Convenience Fee Explained
We know the convenience fee can be confusing … especially if it is the first time you have seen it. Hopefully, this explanation will help!
Anytime you provide The Fellowship your credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account information as a form of payment, the vendor we use to process those payments charges us for that service.
Rates vary depending upon a few factors, but credit/debit card transactions always cost The Fellowship more than checking/savings account transactions. Usually, the fee is a percentage of the transaction total … plus a flat transaction fee.
If you have your bank initiate the payment, for example using their bill pay features, The Fellowship is not processing your transactions, merely receiving the money; thus, this does not cost The Fellowship anything. Be sure to check with your bank because most banks offer this service free of charge.
As of March 2020, The Fellowship is consolidating our online giving experience to a single vendor in order to save money on processing costs, streamline your giving experience, and simplify our internal processes. We shopped and negotiated heavily to get the best rate, saving about 25% off our previous rates.
This vendor provides the option to add a “convenience fee” to the transaction total. A few important details:
- The convenience fee is not paid to the vendor. It is paid to The Fellowship, which helps us offset the costs of the transaction.
- The convenience fee is completely optional. If you choose:
- Not to pay the convenience fee, it is okay; we are still saving money over our previous vendor.
- To pay the convenience fee, that is great; we save more money than before.
- Unfortunately, currently, we are unable to offer one convenience fee for credit/debit card transactions and another for checking/savings account transactions. Since the convenience fee goes to The Fellowship directly, any overage is retained by The Fellowship.
Why We Give
Simply stated, we believe that our financial giving is an act of worship. Giving reflects a posture of gratitude for all that God has done in our lives. We believe that we are called to respond to the generosity of the gospel by giving extravagantly to the progress of the gospel in our community and around the world. Giving also nurtures a rich and trusting relationship with a living God. We express our faith and love to Him by honoring Him as the source of everything we have. At The Fellowship, we practice tithing as a Biblical model for giving financially.
If you have any questions about giving at The Fellowship, please contact . For a record of all your giving to The Fellowship, click here.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
FAQs
WHAT IS TITHING?
Tithing is our starting place in giving. The Bible teaches us about a baseline standard for giving: the tithe (a word that literally means a “tenth”). Choosing to give the first 10% of our income is meant to foster a heart of generosity towards others as well as trust in God to be our faithful provider.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GIVE?
Automated bank bill pay is the easiest and most effective way to automate your giving. Once it is set up, you can update or change your giving at any time simply by changing the amount on your bank’s website. If you are not currently using bill pay, contact your bank or visit your bank’s website to set up bill pay. With bill pay, there are no processing fees, so 100% of your gift goes to the ministries of The Fellowship.
While we allow the use of credit cards for tithes and offerings, we strongly encourage the use of electronic funds transfer rather than credit card for two primary reasons:
1. We would never encourage someone to go into debt and pay interest on a donation to The Fellowship.
2. When using a credit card, 3% or more of your gift goes to the credit card company.
CAN I DECIDE WHERE MY TITHE GOES?
On occasion, there are specific projects and initiatives for which you can specify your giving. However, most giving is designated to a general fund where it is allocated to different budget categories that help facilitate ministry at The Fellowship and around the globe.
IS THERE A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY?
The Fellowship is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). The ECFA provides accreditation to leading Christian non-profit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, transparency, fundraising and board governance. With this accreditation, The Fellowship has shown transparency, accountability, and wisdom in using your donations. Additionally, members of The Fellowship may request a copy of our most recent financial statements at any time.
IS MY INFORMATION KEPT PRIVATE?
Your information is held securely by the Fellowship One system. This information will remain private and will never be given away to third parties.
WHY A CONVENIENCE FEE?
The Fellowship has consolidated our online giving to a single vendor in order to save money on processing costs, streamline your giving inexpert and simply our internal processes.
Some forms of giving may incur a convenience fee. For more information, click here.
CAN I GIVE STOCKS/BONDS/SECURITIES?
Appreciated marketable securities are a great way to maximize your giving because you receive an immediate income tax deduction for the full fair market value of your securities. And, you pay no capital gains
HOW CAN I SEE A RECORD OF ALL MY GIVING?
Giving via our online giving platform can be viewed when you log in to your giving account. For a record of all your giving to The Fellowship, click here.
More Ways To Give
ONLINE GIVING
Giving an online tithe or offering is simple. Just create a user account, then schedule a one-time or recurring contribution to The Fellowship. Through your account, you will be able to view a history of your contributions as well as change your contact or payment information at any time.
AUTOMATED BANK BILL PAY
Automated bank bill pay is the easiest and most effective way to automate your giving. Once it is set up, you can update or change your giving at any time simply by changing the amount on your bank’s website. If you are not currently using bill pay, contact your bank or visit your bank’s website to set up bill pay. With bill pay, there are no processing fees, so 100% of your gift goes to the ministries of The Fellowship.
While we allow the use of credit cards for tithes and offerings, we strongly encourage the use of electronic funds transfer rather than credit card for two primary reasons:
1. We would never encourage someone to go into debt and pay interest on a donation to The Fellowship.
2. When using a credit card, 3% or more of your gift goes to the credit card company.
STOCKS/BONDS/SECURITIES
Appreciated marketable securities are a great way to maximize your giving because you receive an immediate income tax deduction for the full fair market value of your securities. And, you pay no capital gains tax on the difference between your cost and the fair market value.
PERSONAL CHECKS
You can fill out your check and place it in the giving station during service or you can mail in your check to the church offices.