Generous Giving

Giving at First Church

We encourage all of those who are part of our Church family to give not out of obligation but out of worship. Your gifts allow God's work to be done in the community. 

WAYS TO GIVE

There are many easy ways for you to give, including one-time gifts, text-to-give through our kiosk, and by setting up online reoccurring giving. 

  1. Pledge... Annual commitment of giving
  2. One-time Gift... Donation for a general fund
  3. Special Gift... Donation for a specific program or cause
  4. Legacy Gift - Planned giving to provide for the church in perpetuity (watch the Covenant Circle video below)

Covenant Circle from FUMC San Diego on Vimeo.

Securely Give

Your information is held securely by an SSL encrypted connection. This information will remain private and will never be given away to third parties, other than to process your scheduled contributions.

Give Online

For any questions about giving
please contact

JAN NEWTON
Executive Director at First Church
Phone: 619-297-4366 x 102
email:

 

A Commitment to giving

It is through generous financial gifts and offerings that we are able to serve His kingdom in San Diego and the world. We are committed to serving as faithful stewards for all that God entrusts to us.

 

2017 Budget

Giving FAQs

Q. Are my donations tax-deductible?
A. Generally, yes. First Church is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations that we receive are tax-deductible. However, you should consult your tax advisor to see if you can deduct your donations. You will receive a receipt of your gift either by e-mail or by postal mail.

Q. What is the deadline for annual contributions?
A. Cash contributions must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be included on your giving statement for that year. Online transactions must be initiated by December 31.

Q. How does your budgeting process work?
A. Each ministry, which consists of paid staff and volunteers, considers what their ministry goals and objectives are for the year. Corresponding costs are then determined. The appropriate staff contacts review and approve, and may recommend changes based on the overall vision for the church. The final step is approval by the Church Council, who then present it to the Charge Conference.

Q. Will I get spam by giving you my information?
A. While we may occasionally use your information to contact you, First Church does not buy, sell, barter, trade or otherwise distribute your information to any organization other than for the purposes you’ve given us permission to do (i.e. we have to tell the credit card company your name in order to charge your credit card).

Q. Is there a minimum amount I need to contribute?
A. No. You can designate any amount to be given for any gift.

Q. What if I want to give more to First Church on special occasions?
A. You are always free to make gifts to First Church in excess of your monthly pledge. Some people do this as part of their year-end tax planning. Your contribution can be placed in the offering plate, mailed to the church office, or given online.

Q. Is it safe to give online?
A. 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 monitored by VanCo, our online database system.

Q. What types of bank accounts can I give from?
A. You can give online from your checking account, MasterCard, Visa or Discover.

Q. Are there any fees involved with giving online?
A. Not to you. You will not pay any fees with an online gift. In addition, online gifts are a more cost efficient way for the church to process donations.

Q. Can I make a one-time contribution?
A. Yes. The system allows you the option of making a one-time contribution or setting up a recurring contribution. For a one-time contribution, you can designate that the contribution should be made immediately or, for both one-time and recurring contributions, you can schedule the contributions to come out of your bank account on the date(s) specified by you.

Q. If I want to set-up a recurring gift, what are my options for frequency?
A. For recurring gifts, you have the option of giving weekly, monthly, or annually.

Q. Will I still receive regular contribution statements from the church?
A. Yes. The church will continue to send quarterly contribution statements to you electronically for tax purposes.

Q. When will contributions be taken from my account?
A. Contributions will be taken from your specified bank account within 48 business hours of the date you requested. This time frame allows 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.

First church reports

We believe in sharing all of our financial information so that you understand how your generosity supports the missions of First Church.

MONTHLY STATEMENT