then launch and encourage your congregation to use it.

What does online giving cost a church? Most of the cost is payment processing — roughly 2.2–2.9% + $0.30 per card gift, with ACH bank transfers much cheaper. Some platforms add a fee; many offer a "cover the fees" option so donors can offset the cost.

Is online giving safe for churches? Yes. Reputable giving platforms use established processors like Stripe and never expose card details to the church. Look for PCI-compliant providers and secure (HTTPS) giving pages.

Will online giving increase our giving? Often, yes. Recurring gifts make giving consistent through travel and missed Sundays, and in-the-moment options (text, QR) capture gifts that cash never would.

Church Krew includes online and text-to-give with built-in accounting. See how giving works or book a demo.