A change in giving providers involves more than a new donation page. Your church needs a clear plan for recurring gifts, donor communication and the work your team will need to do.
It’s Not Just About Technology
A change in giving providers affects both donors and the team that supports them. Donors need clear instructions about any action they must take, while church staff need to know who will answer questions and check the transition.
The Real Challenge: Recurring Giving
Recurring gifts need a specific transition plan because donors may expect their weekly or monthly gifts to continue automatically. Before setting a transition date, confirm how each existing schedule will be handled. Moving payment details and recreating a recurring schedule may require different steps.
What That Means in Practice
Plan for the possibilities:
- Recurring gifts may need to be recreated
- Some donors may need to re-enter their information
- Some donors may not complete the process
- Giving could be interrupted
Even temporarily, that’s a real risk.
That is why a clear transition plan matters.
Why This Happens
Payment methods, recurring schedules and donor records are different parts of a transition. Ask both providers what can be transferred through their supported process, what needs to be recreated and which steps require donor action.
Do not assume that a payment-data transfer also moves the recurring schedule.
The Result
Before choosing a new provider, confirm who will manage the transition, what donors will need to do and how your church will check that recurring gifts continue as intended.
A Better Standard
A clear transition process should explain what can move, what donors need to do and who is responsible for each step. Ask for those details before committing to a change.
A Simple Question to Ask
Before choosing a provider, ask: “If our church later changes providers, what can be transferred, what must donors do, and how will we check that recurring gifts continue as intended?”
Ask for clear answers before planning your move.
For a practical starting point, make a list of recurring gifts and review our switching guidance. Compare the full cost of your current agreement, including monthly fees and tools your church still needs.