Don't Let Giving Go into Hibernation: A Fall Tune-Up Guide

Oct. 7, 2025 by

 Sarah Murphy

A Quick-and-Easy Checklist to Refresh Your Online Giving Before Year-End

October is here—a quiet moment before the whirlwind of Advent and year-end giving begins. If your online giving or payment forms feel like a “bear” to deal with, don’t worry: this isn’t about a total rebuild. Think of it as a quick tune-up—some easy maintenance steps to keep everything running smoothly before the busy season hits.

1

Pop the Hood: Check Your Basics

Every engine needs a quick once-over. For your giving and payment forms, that means:

• Make sure you’re accepting credit/debit and ACH.
• Turn on recurring giving—it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow steady support.
• Set preset donation amounts to guide generosity without overwhelming donors.

Pro tip: Log in to your site and double-check that these basics are set. A few minutes now can save headaches later.

2

Add Some Shine: Donor-Friendly Features

Small details make a big difference in the donor's experience. Consider:

• Custom reply messages to send heartfelt thank-yous.
• Allow donors to offset fees, giving them ownership in covering the processing costs.
• Use the built-in QR codes for each page—perfect for bulletins, posters, or pew cards.

These quick adjustments can help your donors feel connected and confident.

3

Keep the Whole Engine in Sync

Your forms don't work in isolation. With Online Giving & Pay, you can:

• Build your giving forms directly on your eCatholic website, saving donors time and keeping them where your community's information is.
• Sync seamlessly with your eCatholic ChMS for clean and clear reporting.
• Allow donors to sign up to your Connect lists for ongoing updates on the difference their contributions make.

It's like making sure all your parts are working together—not just humming along on their own.

4

Fix the Little Rattles

Sometimes, the smallest features prevent the biggest problems:

• Abandoned form recovery captures information even when a payment isn’t finished. Admins can send quick reminders with a single click.
• Those “lost” donations or payments? Expiring methods of payment? Check out these email notifications for eCatholic Payments. A gentle nudge helps them cross the finish line.

These behind-the-scenes tools keep your forms efficient without adding extra work.

5

Why the Tune-Up Matters

Sure, this is about smoother payments and easier giving. But it’s also about something bigger:

• Every dollar fuels your ministry’s mission.
• And because eCatholic tithes a portion of revenue from Online Giving & Pay to Catholic Extension, your forms also support seminarians and retired priests.

Your maintenance work here goes further than you think.

Simplify Giving Before It Gets Busy

Now’s the time to simplify giving and payments for your community. From recurring donations to event sign-ups, eCatholic Payments keeps everything connected, secure, and easy to manage.

Start Your Discovery Call Today

Don't Wait for the Rush

October is the perfect time for a quick tune-up. No stress, no rush—just a few simple checks that will prepare your parish or school for a strong finish to the year.