Frequently Asked Questions About Online Giving

Please read the FAQ below. If you have a problem or question that is not addressed below, please contact Beth Lodwick, Rob Blackwell or Sandra Dunaway at the church office.

Is it safe to give online?
Yes. In many ways, giving online is safer than writing a check, because an electronic gift cannot be lost or stolen. At Christ United, we use Shelby Online Giving to administer our program. This is a respected mobile commerce company that specializes in churches and other non-profit organizations, and is publicly traded on NASDAQ. Their systems allow you to make donations online and access your contributions records.

Your information managed securely by Shelby Online Giving, and is encrypted using secure socket layer (SSL) technology. Your information will remain private and will never be given away to third parties, other than to process your scheduled contributions.

What are the different ways I can give using the Online Giving program?
There is lots of flexibility using Shelby Online Giving:

  • You can give using your computer, tablet or phone.

  • You can give on the website, text or Mobile App.

  • You can give from your MasterCard or Visa debit or credit cards, or via ACH bank draft from your bank or credit union.

  • You can make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift.

If I want to set-up a recurring gift, what are my options for frequency of my gift?
For recurring gifts, you have the option of giving daily, weekly, month, or annually. Recurring gifts are an excellent way to keep on track with your planned giving, and to keep up even when you’re on vacation or homebound.

How do I get started?
To get started, take any one of the following steps:

Are there any fees involved with giving online?
Not to you. You are not required to pay any fees with an online gift. Christ United is charged a percentage of your gift, so you may want to write a check if the amount is significant, or you can check the optional box on the online giving page that adds enough to your gift to cover card processing fees (approximately 3%, depending on type of card).

Can I change my personal information or the amount or the frequency of my gift once I have set it up?
Yes. You can change or cancel your contribution at any time before the date of your next contribution. Simply log in to the system using your user name and password and make the necessary changes in the system. If you change your personal information on your Shelby Online Giving account, please let the church office know as well so we can change it on our internal systems.

Will I still receive regular contribution statements from the church?
Yes. The church will continue to send contribution statements to your address on file for tax purposes. Your statements will include donations made via Shelby Online Giving as well as donations made by other means (e.g. personal check).

How will I know that I set up my gift correctly?
Immediately after submitting your contribution, you will receive an e-mail verifying your contribution.

Does it matter which Internet browser I use?
No. Any browser will work.

How do I make changes or cancel contributions online?
Provided that you are logged into your Shelby Online Giving account you can schedule new contributions at any time, and can modify or cancel those contributions at any time prior to the date they are scheduled. Once the contribution has been processed, however, it cannot be cancelled.