FAQs About Electronic & Text Giving
Q: What are the major advantages of electronic giving?
A: It’s all about convenience – for you and the church! It reduces check writing and helps donors stay on track with pledges even when unable to attend services. The church also benefits from consistency of recurring donations and a reduction of time in processing check and cash contributions.
Q: How can I sign up for online giving?
A: Register for Realm! Contact the church office for more information. Or, click one of the GIVE boxes above.
Q: How does electronic giving work?
A: Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account (or, on Realm, your credit card is also an option), to the church’s bank account.
Q: Can I give by text?
A: Yes! Text “BeardenUMC” or “BeardenUMC $20” (or any amount) to 73256. You can specify your amount, fund (the default is our Operating Fund), and payment method. Once you give, your payment method is stored for future use. This is a very easy way to give a quick, one-time gift.
Q: How do I give a contribution through my Realm profile?
A: On your GIVING tab, click the +GIVE button (or, on the Realm Connect app, click the GIVING menu and MAKE A GIFT). Enter your amount, fund, frequency, date, and payment information. To give to more than one fund at once, click GIVE TO AN ADDITIONAL FUND. If you set up a recurring gift, you’ll receive an email when the end date has been reached.
Q: When will my contribution be withdrawn from my bank account?
A: A debit to your account will occur on the date(s) you specify. It does, however, take a day or two to process your request, depending on the time of day.
Q: How do I make changes to my fund, amount, date, bank account or frequency?
A: Changes are easy online or on Realm! Remember to save your user name and password, and log in to make the changes you want.
Q: To what funds can I give?
A: You’ll see a list of funds in the drop-down box. If you want to choose something else, use the “Other” fund and enter a description in the memo field.
Q: How will I keep track of recurring contributions and prove I made them?
A: Since your contribution is made at a pre-set time, you should record it in your check register on the appropriate date. The itemized list of electronic transactions that appear on your bank or credit card statement can be used as proof of your contributions. The church will also continue to list transactions on your quarterly and annual contribution statements.
Q. How do I view/print my contributions on my Realm profile?
A. On your GIVING tab, click the PRINT icon. The default report is the current year. If you want a different year, click the FILTER icon or YEAR TO DATE button to change the dates.
Q: Can I check my progress toward my pledge on Realm?
A: Yes! This information is on the right side of the screen on your GIVING tab. It shows your progress in on the top (it looks like a sliding scale), your pledge amount on the bottom left, and the balance due on the right.
Q: Is giving electronically 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 donors to the church on the same day without any delay. Vanco processes contributions for more than 10,000 churches and nonprofit organizations.
Q: How much does electronic giving cost?
A: There is no cost to you, but the church does pay a fee for each of your transactions. You will see a box to check, if you wish, to help offset those costs to the church. On Realm, the credit card rate is 3% and the bank account rate is 1%.
Q: What if I try electronic giving and don’t like it?
A: You can cancel your authorization at any time by changing your online setup.