Giving should be easy. Generosity and impact should be the focus, not the process—which is why we completely redesigned our web donation form on Church Center.
The redesigned donation form means…
- Faster and more secure giving for guests and recurring donors
- Savings on processing fees through more ACH bank transfer (only $0.30/per donation v. 2.15% + $0.30 on credit!)
- Less spammy and duplicate profiles from bots
- A cleaner database for proper accounting and statements
And all without your donors even noticing what’s happening behind the scenes.
Watch the video for a side-by-side comparison of the old form and the new!
We like shiny new things as much as anyone, but we don’t design new things just for the “oohs” and “aahs.”
We know you’ve been feeling the friction in the donation process, and so have your congregants. This redesign helps solve the pain points for everyone.
What changed? A simpler giving experience, more savings, and secure guest flow
The new donation form includes several important changes:
- The less expensive, ACH bank account option is available on every donation alongside other saved payment methods for lower processing fees and more savings
- The donation amount right at the top for an immediate focus on generosity
- Recurring donation options are clearer so donors can establish a cadence to their giving
- Previous donation selections saved throughout the giving process, leading to fewer abandoned donations
- Identity verification integrated before donations for enhanced security and fewer duplicate profiles
- A single-page, mobile-optimized flow that keeps donors engaged in the process and results in more donations received
Let’s look at some of these changes a little more closely!
Goodbye duplicate profiles, hello clean statements
For donors who aren’t logged in, verifying their identity with a quick, one-time code helps eliminate bot-created profiles and prevents duplicate accounts from repeat donors. Your database stays clean, and your financial statements reflect accurate donor information.
Dealing with duplicate profiles from repeat donors and bots can lead to endless manual cleanup. Merging profiles and fixing data inconsistencies throughout the year and into statement season is a headache this form can help rid you of!
Single-page flow = more completed donations
Your donors may have experienced frustration being tossed to different pages to verify their identity before completing their donation. And what’s worse? The information they input is getting lost along the way.
Ugh, I’m just trying to give. Why is this so hard? Anyone else ever feel that way? 🙋
We get it. That’s why our single-page, mobile-optimized flow keeps everything—and everyone—in one place. People can complete their donations without bouncing around to different login pages or losing their selections, resulting in more completed donations.
Giving with ACH bank transfer is easier → more savings
Let’s just say it: processing fees are the worst. It’s even more of a bummer when donors didn’t know ACH was an option.
ACH bank transfer payments cost a flat $0.30 processing fee per transaction, versus the 2.15% plus $0.30 for credit cards.
So now we’re making ACH bank transfers more visible, making it easy for repeat donors to choose the most cost-saving option for your church. Those meaningful savings can be put right back into your ministry!
A faster, safer donation form for guests
But what about first-time donors and guests? We’ve taken these important members of your community into account too.
While this new donation process is different, it’s worlds better for them. While having a one-time verification code might seem like an extra step, it’s a standard security practice for all platforms connected to a financial institution—not to mention, it’s faster than typing their name and email every time, which is the current process.
Your congregants' Church Center profiles hold personal and bank account information that’s highly sensitive and deserves protection. An instant phone code is the easiest way to verify authenticity. And with smartphones being an everyday device now, your congregation already understands this workflow from other processes like their banking and shopping apps.
Of course, you and your donors should always stay vigilant to security threats, but now everyone can move forward with increased confidence as we establish tighter guardrails.
Caring for your donors and your admins
This donation form redesign addressed the challenges faced by both admins and donating congregants.
Our goal is to make your goals more attainable. This donation experience will help generosity flow smoothly, keep data clean and secure, and keep your team focused on the impact of your church’s giving.
Enable the redesigned form for your donors today! Just log into Giving and use the banner at the top of the dashboard. And don’t worry—you can opt out anytime during the beta period.
💛 The Giving Team
The redesigned donation form is currently only available on Church Center Web. Support for the mobile app and the embedded donation modal is coming soon. If you are using the embedded modal on your website, you won't be able to opt into the redesign just yet.