What is the most cost-effective method for donating to DiscipleMakers?

The most cost-effective method to use for either a single gift or a recurring gift is electronic check (aka e-Check or EFT). We pay very low fees for this service and administrative costs are very low. And if you create a profile when giving your first gift, you are in full control of your e-Check giving and can change or cancel it at any time.

Another very effective method to use is a bank bill-pay system. We are able to receive those donations electronically with very low fees and the administrative costs are almost as low as with electronic checks. Please read our bill-pay instructions to make sure that you set up bill-pay donations with all the information we need to properly process your gift.

Either of those methods is about 10 times more cost-effective than donating by credit/debit card!

Why should I create a profile when giving online?

If you choose to create a profile when giving online, you can log in any time to view past giving, update your contact information, and make changes to any recurring giving that you set up.

I didn't create a profile when I gave previously, but now I've changed my mind. Can I create one now?

Yes, you can still create a profile that will let you view some or all of your previous online gifts (depending on how many times you've given without a profile). There are two ways to create your profile:

1. If you entered an email address when you first gave, you can create a profile using that email address.

2. If you didn't enter an email address, you can fill out a short form to get one on file with us, or call Donor Services at (814) 234-7975 to get started creating a profile.

Can I mail in a donation?

Yes, you can mail in a donation at any time. Please view the instructions and use this printable form so that all necessary information is included.

To whom do I make a check payable?

“DiscipleMakers”

Are there extra fees if I donate using my credit or debit card?

It costs DiscipleMakers approximately 3% to process each credit or debit card donation. This fee is deducted from the fund you prefer your gift to be used for.

Note that using our e-Check (EFT) system or your bank's bill-pay service is about 10 times more cost-effective than donating by credit/debit card.

Can I give via my employer’s matching gift program?

Yes, as long as there are no restrictions on the funding. Some matching gift programs require donations to be used for non-religious/secular purposes. We cannot accept funding with such restrictions because of the religious nature of our ministry.

Does DiscipleMakers accept donations via Paypal?

We accepted Paypal donations through mid-2024. However, due to the overhead costs associated with processing those gifts, we no longer accept Paypal gifts. We apologize for any inconvenience.

How do I give shares of stock or other non-money gifts to DiscipleMakers?

• Stock donations have a special process to follow. Please use our stock donation instructions.

• For all other non-money gifts, please view our page of information about other ways to give to DiscipleMakers.

What are my options for year-end giving for income tax purposes?

• Online Giving - You can use our online giving options to give until midnight at the end of December 31 (in your time zone). As long as you leave your gift scheduled for the earliest date possible, we will credit your gift for the prior year on your year-end statement.
• Paper Check - We'll credit your gift to the year of the postmark on the envelope, unless you postdate the check with a January date. So make sure that it's postmarked by Dec. 31 or earlier if you'd like it credited to the prior year.
• Bank Bill-Pay - We receive these donations electronically on U.S. federal banking days. They come through whenever your bank's bill-pay system sends them. We will credit them for the year in which we receive your donation. Please schedule them well in advance of Dec. 31 to ensure that they're credited for the prior year.

How do I donate online on behalf of an organization like a church or a company?

Just fill out the online giving form as usual, and when you get to the required First & Last Name fields, put some of the organization name in First Name, and the rest in Last Name. If the name is only one word, put half of the word in each field. It's not the prettiest solution, but it works!

How do I donate anonymously?

At this time the only way to give anonymously is to manually mail a check or cash to DiscipleMakers. (However, sending cash in the mail is not recommended). Note: using your bank's bill-pay system will not work because our system for processing those donations doesn't support anonymous gifts. Sorry!

Please include a prominent note on the giving form with your check saying that you would like the gift to be anonymous. Indicating this preference prevents your name and contact information from being given to the staff whose ministry you prefer to support. Your donation remains tax-deductible and a receipt will be sent to you.

Is DiscipleMakers a member of the ECFA?

Yes, we are. We are committed to wise financial stewardship, and as a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), DiscipleMakers complies with standards that go well beyond the requirements of the law.

Are gifts to DiscipleMakers tax-deductible?

Yes. DiscipleMakers is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. IRS Code; we are qualified to receive tax-deductible donations and donations to us are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Will I get a receipt?

A tax-deductible receipt is normally mailed out for each paper check or cash donation we receive. If you use your bank's bill-pay service, we will mail you a paper end-of-year giving receipt. If you give using our online giving system, you will see a receipt web page and if you entered an email address, you will also receive a receipt by email only confirming the initial set up. Please note that you will not receive regular receipts when giving by credit card or electronic check. Instead, you can generate receipts and annual giving statements online anytime using our Giving History app, even if you don't give online. You'll also receive an annual giving statement by mail at the end of each year.

Will you send me reminders?

No, we don't send reminders. If you give by paper check we will mail you a tax-deductible receipt. If you would like to give again, just use the bottom portion of the receipt and the included return envelope to mail in another gift. You will also receive a paper end-of-year giving receipt by mail for income tax purposes.

You can also set up automatic recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, etc.) using our Online Giving system or your bank's bill-pay system.

You can even use your electronic calendar or a free system like FollowUpThen or SendRecurring to set alerts that will remind you to give again if you'd like.

How can I get a receipt for my last gift, including my year-to-date total?

You can generate receipts and annual giving statements online using our Giving History app, even if you don't give online. If you give by paper check or cash, we will mail you a receipt soon after we receive your donation. If you would like to have a previous receipt re-issued and mailed to you, please contact us.

How can I get a copy of last year's annual giving statement for my income tax return?

You can view and download your annual giving statements using our Giving History app, even if you don't give online. We will also send everyone a paper end-of-year giving receipt by mail by the end of January. If you didn't receive one, we may not have your current mailing address on file. Please contact us to verify your contact information and request another copy.

Why did I stop receiving receipts?

Receipts are issued for each donation that is mailed in. If no further donations are made, no further receipts are issued. We do not send reminders. If you use our online giving system and entered an email address and didn't receive a receipt via email, please check your junk mail or deleted mail folder.

If you give using our online giving or via your bank's bill-pay system, at the end of each year you will receive a paper annual giving statement by mail listing all of your gifts to DiscipleMakers. You can generate receipts and annual giving statements online using our Giving History app, even if you don't give online.

To increase the deliverability of email confirmations, receipts, and related correspondence, please add ereceipt@eservicepayments.com and info@dm.org to your spam whitelist or junk mail safe senders list.

If you normally receive paper receipts, please let us know if one appears to have been lost in the mail. You can contact us to request the re-issue of a duplicate receipt.

How much money does the staff member I support need to raise?

Each staff members’s ministry budget is set by the team leader which they serve under. The staff member whom you support can provide you with this information.

What happens to my donations when a staff member leaves employment with DiscipleMakers?

You should receive a note from the staff member you support informing you of their plans to leave employment with DiscipleMakers and giving you options as to when you should stop your gifts. The staff member may also inform you of other staff that would benefit from your continued support.

DiscipleMakers will also contact you if you give recurring, automated online giving so that we can verify your ongoing giving preferences.

How do I update my contact information?

If you use our online giving system, you can log in to your profile and update your contact info. Didn't create a profile? No problem! You can create a profile now using your email address if you entered one the last time you gave. Didn't give an email address when you gave online? No problem! You can fill out a simple form to update your email address on file. Once we've verified your identity, you can create a profile for online giving in order to manage your giving and update your contact info.

If you don't use our online giving system then please contact us to update your information.

How do I change my password or email address for my online giving account?

Please log in to your profile and select the Profile tab in order to change your password or the email address associated with your account.

How can I change my recurring gifts?

If you are using our online giving system, please login or create a profile in order to adjust your giving preferences, amounts, and schedules. If you're using your bank's bill-pay system to give to DiscipleMakers, please log in to your bank's website in order to make changes, noting any changes to your preference for how your gifts are used in the "Account Number" field. If you'd like further help, please contact Donor Services at (814) 234-7975.

When will my donation be withdrawn from my bank account?

Gifts from bank accounts (e-Check, EFT) are transferred on the scheduled date if it's a business day, or the next business day. If a gift is scheduled for an immediate donation, then it will take 2-3 business days to transfer.

Credit/debit card gifts are transferred within one business day.

For recurring gifts you can choose from a variety of withdrawal schedules. When the selected date falls on a weekend or a US Federal holiday, the withdrawal will occur on the next business day.

How do I update the credit card or bank account information on file?

You can update your giving methods by logging in to our online giving system and clicking edit on your transaction(s) to change your payment information, or please contact Donor Services at (814) 234-7975.

Can I view the donations I have made previously?

Yes, you can view a complete list of donations to DiscipleMakers using our Giving History app.

Can I print a summary of my donations this year or in past years?

Yes, you can generate receipts and annual giving statements online using our Giving History app, even if you don't give online.

Do you give, rent or sell my information to other organizations?

DiscipleMakers will not sell, rent, lease, give, or lend mailing lists to other organizations for them to use for any fundraising purpose. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

Are my payment method and other personal information secure?

In keeping with DiscipleMakers’ Privacy Policy and Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards, we are committed to ensuring the security of your personal information. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the proper use of information, we have a relationship with an established merchant services provider and have implemented appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure personal information. For example, your information is encrypted and transmitted using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.