Frequently Asked Questions - Giving Treasure

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:  Considering which method of giving is right for you? Curious about ways in which St. Francis parishioners give? Check out the FAQ below.

What method of giving is most cost-effective for the parish? Online donations from your bank checking or savings account. The processing fees for these are about 0.5%, as compared to credit card fees of 3.5%. For example, an annual donation of $1,000 via bank account provides support of $995, compared to $965 from credit card. We are happy to report that the largest percentage of last year’s Sunday offertory funds (32%) came from this method of giving. 

If I want to give using my credit card, can I cover the higher transaction fee? Yes – now you can! This is new to Give Central, our online giving processor. Log into your Give Central account and select “I would like to cover the processing fee” when you make or change your contribution. Currently, about 22% of our annual Sunday offertory is received from this method. 

Can I continue using my offertory envelopes? Absolutely. We continue to receive 30% of our Sunday offertory in this way. We are looking at ways to reduce the cost of printing and mailing, and there may be future changes to the number of envelopes and frequency of mailing.

How important is my Christmas or Easter donation? Very important!  these two special donations totaled 10% ($215,000) of our funding last year. 

Are there any other methods to give to offertory? Donations of appreciated stock, IRA distributions, and donor advised funds are just a few ways in which donors give so generously. Contact Jennifer Zeisloft, Director of Stewardship and Development (jzeisloft@sfxlg.org or 708/352-0168), if you have questions about these giving methods.