Rocky Hill Congregational Church

Q: What does it mean to “pay from my bank account” online? 

A: You provide information about your bank account that enables direct transfers of your designated support from your bank account to the church (similar to writing a digital check). We have partnered with Vanco Payment Solutions, a leading financial service provider trusted by more than 20,0000 churches to process donations in a digitally efficient and secure manner for more than 20 years.  

 

Q: Can I donate using my credit card?

A: Yes. If you wish to use a credit card, you may now donate through the “PayPal Giving Fund” a registered 501(c)(3) charity that directly passes along your donation to RHCC. We use this method because the PayPal Giving Fund covers all transaction costs, thereby allowing 100% of your donation to go to RHCC. 

 

Note that in order to use this donation method, you will need to have a PayPal account. (You can set one up if you do not already have one.) Within your PayPal account, you can designate a credit card as your preferred payment method. You can also use any other payment method enabled by PayPal.

 

Q: I don’t have a PayPal account. How do I set one up?

A: If you need to set up a PayPal account (in order to use a credit card), when you click on the “Donate Now” button, you will have the option to login to your existing account or to “Create an Account”.  Click on the “Create an Account” button and follow the prompts. As part of that process, you can register a credit card in your account.

 

Q: How does PayPal protect my credit card information?

A: PayPal has been a widely recognized and trusted provider of money transfer services for more than 20 years, and currently supports more than 277 million users worldwide. For more details on how PayPal protects the security of your information, visit PayPal’s safety and security page. 

 

Note that PayPal does not share any of your financial account information with RHCC.

 

Q: Can I use my bank’s own online banking site to make donations?

A: Yes. Your bank’s website most likely allows you to send a check directly to any entity through its bill paying module.   You should set up a payee as “Rocky Hill Congregational Church, 805 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067”. Then you can have checks sent to the church, just like any other bill payment. You can also specify that payments should be made at a recurring frequency.

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Q. How and when will I receive a receipt confirming my tax deduction?

A. You will get a receipt via PayPal giving for your credit or debit card gift.  Other acknowledgements in the form of a tax receipt will be made at year-end or, if over $250, immediately after the donation is received. The Church does not automatically send acknowledgements if the donation is under $250.  A tax receipt is sent at the end of the year to (1) recurring givers, (2) those who purchase Scrip or (3) those who specifically request one. If you are unsure that our Financial Secretary knows where to send your tax receipt, please send an email to finsec@rhccucc.org.

 

Q. How can I set up a recurring donation (i.e., weekly, monthly)?

A. First of all, we love it when donors ask this question, as recurring gifts provide an enduring commitment that allows us greater assurance of our ability to continue to fund our mission and ministries. 

 

There are several ways that you can do this:

1. Using our interface with Vanco (link to the Vanco donation page), you may specify a weekly or monthly frequency for your donations. This authorization can, of course, be modified by you at any time.

2. Using your bank’s own online banking facility, you can probably direct that checks be mailed at some recurring frequency. 

3. ​The PayPal Giving Fund does not provide a method for you to designate recurring gifts by credit card at this time.  However, if you would like to make a recurring gift by credit card, please email finsec@rhccucc.org and we can set this up for you. 

 

Q. Can I specify how my gift is to be used?

A. Yes, within limits.  Our Vanco interface allows you to select one of three general options: "Ongoing sustaining support", "Scrip", and "Other". If you select "Other", please type in the special offering or purpose for your gift (i.e., Easter offering, memorial gift, fee for use of building, etc.).

 

If you pay by check sent from your online banking site, please specify the purpose in the “memo” field of your check.  If that field is not passed along by your bank, then please notify our financial secretary by email when a designated payment is made.

 

If you donate via the PayPal Giving Fund, your gift will be assumed to be for general support unless you provide explicit instructions to the financial secretary by email.  Note that payments for Scrip or building use fees cannot be sent via the PayPal Giving Fund, as that payment vehicle is only to be used for qualifying charitable donations.

 

Q. What if I have other questions?

A. We are happy to directly respond to your specific questions or concerns. Please send an email to finsec@rhccucc.org.

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