Giving FAQ

What are the benefits of online giving?

There are several benefits to online giving for both you and the church.

  • Simplicity – You will not need to remember if you gave this month or pay period, or send your offering checks when you are out of town.
  • Security – Online giving is more secure than giving with a check in that an electronic gift can’t be lost or stolen. For additional information on how Redeemer Covenant Church keeps your information and contributions secure, click here.
  • No Distractions – Instead of needing to worry about writing your contribution check during the service, you can be fully engaged with the worship service, knowing that you have already given your offering.
  • Helping Redeemer Covenant Church – Online contributions require less processing from our administrative and volunteer staff since the information is logged to your donor record and deposited automatically.

Is it safe to give online?

Yes. In many ways giving online is safer than writing a check because an electronic gift cannot be lost or stolen. The security of the system is continually managed by our online provider, Breeze. To find out more about your security, click here.

What types of bank accounts can I give from?

You can give online from your checking or savings accounts using your bank and account numbers.

Can I give using a credit or debit card?

You may make transactions by credit and debit cards.

I currently use my bank's online bill pay feature for my donations. How is this different and should I switch?

You do not necessarily need to switch. Redeemer Covenant Church online giving is different from your bank’s online bill pay feature in two ways: First, with Redeemer Covenant Church’s system, donations are immediately recorded to the church and your giving history at the time of your contribution whereas your bank takes time (several days) to process and mail a check to the church. Secondly, Redeemer Covenant Church online giving is processed electronically, so there is no need for our contributions volunteers to handle a physical check.

Are there any fees involved with giving online?

You need not pay any fees with an online gift. As with any online system, there are fees borne by the church. However, there is an option to support the church by agreeing to cover the service fee when you donate. Your giving statement will be credited for the donation and the covered fee. Online gifts are a more cost efficient and convenient way for the church to process donations.

If I want to set up a recurring gift, what are my options for frequency of my gift?

For recurring gifts, you have the option of giving one time, weekly, monthly, every two weeks or yearly. You may also specify the starting and ending dates for your recurring gifts.

Can I change my personal information or the amount or the frequency of my gift once I have set it up?

Yes. You can change or cancel your contribution at any time before the date of your next scheduled contribution (once a contribution has been processed it cannot be canceled). Simply log in to the system using your user name and password and make the necessary changes in the system.

Can I review my donation history online?

Yes. The site will allow you to view the complete history of your contributions, given either online or otherwise. Once you’ve created an account, you will be able to contribute immediately. In some cases, before you can see any past contributions, we must manually connect your online account with your previous information. This is a one-time process that usually happens within a week of creating your account. After that, you can view your giving history (online or by check) at any time.

How long does it take for my donation history to post online for review?

When you first set up your online giving profile, Breeze will match your information with the information in the database. If a match is not found, it will take about a week for our staff to link your Breeze ID with the church database record. After this, you will be able to review your previous gifts to Redeemer Covenant Church in the online giving section of the website. Once your record is linked, future gifts will be posted and available immediately after your gift is received.

Will I still receive regular contribution statements from the church?

You will not receive a printed contribution statement when you create a Breeze ID. Breeze gives you the opportunity to print or download your statement at any time for the current year and past year. If you ever need a printed statement sent to you, please contact our Church Treasurer.

When will contributions be taken from my account?

Contributions will be taken from your specified bank account within 2 business days of the date you requested. This time frame allows time for the contribution to process through your bank and the church’s bank. If the date of your contribution falls on a weekend or a holiday, the transaction will be initiated on the next banking day.

Can I designate my gift to a particular ministry or account?

Yes, you can designate your gift to go toward one or more of the following accounts:

  • General Fund: This is our general fund and can be used for normal tithes. This supports the ministries, staff and general operation of our church.
  • Regular Giving – Missions: Gifts given to this fund support the local, domestic and overseas missionaries of Redeemer Covenant Church.
  • Other Funds: Benevolent, Building, Camp, Mission, Retreats, and Sign Project are options now available which will be shown when making your online contribution.

We may also add additional accounts at specific times. If you don’t know which one to choose, please consider giving to “General Fund.”

How will I know that I set up my gift correctly?

Very shortly after submitting your contribution, you will receive an email verifying your contribution and you will see it in your giving history online. If giving for the first time after setting up your account, you will be able to see past giving history in about a week.

Does it matter which Internet browser I use?

No. Any browser will work, including later-model mobile devices.

Will I be able to give to special Redeemer Covenant Church short-term campaigns online?

During times when these campaigns are occurring, you will be able to give a one-time contribution to support the given initiative or campaign.

Can I give by online or paper check?

Yes, you can give via online or paper check. If you’d like to write a paper check to Redeemer Covenant Church, please send it via mail, deliver it in person, or place it in the offering during one of our services.

Our address is:

  • Redeemer Covenant Church, 7801 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Can I give by texting?

Donate by texting is not currently available.

Can I give from my Individual Retirement Account?

You can provide your gift to Redeemer’s ministries directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) without paying federal income tax on the withdrawal. This is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Whether you use the standard deduction or itemize deductions on your taxes, you get a tax benefit from using a QCD. How it works:

  • You must be age 70-1/2 or better at the time the gift is made.
  • Only traditional IRAs are eligible for QCDs.
  • The gift can be used to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) each year.
  • The gift must be a direct transfer of funds from an IRA to Redeemer for the gift to be tax free.
  • The transfer can be made at any time of year and can be done in multiple payments.

Your Financial Advisor or IRA Custodian can provide more information and specific instructions and forms required to make this Qualified Charitable Distribution. If you have questions about where to begin, contact Paul Johnson or the church treasurer.

Another alternative is a “Donor-Advised Fund.” A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. There are tax advantages to using this method of giving. See your Tax advisor for specific information. If you have questions about where to begin, contact Paul Johnson or the church treasurer.

I have additional questions about online giving that have not been addressed. Who can I talk to?

For any questions, concerns or comments about the online giving system, please contact our Church Treasurer. You will receive a response as soon as possible.

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