With so much activity having shifted online due to the crisis caused by Covid-19, one of the issues we're being confronted by is a shortfall in giving and the need for giving to shift to digital methods. Especially in the current situation, churches and charities and the work they do is incredibly valuable and it's vital they remain resourced.
Now more than ever, our customers are relying on ChurchSuite Donate, our superb online giving system. But we've been questioning how we can further support our customers in this important area... and we're thrilled to be able to launch our reworked SMS giving system, Donate via SMS!
How do SMS donations work for givers?
For givers, this is incredibly easy: simply send an SMS to the ChurchSuite number (07380 307 800 in the UK, (833) 509-0800 in Canada/USA), include the account's keyword and the amount to be donated. The giver then gets an SMS response that includes a link they can click, leading them to ChurchSuite Donate's pre-filled form where they can complete their donation.
How does this work for churches?
Previously, our customers had to set up an integration with an SMS provider and pay to use a custom keyword. Now, no SMS integration is necessary - we handle everything centrally, so it works for all accounts with the Giving module. In addition, the process of choosing a keyword can now be done within ChurchSuite and the cost of the keyword will be carried by ChurchSuite rather than you!
In summary: it is now easier to set up, cheaper (as in free!) and more flexible to use.For customers who are already using our SMS giving system with Textlocal, you don't need to make any changes - things will continue to work in the same way. However, if you did want to shift to the new way of doing things, you are able to do so.If you're interested in finding out more, please check out our support article on SMS giving which we've updated to reflect the new way of doing things: SMS giving for smartphonesIf you have any thoughts or questions, we'd love to hear from you at support@churchsuite.comWe hope and pray that this change will make it easier for your members to give generously to your work at this crucial time!