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"I want to encourage you to be in prayer about making Egiving an instrumental part of your ministry.  I know it will bless your center as it has ours."
 
– Emily Schaap, Pregnancy Choice Director

FAQs
Webtools | FAQs | Brochure | Links | Founder's Story

What is Egiving Systems?
A ministry formed to improve Kingdom funding, especially the para-church. Principals are George and Louise Eusterman, Christians and 30-year veterans in the health club industry. Early pioneers of electronic payments for club member dues in mid 80's. Excellent community reputation and credit rating. Have a vision and calling to help ministries stabilize cash flow with egiving. Licensed Partner and VAR (value added reseller) of reduced-fee CheckFree services. No secular clients. Based out of Mount Vernon, WA. See Founders' Story Here

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Who is CheckFree?
You have to have a processing agent. CheckFree is the nationÕs largest processor of electronic checks (ACH) with 78% of US checks/$24 trillion in 2006, managing over one million portfolios with more than $500 billion in assets. Founded as Electronic Payments Processor in 1981, publicly held (NASDAQÑCKFR), 4000 employees serving 350 financial institutions, five million consumers and thousands of businesses.

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How secure will our electronic income be?
As secure as it can be. Egiving Systems leaves the funds transfers to CheckFree so we can sleep at night. CheckFreeÕs infrastructure includes fully redundant IBM ES9000 mainframe processing, 24x7 file monitoring with escalation procedures to the executive level, full environmental monitoring with redundant HVAC systems and diesel generator back-up, complete Business Contingency Plan for Disaster Recovery averaging seven exercises a year. CheckFreeÕs facilities (Columbus, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia) have 24 hour guard service, card key access at all entries, and bonded employees. All systems password protected on 2-week changeovers. The CheckFree company itself has never failed to transfer money in its twenty some years of existence and is used by every large national bank system for processing (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, USPS etc.).

There is another element of security that is fundamental to egiving. Givers are often distracted by national and local disasters, elections, economic downturns, holidays and vacations. Electronic giving automatic giving assures an even flow of income that smoothes out the bumps inherent in normal cash flow. Lastly, revenue transfers from the donor to your organization untouched by a middleman or human hands.

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What products are available for my organization?
Egiving Systems provides a significantly reduced rate contract with CheckFree for your ministry for their EFT Web system. Egiving Systems supports that relationship with an anointing for creating monthly partnerships, appeals, conference calls, forms and online giving tools, admin instruction, copy reviewÉat no charge. Egiving Systems is focused on the future needs of the Kingdom and is developing new tools regularly.

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Why not just use my bank for electronic processing?
A bank does not provide any vision, marketing or leadership. They are in the Òaverage daily balanceÓ business and keeping you as a customer is paramount. Providing some EFT service is intended to Òlock you inÓ as a client. We believe processing should be bank and software independent because, as time goes by, one or both may need to change.

Banking ACH and Merchant Accounts are often separate. Non-integrated software requiring extra staffing or effort. Clumsy, error-prone and rigid processing (compare to CheckFreeÕs advantages in next question). More costly because of internal support requirements. Higher office stress factors. Inflexible and limited. Often wonÕt communicate with other files and services required by ministries. Little support from bank. Future advanced products often do not integrate with old.

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Why are Egiving Systems and CheckFree better than using a bank or other EFT providers (Use this list to compare)?
Egiving Systems has a 20 year experience in electronic processing, processors, sales, marketing, integration and commitment to the goals of your ministry.

CheckFree’s world-class processing leadership, which includes:

• Paying any bank from any bank.
  
• ACH (checking) and credit card transactions sent in same file.
  
• Variety of telecommunication options; dial-up, frame relay, leased line, Internet.
  
• Multiple protocols; FTP, NDM, et al.
  
• Comprehensive electronic reporting package (for your records)
  
• Ability to specify separate bank accounts for proceeds, returns and fees.
  
• Choice of any days or as many days of the month for transaction as needed.
  
  • The FIF advantage which additionally includes:
  • Patented File containing the routing schemes of every financial institution in the country. (they will find the bank, not send the whole file back to you.)
  • Every ACH transaction being routed through FIF.
  • Drastically reducing several types of ACH returns such as Unable to Locate, Invalid Account Number, Branch sold to another DFI.
  • Continuous updating to ensure the latest information from Federal Reserve as well as processing experience.
    
• Permanent ongoing training for your staff
  
• Dedicated support staff with average tenure of 7 years
  
• Clients (you) being called when transmission not received and on all exceptions in the load process
• Instant access to client (you) and giver history available on line for 6 months, via RMDS for 2 years, microfiche for 7 years.
  
• Telephone changes up to 2 business days prior to draft date (not needed on web ASP which is up to the moment)
  
• Superior ACH returns (overdraws, changed accounts etc.) in that you can resubmit the next business day automatically and account is individually researched to correct prior to next transmission.
  
• Database maintenance of previous month’s transactions for disaster recovery.
  
• Escalation procedures to the executive level.
  
• Next business day transfers directly from your supporters account into your ministry’s account. ASP (web) is a 2-day process.

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How does the money move?

Day One:
Files are received by CheckFree before 3 pm EST. Edit checks are performed for File Format and Content Validity.

Day Two:
ACH (checking) transactions are routed through FIF to upgrade addresses. ACH transactions sent to Federal Reserve.

Day Three:
Giver is charged for ministry specified amount. Reporting is created and distributed to you by CheckFree. Transaction information stored on line for six months.

Day Four:
Proceeds from the collection (including credit cards) are deposited to your bank account. CheckFree then debits fees for the draft from your account.

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What does it cost to use this system?
CheckFree charges $100 for your application and $30 a month to host the system (your giving partnerÕs financial information is kept by CheckFree and not vulnerable in your office PC). Each check is .25 and each credit card is .25 plus a 2.5% Merchant Fee. We coach you to prefer gifts using checking accounts so your card fees stay small. See our brochure in the Resources area of this website for your staff..

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How does Egiving Systems get paid?
Egiving Systems is self-supported as a volunteer ministry and also shares some of the fees from CheckFree processing which are re-invested into the Kingdom.

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How do I start?
Contact us for counsel, fill out forms, (see Getting Started. To download forms, click here) have some Electronic Donation Authority cards printed, train key staff, integrate EFT as a ministerial priority (for best results) and launch. You will be provided with any necessary software and support materials. You more than likely own any hardware needed. Expect 30 days from application to launch in best scenario.

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Would it be less expensive to go to CheckFree direct?
You can go to CheckFree directly but fees would be the same or higher. CheckFree prefers to use licensed Partners for unique markets and refers inquiries to Partners. We are a licensed Partner and bulk re-seller of CheckFree services, mission focused and have wider pricing latitudes. We resell equal to or less than CheckFree pricing. Our compensation comes in the long-term financial blessing of your ministry. Egiving Systems receives no up-front fees. Our mission is to help fund the cause of Jesus Christ.

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Could you help me present this to my board/leadership?
We will do everything in our power to help you. You can see our pricing has little room for overhead. If you truly need us to come, we would be happy to but need our expenses covered. If we are on a “tour” we will be sure to see you. However, it is our belief that this Web site and a conference call with your team should be effective. Prayer is very effective. Follow up phone calls are welcome anytime and we are glad to call and talk to anyone you would like us to.

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What obstacles will I need to overcome to incorporate EFT into my ministry?
Our experience says very few. We are overwhelmed at the positive response to this concept. We give God the glory. Some of your team may have a fear or two but they usually pass quickly. Most of us have been paying electronically for years now. It is a welcome relief for many to have access to it. The most important thing we can convey is that you communicate to your people that egiving is something you want. You see its value to the accomplishment of your ministry's calling. You want to build a strong electronic money base that allows your organization to plan, staff, develop and accomplish its goals. They will respond to that because they want you to be successful. If your posture is lukewarm or fearful, ie; just making egiving an extra option, then your response will be minimal. Egiving is a "base" kind of giving. Your supporters will always respond to extra giving as well, when those needs arise.

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How can a church use this program?
Consider all your pledge type needs going on egiving. Building fund, foreign and domestic missionaries, Christian school tuition, special ministries etc. It is all easy to sort and tag for various funds. Some churches are even asking their core to tithe this way.

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What kinds of ministries would benefit from Egiving?
Traveling evangelists can build a solid support base with egiving. Radio stations, Christian schools, Boy Scouts and Royal Rangers etc., TV ministries and channels, Bible ministries and offshore ministries, inner city charities and rehab, global and local charities etc. Really, anybody doing the LordÕs work that needs a support base will be enormously blessed by egiving.

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What do all these terms mean (EFT, E-Tithing, etc.)?
You may have heard many different names for EFT, including automatic giving, E-Giving, auto pay, epledges, etithing, epayments, edonations, electronic tithing, electronic giving, direct transfers, automatic pledges, and more. These are simply alternate terms for EFT or Electronic Funds Transfer.

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Other questions or comments?
Could our Web site be improved, more readable or understandable? Please pass us on to your like-minded friends.

Call 888-780-4483
or Email info@egivingsystems.org
or use our convenient online contact form